Congratulations to all admitted students in 2021, and welcome to LiU.

Maybe some of you start to search for accommodation around Linköping and Norrköping, it depends on your faculty. I will share my experience living in the corridor with  7 people from all around the world. Basically, I want to share do and don’t when you live in the corridor.

RESPECT OTHER PEOPLE PRIVACY

Living in the corridor is mean that you respect other people’s privacy. It is fine to ask about their day, the weather, and how is life lately. However, it is important to understand their privacy and respect their culture and personal background. The closer you are with your corridor mates. Then, you can start to talk more about personal stuff.  Please just let them tell about their life voluntarily. It is necessary to aware that some days your mates maybe need their own spaces. There are some days in my corridor that all people busy with their study and work and we do not talk a lot. On other days we all free and ready to talk,  even have fun with a small party or movie night in the living room.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY

In every corridor, I think they always have rules. Well at least in my corridor, we have a clear schedule for a person who charges to empty the rubbish bin every week. Other rules are to keep the kitchen, living room, and all public areas clean and organize. For this matter, I found some of my friends said that is so difficult to make other people understand how to keep the kitchen clean. I never lived in a corridor before and I understand that I need to take some time to observe them in the beginning. I asked them what is the rules and habits in the corridor that I need to follow. Some of the corridors maybe do not have clear rules and you can create with your corridor mates. Some rules that apply in my corridor:

  1. Cleaning the sink after you use it
  2. Put back vessels after using
  3. Clean the floor regularly

For me, the rules help to have the same understanding and to make all people feeling good. If your kitchen is not clean. Can you enjoy cooking your food?

COMMUNICATION

Communication is the key to maintain a good relationship within your corridor. There are many ways to communicate with your corridor’s mate, first through message WhatsApp or Facebook, second write it down on the whiteboard, and third tell them directly (face to face).  It is super nice to have clear and good communication. Sometimes you can also tell directly about what do you feel and think if something goes wrong. For example, you find that the sink is full of dirty plates for some days. If it is necessary to remind the group to keep the kitchen clean for the benefit of all members then just do it. Please re-read your message and make sure that your sentences are assertive, meaning you are open, honest, and direct. But at the same time respect others, not trying to judge or blame others.

CREATE CORRIDOR’S ROUTINE

The last is creating your own corridor routine. Having Fika once per week can be a good option. Especially, when all people like to have Fika with a sweet dessert or a warm cup of coffee. In my corridor, we celebrate the birthday of everyone who lives in our corridor, Fika once per week, movie night a couple of times per month, dinner on Christmas Day, and picnic or bbq. These moments just bring a lot of joy and maybe will help you to start to feel like a house. An extraordinary house with many people from all around the world. So wonderful to have more friends and learn more about other cultures!

In the end, I just want to say do not worry to live in a corridor or share an apartment with other people. Just remember several points that I shared earlier and I hope you get the best corridor that you never imagine!

 

Photo by Dorien Monnens on Unsplash

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