APARTMENT GUIDE
11
LIVING A YEAR WITH SOMEONE OF THE OPPOSITESEX
BY CAITY LOTHAMER clothamer@kansan.com
Lipstick, perfume, belching, beer cans, cologne and hair ties are are all factors that you could run into while living with someone of the opposite sex. For Zach Loes, Olathe sophomore, and Kalin Ryan, Plano, Texas, sophomore, living together has been a positive experience.
Loes originally started out living with another male friend in their three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment at High Pointe. Ryan entered the picture during the summer break when she needed a place to stay, but because they were all friends, everything worked out well. This is their first year living together.
"At first I was a little skeptical about it because Cameron and Kailin are such close friends, but she is still a good friend of mine so
I was optimistic about it," Loes said.
For Loes, living with a roommate of the opposite sex was an easy transition. Mainly because the three friends had been around each other so much their second semester of their freshman year.
"I was always in her dorm room with her. I would sleep over there all the time." Loes said.
Loes said it was still a transition because everyone was so used to having their own space, and some differences in time management. Loes quickly realized that if he wanted to go out with Ryan, he would have to inform her an hour a head of time, otherwise she would not be ready.
Ryan's transition was a little tougher.
"I had to initially get used to many new things that I wasn't used to," Ryan said. "I have never been in a situation where I couldn't just borrow something I needed that only a girl
would have. I have no problems living with guys, we get along great, it would just be nice to be able to borrow a purse or makeup every once in a while."
"It gets hard when they don't have as much motivation as a girl might have to take the trash out or clean the kitchen; not all girls are necessarily like that either," Ryan said.
The largest adjustments have been household related, such as food, cleaning and taking out the trash.
At first, like most new roommates, they did not share food with one another, but this semester they share everything. Because the three are such close friends, they have a lot of fun, and are still able to be honest with each other. But honesty can sometimes lead to fights.
"To be honest I don't know many roommates that never have arguments," Ryan said.
"I think-we have a lot of ups, such as we are really laid-back, but sometimes we all get into our little moods where we just piss each other off," Loes said.
Because living with Ryan has been a positive experience, Loes is going to live with another girl next year, but is optimistic that the even number can help solve some of the problems he ran into this year when living with three people.
"My advice to anyone going to live with the opposite sex would be going into it thinking positively. It is a lot of fun. Yes there can be a little issues, but that's with anyone. It takes practice," Loes said.
Loes and Ryan say that they would be cautious when choosing to live with close friends because living together can ruin the previous relationship.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MARCH 11,2008