What is it like to be a boarder at VVS?
As we maneuver our busy lives in VVS, I found myself asking four lovely girls questions on dorm life and being roommates. These lovely girls are: Gracie Shoup from Flagstaff, Arizona. Kelly Uwase Rubangura from Kigali, Rwanda. Tiffany Tian from Suzhou, China. And, Lila DurĂĄn from Antiguo Cuscatlan, El Salvador. If you are a future boarding student, this interview might answer some questions that youâve been wondering for quite some time.
What did you expect in a roommate prior to coming to VVS?
Before coming to VVS I lived as an only child so I really had no idea what it was like to live with other people. But my first roommate freshman year really was great and we got along well - Iâm still very close with her today, so after freshman year I really just expected other roommates like her. Which I got sophomore year, but we grew to be so much closer and were practically sisters. I really hope for that to happen this year too. Â - Gracie
I went to a summer school in France the summer before coming so I had an idea of what roommates are like. Everything I expected was (thank god) true. My first three roommates here at VVS were amazing. We really were like sisters, we loved and respected each other and we lived quite happily together. - Lila
I lived at VVS last year. There are three people in the room. We respected everyoneâs space and shared the common room. Since we are all in the same grade, it felt like we were twins! We almost did everything together. Sometimes we three will also hang out one bed and be close to each other. My first roommates experience was really wonderful. - Tiffany
Iâve never had roommates before coming to VVS , on my way coming here I would ask myself, how itâs going to be and ââwhat ifsââ type of question. I was a bit ââworriedââ but then it all went away when I met all of my roommates because theyâre awesome and I couldn't have asked for better people to live with - Kelly
What are the pros and cons of having a roommate?
Every once in a while I really miss my privacy, but thatâs really nothing compared to how great it feels knowing that there is always going to be someone there for you when you need them. - Gracie
The company is nice, at least for me. I like the sharing and the occasional challenges of living with others. - Lila
So far, having a roommate has been really cool. Maybe because I am so lucky - all my roommates are amazing! We respect each other while sharing. - Tiffany
To me they arenât any cons of having roommates because as long as you respect each other everything will be fine. - Kelly
How do you handle arguments/compromise?
We donât really argue, every once in awhile someone does something that annoys someone else but if you just ask them, they will stop. (Unless itâs Lila always trying to hug me) - Gracie
We just talk about them! Whenever I'm doing something the others don't like, they very bluntly say so. If the majority is against it then obviously, I stop... (Unless it's Gracie not wanting me to hug her because that's just not going to happen) - Lila
We rarely have the arguments. Actually, we never have arguments and everything is so perfect! If we had an argument, we would compromise to prevent the situation from getting worse. - Tiffany
We havenât really had any âseriousââ arguments but it were to happen weâd just talk about. Communication is the key. - Kelly
Were you anxious, excited or anything along those lines before moving into a new environment?
I didnât really go very far, and I had been to Sedona many times before coming to VVS. I still go back home every weekend. So I really wasnât anxious or excited because it wasnât a new place. - Gracie
I didn't think much about it. When I came for the third trimester last year I guess I was kind of worried about making friends in a place where everyone already knew each other, but I decided to just be myself and hope for the best. I guess I was part anxious, part excited. - Lila
It both worried and excited to get know the new culture and accept it. Now, I think I have already used to this and get along with everyone here very well. - Tiffany
I was both excited and anxious because it is my first time changing environments by myself but I think it is worth it. I believe everybody needs a little change in their live - to travel to new places, make memories and, believe me, VVS is one of those places that youâll never forget because it is unique and the people here are awesome!- Kelly
What are some tips/ advice for the future boarders on dealing with having a roommate?
You really just need to be yourself. You are going to be living with these people for a whole year and they deserve to get to know the real you. Which I think is really the only way for them to respect you. - Gracie
Roommates are all about respect. As long as you respect them and they respect you, it will all turn out perfectly. - Lila
I agree with Lila. It is true that if you respect each other, then you will get used to each other and living together and have a wonderful boarding experiences.- Tiffany
Like Lila and Tiffany said, it all comes down to respect. if you all respect each other everything will be chill. - Kelly
Can you tell us any fond memories you've had with your roommates/ past roommates?
There really is a lot to choose from but I guess the funniest one is about the scorpion in Cindyâs underwear drawer. Last year during the second week of school when none of us really knew each other, Cindy came running screaming into my room in her underwear and grabbed my blanket off my bed and wrapped it around her and screamed âThereâs a scorpion in my underwear drawer!!!â After this Lola, Cindy and I all went into the closet where her chest of drawers was and dumped her underwear drawer on to the floor, where sure enough there was a giant scorpion. After we screamed and huddled for like 5 minutes we slowly went through the pile of underwear with a hanger to find the scorpion. We did this for like half an hour before we finally found it and had to kill it. After we killed it we gave it a funeral outside (no one really had anything nice to say but it was a funeral none-the-less.) Then we went back inside, Cindy was still just in my blanket. - Gracie Â
SO MANY! Last year my roommates and I learnt a song, Little Numbers by Boy, and played it together for a coffeehouse. We also had a trip to the creek once which was just priceless. Every time we had suite meetings in the bathroom floor... Although Iâve only been here for about a month so far this year, I already have nice memories with Kelly from apple picking. -Lila
We have a lot of valuable experiences. For example, once time we stayed up very late and looked for the shooting stars. This year, my roommates and I participated in Mission Impossible together which is a memorable experience.- Tiffany
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE! It was the AWESOME! We discovered places on campus we didnât know about and it was so hilarious. It felt like we were in some James Bond movie - kelly
Every once in awhile I go on ârearranging spreesâ and have to rearrange the room. I had one this year and it was really fun to watch everyone working together. (Except Lila who realized what was about to happen when I said one morning âWe should move the chairs.â and stayed far from the room.) - Gracie
Sunday night, we gathered the four of us and two other people onto my top bunk bed for an epic cuddle puddle to talk about everything. - Lila
Yes, the same night that Lila shared was a bonding moment for me. We all hung out on one bed and it felt like we were all really close. - Tiffany
We bond over the weirdest things ever! - Kelly
What is it like living in a dorm with other girls?
Sometimes it really feels like all the guys sorta just fell off the earth (especially during dorm meeting) but itâs nice because you really donât need to worry about being awkward. - Gracie
It feels like living with your very, very extended family that just happens to be all female. You get all of the pros and cons too: you love some of them, you're indifferent to some of them, and some of them sometimes annoy you... But that's all part of living together! - Lila
It just like a big family. You live together and help each other. Maybe we have sad times, but mostly our lives are full of harmony and happiness.-Tiffany
It feels like you all live in one big apartment. At times youâll fight, laugh, help each other, just like family, you know? - Kelly Â
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