The beginning of a new academic year can bring with it new flatmates. Whether you’re living with strangers for the first time or moving in with people you already know, it can be challenging to breach the awkward stage of getting closer. That’s why some fun activities are a perfect opportunity to get to know each other better as flatmates.
An easy and affordable activity you can do in the comfort of your flat is a baking and movie night. Splitting the cost of ingredients for a simple cookie or brownie recipe ensures it’s not too pricey, and the task itself allows you to work together with your flatmates to make a nice treat. Pairing this with a fun film means you have a delicious snack to enjoy while watching. I remember having lots of movie nights during first and second year which helped me get comfortable with my flatmates.
I remember having lots of movie nights during first and second year which helped me get comfortable with my flatmates.
Another fun option for bonding with your flatmates is a crafts night. Similarly to the baking, you can split the cost of materials. Some craft ideas are decorating name signs for your doors, painting tote bags or wine bottles, or coming up with a social bucket list for you and your flatmates to cross off throughout the year. Getting together to complete crafts means you have plenty of time to talk and get to know each other.
Moving onto some more pricey activities, you can spend an afternoon or evening completing a cafe or pub crawl. There are plenty of lovely cafes and pubs around Exeter to explore. Not only will this allow you to ask each other plenty of questions, but it can also help you to investigate potentially new areas of the city.
A great day out to do with your flatmates is a trip to IKEA. A fifteen-minute train journey to Newcourt and a short walk will take you to IKEA, where you can pick up anything you might have forgotten to buy earlier for your rooms, and you can make use of their cafeteria to have a relatively affordable meal.
Getting used to living with new people can be uncomfortable and nerve-wracking, so I hope these suggestions can help bridge the transition and help you get closer with your flatmates!
