Three strangers and one fridge

When I moved to Hanoi for university, I could not afford a flat on my own. So I answered an online advert and ended up sharing a three-bedroom flat with two strangers: Mai, a nurse who worked night shifts, and Tuan, a software developer who almost never left his room. The rent was reasonable and the flat was convenient for my classes, so I paid the deposit the same day.

The first month was harder than I expected. Nobody washed their dishes straight away, and the kitchen was often a mess. There was not enough space in the cupboards, either. Because Mai slept during the day, Tuan and I had to keep the noise down, which was not easy when friends came round. I began to miss the privacy of my old room at home.

Things came to a head one Sunday, when the fridge started to smell terrible. Instead of complaining to each other, we sat down and talked it through. We agreed on a few simple rules. Each person got one shelf in the fridge and one cupboard. We made a cleaning routine and put it on the wall. And if anyone wanted to invite guests, they had to tell the others in advance.

Of course, the rules did not solve everything. Tuan still forgot to take out the rubbish, and I still played music too loudly sometimes. However, because we had been honest with each other, it was much easier to say something without starting a fight. Living with other people is all about compromise.

Two years later, we still live together. Our landlord says we are the quietest household in the building. Sunday dinners have become a tradition, and the flat feels more like home than a place to sleep. I have learned that sharing a home can actually be relaxing, as long as everyone does their part.