Nicole: So you’re actually headed off to college now. Are you excited to be living on your own? What are your feelings about that?

Leea: Well, it makes me really happy to finally get out from home and to start my own routine really, but also I’m going to be living in the dorm for the first year and I’m gonna have a roommate, but I think definitely- I’ve always been very independent, especially for the past few years, like I just take care of my own stuff, and just kind of solve everything on my own. So I think I could already live on my own in an apartment, like I would be fine. Maybe I’d miss my mom’s cooking or something and my dog. But I’m definitely looking forward to it.

Nicole: I think that’s the one thing that would be the most challenging for me. If I were to live on my own, I would die of starvation because I cannot cook at all, I literally burn water, it’s ridiculous. 

Leea: How? No one knows…

Nicole: I don’t even know how I do it. But I think living on your own, it’s a big step, you’re like stepping into adulthood. 

Leea: Yeah I know. But are you looking forward to it? 

Nicole: I am. ‘Cause, you know, I’m also going to be living in a dormitory with a roommate. So you’re not completely by yourself, you still have that comfort of-

Leea: And someone else is going through the same thing.

Nicole: Exactly, exactly. And I mean you can always visit but I think, it’s a big stage in your life, a big step in your life, to get out there and not always rely on your parents. Which is scary, but I mean, definitely…

Leea: What do you think is going to be most like, the bestest thing, about living alone? Is it just going to be freedom? ‘Cause for me at least, it’s definitely just having my own schedule, not having to depend on anyone else. 

Nicole: I think, since I was little, my parents were always super strict on bedtimes. Like, I’m seventeen years old, and at 9.30 they will be asking me when I’m going to bed. It is literally… I mean they're so concerned about how much sleep I’m getting. So I think, not having that constant like “Oh hey, are you going to bed yet?” is gonna be something I’m looking forward to. Even if it’s like staying up till like eleven… It’s a big deal.

Leea: Yeah, but that might be something that you then have to learn to do yourself. You’re like “Oh okay it’s already twelve, I really need to sleep now.”

Nicole: That’s probably what’s going to happen. I’m gonna end up passing out at eight o’clock anyway. 

Leea: But would you prefer to live on your own, for example, like let’s say when you finish university, would you want to live alone for a year or would you want to have a roommate? 

Nicole: That’s a good question. I think a roommate. I just can’t really imagine myself living alone, especially if I’m living in a big city, you know I’d have some comfort in someone being there and having somebody to talk to in the middle of the night. What about you? Would you want to live alone?

Leea: I’m torn, because I think I would be really difficult, like choosy and picky about a roommate. ‘Cause they’d have to be really trustworthy and have all these like criteria. But then also I think that I would just really like living alone, ‘cause I like having my own space – and like I’ve said before – I have my own routine, and I know how everything would work. But then if there was someone else messing it up for me, I’d be annoyed. I don’t know, I think it’s like having a roommate is something that you should experience and still do, like while you’re young. 

Nicole: Yeah, exactly.