I have a pretty serious argument with my american roommate
recently. And I realize that I can be very mean if I want to.
It started last sunday afternoon and supposes to be over
this evening.
The thing was that I asked to my rommate about my friend's
staying with me. She-my friend- will finish her school
this August 15 but her lease for the rent will be expired
by the end of this june which she lives with one of her firend.
It is two bedroom and one bathroom apartment and costs $550
per month. Anyway, she has to decide either to get new contract
for next 6 month with new roommate or move out for one and half
month. And she is considering to get temporal conract with
same APT alone if she can't find new roommate forthis july because
it is possible to livefor a onth without new contract if she
pays $30 more. The reaon why she wants to keep the APT for july
is because she will take three classes for that period and wants
to study hard without thinking about anything but study. This
APT is the closest APT from the university and she can't drive yet.
She has single mom. And you guys know about IMF in korea.
So, I suggested her to stay with me for two weeks until she leave
for korea on August and asked to my roommate if it would be ok
with her and my roommate said 'yes'. Then, suddenly she changed
her mind as saying that there is big difference between visiting
and living together. Her family visits us frequently and I've never
complained about it yet.
What she meant was her family can come anytime because it is visiting
but I can't bring my friend because it is living together. So, we
had some argument about this not because I didn't understand
what she wanted say but because I was angry about her selfishines.
Then, she said this argument came from the communication
problem and different culture. That touch my instinction of selfdefense.
I decided to test my reasoning because my english is not as good as hers
just she mentioned about. I decided to defense myself as much as she
attact me. To the truth I have more things to attact her if I want.
1. she said she has a right about our APT so I said 'thank you for
reminding me that I have more right than you since I pay more.'
2. She said she didn't sign the contract for my friends staying. So,
I said I didn't do either for her family's visiting. Her mom
supposes to come here next week unfortunately.
3. There is big difference between visiting and living together.
So, I said, 'Of course. Visitor doesn't pay any thing for
the rent but resident-my friend- will pay her portion of money
for the rent. Which one is fair to distribute the benefit for both
of us?'.
There is more things going on but I'd better stop right here.
What I'm saying is why she trys to touch my instinction by saying
as 'contract', 'right', 'fair', and ' definition of visiting and
staying'.
Anyway, I know it is very silly and very shameful to me. And
I'll try to work everything out from now on, but I don't know
how much I should step back this evening.