"The Battle": Flat or residence? Final part (flirting and score)
I start by promising that this will be the last article I will write on this saga, where I've been debating on whether to live in a shared flat or a student residence. I think that after having talked about six different aspects, things should be pretty clear (if you still have doubts, it's better to do odds or evens). I simply cooperate giving my humble opinion, having lived in both a flat and a student residence, which gives me some criteria. It is obviously completely subjective, so that each can put the according importance to each point depending on their own criteria.
On this occasion, we talk of the subject "flirting", where we include many different areas, that, summarized in a sentence, result all things (acts, words, looks, etc) we do with an intention that goes beyond the amicable towards another person (no further explanation needed).
Having made the advantages and disadvantages on the student residence clear in the previous post, we now focus on a shared flat.
Shared flat:
Advantages?
- Own room: and I didn't want to put as a disadvantage of the residence living with another mate, because if you don't do it (what?) because of who lives I your flat_ it's really nothing but leaving the room for a few minutes and leaving them alone, or not caring if they're together in front of you (I'm not talking of them actually doing it in front of you, but simply them being together in the same bed and you sleeping)_, honestly is a bad mate and it's better to talk about it as soon as possible to avoid surprises.
All that, adding the matter of having to pay, for example, as I did in my residence, the ridiculous amount of 10 zlotys (2'50 euros) so that someone can stay over, makes me have to mention the private room as an advantage of the shared flat.
Logically, more people live in your flat, usually more than in the residence, but, except if they clearly see that you're with someone else in your room (from there let your imagination wander), once you go through the door that marks your "border", you're completely free to do what you please, and privacy grows. If you're the kind of person to be proud of the noise you can make in bed, fantastic, because as silent as you'd like to do it, you'll have to disturb at some point, and there will be your mates to listen.
If, on top of that, you're the typical "Duracell Bunny" who likes the speed and dynamism, you'll be lost, but at the same time full of internal pride (as long as you spend some time at it, of course, otherwise you've messed up, and a lot, and the other person will probably not want to repeat the "feat").
- You can live with a person of the opposite sex: if that happened, count yourself lucky for this enormous "positive deviation" and wait for the bad consequences that will follow (due to the mythic theory that, when something positive happens, sooner or later something bad will happen to maintain the balance).
Now that the hardest has been achieved, you have to silently find out if he or she (from now on referred to as HoS) has a partner in another country, because, why deceive ourselves, HoS is going to live with you all year, so you'll have plenty of time to tease HoS until HoS falls and is yours. With patience and determination all can be done, so HoS can be the sexiest person in the world, but you can get him or her if you work for it. And mamma Mia if you do, you'll get a ration when you want and almost anywhere you want in the flat (as long as, if others live there as well, they aren't present).
Problem? Well, normally women want to live with other women and it is the men who do not mind sharing with someone who, when exiting the shower, is in panties and a bra a few meters from you. The thing is, either the woman knows you, or you're the last resort after not having found another woman to include in the pack. It can also be them who don't have any other choice after arriving later, and wanting to stay in a flat (not many prefer it to the residence), they end up staying with you, and in this case a new variant of competition opens, as your mates and you will both have a shot at winning her over. Oh well, but those are other stories...
- The "radiopatio effect" disappears: I explained the meaning of this in the previous post, so you can imagine that living in a flat, not only will your privacy be greater, but a lot less people will find out what you really did that day with that person. But, of course... if you're the sort that goes out with the class and you've been making out with someone for four hours, to finally take her to your flat hand in hand, they will obviously realize what is going on.
Disadvantages?
- Few people: the good thing about the residence, is usually bad for the flat, and the thing is, if you decide to live in the already mentioned flats, with your two mates as is the usual, you will naturally meet a lot less people than if you lived in a residence, and the logical consequence is that your possibilities of flirting are less and you'll have to leave them for the nights in which you go out in your flat's area, and in a strong and skilled pace you will ask her whether she wants to come to your room. From that point on, a million excuses can arise, from the mythical "I have to wake up early at 8 am(then why are you out, it's already 5am); that she can't leave her friends alone (I won't name the women's case as I don't know if the percentage of men saying "no" to go to her flat after flirting during a night at the club has been studied... if it gets to 2% it's a miracle, or he's a homosexual), or the savage "no" and that's it.
Basically, if you live in a flat, you'll have to make a bigger effort if you want to flirt and get further with that person frequently. You'll always have the familiar making friends in class, etc, but that will unfortunately not happen in too many occasions.
- "Acople effect": this one I also explained in other occasions in this saga, and for this, the higher quality of life in your flat makes you go out less, and therefore you'll meet, again, less people. If you're considered a "Party Animal", this won't be a disadvantage for you, because you won't care about the higher quality of live nor the amount of people going out that night. For a good "killer" and "party animal", it doesn't matter what goes against them, if that day there are open clubs, this person won't doubt for a single second and will leave at the speed of light. Plus, if you hang out with others of your species, assume that the will probably go out most days from Wednesday to Saturday. Actually, even during exams, being on Erasmus, it will be hard to stay locked in at home "studying" and not go on a little "stroll" (where it's not necessary to explain how you started there and ended up closing the club dancing with another person, who by the way it's crazy how horny HoS made you, and shitting on the "polakinha" concept).
Nevertheless, this species doesn't take precedence for it's large number, so the "scope effect" will happen to you on a more or less objective way, because there will be a lot of days of cold, snow, rain or any other excuse to stay cozy with the TV or console and to not go out out and mingle.
Indeed I put three advantages and only two disadvantages, but the two disadvantages have their weight, much more than the advantages, and because of that, in the last test of this "battle", the two options finish as follows:
Score on ten on this "flirting" aspect?
Residence:9 vs Flat:6
Result after the last test?
Residence:44 vs Flat:37
And congratulations are due to the Student Residence as a more complete dwelling for your coming year, winning with good margin and also, 4-2 in tests, that, in my experience, make me have no doubt that if I were to repeat this Erasmus year, I would stay in a student residence.
The defining reasons? Quite simple: price (as each year the grant offered lowers and, actually, next year they'll take a bit off), for the number of people with whom you can socialize and learn and, of course, for the better learning of the language and the better possibility of "flirting". I think there's not much else to say, and that, if someone comes up with another aspect where these two options can be matched up, don't hesitate to comment, as I'll write another article explaining my point of view.
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