Bonding ideas with Roommates
Looking for bonding activities with your housemates? No problem, we have you covered! Regardless of where you will be celebrating Christmas, it’s never too late to have some quality time with your roommates and create your own little family for these festive times. And of course, these activities can be done any time of the year. There’s nothing like making your space feel homier than spending quality time with your fellow roommates!
Article by Nahia Garcia Martin, student International class Physiotherapy
Building Gingerbread houses
One of the most classic traditions! It was first introduced by my Canadian roommate and I have to say, I am hooked. This is a fun and budget-friendly activity, not to mention delicious. In Dutch it is called “peperkoekhuisje”. Don’t worry if you aren’t into crafts, it it’s all about using your imagination. So go ahead and plan a fun session by pouring yourself a cup of hot chocolate and watching a classic Christmas movie while you create this masterpiece.
Just Dance Session
Keen on testing your roommates dancing skills? This is your chance. A just dance session with your roommates is a great way to exercise with your roommates. This way you can hold each other accountable for staying healthy and trying new moves. Don’t worry if you don’t have a Wii, you can simply look the videos up on YouTube. A personal favorite song that never fails to keep my heart up is Rasputin.
Game Nights
Game nights can become tradition because who doesn’t love to destress in the comfort of your own space. Start off with by asking one roommate and then eventually it turns out that other roomies might join. I personally like to play trivia, card games, heads up! and two truths and one lie.
This one never gets old because it’s a perfect way to share food from different cultures
Christmas dinner & photoshoot
Life can get hectic, especially during these uncertain times. Feelings of loneliness, being overwhelmed and losing your overall sense of yourself are not uncommon. This leads to people eating the same typical student meals (pasta pesto) almost every night. A good way to be kind to yourself is to take a break from everything and reconnect with a roommate who is most likely going through the same thing, so suggest eating together.
Roommates can cook a traditional Christmas dish from their own country and later enjoy the delicious meals together. This one never gets old because it’s a perfect way to share food from different cultures. Just sit and enjoy!
Once the meal has been demolished, it’s time to don those cute-yet-ugly Christmas sweaters and get clicking! It’s important to capture all the important events in your life and this certainly is one! You can of course choose a different theme and make it your own.
Spa Night
Facemasks anyone? After a long and hectic week, it is time to treat yourself! This will help you feel refreshed and relaxed. Plan your spa night ahead of time and buy your favorite accessories: masks, foot soaks and hair masks. Wind down, release all the stress and enjoy a nice cup of chocolate with you and your roommates!
Visit another city
A personal favorite way to destress is to visit a different city. There’s nothing like experiencing the different personalities of Dutch cities. This is a perfect way to get out of your house setting and interact with your roommates in an unfamiliar environment. If you don’t want to travel for too many hours, you can have a look a google maps and see which cities are closer to you. I really enjoyed going to Groningen and visiting an old friend of mine. But the choice is up to you! To optimize the day or weekend trip, make sure you have a look at the activities that can be done beforehand and check the weather forecast.
The bottom line is, though, you don’t need to have a large budget to enjoy being together. Spending quality time is enough in times like these.