Being the new one to town is never easy.  It's also difficult sometimes to adjust to living next door or even with a roommate you have never met.  Pretty scary, huh?  Instead of just closing your eyes and crossing your fingers in hopes that everything will go okay, here is a short list of things you can do to make this year a good one with your neighbor and/or roommate.

Recognition & Respect
Let your new neighbor/roommate see your face.  Don't hide away and avoid them every time you are about to come into contact.  Step out of your comfort zone!  Introduce yourself and maybe even offer a little help with them moving in or offer to get to know the area together if the person comes from a different city.  It isn't difficult to be a nice person.  Think back to a time when you met someone who was rude to you the first time you met them.  Put a bad taste in your mouth, didn't it?  People remember things like the first time they met someone and will assume that the rest of their interactions with them will have a negative outcome.  Do your best to start off ont he right foot with your new neighbor or roommate.  It'll make the rest of the school year a breeze.

Be Empathetic
Remember that you may not be the only one who is anxious about this new living situation. Your neighbor or roommate might even be dealing with culture shock, wondering how they should behave in this new community.  If you are familiar with the area do them a favor and ease their fears.  If you are new to the area, share that with them and that will immediately give you something in common with them.  Sure, the unknowns of a new neighbor situation can be a little scary.  But if you take control of the situation with some proactive friendliness, then you’ll put both your fears and theirs at ease.  Be the neighbor that you would want to live next to!

Ask Questions
You don’t have to interrogate each other, but try and at least show some kind of interest in getting to know the other person.  Take the pressure off of both of you by making a bowl of popcorn or while going around town.  Just avoid standing in the hallway and awkwardly hovering in front of both of your apartment doors hoping that the other person will be the bad person and end the conversation.

Where are you from? 

Do you have any hidden talents?

What are some of your hobbies?

Favorite kind of music?

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten?

Do you play any sports?

Is this your first time living in an apartment?

What are you studying?

What was the best/worst first date you’ve ever been on?

What’s something not many people know about you?

What do you want to do after you graduate?

Do you have any pet peeves?

Feel free to exchange or add any other questions that you would like, but this list will at least help get you started.  Remember, don't be afraid to meet new people.  Trust me, I avoided it at all cost and I didn't realize until my Senior year how fun college is when you celebrate friendship and embrace meeting new people.