Question: My roommate and I do not connect well due to a language barrier. It seems as if she is distant to avoid trying to understand me. What do I do about this? 

Answer: Although getting through language barriers can be hard, it is not  completely impossible for you and your roommate to communicate. Try finding something that you both enjoy; whether it is music, a favorite show or simply a shared joke. Once you can relate to one another, you can bring up how you feel about the avoidance from your roommate. This way, you both can express yourselves openly and make room for a possible friendship. 

Question: My coworker flirts with me when we are alone at the end of our shifts because he does not think I know about his girlfriend. One night, he asked if I would “hypothetically” date someone who had a girlfriend, and when I said no, he tried to convince me. How do I get him to leave me alone?

Answer: You should definitely openly express that you are not interested in him and that the flirting makes you feel uncomfortable. If you found out that he had a girlfriend from someone else, it may not be best to tell him that you know. However, you can tell him that the “hypothetical” question turned you off and that you would not date someone who would consider being in that situation. 

Question: My best friend and her boyfriend have been fighting, and recently ended their relationship. We are all cordial through a groupchat but I was originally introduced to the boyfriend through my best friend. However, her boyfriend has been upset that I have not been a “good friend” to him recently and show no interest in his interests. My loyalty lies with my best  friend and I am not sure how to go about this situation. Any help? 

Answer: It is clear that the boyfriend was not expecting there to be friendship changes between you both. However, these changes are natural since you have a closer relationship with your best friend over her ex-boyfriend. I think you should set the boundary that you both can be friends but things have changed. You should also make it clear that your friendship with him should not involve any conversation about your best friend since they have broken up.