Sunday, September 12, 2010

Houseguests

We all want to treat our houseguests as best as possible. Sometimes, we overlook small things and it will create discomfort to our guests. But they will never tell us because they don’t want to embarrass us. Here is a list of items our houseguests will never tell us:

(Later addition: I am not saying the guests are demanding and finding so many faults with the hosts. In fact, it is opposite. They don't want to hurt the hosts. Therefore, if there is something lacking, they will not tell us. It is for the hosts to make sure the guests have a nice stay. This is my personal opinion.)

Our houseguests will NOT tell us the following:

I'm hungry. (Leave some fruits and cookies in the bedroom.)

After turning out the lights, I bruised my knee climbing into bed. (Place a bedside lamp or make sure the bed’s edges are not sharp.)

I woke up at the crack of dawn. (Blackout shades should be considered.)

I am really cold or uncomfortably hot. (Make sure the room has the right temperature according to the guest’s liking.)

I can’t find a place to charge my cell phone. (Point out where the power outlet is, if not easily visible.)

I find the bedroom is not clean. (Make sure the guest room is clean and spotlessly clean bathroom.)

I don’t like this food or I have this food allergy. (Ask them in advance what food they like and if they have any food allergy.)

I cannot have internet access. (Volunteer to provide them with your wireless network security key code.)

I find the bathroom inadequate. (Make sure to have enough towels, shampoo, conditioner, body wash and a nice clean shower curtain.)

Your car is dirty. (Keep your car clean in and out and do not have any “garbage” in the car.)

34 comments:

  1. hii
    hahah! nice interpretation but i literally hate such demanding guests :P

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  2. If I were your house guest I would find more faults than listed here.
    And I get restless if people come and stay for than a week in my house
    Well what to do: "I am like that only".( a typical Indian phrase).
    That was a good post.

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  3. Thanks for your comments AS. I did not say they are demanding guests. They are quite the opposite. I say they will not tell us if they are hungry, etc. etc.

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  4. Thanks for your commens Rama. I did not say they are finding faults or demanding. I said if they find something wrong, they will not tell us.

    Probably I should have been more clearer.

    I will edit this now. Thanks.

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  5. My house guest are very demanding...they are not shy..they will ask , ask and ask...

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  6. What I meant was I could be complaining about lot of things that are not okay, but i would not say to the host, I will be cribbing to my husband thats all.
    I am very fussy,but still i will not complain to the host, and when i am the host,I still complain about the way they behave.
    Somehow most guests don't know how to behave.
    I have problems when I go to visit somebody, but i will adjust to their ways and routine, and not expect them to change their routine for me, but unfortunately,I end up adjusting to their needs when they come to my place also. So that is the reason why i don't want to be a guest nor do i like to have guests.
    But I wish life was as simple as that.

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  7. Thanks for your comments A. I am sorry for you.

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  8. Thanks for your comments Rama. Now you got the point. Many guests are like you. They will not complian or even ask and try to adjust to the host. I personally believe I have to provide maximum comfort to my guests.

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  9. I agree in taking pains to make guests comfortable...I try my best for the same...but I also make it a point to mention that they shouldn't be shy to ask anything they would like...
    and I don't sleep at places if I am not comfortable enough to ask the hosts for something that I might need...so me as a guest would be a very demanding but one who feels at home and doesn't like getting treated as a guest...

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  10. I love having guests! Especially the stay-in kind. I make sure to make it a luxury haven for them - more or less. The bathroom is filled with nice smelling soaps, extra tooth brush, very clean towels and what not. The only thing our guest bed room lacks is frequent guests! :(

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  11. Thanks for your comments Aparna. I totally agree with you. We make extra effort to make them comfortable. At the same time, they should not be shy. They should feel at home.

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  12. Thanks for your comments NRIGirl. We both are in the same wave length. We bend over backwards to make our guets very happy and comfortable. They do appreciate it.

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  13. Good pointers!!! The allergy one especially, as I am seeing more and more of our kids allergic to various food items.

    The rest I guess are nice to haves.

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  14. Thanks for your comments Geeta. I agree with you. Better to ask the guest's food habits and medical conditions.

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  15. The guests would actually say all this...then Im afraid theyre here to stay for a looooong time :))))
    But Thanks SG, i agree with the fact that if someone comes to your place, he/she should be comfortable!

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  16. oru pazhamozhi irukeee... i forgot!

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  17. Thanks for your comments Sana. We try very hard to keep our guests as comfortable as possible.

    I don't want to raise a big controversy here. Guests from different nationalities behave differently. (Please stay tuned for another post about a funny incident that happned some years ago.)

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  18. Thanks for your comments HaRy. Enna pazhamozhi nu neenga sollungo. Enakku theriyalliyay.

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  19. Hary,

    Are you thinking of this Thirukural?

    Moppa kuzhayum anicham mugathirindhu
    nokka kuzhayum virundhu

    (Anicham flower withers (fades) only when smelt. A wry-faced look withers the guest.)

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  20. Lovely post!..Now I have learnt all these things with experience, earlier I used to forget something.But i am a loner, so i like guests but only for a short period..and I dont like to go out with them for shopping and sight seeing, I prefer to spend time with them at home, so if guests keep it in mind, it will be so easy for me:)

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  21. Happy Ganesha Chaturthi to you and your family. Hope Lord Ganesha brings happiness and peace in your life.
    In my opinion people should not demand for a particular food if they visit somebody's house. Everybody should adjust with the circumstance. Good post.
    http://urmi-z-unique.blogspot.com/
    http://amazing-shot.blogspot.com/

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  22. Guests should be accommodative. Hosts should be make them feel welcome. The guest room may not always be the best, but should be comfortable. Depending on the relationship of the guest-host, they can be demanding. But it is nice to make them feel at home. As long as they do not overstay :-)

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  23. Thanks for your comments Samvedna. I like your point. Let the guests go for shopping alone.

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  24. Thanks for your comments Babli. Happy Ganesh Chathurthi to you and your family. What I wrote was we should make our guests very comfortable in our home. We should volunarily ask their food preferance.

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  25. Thanks for your comments Radha. We should make the guests very comfortable in our home.

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  26. My mother has a bed and breakfast (so I grew up in one) and I would say that checklist is pretty accurate. I generally love having guests, but not client guests anymore.

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  27. Thanks for your comments Emily. I am happy that you wrote my "checklist is pretty accurate".

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  28. Awesome post and definitely, serves as a very essential checklist in these rush filled days when both spouses are working and the arrival of guests requires some level of effort in getting things spic and span in the guest room. Terrific post, would really like more such simple, concise and example filled posts!

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  29. definetely true ..they wont tell us so many things ,and we also ..i feel experiencing a stay at a host's house would teach us how to treat our guests.one more addition to that list ,they wont tell us "i want to watch this particular cahnnel on tv "when they are at our place.so make sure you make them comfortabale and engaged and avoid watching only shows of yur choice on tv!

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  30. @ nri gal...i think it will be a hell when so many guests keep pondering at yr house..i used to have atleast 1 guest a week ,when i was in bangalore,and i know how tht is!

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  31. Thanks for your commens Sanand. I am glad you found this post useful.

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  32. Thanks for your comments Raji. I appreciate your pointing out that guests will not tell us which channel they want to see on TV.

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  33. ha ha ha ! good one !! I am a nervous wreck when guests come over.. i should add this to my checklist :-)

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  34. It is a great idea to have this check list when having guests over. I remember when I was young and I was a guest; I was like that, VERY shy and didn't want to make anybody uncomfortable; Specially the people who are letting me stay at their home. I would eat anything they had to offer even if I didn't like it. I don't like eating onions and garlic and I would eat it just to not be rude. It was a HUGE sacrifice to not offend the people who were so nice letting me stay in their home.
    If I ever have guests from now on I would remember this blog and not let people suffer in my home.

    Belyeny

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