Travel Guide Visiting with Friends, 2
It is often quite fun to visit friends and stay with them it’s cheaper than a hotel, and you get to talk more, but this situation can be an awkwardness minefield. Use this guide to avoid potentially embarrassing moments the next time you are staying in someone else’s house. (These tips are especially helpful if you are an introvert like I am.)
Bathroom etiquette
There are many issues to be aware of in the restroom, such as which towels to use, shower idiosyncrasies, etc. But the most important bathroom issue to concern yourself with, by far, is the toilet. Here are some rules to follow:
- Make sure you use the correct restroom. Don’t go into the master bathroom just because it is more roomy.
- Guys, don’t stand up. No one wants your pee on their toilet and/or floor. You may feel a bit sissified, but you can suck it up for a few days.
- Before doing a “stinky,” locate the air freshener or matches.
- Make use of the courtesy flush when doing a “stinky.”
- Make sure there is sufficient TP before you start your business. Surely you have seen Along Came Polly?
- Don’t overload with TP. It is better to have multiple flushes and have your hosts wonder what’s going on in there than to have a clogged toilet. Nothing worse than yelling out, “Hey, do you guys have a plunger?”
Kitchen etiquette
Trying to figure out who “refrigerator picture people” are is a lot of fun, but never make the mistake of laughing at someone.
Me: “Ha! Who is this dorky looking dude?”
Host: “That is my dad. He just died last year, and that is the last picture that was taken of him. He had cancer and that is why he looks so ‘dorky.’”
Me: “Do you have any matches? I need to go to the restroom.”
Feet on furniture? At my house, the rule is as long as your shoes are off, go ahead, put your feet anywhere you would like heck, go ahead and suck on your toes if that’s something you like to do; just don’t put your shoes on the couch. For others, feet are the dirtiest, most disgusting things in the world, and no human should ever put them anywhere except the floor. Unless you know what the rule is, keep your feet on the floor.
Kids
Just like snowflakes and Toyota Camrys, no two kids are alike. Don’t treat other people’s kids like you treat your own. Just because you like to pick your little squirt up and toss him 15 feet into the air doesn’t mean it is ok to do that with someone else’s kid. And if you don’t want to be babysitting the entire visit, don’t be too friendly with the little ones. If you are, they will be clinging to you the entire time you are there.
Have you had any experience with any of these? Tell us about them in the comments.