> > When you have guests in your house, wouldn't you expect them to live by
> > your rules while they are there?
> >
>
> In the sense of this discussion, the answer would be a definite
> no. If you
> come and visit, I would not expect you to behave like a member of
> my family
> or to follow the rules of behavior that are unique to this house. In
> America, that's considered rude. I would expect you to make some
> accommodations, just as I expect us to make some accommodations for you.
> For example, when we know we have vegetarians visiting, we don't
> expect them
> to eat meat, we prepare enough veggie food for them to be
> comfortable eating
> here. We consider that hospitality.
What about a smoker if you don't smoke? What if you take your shoes off when
you enter the house? What if you say Grace before meals?
If I turned up, tramped in wearing my shoes, put my feet on the coffee table
as I do in my house, lit up a big cigar, and chowed down at dinner without
politely waiting for you to finish saying Grace, how rude would I be?
That's what was meant.
First thing I do when I go to someone's house I've not been to before is ask
them if they take their shoes off in the house. It's polite. Travelling to
other countries is the same.
Of course people don't expect you to know everything or get everything
right, but if you observe the biggies (like covering your upper arms and
legs in muslim countries, for example) people are much happier to forget
about the smaller things.
Charlie
