BEING A GUEST IN A

FRIEND’S HOUSE.
• WE AFRICANS HAVE VERY DEEP TIES WHEN IT
COMES TO FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. WE VISIT
OUR PARENTS, BROTHERS OR SISTERS,
COUSINS, UNCLES AUNTS AND SO ON. WE
ALSO HAVE FAMILY FRIENDS, WORKMATES,
AGEMATES, SCHOOLMATES OR EVEN JUST
FRIENDS. THEY RECEIVE US AND AT TIMES WE
EVEN SLEEP OR EVEN STAY IN THEIR HOUSE
OR ROOMS.
• MANY OF US DO NOT KNOW HOW TO STAY
IN A FRIEND’S OR RELATIVE’S HOUSES. IN
FACT SOME OF US ARE A BURDEN TO OUR
HOSTS BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE THINGS
WE DO OR WE DO NOT DO. HERE I WANT TO
MENTION SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE
SHOULD AVOID OR DO WHEN WE ARE
TAYING IN ANOTHER PERSON’S ROOM OR
HOUSE.
• 1. IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE GOING
TO SPEND THE NIGHT THERE OR TO
STAY THERE FOR A DAY OR MORE,
INFORM THE PERSON OR PERSONS OF
YOUR PLANS AND INTENTIONS. IF IT IS
OKAY THEN CARRY WITH YOU THE
FOLLOWING ITEMS.
• A] TOWEL
• BATHING SOAP
• TOOTH PASTE AND TOOTH
BRUSH
• SHOE POLISH[ IF YOU WILL NEED
IT]
• 2 BEFORE YOU ENTER INTO
THE HOUSE, KINDLY EXAMINE
THE STATE OF THE HOUSE.
YOU MAY HAVE TO TAKE OFF
YOUR SHOES OR NOT. USE
YOUR COMMON SENSE.
• 3.ONCE YOU ENTER INTO THE
HOUSE WAIT UNTIL YOU ARE
SHOWN WHERE TO SIT. YOU MAY
SIT ON A BROKEN CHAIR AND YOU
FALL THUS BEING EMBARRASSED,
OR DAMANGING OTHER ITEMS IN
THE HOUSE.
• 4. DO NOT SIT ON THE ARM OF
THE CHAIR, SAYING THAT YOU
ARE IN HURRY AND THAT YOU
DO NOT WANT TO SIT, BUT AT
THE SAME TIME SITTING ON THE
ARM CHAIR.
• 5. AVOID PLACING YOUR LEGS ON
THE ARMS OF THE CHAIR FOR YOU
MAY SPREAD SOME DUST AND
HENCE SOME GERMS ON TO THE
CHAIR, THUS ENDAGERING THE
YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE HOUSE.
• USING TOILETS AND BATH
ROOMS IS VERY ESSENTIAL FOR
EVERY PERSON. BUT YOU MUST
BE VERY CAREFUL ON HOW YOU
USE THE FACILITIES IN OTHER
PEOPLE’S HOUSE. MAKE SURE:
• 1. YOU DO NOT SPIL URINE ON THE
FLOOR OF THE TOILET. NEITHER SHOULD
YOU URINATE ON THE EDGES OF THE
BASIN. IF SOME DROPS FALL
SOMEWHERE, BE KIND TO CLEAN IT. IF
NOT SO YOU WILL LEAVE THE OWNER OF
THE FACILITES CURSING YOU AND IN FACT
ABUSING AND TALKING EVIL OF YOU.
• 2. IF YOU ARE GOING FOR THE BIG ONE,
MAKE SURE THAT NO FEACES ARE LEFT
EITHER ON THE WALLS OF THE BASIN ON
INTO THE BASIN ITSELF. IF AFTER FLUSHING
THE STAFF DOES NOT GO, KINDLY USE A
BASIN TO FLUSH IT OFF BY POURING WATER
USING IT. IT IS VERY BAD TO LEAVE YOUR
STOOLS INTO YOUR HOST’S TOILET.
• WASH YOUR HANDS
THOROUGHLY AFTER
USING THE TOILETS.
• OTHER BAD THINGS
YOU SHOULD AVOID OR
BE VERY CAREFUL TO
FROM YOUR FRIENDS
HOME.
• DEMANDING FOR HOT
DRINKING WATER. SOME
MAY NOT HAVE
ANYTHING TO BOIL
WATER AT THAT TIME.
• ASKING CHILDREN SOME
QUESTIONS THAT MAY
BE NOT APPROPRATE AT
THAT TIME.
• DEMANDING FOR OTHER
THINGS WHICH YOU DO AT
YOUR HOME, HAVING TEA
AFTER MEALS, A SPECIAL
TYPE OF SOAP, ETC
• IF YOU ARE GOING TO STAY IN
SOMEONE’S HOME FOR A
NUMBER OF DAYS, KINDLY
CARRY YOUR BEDDINGS, FOR
YOU MAY BURDEN THE
OTHER.
• IF YOU HAVE BEEN THERE FOR A NUMBER OF
DAYS AND YOU HAVE USED BEDDINGS, IF
POSSIBLE BE KIND TO WASH THEM AND
LEAVE THEM CLEAN. IF YOU ARE A LADY
BEFORE YOU GO KINDLY LEAVE YOUR ROOM
OR ENTIRE HOUSE CLEAN, SMART AND
LOVELY. THIS IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING,
“THANK YOU”
• CARE FOR THE ROOM OR HOUSE. IF YOU
ARE A MAN DO NOT BRUSH YOUR
SHOES WHILE IN THE HOUSE. YOU WILL
SPREAD SOME DUST AND IN MANY
CASES SOME GERMS. ALSO THE SHOE
POLISH IN MANY CASES WILL FALL INTO
THE ROOM AND MAKE IT DIRTY.
• AVOID SPITING INTO THE
WATER SINK. AT TIMES SOME
PEOPLE EVEN LEAVE KIKOOZI
AMA MAKAAZI PALE KWA
SINK. THAT IS TOO BAD.
• IF YOU ARE STAYING WITH THE FAMILY FOR
SOMETIME, FIND OUT WHERE YOU CAN HELP
IN THE DOMESTIC ACTIVITES, EG, MILKING
THE COWS, CLEANING THE HOUSE,
BRUSHING THE SHOES, KITCHEN MATTERS,
CLEANING THE CAR OR EVEN THE
COMPOUND, ETC. USE COMMON SENSE
WHILE STAYING IN OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSE.
• EVEN IF YOU NOTICE, SEE OR HEAR THINGS THAT
ARE NOT GOOD FOR YOU OR TO YOU, YOU CAN
KINDLY, WISELY AND TIMELY SHARE WITH THE
PERSON[S] CONCERNED. BUT NEVER, NEVER,
NEVER, NEVER, SPREAD THOSE MATTERS TO OTHER
PEOPLE. IF YOU DO, THOSE YOU TELL WILL
EVENTUALLY TELL THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHERE
YOU WERE STAYING AND YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU
MAY WANT TO GO BACK TO THAT FAMILY FOR
ASSISTANCE IN FUTURE. CARE FOR YOUR MOUTH.
• WHEN YOUR STAY WITH THE FAMILY IS OVER,
REMEMBET TO WRITE A THANK YOU NOTE TO
THE FAMILY MEMBERS, BUT MORE SO, TO THE
WIFE OR THE HUSBAND. SOME OF US ARE VERY
UNTHANKFUL. IF YOU WERE A STUDENT AND YOU
STAYED WITH THE FAMILY FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS, IF FUTURE, WHEN THE LORD HAS BLESSED
YOU WITH MONEY, BUY THE FAMILY HEAD[ WIFE
OR HUSBAND COUSIN, SISTER, BROTHER] A GIFT.