Do not bring your entire wardrobe! You can always point out the American at the airport…the one that needs the cargo carrier to cart their luggage. No matter how long you’re staying, you only need one suitcase. Europe has washing machines. It also has little cars. Do not bank on your host having an American sized car than can carry everyone in your parties three pieces of luggage. Don’t bank on being picked up by car, you may be sent a taxi or be riding the train! Remember, you always return with more stuff so save room!
Bring a gift to say “thank you” when you arrive. A host gift displays your graciousness to your host’s generosity and hospitality. Consider bringing something from home that they cannot get easily in Europe.
Noise control: if your host lives alone, she is probably accustomed to peace and tranquility. Give her some time to have that. Limit times when the TV is going, people are shouting conversations above the t.v. and YouTube and the iPod going all at once. Chances are if you’re in Europe you live in a flat with neighbors all around. You don’t want to leave your host in bad graces with her neighbors.
Be independent as quickly as possible. Even though they have graciously invited you into their home, they have already rearranged their normal routines on your behalf. Their hospitality also requires their investment of time, energy, and money for extra food and drink, utilities, and other costs. Be mindful of that and do not depend on your host to research activities for you, chauffeur you from place to place. Learn things on your own quickly. Learn www.vvs.de and German road signs quickly so you can rent a car.
Get out of the house. As Ben Franklin once said, “Fish and visitors stink after three days.” If you are staying for a longer period, find way to leave and stay elsewhere (i.e. a trip to Austria) for a few days to give your hosts some private time. Everyone needs a little alone time for peace, quiet, and recharging. Your host is accustomed to you not being there. So strike out on your own once in a while so your host can have that alone time. Just be sure to communicate this with your host so she isn’t expecting you for have dinner or other activities she may have planned.
Let your host sleep: Let your host get to bed for a decent night’s rest. Your hosts may not be on vacation as you are (most have to work while you play). While you may be jet lagged and awake at all hours, your host needs to work. Make an attempt tohurry and get on your new time zone’s schedule. You can bring your own earphones for listening to music or for watching TV. That way you will not keep your host awake all night or feeling restless because of the activity, noise, and lights.
Clean up after yourself. Do NOT leave your dirty dishes in the sink. This is just rude, even if your host does. You should leave the kitchen cleaner than you found it, but hopefully it goes without saying that you clean your dishes as soon as you’re done with them.
Keep your guest area neat. This is not your home. Make your presence as unobtrusive as possible. Keep your belongings out of the way. You’re on vacation, not in a rush to get to work or school…you have time to make your bed in the mornings. Put dirty laundry in a laundry bag or plastic bag. Just shutting the door to a messy room is NOT an option. If you are a smoker, do not have your host sweeping up your ashes.
Use the guest bathroom. Don’t disrupt my host’s morning by having to sort through you’re toiletries to find her own, or have to wait for you to get out of the shower, or deal with your messes.
Always offer to help at mealtimes. Your host is not a servant. There is nothing more debilitating than having guests who sit around waiting expectantly for all meals. Offer to cook, help cook and clean afterwards. Hosts often say there is nothing for you to help with, however, you can find something, whether it is consolidating trash, washing dishes, slicing veggies, etc. If you cook for yourself, cook enough for your host… especially if you are using your hosts’ kitchen staples and supplies.
Be flexible and adaptive. You adapt to the hosts preferences. They do not cater to you. This is not a hotel.
Learn about the electricity! Last thing your host needs is a huge electric bill because you, acting like a typical American, left the transformer plugged all week. Or, you blow your hosts flat screen because you don’t know the difference between a transformer and an adapter. Ask questions. You have google at your finger tips…use it!
Make contributions. Go grocery shopping, foot the bill at a restaurant, do home repairs, clean up, take out the trash.
Do your own laundry. Your host works while you’re home all day. Do not quadruple her work load by adding your laundry and your children’s to hers when she gets home. This way, you are solely responsible for your own lost or damaged clothing as well.
Entertain yourself. This goes back to the “become independent as quickly as possible” tip. Your host has probably already spent time mapping out plenty of things for you to see and do. Do these activities during the day while your host is away. Your host has probably already visited the sights many times before. Let your hosts make it clear whether or not they have the time to take you to places, or to spend entire evenings with you. Don’t assume that you can rely on their generosity to drive you to places or to show you around.
Communicate. If you’ll be out in the evening or if you’re bringing food home it would be nice to let your host know that you don’t need her to cook for you ahead of time. Let her know if you’ll be out all night. Make sure your lines don’t cross. Let your host know your plans.
Be appreciative. Show appreciation for the local food, sightseeing, and other attractions. Show appreciation for the host opening her home to you. Do not criticize. If things are so much better at home, you could have stayed there.
Be considerate with phone usage. Don’t rack up crazy fees. Ask before you call back home to the states or make international phone calls all over Europe or even within the same town. German phone calls are priced differently than in the states. Even landlines calls across town can have pay by the minute plans.
Do not invite other people to the residence without first clearing it with your hosts. This is just common courtesy and respect, as you are a guest, not an equal member in their home. It’s also a security risk. Now this person knows where your host lives long after you’ve returned home.
