Skip to content

Community: Real Life

Ungrateful guests


stephanie

Stephanie, 21, is studying Writing Fashion and Culture at university. She devours books and Italian food, and her favourite pastime is watching Liverpool FC with her dad at Anfield.

As a self-confessed perfectionist, Stephanie couldn't wait to impress her first houseguests with hospitality to rival pre-prison Martha Stewart.

What on earth possessed me to welcome guests into our home? After hours of cleaning, baking and planning for their arrival, all we were left with was a huge pile of dirty dishes, empty food cupboards and not so much as a word of thanks.

Having survived my first year in halls, I was determined to greet the second year with a more agreeable living environment. Key improvements include a kitchen without the distinct smell of rotting food; a bath rather than a hopeless, dribbling shower and the lovely company of my boyfriend of six years.

I couldn't wait to welcome guests into our cosy flat for the weekend. Visions of freshly-baked chocolate brownies and vases of carefully placed flowers became a reality as we prepared ourselves for our first visitors just five days after moving in.

Sadly, my happy visions of entertaining guests evaporated within hours of their arrival. We were proud of our new home, yet our guests didn't hide their disdain for the size of the place, the small storage space available and the lack of chairs.

Discussions about how to spend the evening became exhausting as we offered endless suggestions only to be met with shrugged shoulders and the constant catchphrase: "I don't mind".

Now, I have nothing against those who genuinely struggle to make decisions or have a desire to please. But, we were under great pressure to ensure that our first guests enjoyed themselves. Not only were they full of expectations, but other friends from home would be waiting with bated breath to hear them relive the experience. If we failed, we could be branded social outcasts, never to entertain another guest again.

The enormous pressure of ensuring they enjoyed themselves left me on edge. The feeling of being self-reliant and grown-up was fading fast and I quickly learned that with independence comes great responsibility.

Having failed to make a decision on how to spend the evening, we tackled a more imminent issue - dinner. We left the food shopping until they arrived to accommodate varying tastes, including one vegetarian. We also intended to make full use of their car, rather than face the 30-minute walk laden with bags as we usually do.

"After eating our food, using our towels, being sick in our sink and leaving the entire house like a pigsty, our friends graciously left without saying goodbye."

All went well, and we headed to the checkout laden with alcohol and well-researched remedies for the morning after including the ingredients for a full English breakfast. As our friends chatted among themselves, we were left with the bill.

My boyfriend and I muttered to each other about who should speak up, we succumbed to the easier, but more expensive solution and paid up. As we walked to the car, I was left fuming that no one had offered to pay their way, despite the food shopping being exclusively for the weekend and to be eaten by all.

My boyfriend, being a more generous soul, brushed it off stating that they were bound to make up for it over the course of the weekend. I had my doubts, but managed to keep calm long enough to prepare dinner and alcoholic beverages for five.

Having stuffed their faces, I was left to tidy the plates and clear the empties. Apparently, our guests don't abide by the rule that those who cook don't clear up as well. Engrossed in their increasingly drunken banter, no one muttered so much as a 'thank you'. I gritted my teeth to prevent myself turning into my mother, declaring brightly: 'Now, what do you say?' as I snatched up their plates.

Fast forward to the end of the weekend. After eating our food, using our towels, being sick in our sink and leaving the entire house like a pigsty, our friends graciously left without saying goodbye. Apparently, they hadn't wanted to wake us up, but I would have happily been disturbed to hear the "thank you so much for having us" spiel that in my eyes could have made up for their previous lack of gratitude.

The final straw came when we noticed that the crate of beer, which they had considerately brought with them, (I don't really need to stress that this was their only considerate gesture) had been taken too. So despite drinking all of our alcohol, they hadn't thought to leave some behind to replace it.

As we checked out the damage, we found ourselves willing our guests to report to our friends with endless complaints about our hospitality. That way we would never have to face another visitor again. On the plus side, I can't wait until they move house, so that we can finally take full advantage and exact our revenge by becoming the houseguests from hell.

Angry? Submit a rant


Bookmark with:What are these?

Also on TheSite.org