Laundry and homestays... yet another international difference

A few years ago.. it was suggested to me by another home stay family that it is easier for us to do the laundry.  At first I thought no... this is part of their independence... but I have learned... not only is every family different when it comes to doing laundry different countries are also....
Most boys vs. girls are also... here the breakdown is easy..
For girls.. not only do they hand wash their intimates, they always bring me the sheets off the bed to wash once a week..
For boys... lucky to get a full load to wash each week and unless I beg.. almost never do I get to wash the sheets... yes... eeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwww. From having a son of our own.. this difference is gender related not ethnic.

What is ethnic.. is in many Asian cultures... the socks are never washed with the other clothes... and I am not washing a very small load of socks in California's water conservationist society... okay here is my secret...
I do wash them together.. but then keep them in separate baskets...
I also do not iron... another concept that some male students were surprised I would not do for them...
We have a great dry cleaners down the road... they press, iron and startch.. :)
I needed to write something light today as we are watching with great sadness the geographic tragedy unfolding in Japan and the political unrest in so many other countries at this time...
it is a great reminder when we look at other cultures what really matters and what are just interesting differences.