I managed to rent a one-bedroom apartment for 2 students at the Mayflower Residence Hall. This was the third year I was in the States. The first semester I had the place all for my self, but the second semester, the housing office assigned an Egyptian student, Yumna, to share the room with me. Yumna came from a wealthy family and was not used to doing anything. Although I was a Ph.D. student and she was only an M.A. student, she looked down upon me because I was from Saudi Arabia and I was wearing a scarf. Everyday I’d wash my dishes, make my bed, arrange my desk and do my share of the house chores. On the contrary, Yumna was not willing to do anything and she expected me to wait on her. She would take her clothes off and throw them on my bed. She never flushed the toilet. She would use my hot pot, dishes, pans and cups and never wash them. She’d spread her books on the dinning table and in the evening I would be holding my plate and looking for a spot on the dining table to place my plate. Once she filled up the whole fridge with food and so space was left for my groceries. She invited all her Egyptian friends over the weekend. I could not stay at home and was out the whole day. I stayed at the dormitory lounge and studied until they left. Every time her father sent her money, she’d spend it all within a short period of time. She always came home with many shopping bags and was excited about the shopping mall.  As time passed by, I found out that she was not being considerate and I was unable to concentrate on my proposal. So one evening I approached her and told her that she cannot use my pillow, cannot throw her clothes on my bed, should flush the toilet, she should do her share of house chores, her friends cannot come for a visit whenever they please and so on. She went crazy and told me that nothing will change, and her friends advised her to complain to the Housing Office about me. I got a letter from the manager. When I met her, I told her everything. She was very sympathetic and she gave me the option to move out without a penalty condition for leaving before the end of the lease or to have the Housing Office set a schedule for visits and chores for both of us. I chose to move out but it was at a very critical time. I was working on my proposal and was supposed to turn it in shortly.  It did not have any time to waste on packing and looking for an apartment.  I could not find an apartment either. Huda was living in a one-bedroom apartment and offered to host me for few weeks. My friend Peggy gave me a ride (with my luggage) to Huda’s place.  Huda was made me feel like a guest. She felt that it was her duty to cook for me, make me tea, clean etc. Since I was sensitive, I felt as if I were a burden and did not want Huda to waste time taking care of me.