EXAMPLE

Comparison/Contrast Example

Never did I think that I would live with my future in-laws in their house. When Matt, my fiancé, and I were moving out of our apartment, he made the suggestion that we move in with his parents. At first I thought the idea sounded like a good one; I considered the fact that we could save money, we would still live together, and life would be great. Now, I realize that my head was up in the clouds. I wish someone would have told me that living with his parents was going to be absolute hell. Living with my boyfriend's parents is quite different than when I lived at home with my own.

The first month after Matt and I moved in with his parents, they were not over bearing. They were very polite to me and even went out of their way to help me adapt. After those first few weeks, however, the change in attitude was amazing. Since then, I have regretted ever moving into Matt's house.

The first annoyance I experienced was being asked too many questions. When I lived with my parents, they allowed me to express my independence and did not interfere too often. For example whenever I was leaving the house, they did not constantly ask me where I was going, when I would be back, or who I was going to be with. At Matt's house, however, it is the exact opposite, Whenever I am ready to walk out the door, his parents bombard me with questions. I cannot adjust to their erratic behavior. I feel as though they are invading my privacy and just being nosey.

Another distinction between the two sets of parents is politeness. When I lived at home my parents always knocked on my bedroom door before entering. Matt's parents have a problem doing this. They feel that their walking into our bedroom, anytime it pleases them, is not a problem. The other hostile issue in the house is the telephone. My parents would ask me if I was on the phone before they would pick it up. Matt's mother, on the other hand, has the tendency of picking up the phone extension while I am talking and listening to my conversations. I suppose she thinks that I do not notice, but I do.

Although these examples are only minor pet peeves of mine, one major distinction exists between living with my parents and living with Matt's. The cooking style is completely different. My mother had always made our meals from scratch. I was accustomed to eating real home-cooked food. This, however, is not the case at Matt's house. His mom abuses the concept of instant food. She only makes instant potatoes, instant gravy, and instant stuffing. This way of cooking does not bother anyone in Matt's family because they are accustomed to it, but this food absolutely repulses me. I will never be able to adjust to his mother's cooking.

Even though I am happy that Matt and I are conserving money while living with his parents, on certain days I could go completely insane! We have lived with them for over two years now and I am more accustomed to their ways of living; nevertheless, I am happy to say that we have saved up enough money to buy our own house this year. The only likeness between the two sets of parents is that they are both happy that we will have our own house. In this way my parents and Matt's parents won't have to listen to me complain anymore.

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