Who taught: Tami, Brad, Jonathan and Jessy

Doghouse (source: http://www.thecoolist.com/)

Today, it is pretty chilly here in Pittsburgh. Feels like winter is coming. Hope we get to enjoy fall a little longer before we see the first snow.

Last week, there was a welcome dinner for my students organized by the Program. Jessy and I sat around a table with Brad and his wife, Tami and Jonathan. Jonathan is a student from Taiwan. We talked about how hard to go abroad to study, especially due to language barrier and culture.

Interestingly but not surprisingly, we get to learn a few new English expressions.

At some point, Jessy gave me a sour look because of what I said and Brad caught it. In that context, Tami asked us, “Do you know what does ‘I am in the doghouse’ mean?”

Other than the basic question, ‘Why in the world is a person in the place where a dog lives?’, in my mind, I had no clue about its meaning.

Can you guess what it is? I mean…It just sounds awful. You know what is sadder? This expression is mostly used by husbands whenever they have a trouble with their wives. When your wife gets angry and you have to be careful and feel uncomfortable in the house, then you go to where? That’s right.  The doghouse.

For example, you just fought with your wife and I called you, then you can say to me, “Dude! I am in the doghouse now. Can you save me?” Isn’t it sad?

Tami told me that there were small shelters for dogs in most homes in the past and, when there was a trouble between husband and wife, the husband usually took a refuge to the doghouse.

I am glad that I do not have a dog and thus there is no doghouse. Now, my question is where can I go? Also, where the dog goes if I take his house over?