Originally Posted by daycarediva:
I offer bottled water, coffee or tea. I usually get takers. I think it's polite, not that they are going to dehydrate in 30 minutes, it's just good manners.
Since I'm a first generation german immigrant, I still have some of the "old country" habits. If you go to someones house in Germany, they always offer you coffee and some baked good (home-made or bought). When we visited there when I was little, we'd get sent to "Tante so-and-so's" by my grandma (usually one of her sisters who lived the next block over). Even as children, we were always offered a few cookies and coffee or milk (hey, in Italy it would have been a glass of wine). Then, they'd as us questions about America and school, give us "a little something so you can buy yourself a treat", and send us on our way. ahh..memories.
Anywhooo...As a host(ess), you'd be considered rather rude not to offer anything to a guest in your home.