Angelika In Rundbrief 08/2007 I previously reported on the somewhat unusual windows here in America, but American showers also have their quirks. There have been several amusing scenes in our apartment when German overnight guests were baffled by our shower because they didn't know how to turn on the water.
In older houses and simpler motels that don't have modern shower cabins but instead have bathtubs combined with showerheads, you need some detective skills to operate the fixtures. When you turn on the faucet, the water initially comes out of the bathtub spout. First, you need to determine the desired temperature by turning the knob. Then, you have to pull the lever with the round head (see Figure 1) on the bathtub faucet to redirect the water to the showerhead.
The knob in illustration 2 serves two functions: If you push it upwards, it turns on the water. If you turn the knob to the left, so that the arrow moves towards "H" (Hot), the water gets hotter. To the right towards "C" (Cold), it gets colder. In some hotels, however, you can only turn the knob, not push it upwards. You turn on the shower by turning the knob clockwise (!). Initially, you go through cold water, and if you keep turning, it gets warmer. Michael, who cannot tolerate cold water at all, always stands outside the shower in motels while he lets the shower run warm with his fingertips. Once a comfortable temperature is reached, he gets in.
One more quirk: The showerheads in the U.S. are usually fixed to the wall, not removable, and without a hose. It's a miracle that we manage to get clean every day.