On not being a guest anymore

It takes time to warm up to a new place and think of it as your own. 

I'm currently at my in-laws' place and my role here is mostly that of an NPC who exists merely as a recipient of service instead of a service provider/contributor. I would like to be the latter, but I haven't yet broken the social barrier that separates the two. The problem is social awkwardness (from both sides) and my lack of knowledge. 

Firstly, my in-laws are hesitant to treat me anything other than a guest - as a guest I am supposed to not "work" around the house, and secondly, I am hesitant to work in ways that don't align with their customs - what if I serve everyone (or even myself) some food and it's not the way they like, what if I clean a particular nook and rearrange things in the house in a particular way that they don't like, etc. The lack of knowledge is me not knowing how this house functions - where are the post-breakfast/lunch/dinner soiled plates kept, where are we to dump soiled clothes till they are eventually loaded up in the washing machine, what wash cycle is usually set on the machine, etc. I don't want to be seen hunting for these things in random drawers, and turning random dials on the washing machine or water purifier because it might be perceived rude - it's not "my" house after all.

It's been some two weeks, and only now am I finally participating in the house affairs. Starting out with small low-consequence tasks and decisions till both parties (me, and other members of this house) are well acclimated with each others' agency.

The only reason I want to note all of this down is because it might happen again, to me or to someone else, and it would be a good reminder that this is normal. Things take time, and that's fine.