Guest buys her own things to (double) stock the kitchen.....

[Jennifer1897]

I  am currently hosting a long term guest ( 6 weeks) that is a traveling RN, who is contracted at the hospital I work at.  When welcoming her, I included the normal  conversation about the kitchen, which included that she could use the kitchen as needed between the hours of 7am-9pm and where the basics were located (Pots/pans, cooking utensils, silverware , plates, spices/oils etc) I also let her know that if she needed anything, to let me know, as i likely have it. (My kitchen has a lot of cabinets and storage, so while organized, sometimes it takes a min to find something) 

I came home today to find she had basically re-stocked my kitchen. She had purchased a full set of pots and pans, full set of cooking utensils, and a full set of  silverware. She literally bought exactly what I already own and offer full use of. She put them into the same cabinets and drawers that I have similar items.  

Following this she messaged me letting me know she did this, telling me I could use them, and lastly, that she would be leaving them behind when she departed. Guess she doesn't want to fly home with a bulky set of pots and pans haha.

I felt it was odd/rude to inquire why she did this, but I really can't fathom the reason. It seems like a large waste of money on her part. And while I appreciate the thought in leaving them behind, it just adds too much clutter and confusion to what is already there, so I will probably just donate them.  Has anyone ever experienced this?

[Sarah977]

@Jennifer1897  Unless she is objectionable in some other way, I wouldn't concern myself about this. Maybe she just likes using her own cooking gear. Maybe she doesn't like the type of cookware you have. Maybe she didn't want to annoy you by leaving her leftover food for the next day in a pot you might want to use.

I don't think it's at all rude or odd to ask why she did this- just say you're curious.  Seems like a much more effective way to get a real answer than other hosts here just guessing as to the reason. 

As a home share host myself, I just talk to guests like I would a friend. After all, they're sharing my home. No need to be formal. Unless it's something that could be taken as pryingly personal, if a guest did something I couldn't fathom the reason for, I'd just ask.

[Nathalie-Et-Gilles0]

@Jennifer1897 

Maybe she does not want to have an issue in using your pans.
I had a long term guest who booked a student room where he could sleep on the sofa bed.
And he brought his inflatable mattress!

Obviously, there was no space left to walk in the student room!

He told me that he had an issue in the previous Airbnb where a slat of a bed frame was broken (he was a tall and strong man).

I was very touched to have someone so respectful.
I replied that he paid to sleep in a bed and it was my job to offer a quality of bed to welcome him.

There was no issue with him and with the sofa bed.

And he was happy to sleep well.

You may not use her pans so she may feel confortable in your kitchen.

[Lorna170]

@Jennifer1897   It is interesting that she put her purchases in the same cabinets as your equipment; if I had done what she did, I would have asked for a cabinet for my own use.    Anyway, as the sister of a travelling nurse who travels with her own cookware, towels and bedding, I understand her need to cook with items that are familiar to her when she is going to be on a lengthy assignment. So the woman has some idiosyncrasies about the kitchen.  Enjoy her company, and when she leaves, pack up and save her purchases for future use or donate them to a worthwhile cause.