In Michigan (as my fellow Michiganders are well aware), it is common practice to remove one's shoes as soon as one enters someone's house. This is mostly done in the winter when boots are likely to be tracking in dirty snow and ice, or the dripping goop of melted winter fun. However, many of us carry the shoes-off tradition into summer, too, removing any footwear that could possibly track signs of the outside onto someone's pristine carpet, wood or tile. I guess it's a Michigan thing (or an upper Midwest thing).
This tradition is evidently engrained in me, to the point that I removed my shoes when visiting as a guest in the homes of Texas hosts. Yes, Texas, where summer high temperatures reach well past 100 degrees, and winter lows are usually hovering in the mid-50s. Snow, ice and freezing temps are rarities. And yet, my bare feet walked across many a Texas carpets, much to the surprise and (apparent) disdain of my hosts. In Texas, it is evidently rude and presumptuous to think that you can walk around in someone's home without shoes on. I mean, Really!, who does she think she is???
I tried to explain the culture clash but it seemed to fall on deaf (and maybe bewildered) ears. Note to self: carry a pair of slippers next time.
2 comments:
We're a shoes-off household, too. It keeps the place cleaner (translation: I don't have to vacuum as often!)
And it's kinda fun to see all my girlfriends' freshly pedicured toes (while I'm hiding my own very grodie feet!).
In Germany, they have several pairs of slippers to offer guests to wear. I liked that a lot. At our next house, when we have a foyer, I will keep some on hand :-)
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