Non-Americans who have been to the US.. What is the weirdest thing about America that Americans don't realize is weird?
Non-Americans who have been to the US.. What is the weirdest thing about America that Americans don't realize is weird?
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Shoes. Indoors, in your own house, on your furniture?!
That is divisive even within the country.
I was raised in small town Ohio and taking your shoes off, especially in a strangers home (occasionally not in your own because of practicalities like going back and forth to unload the car), was considered part of common etiquette along with not wearing hats indoors.
Both of those things really depend on your family though as I've definitely met people that just don't care.
I don't like walking on my carpeted areas in my shoes, but I don't mind walking in the laminate in shoes. Easier to clean imo.
I just don't have carpeted areas ;)
Yeah as someone living in Canada that seems wild to me. I can't imagine they still do that in places with snow, that would be madness.
How can you guys get any work done around the house if you're constantly swapping shoes?
Pffft
Just go barefoot everywhere
You buy shoes that are easy to swap - like no need to use hands kind of easy. You can also go barefoot at home, because the floor is clean.
I don't really do this but I knew people who did growing up so I've got experience:
Laced shoes go on for big outdoor trips. If you're walking around your yard or the immediate area it's loafers/flip-flops/Crocs/etc, something you can slip on/off easily as you come in/out the house
It's not really much of a time investment at all except if you live where it gets rainy and muddy, because then youre gonna put on more hardcore outdoor shoes like wellies
I bought a pair of Ariat western style work boots last winter exactly for this situation. I didn’t want to track all the water and pine needles all over my floor, but I was sick and tired of spending 1.5 minutes lacing up my work boots every time I went outside. It’s still a little bit of a pain, but much better than floozie shoes while doing manual labor, or dealing with boot laces a dozen times in a work session.
Cascadian here to confirm. Throw on an insulated flannel and a pair of muck boots and you can stay in your pjs when you chore in and out.
Hard agree, but you won't gain any friends by mentioning this to Europeans. I guess they just stopped for tea after bringing in a single grocery bag, then change back into their shoes to get the rest of the bags, followed by a nice cigarette outside, another shoe change, and some black pudding for dinner.
on your furniture?!
Carpet counts as furniture?
Otherwise, no, I don't tend to walk on my tables, chairs, and couch very often. If I do need to do that for some reason I tend to do it barefoot for the grip, tho