"removes their shoes before entering our home" - the same we have in Europe, but I heard that the same may not apply in Australiajbsing wrote:Sorry to post such a silly question but I am not sure what to do.
I've noticed that everyone (whether it be delivery man, helper, or a guest) in Singapore removes their shoes before entering our home.
When they leave, am I suppose to wait until they put their shoes on before I close the door? Or is it ok to close the door on them while they are fiddling with their shoes, would this be considered rude?
This. My exact sentiments about wearing shoes indoors. But I'm Asian so sue me.teck21 wrote:I wait till they turn their back and walk away with their shoes on before proceeding to shut the gate. Seems like the perfectly natural thing to do no?
This subject reminds me of an incident many years ago when I was living in Melbourne city, waiting an interminably long time for the tram to arrive (turns out some fool was holding his girlfriend hostage with a samurai sword at a nearby traffic junction).
So I was having my cigarette, and someone caged one off me. So we started talking, turns out he was from some Pacific island, had heritage that was part Chinese/Indian/French/pacific islander/and so on. I saw nothing but white guy though.
And he commented on how he didn't like Japanese because they insisted that visitors remove their footwear before entering the home of the host.
Of course I wasn't going to admit that's exactly how I do it too, and always have, and certainly didn't think it was going be a worthwhile exercise debating the point with him.
But I do wonder, why do some cultures wear shoes meant for the outdoors into the home? Not intended as a dig or anything, but not wearing shoes that have trampled on 'stuff' outside the home, inside the home seems the perfectly logical thing to do?
For some people, it isn't a big deal. Case in point, some Australians go around barefoot outside.teck21 wrote:I wait till they turn their back and walk away with their shoes on before proceeding to shut the gate. Seems like the perfectly natural thing to do no?
This subject reminds me of an incident many years ago when I was living in Melbourne city, waiting an interminably long time for the tram to arrive (turns out some fool was holding his girlfriend hostage with a samurai sword at a nearby traffic junction).
So I was having my cigarette, and someone caged one off me. So we started talking, turns out he was from some Pacific island, had heritage that was part Chinese/Indian/French/pacific islander/and so on. I saw nothing but white guy though.
And he commented on how he didn't like Japanese because they insisted that visitors remove their footwear before entering the home of the host.
Of course I wasn't going to admit that's exactly how I do it too, and always have, and certainly didn't think it was going be a worthwhile exercise debating the point with him.
But I do wonder, why do some cultures wear shoes meant for the outdoors into the home? Not intended as a dig or anything, but not wearing shoes that have trampled on 'stuff' outside the home, inside the home seems the perfectly logical thing to do?
Some would argue that it can also get freezing in Japan but the Japanese have the foresight of having a dedicated spot inside their houses for taking off/putting on shoes.JayCee wrote:Another reason would be that it's freezing most of the time, so your feet can get cold if you take off your shoes.
Agreed, it's just a cultural difference, we like to cook our fish and they like it raw, and we don't bow eithernakatago wrote:Some would argue that it can also get freezing in Japan but the Japan have the foresight of having a dedicated spot inside their houses for taking off/putting on shoes.JayCee wrote:Another reason would be that it's freezing most of the time, so your feet can get cold if you take off your shoes.
Speaking of cultural differences, I was in the MRT once and this Japanese guy was on the phone, covering the his mouth as he spoke into the mouthpiece making every effort he can to speak softly into his keitai denwa...while several feet away, people yakking away really loudly on their handphones.JayCee wrote:Agreed, it's just a cultural difference, we like to cook our fish and they like it raw, and we don't bow eithernakatago wrote:Some would argue that it can also get freezing in Japan but the Japan have the foresight of having a dedicated spot inside their houses for taking off/putting on shoes.JayCee wrote:Another reason would be that it's freezing most of the time, so your feet can get cold if you take off your shoes.
you didnt see the episode on top gear when clarkson vs may/hammond in japan (gtr vs bullet train)nakatago wrote:Speaking of cultural differences, I was in the MRT once and this Japanese guy was on the phone, covering the his mouth as he spoke into the mouthpiece making every effort he can to speak softly into his keitai denwa...while several feet away, people yakking away really loudly on their handphones.
Don't need to. I'm well aware that talking on the phone is frowned upon in Japan as opposed to marketplace chatter in trains in Southeast Asia.sensei_ wrote:you didnt see the episode on top gear when clarkson vs may/hammond in japan (gtr vs bullet train)nakatago wrote:Speaking of cultural differences, I was in the MRT once and this Japanese guy was on the phone, covering the his mouth as he spoke into the mouthpiece making every effort he can to speak softly into his keitai denwa...while several feet away, people yakking away really loudly on their handphones.
hammond was talking on the phone and got a few stares of disgust.
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