Artist's explanation:
"We don't usually think of Scandinavia as "shoes off" countries, but then I talked to some Americans who couldn't understand why their Scandinavian friends were always hovering around in the entrance if they only visited to pick something up real quick. The mystery was solved when they explained that it's impolite to walk around people's houses with shoes on in Scandinavia. You either take them off or at least ask if you should. Even if the homeowner don't expect you to take your shoes off they might still get offended if you don't ask, so the rules are a bit more complicated than in Japan."
I've been on the internet too long because I read "traps" and it took me a minute to figure out you meant hunting or human traps and not the guys-that-look-like-girls variety
Wait so I'm the only one who does that...?
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In seriousness though, I was thinking more in your field of work rather than at home when I said that which in retrospect doesn't make much sense
My thoughts exactly. Indoor shoes I can understand (although some of them still black up carpets) but wearing your outdoor shoes indoors for longer than like 2 seconds seems like a decent way to make your floors disgusting in short order
With everyone saying no shoes indoors I have a question, seriously curious. I get it and do follow it in friends and familys houses that follow it. But does anyone have kids or pets? I have 3 dogs, in and out and spring and fall are the worst. Then I have 2 kids that live to be bare foot when it's warm out, should seriously see there get sometimes? Everyone cleans right. I personally wear shoes inside and actually tell my guests keep theirs on and just clean regularly due to knowing the dogs and kids drag in more then most people have on their shoes. So it's that acceptable?
It's the dirt on your shoes from the roads/ sidewalks which I think is the worst. Human dirt from cars etc as opposed to natural dirt. I have a cat who runs in and out and I myself go barefoot a lot in the summer as does my kiddo. I vacuum and mop frequently but I'm not OCD about it :-)
"We don't usually think of Scandinavia as "shoes off" countries, but then I talked to some Americans who couldn't understand why their Scandinavian friends were always hovering around in the entrance if they only visited to pick something up real quick. The mystery was solved when they explained that it's impolite to walk around people's houses with shoes on in Scandinavia. You either take them off or at least ask if you should. Even if the homeowner don't expect you to take your shoes off they might still get offended if you don't ask, so the rules are a bit more complicated than in Japan."
I mean, I can, but probably not for my own property. Maybe.
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In seriousness though, I was thinking more in your field of work rather than at home when I said that which in retrospect doesn't make much sense