Quote:
Originally Posted by erimir
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ari
And mahalo for removing your shoes.
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I find this subject a little confusing because I feel like most people in the US take off their shoes at home but I also hear it said that Americans don't do this. |
The 'take your shoes off' etiquette in North America has weakened from a fear of invisible shoe gremlins into a question of cleanliness, comfort, and utility. It's very much handled case-by-case with no real consensus.
In public places -
Are you wearing galoshes or anything else which doesn't belong indoors? Take them off.
Are your shoes filthy/muddy/snowy? Clean them or take them off.
If the first two rules don't apply, you're probably OK.
Anywhere private, does your host own immaculate floors of precious zamboni hardwoods? Take them off.
Otherwise? See what your host does. If they take their shoes off, probably good ettiquette to take off yours. Though 40% of the time they'll tell you not to bother.
Is it your own home? Your own choice. You might even have special 'inside shoes'.
Et cetera.