Getting back to where we left off....shoes...or lack thereof. As I mentioned in my previous post, Koreans take their shoes off pretty much everywhere, including school. Now I know where the stereotype about Koreans wearing socks with sandals comes from...they have their indoor shoes and their outdoor shoes. When you enter the school, you take off your outdoor shoes and slip into your indoor shoes, which for the teachers at my school at least, consists of open-toed sandals...yep just slide them right on over your sock. You then switch your foot attire one more time when you enter the classroom into slippers...good thing I didn't think I needed my UGG slippers right away!! You might be wondering...what is with all the removing and switching of shoes...right? Good question. As far as I can tell and from what I have heard, it is done out of respect(and tradition) ...respect for the place you are entering, respect for the people around you and respect for cleanliness. From what I have read, the tradition started as a way to keep the floors clean in the house, which goes hand in hand with the custom of sitting on the floor during meals...who wants to sit on a dirty floor?!?
This has definitely taken some getting used to on my part...not so much removing my shoes to enter a home, but school and a restaurant...that is another story. As most of you know...I don't wear flats...as a matter of fact, I didn't even own a pair of flats(other than gym shoes) until I went to wine country in August( I think it was). I went out and bought a pair of flats figuring that walking around all day in heels or Jack Rogers sandals was not the way to go. So, to say that I do not like wearing flats, the only pair of which I have here at the moment are my Converses, with my pencil skirts, would be dead accurate...but, alas, I must.
My "indoor" outfit
Tights w/ connys...hot!
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