The afternoon light looked so warm, I thought I'd take a shot. Of my slippers. 8D
Actually, those are slippers I wear in the kitchen and laundry area. Elsewhere in the flat, we go barefoot.
Going barefoot in the home is common in Asian families. We keep the floor (usually wood or ceramic) clean, so it's okay to go barefoot. The clean floor is the same reason why we don't walk into our home in our shoes because that would mean tracking in dirt and grime from outside. We have slippers for the kitchen and laundry area because these areas may get wet. To keep our feet clean and dry, we wear slippers. These slippers are meant specifically for these areas and are never brought into the other parts of the home.
You can tell if the residents of a home are Japanese or non-Japanese Asians because the Japanese always make sure that their shoes outside the door face outwards.
Very interesting to learn all about other cultures and way of life! I love going barefoot just because although the cold, wet winter weather means shoes have to be worn!
Great shot. Doesn't sound weird at all--I love it. I didn't know about the shoes outside the door face outwards. We take off our shoes here in Canada as well, and I usually go barefoot inside the house.
Neat shot and tones. I seldom wear shoes in the house. Unless it is cold out, no socks too. I have 'slippers' or something like that to use to run outside quick to gather herbs or for grilling outside.
Love the tones in this shot - especially the light across the tile.
Different cultures are fascinating. I walk around the house (& garden) barefoot, but get bemused when people ask if I'd like them to take their shoes off. I really don't worry about what people have on their feet. :)
There is nothing like a cold floor and warm feet! For years my feet have been in slippers or shoes, or at the least socks - all down to my arachnophobia but now I am so much better, I too can enjoy bare feet. AND stop with the weird, you are perfectly normal:0)
Not only a great photo, but a bit of social information, as well. I knew about the slippers in Asian culture, but I didn't know about the Japanese pointing them outwards. I've noticed them being neat about it, but didn't realize they placed their shoes one way.
No , why ? it`s your home , please what you like .
I wear them to but everywhere in the house. No bare feet in the rooms.
Lovely capture , lovely simplety . interesting lines
Today was the first day this year I've gone barefoot due to it being so sunny. I'm hoping the weather will stay like this now but I have a feeling it won't xx
for me it is not strange, we all walk without shoes in the house, my kids when they come to visit me, take off your shoes and leave them out of the door
The photo is really good you could go off on a dozen stories with that image but the info is great too. We got more sun today so barefoot for me too indoors and out :)
how interesting about the direction the slippers face :) as for the rule about shoes in the house, that's pretty common here (Canada)... i only ever go barefoot inside... even in winter... :)
Not weird at all - same rules here! All the kids' friends follow suit immediately removing their shoes when entering the house too :) Nice perspective, I like the angle you chose for this shot.
Nice shot! Not weird. Lots of people do that here. This is the first I have heard of shoes outside the door face outwards, but it makes perfect sense to me. If I were to leave my shoes outside the door, a neighborhood dog would carry them off. They manage to find ways to get out of their fences when they want to.
not wierd to me....i have a Chinese sister-in-law and they always have their shoes outside the door and always take them off when visiting others! Great shot:)
When I'm at home it's barefoot and braless ;-)) And like you, I wear slippers in the kitchen & laundry, too. I like to be comfortable! I enjoyed reading about the customs...not weird at all. My shoes are faced sideward ..LOL. Cool angle and tones in this shot, Livia.
This is a lovely shot that shows that you respect your home. And it is a subtle selfie too. I had the priviledge (and I really mean it) to meet people who have been homeless at some time in their life. It has given me a great appreciation of the place that shelters me :-). Fav.
A great, big, golden-hued, softly lit, quietly barefoot, simply composed and warm "THANK YOU!" to everyone for taking the time to stop by! I am grateful for your time and generous comments. Thank you so much!
not at all weird, we had japanese exchange students when i was a kid, it was fascinating learning about their customs, i go barefooted at home, but we have carpet and i still suffer terribly from getting cold feet! i wouldnt cope with wooden or ceramic floors and barefeet!
I love the patterns and swirls on the slippers. I think that is a lovely idea to have these slippers for just some areas too. Do the Japanese have their slippers facing outwards because of feng shui?
So sensible to have shoes off and slippers on.
@jennywren To have the slippers facing outwards, towards the door, is a practical thing to do since it means you don't have to turn around on your way out to put them on. It's more of a habit of courtesy and convenience. No feng shui involved. If a visitor does not turn his shoes around after taking them off, he will return to find them this way because the host will reposition the shoes for him (sometime during his visit). Interestingly enough, if there are toilet slippers (slippers meant specifically for use in the bathroom and bathroom only) in the home, these are always left facing the toilet, for the convenience of the next user. 8)
The only time I wear shoes into my home is if it is too cold not to! We are barefoot bandits here. My shoes left sitting at the door, usually point inwards though so no Japanese heritage here. Nice perspective and compostiion on this shot
Beautiful lighting, and composition. Not weird at all. In America, household traditions are rare and fading. Might be because we're so young as a country in the grand scale of things. Maybe because we're such a hodge podge of nationalities, its hard to find common ground.
June 4th, 2012
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Different cultures are fascinating. I walk around the house (& garden) barefoot, but get bemused when people ask if I'd like them to take their shoes off. I really don't worry about what people have on their feet. :)
I wear them to but everywhere in the house. No bare feet in the rooms.
Lovely capture , lovely simplety . interesting lines
So sensible to have shoes off and slippers on.