Do I Really Have To Take Off My Shoes?

The other day, Bobby's friend came over with his wife.  Our first house guests in our home.  Bobby had questions about certain things about the house....mostly Korean do's and don'ts.  That was the primary reason he asked them over.  Why would he ask his friend and wife to come over?  They have been to Korea before.  Three years ago, I was informed.  But not just that....they are Korean.  Korean-American, that is.  Well, from what I gather, his wife was born Korean but moved to the States.  Not sure about Mr. Ahn (Bobby's friend.)

While Bobby and Mr. Ahn talked, his wife and I talked on the couch.  Found out she taught Korean at Ft. Hood.  Taught Korean?  I had no clue that Korean was offered at Ft. Hood.  She said she had flyers posted at O Mart.  But then, most of the flyers at O Mart were in Hangeul (Korean alphabet), so I usually just ignored them.  That is what I get for not paying attention.

Mr.  Ahn's wife's name is Ji Ni (sounds sort of like Jenny).  She translated some things in our house (the washing machine, AC, the heater controls on the wall, and even helped us change the lock code on our front door (we don't have a key...but a 4 digit pin to get in and out of the house).

We then talked about Korean customs.  Well, it's not just Korean but mainly Korean as the Chinese and Japanese do some of the same things, as well.  My curiosity got the better of me and I asked her..."Why do Asians take off their shoes at the door before walking into the house?"  Her answer:  "There is a belief that if you walk into a house with your shoes on, you bring in the bad spirits into the home.  They believe if you do, the family will get bad "voodoo" and will eventually become sick."  She then explained in simpler terms for any American can understand.  "It's like this.  When we go outside, we walk to many places and we don't know what we stepped into or on.  You come home and walk in the house and then have spread those awful germs into your home.  It's the same thing.  If you bring in some kind of bad germ, your family can become sick."  This also explains why the Asian community are keen on cleanliness.  They have a habitual habit of washing their hands, feet, brushing their teeth, and some are keen on keeping their faces clean.  God forbid the bad spirit of face washing comes to your house and spreads acne.

She explained that when she visited her family (who still live here in Korea), she forgot to take off her shoes before coming in.  She picked up our bad American habit.  Her "halmoni" (grandmother) went ballistic.  She was immediately reprimanded and then was told to clean all the floors....by hand.  They rarely use mops.  Most of the dusting and washing of the floors is by hand.

And because Koreans are learned in respecting their elders, she immediately did what she was told without a word.  The elder is always right.  You are not allowed to "back-talk".  If you do so, expect a beating.

Thankfully, my kids already have a habit of taking their shoes off before walking into a house.  It drove me crazy when they would walk on the carpet with their nasty shoes.  We don't have carpet here...but they still will immediately take off their shoes.