Shoes & Cleaning

As in most Asian countries we take off our shoes before we go into a house, restaurant, and in my case school.  I wear shoes to work and put on my slippers when I get there.  I think my brother does the opposite.  He wears sandals to work then puts on his shoes.  For nearly five months I haven't worn shoes in my own house.  It doesn't feel strange anymore.  The first month I was scolded for wearing shoes in my own apartment, and I have been vigilant about not wearing shoes since.  On rare occasions I forget to turn out a light before I leave the house, and my shoes are already on... in that case I take 4 steps in and turn off the light but feel somewhat guilty.

I think one of the reasons for keeping the floor clean is that so many Koreans sleep on the floor.  I was asked the other day by a teacher here, "Dan, Americans have to sleep in beds?"  

Like our Vietnamese friends, my Korean friends here are very clean.  Somewhat different than the "clean" I grew up accustom to.  In that hardly anyone cleans with chemicals.  Water is the primary cleaning agent, and broom primary tool.  I was eating in a restaurant the other day when I saw the cook kneeling down and cutting chicken on the kitchen floor, right on the tile floor. But she cleaned the floor when she was finished.

My friend cleaned his basketball in the men's room sink after we finished a game at the university.  He explained the basketball is an extension of himself.  If you clean your hands you should clean your basketball.  I don't think everyone is this way, but in general those around here keep things clean and organized.