Some really interesting discussion about Hygeine

Comment is free: Wash before you swim

The orginal post was a complaint about a swimming pool that required clients to shower before entering the pool. The discussion raised some really interesting thoughts on hygeine, especially the contrast between British attitudes to hygeine and that of other nationalities. I was pleased to find the issue of wearing shoes in homes was raised and a few British (I presume) comments were made in favour of shoes-off.

I think it is the case that we British tend not to be relaxed about hygeine (except with regards to hospital hygeine at the last election). And that includes me. I may be obsessive (?) about shoes-off in homes and my profile may say that I believe 'cleanliness is next to godliness', but if you lived with me you would find that hygeine is low on my priorities.

Somebody in the discussion thread mentioned the British and dishwashing. That made me smile. The Canadians I met in Japan were quite unhappy with my usual custom of washing dishes without rinsing off the detergent. Nobody ever taught me to rinse dishes after washing them. I only once saw it done in Britain when clearing up teacups after church.

Airport Security with a Japanese touch

The Japanese security checks were like those in Zurich, rather than like those in Birmingham. That is, they did not ask people to take their shoes off, but if the metal detector bleeped, people would have to go back without their shoes. However, the difference was that the Japanese security people provided slippers for those who had to take their shoes off. I guess the Japanese are used to handling shoes-off situations.

Personally, I think the Birmingham strategy of making everyone remove their shoes was more sensible. It prevented delays and made sure that everybody's shoes were x-rayed. Think about it; if you were a terrorist, would you hide explosives in boots with metal buckles and zips like mine, or in soft sneakers with no metal?

I finally got one while I was in Japan

One of the things I brought back from Japan was a shoes-off sign for my bedroom door.

The sign has a picture of some shoes in a crossed circle. The writing is in Japanese. It says 'wearing shoes in here is prohibited.'

Of course, it is my parents house, so if they want to come in my room with shoes on, I cannot stop them.

If I had any friends visit, I would ask them not to wear shoes in my bedroom. However, I do not entertain visitors often and when I do, they seldom enter my bedroom.

Foreigners in Japan

It seems to be the case that nearly all westerners living in Japan adopt the shoes-off practice while in Japan and many continue it on returning to the west.

I suppose it is not hard to see why. For one thing, there Japanese accomodation will invariably have a genkan (entrance way where shoes are removed) and possibly a tatami floor (straw matting). What is more, any visitors they have in Japan will expect to remove their shoes anyway. They themselves will be used to taking off their shoes when they go practically anywhere indoors.

And of course, they often pick up that most truthful notion that wearing shoes at home is disgusting.

Open Toed Shoe Pledge

Spring has sprung and summer will soon be here. It is the annual reprinting of this pledge! It is time for all the ladies in all the world to take the Open Toed Shoe Pledge. Raise your BIG toes and repeat after me. Yes...it is MANDATORY! Come on repeat with me. Get those BIG toes UP!

I pledge to follow the following rules whenever I wear sandals or other open toed shoes!

• I promise to wear sandals that fit. My toes will not hang over and touch the ground, nor will my heels spill over the backs. And the sides and tops of my feet will not pudge out between the straps.
• I will go polish free or vow to keep the polish fresh, intact and chip-free. I will not cheat and just touch up my big toe.
  
• I will sand down any mounds of skin before they turn hard and yellow.
• I will shave the hairs off my big toe.
• I will not wear pantyhose even if my misinformed girlfriend, coworker, sister, tells me that the toe seam really will stay under my toes if I tuck it there.
• If a strap breaks, I won't duct tape, pin, glue or tuck it back into place hoping it will stay put. I will get the shoes fixed or in the garbage they go!
• I will not live in corn denial. I will lean on my good friend Dr. Scholl's if my feet need him.
  
• I will resist the urge to buy jelly shoes at Payless for the low, low price of $4.99, even if my feet are small enough to fit into a kids shoe. This is out of the concern and safety of others. Noone can safely walk in a pool of sweat and I would hate to take others down with me as I fall and break my ankle.
• I will take my toe ring off toward the end of the day if my toes swell and begin to look like vienna sausages.
• If I have been privy to the magic that is Foot Soap, I will share that knowledge with the non-initiated.
• I will brutally honest with the girlfreind, sister, coworker when she askes me if her feet are to ugly to wear sandals. Someone has to tell her that toes as long as fingers are scary.
• I promise that if I wear flip flops, that I will ensure that they actually flip AND flop, making the correct noise while walking and I swear NOT to slide or drag my feet while wearing them.
• I promise to go to my local beauty school once per season and have a real pedicure.
• I will promise to throw away any white or off white sandals that show signs of wear...as nothing is tackier then dirty white sandals!
  

Even after taking this solemn pledge, I personally know some people WILL be looking like this all summer! Yikes!

What I do is kick them in the pants with a diamond buckled shoe!
~~Aileen Mehle~~