[Audi_z]

Once when I was entering my sweethearts home, she reprimended me; "Aren`t you gona respect my home, and take your shoes off?", because I came in with my shoes on, (so I obliged, and took off my shoes). While in Thailand I saw that this is common practice, as is throughout all Asia.Here in Chicago also you can tell Asiatic family, by their shoes in front of their doors. This habit is not limited to Asiatics only, lot of Europeans do likewise-including my self but I would never leave my shoes outside, but take them inside, after taking them off-and we - of European ancestry- do it for cleanliness reasons, as much as to show respect. When I would come to someone`s home, I would offer to take my shoues off, to show my respect to my host, but then my host would reciprocrate and show respect to me as his guest, and say, No, it`s o.k. don`t take your shoes off, just come in, I am happy to see you, and that you came.This is TRUE, hearty, respect. . But, when someone demands from me to take my shoes off, before I can enter their place, either their home, or some public place like I saw in Bkk. (Sleeping Buddha, and other tourist exibits) I would just as well not go in, then to have respect forced upon me, like I was an ignorant boor.