Would you find this strange? Shoes off 👞 and flip flops 🩴 on

[Speckledhem]

I work in a role where I visit families in their home. I totally get it is expected in some homes that I remove my shoes, ok fine I do this if I must.

But…

I visit a family each week and not only do I need to remove my footwear but I have to wear a pair of flip flops (sliders) that they provide and leave at the front door for me to change in to on arrival.

It makes no difference if I have socks on or not, I am expected to wear pink sliders for the duration of my visit. I then change back into my own footwear when I leave.

I don’t know if these sliders are just for me or for all visitors.

They are a Chinese family- is this cultural? I find it absolutely bonkers.

Anyone else experienced this?

House slippers is not uncommon in Scandinavian countries during winter. It’s not weird and they are not manky as you say. You can wash your socks when you get home.

@Speckledhem haven't been rude?? Seriously...read your comments! You have been more than rude! You've been openly culturally insensitive...bordering on racist! I am completely shocked that you can't see this when almost every single poster on this thread has pointed it out to you!

but the expectation for me to wear them is unrealistic and unreasonable

It really isn't. Providing we're not breaking the law we have the right to make ALL the rules in our own home. It does not matter whether their reasons are quirk, culture or personal preference you respect their rules. You are not obliged to accept their employment so you should refuse it if respecting their home is too difficult for you. The compromise of providing your own indoor footwear was obvious to everyone but you.

Wonderful ideas, thank you all so much!
Jimmy Lea from Slade was on a TV programme about the V and A a few weeks ago, he donated his red lurex jacket. Shame, I could have done with that!
I have some satin and shiny trousers, I'll need to find some turquoise eyeshadow though I think!
I have plenty of glitter and some jewels as well, they will help!

Ahahaha, how did that get here? Soweee!

Nothing wrong with this, socks get sweaty so they provided flip flops and this is what I would provide if I could be bothered seems a good way to get visitors walking around the house

[quote CelebrateAndDream]@Speckledhem haven't been rude?? Seriously...read your comments! You have been more than rude! You've been openly culturally insensitive...bordering on racist! I am completely shocked that you can't see this when almost every single poster on this thread has pointed it out to you! [/quote]
I haven’t been rude, insensitive or racist. Please stop taking things out of context. I work with many cultures and am always polite, respectful and compliant. This is a situation which is a bit more complex than footwear, which I have suggested in posts without divulging detail.

I think it seems to be a trend on mumsnet where a thread picks up momentum and people ‘jump on the bandwagon’ as has been demonstrated here and on many other threads, which is maybe why you’ve made reference to ‘almost every single poster’. This statement really means nothing in the bigger picture.

People do seem to read things into statements and misinterpret information which leads to misunderstanding and a tendency to over react,

Also I’ve noticed when people question other people’s comments, posters become both defensive and in some cases just nasty. This of course just makes them look foolish.

@FrangipaniBlue

I’ve worked with many Asian families and have not ever experienced this, may be because some don’t expect to push their culture on to others. I also know how to use Google

Wow.

Did you really mean to sound quite so rude racist, OP?

This reminds me of that Stewart Lee sketch.

OUR LAND...

You get back in the sea.

No I didn’t mean to sound rude or racist, I just don’t want to wear other people’s footwear

Oh yes.

People not agreeing with you = bandwagon.

You can't possibly be a bit of a dickhead.

@jetadore

Yes it’s quite normal in Asian households. Think about it, are they going to get a unique pair for every single visitor? No. So, yes every guest wears those slippers. The hygiene risk with this is pretty low but virtually zero wearing socks.

Oh that's awful Other people have worn those.

I'd take shoe covers.

With every subsequent post you are coming across as a naive, petulant, intolerant brat rather than a seasoned professional coming across a complex cultural disconnect that they want help to overcome.

Even if I hadn't lived in an Asian country for a year, it is not some bizarre niche piece of information that a huge majority of Asian households have a "shoes off/indoor footwear on" policy. It's not just about taking off dirty outdoor shoes but also putting on indoor shoes so people aren't walking around either barefoot or sliding around on socks.

There is a very simple solution - you know they insist on wearing indoor shoes/sliders/slippers inside their home so you either wear the ones they provide or bring your own and grow the fuck up.

Are you still flogging this, OP? I thought you were going to sack them off. Please do, because you are awful, and then hide this thread. I'm embarrassed for you

@GreenLunchBox

Are you still flogging this, OP? I thought you were going to sack them off. Please do, because you are awful, and then hide this thread. I'm embarrassed for you

Why would you be embarrassed about a thread from an anonymous poster?

Pushing their culture?

Hahahaha haven’t done a cultural awareness refresher for a while have you?

I think it’s very unlikely you’re as polite and respectful as you think, if this is how you really feel.

It’s also astonishing in so many years you’ve not come across this before.

Yes it is cultural in Asia and this is also widely known so probably best not to call them 'bonkers'.

It’s normal for a lot of Asian and pacific island cultures.
You take your shoes off and it’s socks or house shoes provided.

Why would you be embarrassed about a thread from an anonymous poster?

Ok let me rephrase it because you seem unable to pick up on social cues. I am CRINGEING for you.

I have Chinese in-laws. This is totally normal.

I'm also HCP and do home visits. Some Chinese families don't ask me to take off my shoes but I always offer (wherever I go!) and the majority have sliders to borrow.

I have my own indoor shoes in my bag that I use for visiting my family and patients. They're actually those little ballet pumps designed for when your heels get too much on a night out but given they're obviously not used as outdoor shoes they're v much acceptable!

YABU to call sliders flip flops! 2 totally different things.

This is common in many countries so I'm surprised you haven't come across it before.

They ask you to remove your shoes for hygiene purposes and then offer you the sliders as a courtesy and a kindness - the way you have spoken about them, and your opinion of them, is unwarranted and ignorant.

I'm sure they're wondering why you haven't started bringing your own indoor shoes yet. That would have been the obvious solution from week 1. I think it is good that you are going to step back and recommend a colleague instead.

@GreenLunchBox

Why would you be embarrassed about a thread from an anonymous poster?

Ok let me rephrase it because you seem unable to pick up on social cues. I am CRINGEING for you.

Oh don’t, it’s really not that important

@caoraich

I have Chinese in-laws. This is totally normal.

I'm also HCP and do home visits. Some Chinese families don't ask me to take off my shoes but I always offer (wherever I go!) and the majority have sliders to borrow.

I have my own indoor shoes in my bag that I use for visiting my family and patients. They're actually those little ballet pumps designed for when your heels get too much on a night out but given they're obviously not used as outdoor shoes they're v much acceptable!

Why would you think I’m a HCP?

Why would you think I’m a HCP?

I read that as "I have Chinese in laws and Im also a HCP doing home visits".