Today I managed to request that the person who want to enter my unit to ‘kindly take off their shoes’ (They were coming to check the Internet connections in my unit). This may sound rather a small issue, but, countries like Australia, United Kingdom, and United States of America, where European simply wear shoes into their houses, thus, they also ‘expected’ to do the same to Asia /Muslim houses (when they enter them).
I have Aussies entering my unit (house), and refused to take off their shoes, I have no choice but to let them in, as they belong to the university staff members. And I do not want to be ‘stamped’ as anti-establishment.
But, coming to think of it, I am the one that is paying the rent, thus, I have every right to my unit. Those European may not like the idea of 'taking off their shoes', and that’s fine with me (as long as they do it outside my house or in public places, or in their houses), BUT if they ‘want’ to enter my house, at least all they can do is to show some respect (at least when they are in my house), and kindly take off their shoes!
Europeans must learn to respect if not appreciate other cultures (Asian cultures), in a diverse global village in the new era. Understanding and tolerance with each other is the key to civil society.
University MEWS
Dated as at: 14 January 2009
Note:
The other day, I also managed to request the university staff who came to check the fire extinguisher in my unit, to kindly take off his shoes. He reluctantly took it off, so what IF he is upset, at least, my unit is free from the ‘dirt’ that may endanger my kids (furthermore, I hate to vacuum my unit again). It was a success for me, at least a small one. I respect every European culture, so they should also respect my culture, at least when they are in my unit (house).
