The main point of taking shoes off is to keep the house neat, clean, and to show respect to the owner of the house. Even though Pan and her family have been in this country for years and have adapted to the American culture, they still keep and practice their tradition about shoes. When my relatives come to my house, they automatically take their shoes off to show respect to us and also to help us keep the house neat. Pan also talked about what her friends have to expect when they come to her house. When my friends come to my house, they can take their shoes off or leave them on, but I will really appreciate it if they take off their shoes.
Shoes are also a sign of education in some countries.
Because shoes are worn by the educated people, when students have to walk with their bare feet, they feel very ashamed. In Sierra Leone, shoes are very expensive. Most of the kids in the villages don't wear shoes at home because they want to keep their shoes new. On the other hand, there is a big difference for the kids in the large cities. The kids in the modern cities have to wear shoes from home to school.