Every Japanese kid learns one rule before they can even talk: shoes come off the second you step inside. So in America, my friend walked across the carpet — in his shoes — and nobody reacted but me. A small part of my soul left my body. We literally build a little step by the front door just for taking shoes off. So when he said “no no, keep them on!” I froze. I did not know what to do with my feet. Or, honestly, with my entire belief system. Do American floors just not feel… outside-y to you? Or am I the weird one here? 😂