WHEN MARINA BATCHELOR SPEAKS

Here is what my ex-IU9/KPP friend, Marina, who is now living in the USA with her daughter and American husband, Dr Brad Batchelor, has to say about taking our shoes off while entering a house. The article was published on 25th May 2009 in All About Women of A High Country Magazine, circulated largely in North Carolina.

It's Not About Culture But Rather Cleanliness

Marina Batchelor

Author: Sherrie Norris
Source: All About Women

Marina Batchelor, wife of Boone chiropractor, Dr. Brad Batchelor, is a native of the Southeast Asian country of Malaysia, a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society with a strong Malayo-Polynesian influence. Her homeland is steeped in rich, family culture, traditional clothing, spicy foods and a lot of coconut milk.

“Malaysia,” Marina says, “is widely known as a famous tourist attraction in Asia, and especially for its multi-flavored food and its beautiful sandy beaches surrounded by tall coconut trees.” Marina misses her homeland, but enjoys annual visits from her family.

At age 36, Marina has adjusted well to the American lifestyle, having graduated with a degree in economics from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. She recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Asha Marina Batchelor, and currently assists her husband with his upcoming independent movie called “Against The Wind.”

The American penchant for wearing shoes in the house, she says, is one of difficulty for her. While it is common in Malaysia to be shoeless inside, she emphasizes, “It is not Asian culture. It is just a hygienic and healthy way of living for all of us, regardless of our size, race, religion, culture, ethnicity and country. It is all about health,” she says.

“Cleanliness begins at home,” says Marina, who practices healthy living. “The first time I told someone in Boone to kindly take off his shoes before entering my house, he said, ‘Ah, it is in your culture.’”

Since coming to Boone, Marina has observed that many people here are concerned about their health and some would do anything to have a healthy lifestyle.

“Organic stores were established to promote healthy food without any pesticides, natural laundry detergents, clean water, vitamins and supplements, gymnasiums were set up to promote exercise. Farmer’s markets are there for good fresh fruits, vegetables and even homemade pies, cakes and breads, but does healthy living not include a clean personal living space?” she asks.
“What about cleanliness in the house? The place all of us call our sanctuary, the place where we breathe, eat, sleep, shower, and play. We clean our kitchen counter after we cook, our bathrooms all the time, and we change our bed sheets and pillow covers regularly. We vacuum our carpet constantly. If you wear shoes in the house, no matter how well you vacuum your carpet or floor, the bacteria from outside will still be there transferred to the carpet and your flooring,” she says. “While walking, you might not realize you’ve stepped into dog urine or dried up cat poop. When entering a house, you drag in all the bacteria stuck to your shoes. Wiping your shoes before entering it will not eliminate all the contaminants.”

Marina implores us to consider how, during hospital visits, washing hands and wearing masks are often advised. “What about the dirt and bacteria carried into a patient’s room on your shoes? Hospitals should provide a shoebox where visitors can put their shoes at the door before entering the room and provide visitors with disposable slippers in the patient’s room. I have seen this practice in some hospitals and private clinics outside America. It is not difficult. The patient’s health should be a priority, not discomfort of taking off your shoes.”

She contends, “Many argue that they are uncomfortable going shoeless in the house, but are comfortable shoeless on the beach. Make in-house or disposable slippers available.”

Many of us go to the spa to for our facials or massages. Quite a few spas insist that you take off your shoes upon entering the facial/massage room and slippers are made available for you in the room. Marina suggests we do the same in our very own sanctuary “The bright side of taking your shoes off can also encourage everyone to take good care of their nails and toes!”

Marina will always remain shoeless in her own home, she says, while wearing in-house slippers and providing the same for her guests who wish to take off their shoes. “Some people are very uncomfortable when displaying their bare feet or socks. It might be too troublesome for some who wear shoes or boots with laces to take off and put on again, but think cleanliness!”

It’s especially important to families with small children and babies who play on the floor, she adds. “Sometimes I do insist that guests of mine kindly take off their shoes when entering my house but, when there are too many people around, it can be a hassle to ask all of them to do so. I personally do not like offending everyone so, when they leave my home, I will immediately vacuum my floor and mop my house. When visiting a person’s house, I prefer to take off my shoes, but many times the host insists that I leave them on. I do not want to offend them but feel that it is wrong to bring grime from other areas into another house.”

Living on a farm with her husband and baby girl, Marina says, causes her added concern. “God knows what sort of dirt he would drag in with him from the farm and expose my baby to on the floor as she crawls if he had his shoes on in the house.”

In Science Daily, Marina read of a government-funded study showing that weed killers and other pesticides applied to lawns can be tracked into homes by people and pets up to a week after treatment, causing unnecessary exposure, especially to children.

“Dirt and bacteria brought into the house from shoes can also include lead from soil. According to US Environmental Protection Agency, “lead poisoning can cause kidney damage, learning disabilities, poor muscle coordination, speech problems, hearing damage and decrease muscle and bone growth.”

Marina says, "I remember hearing a person once say that not wearing shoes in the house is uncivilized! It can be seen as uncivilized if you do not wear any shoes outside your house, but not in your own house! That is called unhealthy and unhygienic. Imagine entering a public place, like a coffee shop. Would you lie down or sit down on the floor in the shop or let our children play on the floor of the shop? I don’t think so but again, how different is the coffee shop to your house if everyone that enters your house wears shoes in the house?"

"There was a segment on Oprah Winfrey’s show where Dr. Oz was talking about reversing aging and ways of staying young. One of the lifestyle recommended by Dr. Oz is that everyone should take off their shoes when entering their house so that pesticides, chemicals, bacteria or any other toxic substance from the outside is not tracked out to home floors or carpets. I might add that it should not be just your home, it should be anyone’s home that you are entering." -- end.


So, people, bawak2lah bukak kasut tuuu bila masuk rumah unless kasut atau selipar tu betul2 untuk kegunaan dalaman. To Marina, i just couldnt agree more with you! Good Job!