These boots are made for walking
Today I marveled, yet again, about the unique strength of young Moldovan women.
Walking home, my feet were killing me. Yes, it is a walk I do at least twice a day (40 minutes each way), and a walk I have gotten used to, and a walk that I use to clear my head. But sometimes I just can't do it. My feet, in my outdoorsy and cushioned merrils (which my host mom refers to as "the boy shoes," hurt too much.
So I sat down, not sure if I would wait for the unreliable-once-an-hour-if-it-isn't-a-saint-day-or-someone's-birthday local bus, or just take a break before continuing home. I sat and people watched for 30 minutes. Out of the 32 females who walked by me (no, it's not a busy place but we only have one street people), 24 were wearing some sort of high heeled shoe -- inclusive of high heels, fancy high heels, boots, and really high boots (what we would refer to as hooker boots). You know, the kind of footwear that looks really elegant, but must have been invented by someone who hates feet.
Of those not wearing a height-enhancing shoe, 3 were younger than 12 years old, 1 was an infant being carried by her father, and 4 were older babas wearing house slippers.
I am already aware of the value Moldovans place on having fancy, and well kept shoes. But, living in a place where you walk everywhere seems like it would lend one towards wanting comfortable shoes, in my opinion. On the contrary, every woman who walked past me tonight (with the exception of the very old and very young), chose the cultural appeal and image appeal (I know, pain = beauty), over comfort. (editor's note: I know that my sample tactic is full of errors, and either is or is not representative of the population as a whole). Either that, or they have very very strong feet, and it's not that big of a deal. But as far as I'm concerned, those boots are not made for walking... they are made for riding, in a car, for standing still, entering parties, and then promptly discarding under a table while you dance. How's that for culture.
Walking home, my feet were killing me. Yes, it is a walk I do at least twice a day (40 minutes each way), and a walk I have gotten used to, and a walk that I use to clear my head. But sometimes I just can't do it. My feet, in my outdoorsy and cushioned merrils (which my host mom refers to as "the boy shoes," hurt too much.
So I sat down, not sure if I would wait for the unreliable-once-an-hour-if-it-isn't-a-saint-day-or-someone's-birthday local bus, or just take a break before continuing home. I sat and people watched for 30 minutes. Out of the 32 females who walked by me (no, it's not a busy place but we only have one street people), 24 were wearing some sort of high heeled shoe -- inclusive of high heels, fancy high heels, boots, and really high boots (what we would refer to as hooker boots). You know, the kind of footwear that looks really elegant, but must have been invented by someone who hates feet.
Of those not wearing a height-enhancing shoe, 3 were younger than 12 years old, 1 was an infant being carried by her father, and 4 were older babas wearing house slippers.
I am already aware of the value Moldovans place on having fancy, and well kept shoes. But, living in a place where you walk everywhere seems like it would lend one towards wanting comfortable shoes, in my opinion. On the contrary, every woman who walked past me tonight (with the exception of the very old and very young), chose the cultural appeal and image appeal (I know, pain = beauty), over comfort. (editor's note: I know that my sample tactic is full of errors, and either is or is not representative of the population as a whole). Either that, or they have very very strong feet, and it's not that big of a deal. But as far as I'm concerned, those boots are not made for walking... they are made for riding, in a car, for standing still, entering parties, and then promptly discarding under a table while you dance. How's that for culture.
This entry was posted
on Friday, March 21, 2008 at 2:03 PM.
