Early in Peace Corps training we were told how important clean shoes are in South African culture. Not everything we were taught during training has turned out to be true, but they were on the money with this tidbit of cultural insight.

Keeping shoes clean in an environment where it is so dusty, and during the rainy season so muddy, is a challenge. It is common to see teachers (men, in particular) wiping off their shoes with a rag as soon as they arrive at school. I see kids doing the same.

On several occasions, there has been a massive shoe-cleaning effort going on around my host family’s home. One or more family members will spend a couple of hours washing and scrubbing a variety of shoes in a tub of water and placing them on a fence rail to dry.

The well-known Kiwi brand of shoe polish is thriving here, too. It is prominently placed in stores, and runs a couple of commercials during prime time on TV.

During school assembly, I’ve noticed lots of kids staring at my feet and ankles (I wear long skirts most of the time). I had thought they were simply fascinated with my “white” skin,” but it has since occurred to me that they were checking out my shoes!