Culture: Boots

This posting will likely cause a bit of a question as to professional relevance! Well, there's a reason for it. In preparation for this trip, we had to think about what clothing, outerwear, and footwear would be necessary to transform two warm climate people from South Georgia to people comfortable in Eger during the winter.

Tall boots in South Georgia? Well, yes, you see them, but only for fashion, not function. Just before I set out on this adventure, I was visiting in western Iowa/Nebraska where I grew up. It's very cold there in winter, and sometimes quite snowy. The day after Christmas two of my sisters and I set out on a time-honored (but not usually by us) tradition of shopping. We walked the malls, gawking at the overabundance of goods and shoppers. And we saw lots of beautiful winter boots--suddenly I actually had a reason to look and to buy!

I ended up buying the boots below, not anything I would ever buy in Georgia. But it was a right decision--since I've been in Eger, I know I'm almost in fashion (my boots are conservative and comfortable!) with almost everyone wearing tall black boots. The shop window above is just a pale version of the wide variety of boots seen on the street--extreme pointed toe cowboy boots with stitching seem especially popular, and very high heeled boots as well. I've even seen quite a number of young women wearing boots, textured tights, and shorts--a good look for the under college student population!

We now understand (from many of our hosts) that Spring is right around the corner. So I'll wear my nice boots in the snow and slush, knowing that "these boots were made for walking". And I'll think of the shopping trip with my sisters--they both bought boots that day, too. When I go back to the hot summer in Georgia, my boots will remind me of Eger until I return.

I Skype with my sisters, and one sister is actually coming to Eger soon to visit. It's a privilege to share this wonderful experience with my family and friends. Yes, I know...time to get back to substantive blogs!!!