Don't Forget Your Hausschuhe

So, I have a pair of old suede Birkenstock clogs that I decided to bring with me because hey, they're comfortable and they're German. I wore them out walking around the other day, which turned out to be a bad idea because it rained and my feet got wet. Last night I was chatting with some of the older American students from BU in my dorm. One of the RAs was wearing clogs similar to mine except they're half smooth leather and half felt. She called them her Hausschuhe, or house shoes. The other girls were saying they see Hausschuhe for sale everywhere, even the grocery store Aldi. They told me that though Birkenstock clogs are acceptable outside wear in the States, if you wear them out here you will get some weird looks from Germans. It's pretty much the equivalent of wearing slippers to go shopping in the U.S. Oh well, I guess I shouldn't wear my clogs outside but at least I have a nice pair of Hausschuhe!