I grew up in a tradition of leaving our shoes or slippers outside when we enter anyone’s house. For respect. And also to prevent dirt from coming into the house. But gone are those days (Spanish occupation in the Philippines) when rich hosts would let their servants follow your footsteps with a rag, that made the guests a ‘bit’ uneasy. In India, there is still this culture of respecting the ground you walk on, especially those old ‘sacred’ structures by way of being barefooted or covering the shoes. This man’s job is to see to it.  Somehow, when I recall those places, I always remember that man by the entrance putting visitors’ shoe covering. It’s a noble job.