Reading Skills for Today's Adults

Wardrobe or Closet?

There are lots of different things in America that we, foreigners, have to get used to. One thing is closets. Each bedroom in America has a closet. It is not movable, and it takes up a lot of space. Other areas of the house may have closets too. People put lots of things in them. 

​

People store more than just clothes in closets. They store things like toys, seasonal items, and even shoes. People from Poland do not store shoes in a closet. We believe they are dirty and do not smell nice.

​

Instead of closets, we have wardrobes in Poland. When you move into a house, there are four bare walls in the bedrooms. You buy your own wardrobe in whatever design and size you like. You can place it wherever you want. You do not have to have a wardrobe in a bedroom. 

​

The word “closet” is an odd word for us because “closet” in Polish means “toilet.” It feels strange for us to say, “Put your clothes in the closet,” or “Your coat is in the closet.” There have been many misunderstandings and funny situations with the “closet/toilet” word.

​

After getting used to the American way of life, we now find that closets are nice and convenient. We can store lots of things in them. We especially like walk-in closets, which are even more spacious than regular closets. You can put very big items in them! 

​

Even though I thought closets were not a good idea at first, now I would rather have closets in my home than a wardrobe. Closets are more practical.