Dipping my Toes in the Naked Comfort Zone
Written by Bessie on Thursday, February 04, 2010 in Korea, Republic of
Feelin' amused
My first experience with public nudity I was 17 and staying with a host family in Sweden. I took my 5 and 10 year old host siblings to the local beach, and well, when everyone's topless, you just sort of follow along. Even when you're with a 5 and 10 year old, but it's Sweden, so it's what you do.Feelin' amused
Today I lept way past the topless beach into the local Korean public bath (jimjibang). It's my 3rd time, so I've sorted out all the shoe vs. clothes locker business and the proper sitting and shower process to not look like a dirty foreginer. This time though, my friend and I decided to get scrubs. Imagine a carpenter fiercely sanding a door, and then replace it with a Korean woman in her 60s and your leg.
They put on these oven mitt style gloves that feel like sand paper and scrub at every inch of your nakey body. And I mean every inch: armpits, bikini line, between your toes. She scrubbed super hard at my stomach, and took my hand and made me touch all the rolled up skin bits, as if you tell me, "you come back here more often."
As I laid on a table, naked ladies were on either side of me getting scrubbed. I noticed my toes pushing slightly into my scrub lady's tummy rolls. (Did I mention her work uniform is a sligthly see-through black bra and panty set?) At that moment it registered, this is one of the odder moments I've had recently, and yet living in a foreign country, it feels sorta normal.
Can you become so adaptable, that creep-o things don't bother you anymore? I'm starting to wonder.
Comments on "Dipping my Toes in the Naked Comfort Zone"
that's funny!
So where are the usual photos and video??? :>)
haa haaa - I don't think that would have been too popular. :)
Ever since I married a Swede, my perceptions on public nudity and nakedness all around have totally changed. They are simply comfortable walking around naked in front of family and many other places not usually associated with nudity. You just get used to it, then it's not so bad or shocking anymore.
Ya, it makes you wonder why we're so freaked out at times by nudity.
The open-mindedness about sexuality was one of the things that I really like about Swedes. Sitting around the dinner table my host family would bring up sex or lingerie, not in an inappropriate way at all, but acknowledging that they're parts of life. It felt so balanced and real.
Love this post Bessie! And I love your use of the word 'nakey' :)
Nothing say FUN like fondling your own rolled up skin bits!
~giggles madly~
by Alex at February 04, 2010 05:26 PM