Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Nudity? No problem!

So we've been living in Finland for over 1.5 years, and generally it's been an easy transition. There were no major culture shocks when we came over here....
Until this week.
Two of my girlfriends were taking their kids to the Makelankatu swimming hall in Helsinki (public swimming hall) and invited Charlie and I to come along. Since we had not gone to this pool before, we decided we'd try it out.
Picture me, carrying a sleeping Charlie in his car seat, a diaper bag and a bag full of our swimming gear, struggling to open the change room doors with all of my gear and then boom, walk into a change room where literally there are naked women. EVERYWHERE! No shame. No hiding. No backs are turned. Boobs and butt everywhere. Of all shapes and sizes.
As I got Charlie and I dressed (of course me hiding in the corner trying to put my swimsuit on as quickly possible), an old woman came from around the corner and had the locker next to mine. Butt naked, looks straight at me and says "anteeksi" (excuse me in Finnish) and then bends over to put on her underwear with her wrinkly droopy bum in my face.
We proceeded to the showers, where you have to of course shower before you get into the pool. I was receiving so many strange looks from all these women because I was showering with my swimsuit on.
I had known the Finnish culture was more relaxed about nudity, because we've heard that all Finnish families sauna together in the nude. Mother, father, brother, sister, neighbours, etc. And by no means am I trying to come across as judgmental or horrified. I think it was my first culture shock in this country, as I was very uncomfortable with all the nudity.
But maybe that's just me.

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