Nakedness

It’s not everyone’s favorite topic, but it’s an unavoidable one if I’m ever going to be able to give you the full picture of life here in China. Little bums sticking out of split pants, people bathing in rivers, and naked grannies.

It’s the naked grannies I’m going to focus on in this story…I met a few the other day in the locker room at our local gym. I walked into the locker room with Lily strapped to my body in a sling with the intention of putting my coat and bag in a locker before working out on the elliptical. That’s when grandma came over to me to admire my little one and as always the inevitable happened, a crowd formed. Yes, a crowd of naked grannies surrounding me, wanting a peak at my baby.

They stood there, some with tousled wet hair others with washcloth towels in their hands (that’s how they dry off…with a washcloth!), asking me questions. “How old is your baby? Where are you from? Are you going to workout with her in that bag?!! Is she cold? She looks cold; she doesn’t have enough layers on! How long have you been in China? What is your job?” They all smile and congratulate me on my beautiful baby and eventually return to their previous activities.

I giggle to myself and suppress the desire to outright laugh. I’m impressed with their lack of concern for modesty and their ability to have no qualms over their nakedness! I find it silly that I hide behind a curtain with my gigantic beach towel wrapped precariously around me as I struggle to get dressed, all the while they are blow drying their hair, having conversations with complete strangers (me), and crowded three around a shower head sharing the water…naked!

When I blushed and couldn’t go forward into the shower room last year with a Chinese friend of mine, she winked and said, “Yes, I was told foreigners feel awkward.” Awkward is just the beginning!