You've sat naked in a hot tub with some random strangers.
Yep, I went to a real onsen today. By choice -- sort of. My friend M suggested we go and I thought well hey, when we move home am I going to be able to look back on our time here and say yeah I did do some pretty interesting things, or not? So I took a deep breath and chanted "this is culturally normal, this is culturally normal, this is culturally normal" to myself, and even managed to act like I was perfectly fine with it.
And actually, I even enjoyed the experience. Not so much the naked bit per se, but standing in a room with women of all ages, shapes and sizes who were simply enjoying life and not being hung up over whether their thighs are too fat or their boobs are too small or the mole on their back is too big. There's something beautiful about four women in their seventies sitting naked in a hot tub, laughing together over some private joke, smiling and asking you in Japanese how old your kawaii little baby is.
Tell ya what though, it was a good reminder of the reality that one day I'm gonna get old and saggy. Everywhere.
3 comments:
When in Japan, do as the Japanese do... :) good for you for being brave enough! I'm trying to decide how I'd respond if given the opportunity...
oh fun! I can imagine that would have been both uncomfortable and exhilerating at the same time. I know I would have loved it. Must stick it on a list of to do's should I ever go to Japan! Enjoy your last few months!
Good on ya, Natalie! (and yes, 'fraid so, we all get old[er]...
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