My last post reminded me of this one that I thought I'd share-again.
I've been in New Zealand for 19 months now and I'm still surprised at the differences.
I was just thinking about the first time I was at a public thermal pool. It was outside of Auckland, in July--cold as can be--and a new experience on my second day in the country. My first reaction was excitement for a new experience combined with a bit of sensory confusion.
Picture this: It's cold, it's raining on-and-off and we walk into the pools area. Some pools have covers stretched across them, some are totally open to the elements, some are totally enclosed, but all have steam rising in alluring abundance. We also see a varied combination of people: some in wet bathing suits running across the courtyard, others bundled in parkas and sitting at picnic tables plus many others in various in-between degrees of undress, some wet, some dry. It's a brand-new experience for me as I realized that this sight is an every-day occurance here.
The changing rooms are culturally different too, as they have a big common-room for dressing and common showers. Fortunately, I'm not a prude, so I don't have a problem with it, but I smile to myself thinking about some peole that I know that would end up changing into togs in the loo!!
4 comments:
Yes, fun to see how you see "ordinary" things differently when you move to another country. Americans tend to be more prudish about nudity and so on. I always get a kick out of watching American movie scenes where lovers get out of bed but wrap the whole darn sheet around themselves to walk to the bathroom. Who are they kidding?
Thnaks for popping by my blog "Always Dreaming" and leaving such a lovely comment on my shopping post. Yes, you can find interesting things in a mall...
Especially when that mall is an outdoor affair on the amazing Sanibel Island FL!!
Fun to read about a place I will likely never be.
I love learning and thinking about other lands...someday, soon. we will get there!
i am glad your not a prude!!!!
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