South Korea: Clothing optional & TP included.

I realized today as I walked (naked) from the gym shower to my locker to put my swim suit on just how naked the people of South Korea are...and I like it.  I've belonged to gyms and been to spas in the states and while there's a small amount of nakedness, I have to say the nudity comfort zone just isn't there.  I'm not talking sexual nudity.  I'm just talking about good, old, clothing optional, nude-and-crude, be free, nakedness.  There's no frantic grabbing for a robe or towel, showering with a bathing suit on, or even refraining from looking around or (God forbid) in the mirror.  In fact it often states in the rules that you must shower naked, and leave the shower dry (which means drying off naked).  And I'd be lying if I said I didn't take the opportunity to check myself out in the full length mirrors which line the locker room walls on the walk back to my locker (also done naked).   Don't lie, you do it too.

At first I thought this resident nudity must be because South Korean woman are all thin, all toned, and basically all look like 12 year old boys.  Not so.  Old, young, thin, fat, tall, short, and everything in between if they're within 12 feet of a public shower...they're naked.  Today I saw two middle aged women having a conversation in the locker room.  One was drying her hair while the other fixed the polish on her toes......and yes, they were naked.  And while I'm sure having body hang-up's doesn't end in the good ol'US of A it is nice to be in a place where there is such comfort being in your own skin.  

Besides the plentiful opportunities for public nudity my other favorite thing about South Korea is the amazing deals at the grocery stores.  Case in point, I just purchased 9 cans of tuna fish and 4 rolls of toilet paper for about 10 dollars.  I mean, seriously, what a deal!  The fact that the items were all packaged together in a "buy 9 cans get 4 rolls free" set just puts a smile on my face.  I'm not sure what the thinking behind this steal of a deal was (perhaps that after eating the tuna you're eventually going to need the tp) but I like it.  It made much more sense than the carton of skim milk I bought that had another carton of whole milk attached to it.  If I'm making the effort to drink fat free milk clearly I won't be needing the full-of-fat version..maybe it was a "mix your own 2%" marketing scheme.  Maybe I'll try mixing different amounts of fat free and full-of-fat milk and see what I like the best.  Regardless, it needs to be said that purchasing just one item without another attached to it, is nearly impossible.  

I think this stems from the South Koreans' LOVE of packaging food.  Hotdogs are individually plastic wrapped.  You can buy a milk shake in a plastic bag with a spout.  Gatorade comes not only in a can, but in bottles of all sizes.  And pepperoni pizza comes with green peppers and corn..but that's neither here nor there.