Getting Naked with Other Women
I looooved the jimjilbang (bathhouse). I was never very worried about getting naked in front of others. I knew no one would care or look at me. I blend in here. I think I would have been more nervous if I looked like a foreigner, but Cory said no one really noticed him. You just have to have the attitude that no one’s going to care and get over it. Being naked is only a big deal in America. I feel like every other country in the world is okay about nudity and their bodies. It was kind of nice to just feel “free.”
When you arrive at the jimjilbang, you go into the shower/bathing room. You put your shoes in one locker and then you put your other belongings and clothing in a second locker. You head to the showers completely naked with one towel. Then you bath as you usually would. There was shampoo and soap, but most everyone seemed to bring their own basket of things. There were standing showers and also smaller showers with a removable shower nozzle and stools you could sit on. Women were sitting on the stools diligently scrubbing off layers of dead skin cells. I’m pretty sure the proper technique is to shower, scrub, soak in the baths, scrub again, soak, shower… It can go on and on. We just showered like normal and sat in the different baths (different temperatures and minerals). The baths are made of different things - salts, green tea… Cory heard more about this that I did, so I’m not exactly sure what all I sat in.
In the shower/bath area, there were massage tables set up and two women were massaging one lady’s entire body. She was totally naked and the massagers were just in bras and underwear! It was kind of funny, but I would definitely try it (I loooove getting massages), and i imagine it would be super relaxing in that warm room.
After we sat in the baths and showered again (have to get all those minerals off us I guess), we met in the common area for men and women. Think a big living room with only cushions to sit on and a big screen TV. We enjoyed some traditional Korean rice and barley drinks and ate some hard boiled eggs (popular snack in the bathhouse I think). The barley drink tasted like pureed Cherrios. I liked it!
After our snack, we went into the different saunas. You can sit or lay on mats inside. I loved it. It felt so good to be warm, like laying on the beach. People inside the saunas were sleeping. I almost fell asleep myself. It felt amazing. I’m the type of person who likes to lay around, nap, be warm and cozy… Cory on the other hand got pretty restless and sweaty.
The jimjilbang is so relaxing, there is even a special room with bunk beds where you can sleep. I just fell asleep on the floor with a cushion under my head while Cory and our friends watched Korean music videos. :)
The jimjilbang was a really relaxing and enjoyable experience. I can’t wait to go again. Next time I plan to sit on a stool and scrub away layers of dead skin cells.
People can spend a whole day and even overnight in a jimjilbang. Some have gyms, nail salons, and restaurants inside. I’d like to go to a huge one like that next time.
Anyway, I would highly recommend going to a bathhouse. It feels really good! You just have to get over the phobia of being naked and be open-minded.
I’m sitting here thinking I need to make plans with some friends and go to jimjilbang again….
