Part II

Nudity....it's not just for Europeans anymore
Last weekend was wonderful! We had a leaders retreat at a hotel on the Slapy lake. It was warm and beautiful. I was able to wear flip flops outside for the first time this year. One of the amenities of the hotel was massages. The girls decided it was a must for the weekend and went to check it out. We asked about times and prices. They asked if we wanted full body or neck and back. I was pretty adamant about getting the full body, at $20 bucks you can't beat it. Kelly discreetly pointed out the man who would be doing the massaging. I quickly changed my mind and asked for neck and back. Then everyone got yellow and decided they wouldn't go first. So, Jessica, the immodest one (acting and all that), is forced to be the guinea pig.

So, I follow this man, who has the aura of a used car salesman and the looks of Slash from Guns 'N Roses, to the massage room. It's a huge room with two tables. He says something in Czech and points to a clothes rack, then tells me to have a seat. I can only assume he is telling me to take off my clothes and have a seat till he comes back. I'm thinking, "No way am I just hanging out naked in a chair!" Since I am only having my neck and back done, I only remove my top and bra and lay down on the table to wait. Look Ma! No sheet! Mr. Slash walks in and tells me through gestures that I am facing the wrong way. I am topless and have to get up and but my head at the other end of the table. Then he's upset because I am wearing my jeans. He tries to pull them down. I end up having to sit up once again so I can unzip my pants so they can be lower on my hips. Finally, I begin to relax when the massage gets underway. Everything is going great and I am beginning to forget my embarrassment from before...when suddenly, he asks me to sit up. I am shocked and I repeat his question. Yes, he definitely wants me to sit up. Ok....I am sitting up now and he's rubbing my neck and shoulders. I am more than a little uncomfortable. Then I look up an notice a cabinet with glass doors right in front of me. Can it get any worse? Oh, yes it can! When the whole thing is finished, Mr. Slash walks to the sink which is right in front of me. I turn away from him and zip up my pants. My clothes are next to him so I don't want to walk toward him to get dressed so I just stand with my back to him waiting for him to leave. The next thing I know, he is wiping the oil off my back with the sheet I was laying on. I just wanted him to go, finally he did. I got dressed and left. I only had a few seconds to prepare the next victim as to what to expect. We all had a good laugh when it was over. I think it was a good bonding experience for us.

I think it is funny how differently two societies view nudity. People change clothes in front of others of the opposite sex all the time here. On school trips, they only get enough rooms for the exact number of students, regardless if boys have to share rooms with girls. Even after living here for two years, I was so uncomfortable in that situation. I hope you think my story is funny, I do. That's why I shared it with you.

This weekend I am going canoeing in Cesky Krumlov. I can't wait! I'll tell you all about it next week. Only 3 1/2 weeks till I'm in Texas.