Debate, and discuss, just dont Bore me.
Inspired by BFD
Published on January 7, 2010 By Dr Guy In Misc

At the urging of Big Fat Daddy, I submit this revelation to the state bound population of the US.  Those in Europe will probably read this and go "duh!".  But you have to understand that this nation was settled by some puritans and the strain still runs through the population to a degree.

I spent most of my youth living near an ocean, so swimming was always a summer activity.  But when we moved to Germany at the start of my junior year of High School, the nearest ocean was several countries away.  needless to say, it was no longer an option to "go to the beach", but swimming was still mandatory for us.  So we found "The Sand Pit".  It was an old quarry with steep sides (so not a lot of beach), and very cool water!  And clean too!  A very good swimming hole that most of Frankfurt was aware of and availed themselves of.

For the non-traveling Americans, you should know that swimming spots in Europe are "clothing optional". You were not required to wear bathing suits, nor required to shed them.  It was your option.  Needless to say my first trip there was a shock (a delightful one for a 16 year old boy), but it quickly became old hat.  Some people were nude. You expected it, and did not really notice them unless you think about noticing some hot chick in a bikini - this was the same way.  Except the bikini was not there.  But most of the time you did not see or notice who was wearing a suit and who was not.  It was natural.

So I thought nothing of inviting my girl friend to the sand pit with me.  Besides, while I was a newbie to European customs, she was half native.  An American GI father (in the AF no less Tova!), and a German Mother, this was not the first time she had been stationed in German.  So it did not phase her at all. 

Did I mention there was not a lot of beach?  if you did not get there early, you had to walk around the pit to find a spot to put your towel.  Most of the sides were not scalable and there was really only one way down and up.  So we got there mid morning and started our trek to find a spot.  Stepping over people as we walked in single file.  No big deal, everyone did it.

About half way around, I heard a voice.  Sounded familiar.  I looked down to see a friend, Mike.  He was with some of his friends and just in the process of "going native".  "hi Mike", I said innocently.  And thought nothing more of it.  My Girl friend, right behind me, saw him as well, and said Hi was well.  And we moved on to a clear spot.

That was on a Saturday.  On Monday, I was back at school doing what most school kids do - yakking before class and being bored at class.  My first class afer lunch was French (smart, huh?  Living in Germany taking French?  You can see I was a sharp cookie).  I got there a little early so I could socialize.  About a minute later Mike walks in, sees me and jumps me! "You fink!  You rat Fink!  Why did you do that?  You Embarrassed me?'  He was on me like white on Rice.  I was stunned!  What did I do?

"You told Barbara to look at me!  You Embarrassed me!  I was so embarrassed for her to see me nude!"

At this point, I was rolling on the floor - in laughter!  I looked at him and told him I did not call attention to him, I just said hi!  And neither Barbara or I thought twice about him after we passed!  But he was not buying any of that.  And continued to accuse me of making him the object of attention. And I still could not stop laughing.  Poor Mike thought that since he was with only "guy" friends, that no one he knew of the distaff persuasion would see him and his first attempt at going native.  he really was embarrassed, but for why I dont know.  I doubt Barbara even saw anything more than his face, which she recognized and did what any polite person would do.  Said Hi.

But forever after that, he became known as Native Mike!  I hope he has lived that down by now. It has been quite a few years.  And after the first shock of it wore off, he was able to laugh about it.  I wonder if he has told his grand kids yet?


Comments
on Jan 08, 2010

I can't wait to see Ruthie's response to this .  

Our first trip to the quarry at Roxheim, near Worms, was similarly "open".  We chose not to "go native", but several folks in the area were of mixed participation.  What always tickles me the most is the way that comrade and his lady would go to the quarry fully dressed, some even wore suits and ties.  The man would hold up a blanket for his lady to change behind.  She would change as if in a dressing room at a department store, while half the world saw a blanket and the other half saw her changing with a blanket behind her.

on Jan 08, 2010

It is a funny story. It must be quite a new experience but as you said, you get used to it quickly.

I remember news reports (that was years ago though) about a swiss au pair girl who took pictures of the 2 year old girl she was babysitting in summer in the garden, and the girl was nude. They arrested her on charges of child pornography - I just thought that was insane. Kids run around naked on the beach most of the time, even when the rest wear swimsuits. So a young kid running around naked in the garden during summertime is no big deal here. And something like a "wardrobe malfunction" would not even be noticed on german television. The so called nipplegate just gave us all a big laugh and confirmed what we all thought about americans, they're all crazy lol

I grew up on the lake of constance, and going swimming nude is no big deal. Usually, if you go to a popular spot like a big lawn it is mostly people wearing swimsuits. I hardly saw people going all the way native, but going topless is popular. There are naturists as well, but I never explicitly noticed them. After you saw a few elderly folks sunbathing in the nude you tend to not look toooo closely anyway. But the lake of constance is a very touristy place, it is different if you go to a quarry. There, more people go native. And if you go to the sauna here everybody is nude. It's the sauna, wearing a swimsuit is not even allowed in some places - hygienic reasons. You just have to go to all men or all female times if you want to avoid getting stared at.

 

on Jan 08, 2010

The man would hold up a blanket for his lady to change behind. She would change as if in a dressing room at a department store, while half the world saw a blanket and the other half saw her changing with a blanket behind her.

I never saw that behavior.  But then as I say, after the first couple of times, it was no big deal. Just like people going to the beach in the states.  Some you noticed (the hot ones) and most you did not.

I should add that while stationed in Germany, a friend of mine in the states (who had never beento Europe) wrote a letter about their own trip to the beach.  It seems that some lady had decided to go sans apparel, and it scandalized the whole beach!  I laughed at that.  One Person?  We have half a quarry of them!

on Jan 08, 2010

After you saw a few elderly folks sunbathing in the nude you tend to not look toooo closely anyway.

True!

I remember news reports (that was years ago though) about a swiss au pair girl who took pictures of the 2 year old girl she was babysitting in summer in the garden, and the girl was nude. They arrested her on charges of child pornography - I just thought that was insane.

That is a whole other story.  It has gotten so bad here, I fear that if I had tried today to develop any of the pictures I took of my children taking a bath (about 25 years ago now), I would have been arrested for the same reason!  As you say, insane!  It is stupid!  My mother embarrassed the hell of me by showing some of my baby bath pictures to my girl friends when I was in the dating years (but then what are parents for?).  Before recently, it was never thought of as anything but a doting - perhaps overly proud - parent and the numerous pictures they always take of their children.

But today we would all be arrested.  Probably still can be since we still have the pictures and I am sure some idiot would consider them pornography.

on Jan 08, 2010

When were little we always went to the beach in Mali Losinj (a croatian island) where my uncle was the principal of a boarding school. It was empty in the summer and my parents were able to stay there without a problem with us 6 kids. I saw pictures of the logistical effort it took to take 6 kids ranging from 1 year old to 15. My mom packed at least 20 navy seabags with diapers and Müsli and  clothes and bedding etc., and we took the train and then a ship the rest of the way. I'll never know how she managed that feat.

The spot where we always went to was right next to a nudist beach. That part of the beach was seperated from the rest with a meshwire fence that was already rusty and broken from the seawater. You had to pay if you wanted to use that beach as well because they had bathroom facilities that the rest didn't have and locker rooms etc. You could always tell the new tourists there because the first spot they were sunburnt was their behind.. looked like pavians in some cases. And there was one italian guy who always wore a string tanga (it just looks wrong on men) and his girlfriend, an old american ex actress with lots of silicon and botox. They lived on the island and we met them every year.

Mali Losinj has also a naturalist camping place where everybody is just naked. But let me tell you, going to the beach nude is one thing, I really don't prefer to watch others drink their coffee and read their paper in nothing but their birthday suit or watch them eat breakfast or play cards in the evening. That's too bizarre for me.

on May 26, 2010

I saw pictures of the logistical effort it took to take 6 kids ranging from 1 year old to 15. My mom packed at least 20 navy seabags with diapers and Müsli and clothes and bedding etc., and we took the train and then a ship the rest of the way. I'll never know how she managed that feat.

Sorry I missed this comment, but I have to marvel at your mother!  Now that is a super mom!