Since my residence has a large sauna, I invited everyone over. It was a very cold day, so it was a fitting activity. Emese and I were in swimsuits, while Yang and Minju wore T-shirts and shorts, which surprised us immediately. They explained that in Korea, when you go to a sauna, staff at the entrance provide uniforms—a T-shirt and shorts—so everyone wears the same attire in the sauna. I can’t imagine being in the sauna with clothes on! I already struggle with the heat in a swimsuit, so I don’t know how they manage with extra layers.
In France, we usually wear swimsuits, while in Germany it depends on the sauna type. According to Emese, some saunas are nude, while others require swimwear. Moreover, in France, we only have saunas in spas, unlike Germany and Finland, where public saunas are common. This led us to compare our two neighboring countries, which differ so much culturally. I feel Europe is divided in lifestyle: Southern Europe with countries like Spain, Italy, and France, and Northern Europe with Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Estonia. Germany, however, straddles both, showing traits from each side, making it hard to classify.
In Japan, Minju said mostly older people visit saunas, unlike in Finland, where sauna culture is for all ages, and saunas are everywhere. Before coming to Finland, I thought of saunas as a luxury. We only visit a sauna if we can afford a spa day, which is often pricey, so it’s rare (maybe once or twice a year). But here, it has become almost routine; I even go alone sometimes and love these moments of relaxation. Going back to France will be tough !
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