Naked Kids- literally

Today I witnessed, in a small fraction, what Europe is best known for; nude beaches. Only differences were that I wasn't at a beach and they weren't completely nude. But let me tell you, it was quite a shock. I started to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all once I got over the initial shock of it all.

Boys run around naked, girls are topless. Nudity is not something to be ashamed of here. To be seen in a two-piece, completely modest swimsuit was a bit embarrassing because it seemed so natural to be scantily dressed.

Now, to put at ease the strange feelings you may be having about this, the boys are girls running naked and free were all mostly under the age of 8. But to see a topless little girl was still a little shocking. I know that my father would never have it, even when we were 6 years old and completely innocent.

Another strange feature of German swimming pools is the scale at which women view themselves. To explain, women here are EXTREMELY comfortable in their skin. The women are wrinkly and old and have front bums and they wear bikinis. Mothers that have birthed 9 kids are in bikinis with the same physical features.

Every young girl I saw had cottage cheese legs, or those that would quickly become cottage cheese legs within the next 4 years. And the best/worst part of this: NO ONE GAVE A ROUGH. They were just at the pool having a good time. The girls were with boys, they had boyfriends, some were married. And no one (except maybe me) payed any attention to these practicalities. Huh. Imagine that. A place where physical appearance didn't really matter. What a strange concept it still is to me.

Despite the easiness these women had, I still strive to have no cottage cheese and toned legs and a flat belly. I'd call it chemical imbalances in the brain. They often get me to eat less than I should, and no sweets (which is very hard living in Europe), and have me losing the calories due to the stress about the calories. Yes, I'd say I'm somewhat back in the same place I was last year. But I think today, seeing women being content and happy in the wrinkly and cheesy legs, made an impact in the positive way I've been praying so desperately to find.

I've read a great book: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I recommend it.


Hi. Europe rocks. Hard.


Met a kid named Heber today and felt really close to home (Heber, UT. Get it?). And he's mature for his age (so I've been told), so I think we'll get on quite well. Hi, Heber. Thanks for having a nice name.


Loves from Germany
Chloe
xxx

also, I won this swimsuit.