The hammam is the public bathhouse, a beloved tradition here. I was told it was a place for women to get together, relax and talk for hours. I was pumped to go...
You walk in and EVERYBODY IS NAKED. And staring at you. It's kind of an industrial operation, so you strip down quickly and a woman (also naked) comes over with a huge bucket of water and pours it over your unsuspecting head. She grabs a grommage and literally scrubs your whole body like you're two and it's bathtime. A few more buckets over the head, some hair washing and lots of exfoliating, and then...it's time to go.
I went with my Dutch sisters Arwen and Marthe (who are also visiting students doing research) and my homestay mom Karima. Karima didn't go inside, except for a few appearances in which she was fully clothed and I was smooshed on the floor being scrubbed.
Kiiinda embarrassing. Kiiinda like NQR minus the cover of darkness (or the snow).
Mmmm so this is what they meant by culture shock!
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