approach cultural differences with understanding and an open mind

During winter time when it‘s cold, rainy and windy in Berlin, I love going to the spa. Silence, warmth, (mostly) chill people, and relaxation await me there. If you (just like me) ever asked yourself why they call it a spa, here’s what I found on the Internet regarding that question (in case you weren't asking yourself, here's what I found anyway).

It’s probably called spa because of the Belgian town Spa. Spa is famous for its thermal baths that have existed there for centuries. Another theory is that it’s a Latin acronym and that spa stands for “Sanitas per aquam” (health through water). There’s even one more theory saying that the word derives from the word espa (spring) from the ancient Walloon language. But enough of this. Who actually gives a fuck where the word comes from?

One of the most popular ones in Berlin is the Vabali Spa. They have 10 saunas, 3 steam baths and 4 pools. I’ve never been there though. Maybe it’s because the Vabali is being hyped so much (my zodiac is aquarius and someone once told me that aquariuses are independent, unconventional and tend to swim against the stream). I don’t like things that are being hyped. I’ve never been to Wen Cheng to try the apparently awesome hand – made noodles, I’ve been to the Klunkerkranich once (but that’s already like 10 years ago), and I watched Game of Thrones 10 years after the first season came out, and the hype was not into my face as much anymore (I understand the hype about GoT though. It’s a great story although the last season is garbage).

Let us come back to the Vabali. I’ve heard that people get in line to get in. What the hell? Especially when it’s cold, rainy, and windy, that would be the last thing that I’d be wanting to do. Besides, I go to the fucking spa to find relaxation and to escape the everyday hustle. Why would I get in line there?

I would love to tell you which spa I go to. The price is lower, it’s almost as big, and the atmosphere is super chill because not as many people go there. I can’t though, because it would be contraproductive as I am looking for tranquility, and the more people know, the more people go, the less likely I will find tranquility. Sorry for being a bitch. Forgive me please!

I didn’t have to get in line, but it was a bit more crowded when I went there between Christmas and New Year’s Eve. So, although there would have been enough space for everyone to sit and chillax, the Germans did what they are best at. They reserved their seat with a towel. You have to love it.

I couldn’t help but ask Chatty what he was thinking about this kind of behavior.

 

Leo: Why do Germans reserve their seats with a towel so often?

ChatGPT: The reasons vary but it could be a way to secure a preferred spot or simply a cultural norm that has developed over time.

Leo: Isn’t that a bit ignorant?

ChatGPT: Cultural practices can vary, and what might seem unconventional to one person could be a common behavior in another culture. It’s essential to approach cultural differences with understanding and an open mind.

 

What? Cultural norm? Approach cultural differences with understanding and an open mind? Have you lost your marbles Chatty? That kind of behavior is just fucking ignorant. What the hell are you talking about? It’s getting harder every day to find an understanding listener when talking to you Chatty.

So yeah, me and the friend I was there with just moved a person’s towel that had been spread across two seats and sat down.

It was just a matter of time for the owner of the towel to come back.

After 10 minutes a man in a blue bathrobe came. He looked at us, he looked for his towel. He didn't say anything. He was breathing heavily while reaching for his towel (that was now laying somewhere else) to show us how exhausting this is for him, anger in his little eyes. 

He walked away.

After another 10 minutes, there he was again. Standing there very confidently in his bathrobe giving us a lecture on how to behave in such an establishment. He said that he had found another spot to block now, that our behavior is more than inappropriate, that he has already called his boyz, and that they’re gonna fuck us up when we leave the spa.

Ok, he didn’t say the last couple things, although that scenario is also imaginable to be honest.

The friend of mine wanted to reply something to him but the man in the blue bathrobe had not come to have a discussion. He had come to give a speech. So off he went.

(time passes, we chill)

After a while there’s an announcement over the loudspeakers.

“Dear guests! We kindly ask you to not reserve the seats so that the other guests also have the opportunity to find a seat.”

Later I ran into the man with the blue bathrobe again. He looked at me, I looked at him, and I could see in his little eyes that he had heard the announcement. There was a big smile on my face while we passed one another. On his face there was none.

Hope you enjoyed today’s content and as always, much love.