Change room etiquette

I've been in enough change rooms in my life to understand the western etiquette. That is, do what you have to do without watching others. In China though it's a totally different situation.

Generally I go to the gym in the morning and have the change room all to myself. Other times I have to go in the afternoon or at night due to my teaching schedule. On my first occasion at this time slot I found I was sharing the change room with 20 other women. Now this does not bother me at home but the situation here is very different.

First I struggled to understand why all these women were naked and having a general conversation. I just ignored it and went about doing my own thing. Until, one naked Chinese woman came to speak with me. Now I don't speak Chinese and she didn't speak English. This was not the real concern. My real concern was she was totally naked. Who knows what I was shrugging my shoulders at.

Anyway going about my own business it later dawned on me that these people don't have showers or baths at home and they are accustomed to having communal baths and showers that they are not as body conscious as we are. To them this is natural as they wait for their turn in the communal bath/shower.

With this new found understanding I was cool with this. Until, one day I was at the gym and sharing it with 2 other Chinese women. One of the Chinese women was getting dressed and she had her knickers pulled have way up. She than waddled like this to her locker. I thought 'oh no, I know what she is going to do.' Yep insert a tampon. Now I don't think this is acceptable in any country.