US schools

[Joga]

I'm from Central Europe, so our PE lessons looks bit different. We don't have big pitches for different sports, swimming pools, gyms; only sports hall and little pitch(½ of football field). So in my motherland and in the country when i live now, we don't have any showers. And in the locker rooms we are maximum shirtless, but not naked.
So my question is, don't you have any privacy in the locker rooms or showers? I read some posts hear about comparing, and for me it's strange, that you are naked in front of unknow students or classmates every week for years.

[musicalguy]

I am not from the us and don't use locker rooms at all but once when i had swimming training people were just full on naked hanging around and others were in the toilets it just dependes how open you are about being naked

[ska8er]

I would think that in Europe nudity would
not be a big thing especially with the many
nudist resorts. Some schools have closed
and some open showers for after physical
education and sports. After sports showers
are mandatory but if u want to shower and
change after PE its up to you. We also had
to change in the locker room where there
were benches. Everything was done in the
open with our classmates or team mates.
At first undressing and showering was a
bit uncomfortable but after doing it as the
school year went on it became not an issue
cause everyone saw what they wanted to c
and the mystery was over. U say maximum
u get shirtless in the locker room and for what
reason if u dont have showers unless u undress
for swimming or change after PE? Again I would
think especially in Europe there would not be a
such sanctions. As for comparing a lot of guys
would just sneak a peek. At times in the locker
room maybe we would joke around with size or
boy stuff but we would not sit down and ask to
compare or stare. Mostly that was done with our
friends away from school activities.

[Daniel4]

Yea I got a pitch on some sports. Seems they always want me to do wrestling which im not interested. but ya I do a lot of other sports and changing in the lockeroom you get use to it real fast. Always amazed how modest some dudes are .. several go and change in the toilet stall. Seems nasty to go and change there!

[Dynamite_Pickle]

It just depends. My grade school had open showers but no one ever used them. My school now is newer and has a row of showers but there is a partition between every two shower heads. The changing area is open and some dudes change under a towel and others don't care. And I agree with a previous poster that it's not a good idea to stare lol but everyone peeks.

[MrGhosty123]

Not gonna lie, it's pretty much the same for me. We go in the locker room and just change, but not taking off our underwear or anything. It might also be the fact that I'm not really into sports and I've already gotten though mandatory PE. I am going to try swimming next year, though, so I'm hope it stay the same and I don't have to see any other guys nude.

[kro814]

I don't know much about locker rooms in Europe. I am surprised that nobody changes naked in your schools. Not sure how you do swimming and other stuff if you don't change. I have been changing in locker rooms since I was very young starting with swim lessons. It continued into schools . Nude showers have always been required for p.e class. Plus, we wear jock straps for sports so you have to get naked to change into them anyway.

[Joga]

I don't know much about locker rooms in Europe. I am surprised that nobody changes naked in your schools. Not sure how you do swimming and other stuff if you don't change. I have been changing in locker rooms since I was very young starting with swim lessons. It continued into schools . Nude showers have always been required for p.e class. Plus, we wear jock straps for sports so you have to get naked to change into them anyway.

We don't have swim lessons.
If you go to public swimming pools, you have little locked room for changing.
Same for showers, you can do it private in locked shower or "public", but wearing swimsuit

Our schools are really small. So in my school we don't have own pitch, so we go to another school for PE. I think, that you understand, that we don't have swimming pool too.

[Joga]

I would think that in Europe nudity would
not be a big thing especially with the many
nudist resorts. Some schools have closed
and some open showers for after physical
education and sports. After sports showers
are mandatory but if u want to shower and
change after PE its up to you. We also had
to change in the locker room where there
were benches. Everything was done in the
open with our classmates or team mates.
At first undressing and showering was a
bit uncomfortable but after doing it as the
school year went on it became not an issue
cause everyone saw what they wanted to c
and the mystery was over. U say maximum
u get shirtless in the locker room and for what
reason if u dont have showers unless u undress
for swimming or change after PE? Again I would
think especially in Europe there would not be a
such sanctions. As for comparing a lot of guys
would just sneak a peek. At times in the locker
room maybe we would joke around with size or
boy stuff but we would not sit down and ask to
compare or stare. Mostly that was done with our
friends away from school activities.

U say maximum
u get shirtless in the locker room and for what
reason if u dont have showers unless u undress
for swimming or change after PE?
Maybe I used bad words for describing. We have mandatory PE lessons, but don't have showers, so beeing naked is unnecessary.
Same thing for comparing. Maybe i used bad verb. I don't think that you really compare in the locker rooms, but if you shower, it is unpossible to don't see someone naked.
About resorts, they are unpopular. Only old people visit it. In my region we don't have any, only in Spain, Italy and perhaps France. So it's really uncommon thing.

[Falcons_11]

In my school we change and shower when we have PE. It is the norm that we see each other naked. When I was in middle school we also changed and showered beginning in 6th. grade. Most of us were shy about being naked back then. But, after a while you get used to it. As for overt comparing or other sexual activities, that didn't happen. Of course, we did look at other boys penises. But, it was rude to stare. No doubt there was some sexual activities that happened. But it wasn't in the lockers or showers. The fear of getting caught was too great.

[jamie_n5]

Where I live and went to school our locker rooms and showers are open. We were required to take showers after gym. Who wouldn't after getting all sweaty and stinky playing in gym. It was never any big deal for the mass majority of guys. Nobody really gave it any thought. It was just normal to us. The same was at the local pool and beach changing and showers.

[SouthernDude]

I'm from the US. At our school, we do have 2 showers in the locker room. We see each other in underwear, not naked. We don't shower after class, and we don't have a swimming pool. We have a gymnasium, and that's it. There's soccer, lacrosse, and football fields off-campus, but that's different.

Note: I go to a private school

[MasonBA]

We undress, shower and dress in the open. Jock is required. Nervous first couple times being naked with boys I didn't know especially older boys into puberty. Now it's completely normal and comfortable to do it in a group.

[AustinAw3some]

The way it works in my school in the US is that you only need to shower if you went into the pool to get the chlorine off of you. But we do need to change for gym class and most people only go down to underwear unless we are swimming and there is not much privacy.

There are basically rows of lockers so you can't see the people on the other rows but anyone walking past or in your row can see you. If you really want privacy you could go change in a stall but since there are only 4 and so many of us it would take to long for everyone to change in them so most don't.

One thing that I have always found weird is that the entrance to the showers is facing the front door so anyone walking in will see people in the showers. Also same thing with the coaches office. The walls are mostly glass so they can see through to make sure nothing bad is happening. I'm so used to being seen by my friends undressing or naked since I'm on the swim team that it really doesn't bother me anymore.

[logan2002]

We have had to shower after gym in 6th garde. Walk naked to showers, towels are there. Dry of toss towel in hamper, walk to locker naked. In fall you would see a couple of guys get boners.

[Zxywvuts]

We’ve had to shower since 7th grade, so we all end up naked there. We also have to wear jockstraps for gym so unless you’re wearing that around all day you gotta strip down to change into those too.

[Dynamite_Pickle]

We have had to shower after gym in 6th garde. Walk naked to showers, towels are there. Dry of toss towel in hamper, walk to locker naked. In fall you would see a couple of guys get boners.

I was so nervous I would get an accidental boner changing or showering but it hasn't happened yet so I think I'm in the clear haha. It happened to a couple guys in freshman year and they got made fun of for weeks. Nothing mean but would have sucked to be them lol

[Oscar-V3.0]

I'm from Central Europe, so our PE lessons looks bit different. We don't have big pitches for different sports, swimming pools, gyms; only sports hall and little pitch(½ of football field). So in my motherland and in the country when i live now, we don't have any showers. And in the locker rooms we are maximum shirtless, but not naked.
So my question is, don't you have any privacy in the locker rooms or showers? I read some posts hear about comparing, and for me it's strange, that you are naked in front of unknow students or classmates every week for years.

I have never showered at school, but this year I started a new sport where severall guys do take shower after practices. I admit it was strange at first because I didn't know anyone yet, but after like 3 times I was more comfortable with it, it wasn't a big deal

[Jason_d3]

Football, soccer, lacrosse fields are next to school. We do have a pool also. Everyone has to shower after PE starting 6th grade. Locker rooms are open with benches between lockers. Two shower room, Showers are along walls.

[BrianSullivan]

The way it works in my school in the US is that you only need to shower if you went into the pool to get the chlorine off of you. But we do need to change for gym class and most people only go down to underwear unless we are swimming and there is not much privacy.

There are basically rows of lockers so you can't see the people on the other rows but anyone walking past or in your row can see you. If you really want privacy you could go change in a stall but since there are only 4 and so many of us it would take to long for everyone to change in them so most don't.

One thing that I have always found weird is that the entrance to the showers is facing the front door so anyone walking in will see people in the showers. Also same thing with the coaches office. The walls are mostly glass so they can see through to make sure nothing bad is happening. I'm so used to being seen by my friends undressing or naked since I'm on the swim team that it really doesn't bother me anymore.

That's basically the same at school for me. Once I got used to it, being naked actually was fun. All the swimming pool dressing rooms I go to are wide open, so you can see everyone else getting undressed, showering and walking around naked and I like to check out the other boys too.

[HeyCameron]

In P.E. students only undressed to their underwear, there was no showering other than during the swimming unit and we showered in our bathing suits. The stuff of no one's fantasy (only those of who are self-conscious and relieved that there was no nudity of any kind). :)

[Zxywvuts]

In P.E. students only undressed to their underwear, there was no showering other than during the swimming unit and we showered in our bathing suits. The stuff of no one's fantasy (only those of who are self-conscious and relieved that there was no nudity of any kind). :)

I think a lot of schools are like this though. Less awkward... maybe more smelly haha

[Ben7]

I suppose it could also vary between schools in the US; the schools I went to it was mostly just undressing to your underwear but you didn't see anyone naked.

[ibakecookies]

my school doesn't have showers at all. or a pool so no need to strip past undies unless you wear compressions, but i'd just go to the bathroom for that since no one is ever naked in the locker room

[pahern0317]

Our locker room has showers. We all take nude showers after pe class. It is no big deal at all changing and showering naked.

I thought that was the same in all schools.

[Berlin]

I’m from the US and in my school we have partitions between the showers but we change together in the lockers. Most kids don’t get totally naked. Only down to underwear.

[benjs5000]

My school doesn’t make us shower which I’m glad, we just have to change clothes

[Valdemar]

Everyone in Denmark showers nude, possibly all of Scandinavia. It's quite freeing to be able to go in the nude with your friends.

[MentallyChaotic]

We always shower nude. Some guys are too shy to do so, and shower in underpants or swimwear. We usually make fun of them for it.

At the gym and the footie pitch, shower rooms are a single room with lots of showers around the walls, and the drying area is an open space. At the pool, showers are optional and are in a different place than the changing booths, and most people just wear their swimwear (whatever that happens to be) in the shower.

[Joga]

Everyone in Denmark showers nude, possibly all of Scandinavia. It's quite freeing to be able to go in the nude with your friends.

Hopefully I am not in Denmark or Scandinavia. I find this freeing only for people, who wants to see his friends naked.

[Joga]

Our locker room has showers. We all take nude showers after pe class. It is no big deal at all changing and showering naked.

I thought that was the same in all schools.

Maybe same in all US schools, not in Europe.

[Cycler21]

in my experience, we weren’t ever fully naked. for normal PE we just kept our underwear on while changing and when we had swimming we kept our swimsuits on when showering and then just towel changed

[itedwin]

Bro whats a school anymore havent been to one of those in a while lmao

But yeah during pe we would just change into our pe clothes and then back into our regular clothes after

[Rday05]

In school we had showers we never ever used the showers. We all would just get in our underwear and change . I really didn’t care if anyone saw me but we never did anything that would require us to shower .

[itedwin]

In school we had showers we never ever used the showers. We all would just get in our underwear and change . I really didn’t care if anyone saw me but we never did anything that would require us to shower .

Yeah thats about the same for me in school before corona happened, now its just online zooooom

[Jericho14]

I just think that having to take shower after PE class would eat a little more of school hours. In my school, we don‘t go past underwear. The fact that all of our classes go for 1 hour 5 minutes won't give us enough time to take a shower.

I'm sure some Australian schools (especially private) do have people taking showers though

[pahern0317]

I hope we go back to school in the fall. P.E. Class is one of my favorites. Now, that we are starting to "grow", it's fun to compare.

[itedwin]

I hope we go back to school in the fall. P.E. Class is one of my favorites. Now, that we are starting to "grow", it's fun to compare.

Which pe class is your favorite

[Rday05]

I like my zoom class now though , my bathroom is just a few feet away hahaha

[Joga]

Which pe class is your favorite

Do you have more than one PE class?

[itedwin]

Do you have more than one PE class?

Yeah theres other pe electives like team sports and fitness training

[abcdeqwe]

Most locker room showers there is not any privacy at least at high school level. Though at my school showers were optional and no one really ever took them

[pahern0317]

Which pe class is your favorite

I enjoyed the baseball session. We don't know where that is going now though.

[itedwin]

I enjoyed the baseball session. We don't know where that is going now though.

That’s cool and yeah its stupid that everything is stopped like that

[Joga]

Yeah theres other pe electives like team sports and fitness training

Cool
We have different sports, like volleyball, football(soccer in US), basketball. But we don't choose what we gonna do. It depends on school program

[Christoph.er]

I'm from Central Europe, so our PE lessons looks bit different. We don't have big pitches for different sports, swimming pools, gyms; only sports hall and little pitch(½ of football field). So in my motherland and in the country when i live now, we don't have any showers. And in the locker rooms we are maximum shirtless, but not naked.
So my question is, don't you have any privacy in the locker rooms or showers? I read some posts hear about comparing, and for me it's strange, that you are naked in front of unknow students or classmates every week for years.

Im sorry, but where do you live??? Because it would be against any kind of rules in EU to not have a showers at school.... I know barely anyone of us here in Europe use them after PE, but they still have to be there. Or I just interprented that wrong? ;)

[Joga]

Im sorry, but where do you live??? Because it would be against any kind of rules in EU to not have a showers at school.... I know barely anyone of us here in Europe use them after PE, but they still have to be there. Or I just interprented that wrong? ;)

We have. But not mandatory, nobody use it, because of very small breaks. If we have break like 1 hour, we maybe will use it. And i never ever heard about this rule. In small villages some schools have PE lessons in the corridor, some schools in Russia have toiltes outside building. So showers are less important for this type of schools

[Christoph.er]

We have. But not mandatory, nobody use it, because of very small breaks. If we have break like 1 hour, we maybe will use it. And i never ever heard about this rule. In small villages some schools have PE lessons in the corridor, some schools in Russia have toiltes outside building. So showers are less important for this type of schools

Again, where are you from??
Its not the rule, but more like civil rights.
I agree with you that we dont use them because of the short brakes between classes (often mostly 5-10 minutes) but if you really want to gi to shower you just say that to your teacher like I do and he lets you go. Hell I even stay at the end of the class if we play somethint interesting and shower at the brake even if it means to be late to next class for 5 minutes... but the problem is, that I am the only guy (well most of the time. In 4 years I only saw 2 other dudes showering sometimes) of the 20 boy class that showers after PE. Can you imagine what it feels to the teacher of our next class?? :D

[Joga]

Again, where are you from??
Its not the rule, but more like civil rights.
I agree with you that we dont use them because of the short brakes between classes (often mostly 5-10 minutes) but if you really want to gi to shower you just say that to your teacher like I do and he lets you go. Hell I even stay at the end of the class if we play somethint interesting and shower at the brake even if it means to be late to next class for 5 minutes... but the problem is, that I am the only guy (well most of the time. In 4 years I only saw 2 other dudes showering sometimes) of the 20 boy class that showers after PE. Can you imagine what it feels to the teacher of our next class?? :D
You can ask teacher or babushka, who keeps keyes to open it. But i never seen a person in shower.

[Christoph.er]

You can ask teacher or babushka, who keeps keyes to open it. But i never seen a person in shower.

So you are from russia?
Every school I ever been you could get into shower through locker room

[Joga]

Again, where are you from??
Its not the rule, but more like civil rights.
I agree with you that we dont use them because of the short brakes between classes (often mostly 5-10 minutes) but if you really want to gi to shower you just say that to your teacher like I do and he lets you go. Hell I even stay at the end of the class if we play somethint interesting and shower at the brake even if it means to be late to next class for 5 minutes... but the problem is, that I am the only guy (well most of the time. In 4 years I only saw 2 other dudes showering sometimes) of the 20 boy class that showers after PE. Can you imagine what it feels to the teacher of our next class?? :D

Maybe you don't have any problems with showering in Latvia, because in Italy it is mandatory?
I can't imagine that Latvia is more weastern country, than latvian neighbours

So you are from russia?
Every school I ever been you could get into shower through locker room

In Poland, we have a joke, if you think that you are worthless, think about school showee

Posts merged, please use the edit button next time -SouthernDude

[Christoph.er]

Maybe you don't have any problems with showering in Latvia, because in Italy it is mandatory?
I can't imagine that Latvia is more weastern country, than latvian neighbours

Well I moved from Italy when I was 8 so it has nothing to do with that (actually we didnt even showered back there either, but I guess we was too young to understand anything about hygene...)
Well Latvia is in EU since 2004 and never wanted to be part of russia so its quite reasonable that they try to be as much west oriented as possible

In Poland, we have a joke, if you think that you are worthless, think about school showee

Nice one. :D
But still, there are some guys like me, that make them feel at least bit wanted into this world :)D

Posts merged, please use the edit button next time -SouthernDude

[Joga]

Well I moved from Italy when I was 8 so it has nothing to do with that (actually we didnt even showered back there either, but I guess we was too young to understand anything about hygene...)
Well Latvia is in EU since 2004 and never wanted to be part of russia so its quite reasonable that they try to be as much west oriented as possible

Poland in eu too, but we only have locked showers, so nobody use it.
And if they open showers, we won't use it. Probably because of our fear to be seen by our schoolmates.

[Christoph.er]

Poland in eu too, but we only have locked showers, so nobody use it.
And if they open showers, we won't use it. Probably because of our fear to be seen by your schoolmates.

Thats really wierd about locked showers.
But I think youbare right, that they fear to be seen naked altought every shower have curtains and you can chenge in there... so I dont really know.... they should make a survey about it :D

[pahern0317]

Thats really wierd about locked showers.
But I think youbare right, that they fear to be seen naked altought every shower have curtains and you can chenge in there... so I dont really know.... they should make a survey about it :D



Gosh, all I read is how open nudity is in Europe. Then I see all these texts from European teenage boys afraid to be seen naked by their classmates.

[xols]

You can ask teacher or babushka, who keeps keyes to open it. But i never seen a person in shower.

What is a 'babushka?" I always thought that was a Russian or Jewish grandmother. Or a head scarf.

[Christoph.er]

What is a 'babushka?" I always thought that was a Russian or Jewish grandmother. Or a head scarf.


Yeah its grandmother in russian, but you can also call just an old lady that way

Gosh, all I read is how open nudity is in Europe. Then I see all these texts from European teenage boys afraid to be seen naked by their classmates.

I guess nudity in Europe is normal with all these nudist resorts, beaches and even comunities. But its all different with teenagers, propably not feeling secure about their body

Posts merged, please use the edit button or multi-quote button next time -SouthernDude

[Jacobaa]

We usually use the showers at my school because if not you just stink the rest of the day. It wasnt too bad except for bullies but what can ya do 🤷

[Christoph.er]

We usually use the showers at my school because if not you just stink the rest of the day. It wasnt too bad except for bullies but what can ya do 🤷

What does bullies do in showers?? Hits you with wet towel?? Worst thing that happened to me was class clown took off my underwear in shower room and I was like "well, thanks for the help, mate" :D

[Jacobaa]

What does bullies do in showers?? Hits you with wet towel?? Worst thing that happened to me was class clown took off my underwear in shower room and I was like "well, thanks for the help, mate" :D


They would run by and slap or pinch my butt as hard as they could and leave bruises or just yell gay slurs at me and that was only because my parents are gay so im super excited for highschool now that im out myself -.-

[itedwin]

They would run by and slap or pinch my butt as hard as they could and leave bruises or just yell gay slurs at me and that was only because my parents are gay so im super excited for highschool now that im out myself -.-

Yikes they sound like dicks dude

[Jacobaa]

Yikes they sound like dicks dude


Yeah just pure homophobia but their karma will catch up to them so

[Bluebyrd]

They would run by and slap or pinch my butt as hard as they could and leave bruises or just yell gay slurs at me and that was only because my parents are gay so im super excited for highschool now that im out myself -.-

I've found that people mature with age. I wouldn't worry too much about facing homophobia in high school.

[JustAnAveragePerson]

We have locker rooms but it's just shirtless and pantsless. Everyone has underwear on. This is for boys locker room btw idk about girls.

[Achi_Ac]

I also live in Europe. We don’t even have locker rooms.We have History (For example) and when the class finishes we get down to the courtyard and we play -all together- football or basketball or volleyball or if anyone is not in the mood he can sit and do nothing (that would be vital for your grades if the teacher is strict). Then, when PE is over we have a break for 10 min and get up for our next class. 😂

[Joga]

I also live in Europe. We don’t even have locker rooms.We have History (For example) and when the class finishes we get down to the courtyard and we play -all together- football or basketball or volleyball or if anyone is not in the mood he can sit and do nothing (that would be vital for your grades if the teacher is strict). Then, when PE is over we have a break for 10 min and get up for our next class. ��

When I was youger, me and my classmates used to change our clothes together, in a classroom. We were too young, to notice something. But now it seems weird to me.
And a question for you. If i played sports in my school uniform and school boots, my mom will kill me��. You don't have same problem in Greece?

[JustAnAveragePerson]

We don't get naked we just put on our outfit so shirtless and pantless, still underwear on. At least that's for the boys idk about the girls.

[Achi_Ac]

When I was youger, me and my classmates used to change our clothes together, in a classroom. We were too young, to notice something. But now it seems weird to me.
And a question for you. If i played sports in my school uniform and school boots, my mom will kill me��. You don't have same problem in Greece?

We never wear school uniforms (neither in the private nor in the public schools). When we know we have PE, we go to school wearing jogging trousers and athletic shoes. If we wear jeans for example the day we have PE we get noted as absent from the class (I don’t know if other countries have an absence book like us/ how they call it etc)

[Christoph.er]

We never wear school uniforms (neither in the private nor in the public schools). When we know we have PE, we go to school wearing jogging trousers and athletic shoes. If we wear jeans for example the day we have PE we get noted as absent from the class (I don’t know if other countries have an absence book like us/ how they call it etc)

Arent Greece considered "warm" country?? Dont you get super sweaty after PE?
In Latvia we have to use our sportswear, but barely anyone showers after PE (from my class its just me and one other dude about 3 times in these 4 years and only after skiing, probably to warm up a little bit), so all teachers says that we stink. I feel sorry for your teachers :D

[Achi_Ac]

Arent Greece considered "warm" country?? Dont you get super sweaty after PE?
In Latvia we have to use our sportswear, but barely anyone showers after PE (from my class its just me and one other dude about 3 times in these 4 years and only after skiing, probably to warm up a little bit), so all teachers says that we stink. I feel sorry for your teachers :D

Hahaha well it is hot but we don’t get that sweaty 😂 Only the boys that play football/basketball during PE get sweaty, for the next hour they will be red and hot but in an hour they will be fine 😂 It’s funny/interesting how schools work in different countries 😂

[Maxfun]

In the UK, I've not had privacy for pe or swimming. Though swimming it the only time I've been naked and have a shower

[Durango]

and for me it's strange, that you are naked in front of unknow students or classmates every week for years.

I guess, to a certain extent, the reverse is true. Yeah, when I first started changing in the locker room at school (the exact age at which you do so in the U.S. can depend on the policy of the schools where you live, but for me it was at age 12 when I started the 7th grade), I was a little embarrassed, precisely because of what you said - I was getting naked around other students I either didn't know very well or not at all (although I had already been naked in front of my brothers, some guy cousins, and a few close guy friends prior to that point). After a few days, though, it stopped bothering me because I realized that we were all guys there with the same stuff between our legs (just at slightly different stages of development) and it really wasn't any different than when I was naked in front of my brothers, cousins, and close friends. Now I don't even give it a second thought when I'm naked in the locker room at school.

[Christoph.er]

Hahaha well it is hot but we don’t get that sweaty 😂 Only the boys that play football/basketball during PE get sweaty, for the next hour they will be red and hot but in an hour they will be fine 😂 It’s funny/interesting how schools work in different countries 😂

Up here, its mandatory for everyone to participate in any activities (usually football or volleyball) unless you have a doctor note.
They are fine after hour, but they stink all day just dont realize that. As our PE teacher once said: if you feel that you stink, everyone around you is already dead

[Achi_Ac]

Up here, its mandatory for everyone to participate in any activities (usually football or volleyball) unless you have a doctor note.
They are fine after hour, but they stink all day just dont realize that. As our PE teacher once said: if you feel that you stink, everyone around you is already dead

And here it is mandatory to participate unless you have a doctor note, but some teachers give us more freedom to sit an do nothing, so it depends on the teacher....

[pavement13]

Not in the US, but in Australia we don't really have any privacy. Totally open showers and the we get changed in a room facing each other sometimes as well