[wodenokoto]

> other cultural differences to explain the "but no one I know actually sunbathes..." thought that I immediately jump to.

Having grown up in Denmark that thought sounds odd to me. People really don’t sunbathe where you’re from?

What do people do on the beach, or in the park all summer? Not to mention at the tanning salon, before going on vacation to sunbathe at the beach (can’t look pale when sunbathing!)

[pinkmuffinere]

Just to affirm the parent post, yes, sunbathing has also been rather rare everywhere I lived: - South Dakota (USA) - Arizona (USA) - San Diego California (USA) - Ankara (Turkey/Türkiye)

I saw evidence that people sunbathed in some of these locations (it’s obvious on the beaches at least), but as far as I know none of my personal friends sunbathed. I suspect it’s just a cultural thing.

[dzhiurgis]

Growing up Lithuania the term is “burning yourself”

In NZ now - going to beach without protection even for an hour is suicide. Also avoid even going outside from 11am till 3pm at peak summer months.

[alvah]

"In NZ now - going to beach without protection even for an hour is suicide. Also avoid even going outside from 11am till 3pm at peak summer months."

I live in Western Australia, which is much sunnier than anywhere in NZ, and this sounds hyperbolic to me.

[dzhiurgis]

Perth at peaks is about 2 average points higher than Auckland [0]. UV index does happen at peaks too.

I've met plenty people here who "never wore a hat their life" and look like a prune. Personally I'm more comfortable at home than trying to find a shade everywhere you go.

0: https://www.ehinz.ac.nz/indicators/uv-exposure/daily-uv-leve...

[seszett]

Don't know about Australia but when I was on Kerguelen island which is at the same latitude as my homeplace on the coast of France, there was a very noticeable difference in UV content, you could absolutely burn in just an hour without protection (and it happened often).

[samus]

There are lots of other occasions to receive unhealthy doses of sunlight. And there are some activities that are like sunbathing, but people might not regard it as such, like reading a book, waiting at a bus stop, drinking a coffee outside, or walking at the beach.