i have always considered myself to be fairly conscious of my surroundings and, not having grown up in the usa, i've always been grateful for the comforts of living in an modern and highly industrialized nation – after all, as eloquently put by my spanish uncle, where else in the world can you do your banking, get your food, and even get married, without having to get out your car? however, nothing could’ve prepared me for what i will call the “toilet situation” in a recent trip to southeast asia.
first, as i very quickly discovered, toilet paper is a luxury. predominantly muslim cultures do not use toilet paper for...er…personal cleansing. they use a water hose conveniently affixed to the toilet cubicle wall instead. in rural areas, a bucket of water and scoop is provided. so i quickly learned to bring my own t.p. on all trips to the toilet, lest i be forced to use the hose!
second, you're lucky if you find a western-style "sitting" toilet ; more often than not, you will find a "squat toilet" (basically, a hole in the ground), which turns the simple act of using the toilet into an excercise of your lower half--maybe that's explains why the "pear" body shape does not occur as often in eastern countries...but i digress.
third, there is water e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.! due to hose usage, water gets splashed on every possible surface in the toilet cubicle: walls, floor, toilet seat, tank (if there is a sitting toilet), i even went into a stall that had water splashed on the ceiling (don’t ask me how that happened…). as water ponds on the floor, it is necessary to roll up one’s pant legs before entering the restroom, and if wearing flip-flops or sandals, well, it may be best to just hold it. as a direct result, the toilet seat (again, only if there is a sitting toilet) is often entirely covered in water and as there is no toilet paper with which to wipe it or line it, one is highly advised not to sit.
finally, if you’ve managed to survive the above, most restrooms have water to rinse your hands but few have soap and even fewer have paper towels or a hand dryer. so after having touched all those wet surfaces and knowing how they got wet, hand sanitizing gel is highly advisable. needless to say, every trip to the restroom was an adventure, and by the end of 3 + weeks i was ready for a regular toilet experience.
i didn’t realize how much of an impact this whole situation had made on me until i came back home and the first day back in office, i went to the ladies room to find a full roll of toilet paper and a dispenser of toilet seat liners, so common in american ladies’ rooms. i couldn’t help but smile and reflect back upon the most basic commodities that we so often take for granted but that elsewhere in the world are considered luxuries, and felt instantly enlightened :)
first, as i very quickly discovered, toilet paper is a luxury. predominantly muslim cultures do not use toilet paper for...er…personal cleansing. they use a water hose conveniently affixed to the toilet cubicle wall instead. in rural areas, a bucket of water and scoop is provided. so i quickly learned to bring my own t.p. on all trips to the toilet, lest i be forced to use the hose!
second, you're lucky if you find a western-style "sitting" toilet ; more often than not, you will find a "squat toilet" (basically, a hole in the ground), which turns the simple act of using the toilet into an excercise of your lower half--maybe that's explains why the "pear" body shape does not occur as often in eastern countries...but i digress.
third, there is water e.v.e.r.y.w.h.e.r.e.! due to hose usage, water gets splashed on every possible surface in the toilet cubicle: walls, floor, toilet seat, tank (if there is a sitting toilet), i even went into a stall that had water splashed on the ceiling (don’t ask me how that happened…). as water ponds on the floor, it is necessary to roll up one’s pant legs before entering the restroom, and if wearing flip-flops or sandals, well, it may be best to just hold it. as a direct result, the toilet seat (again, only if there is a sitting toilet) is often entirely covered in water and as there is no toilet paper with which to wipe it or line it, one is highly advised not to sit.
finally, if you’ve managed to survive the above, most restrooms have water to rinse your hands but few have soap and even fewer have paper towels or a hand dryer. so after having touched all those wet surfaces and knowing how they got wet, hand sanitizing gel is highly advisable. needless to say, every trip to the restroom was an adventure, and by the end of 3 + weeks i was ready for a regular toilet experience.
i didn’t realize how much of an impact this whole situation had made on me until i came back home and the first day back in office, i went to the ladies room to find a full roll of toilet paper and a dispenser of toilet seat liners, so common in american ladies’ rooms. i couldn’t help but smile and reflect back upon the most basic commodities that we so often take for granted but that elsewhere in the world are considered luxuries, and felt instantly enlightened :)
(photo caption: looking up at the petronas towers, kuala lumpur, malaysia)
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