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Published: January 21st 2006
Indian Style Toliet
I promised a pic, so here it is. This is the typical scene, though it is cleaner than many I encountered...and you can't see the water spicket and little bucket.Okay...I have to write about the bathroom situation because it is a riot and I really want to share about it, but be forewarned...and log out if you don't want to hear about it. I'm a bit leary since not all of you are close friends who would normally hear this kind of stuff (doesn't that make you want to get even closer to me?!), but I'm going to share anyway.
So you have to picture this...I'm in an Indian salwar suit...big baggy pants with a drawstring under a long flowing top (comes down below my knees) and a long draping scarf that hangs loose down my back. It is very comfortable...like wearing pajamas, until you have to pee...then my aerobic capabilities come in very handy. 😉
So, the public toliets (many of the people we are staying with have Western toliets in their homes) are basically holes in the ground. They aren't dirt, but they are holes made for squatting (I'm bringing back a picture...of the toliet...I'm not in it!). They are almost always quite dirty and wet, as the Indians don't use toliet paper and use a pot of water (filled from a spicket in the wall
Banana Grove-Our Alternate Toliet!
These beautiful scenes became our toliets along the way as we drove across the countryside. They were a welcome alternative to the public restrooms available elsewhere, and people (particularly men) peeing on the side of the road were a common site in India, even in the towns. (Their backs were generally turned to the road...I'll spare you the photo!) or a hose) to rinse instead...so the floor is wet with all kinds of "stuff" and water and muddy from dust and shoes.
At last night's Rotary Meeting, I had to go to the bathroom. As I approached it, I just started cracking up laughing...I already told you, I was at a 9.5...and the thought of the "pee process" was beyond me! I decided that I would write about it...which made the whole thing more fun.
So, this is the process: roll up my pants so they don't get in the "stuff" and wet while I squat, while flinging my long top back over my shoulder, and wrapping my scarf many times around my neck so it doesn't drop onto the floor, or into the hole, squatting and trying to aim so that I don't hit my shoes or any of the layers of fabic that are now wrapped all around the top part of my body, including the baggy pants that are very much in the way. Meanwhile, I have to get kleenex (serving as toliet paper) out of my bag (which is either around my waist or hanging out of my teeth) because I don't know how I would possibly manage the water spicket routine along with everything else. Then, afterwards, everything has to get put back into place without falling and getting wet. And the process is always followed by a big squirt of hand sanitizer and/or a wet wipe for my hands because there isn't any soap, water, paper towels. Doesn't that sound fun?!
Here's the even better part...men don't use the public toliets. Mostly, you see their backs turned to the road and they just pee on the street sides (I'm not kidding), so it really stinks being a woman. Not that I want to pee on the street, but the public toliet process is my least favorite thing here. On our long van trips, we women have started going into the banana groves rather than stopping at a toliet...no one can see us, it is quite acceptable here and it sure beats the toliet situation. It is a whole other world, my friends!
Oh, one other fun bathroom story. One of Debbie's host families has small children...and they don't generally wear diapers. Debbie was holding one of the children, and the little girl urinated all over her outfit. The family said it is considered a blessing and it was no big deal...it is just a cultural thing. Debbie is such a trooper, she just went with it (we have to do that...cultural differences!) and she didn't get to clean up til much later in the day.
Okay...that's all for the bathroom stories. I promise to be much more appropriate in future blogs! Thanks for letting me share! And, I want to make sure you know that I consider myself very blessed...even with all of this stuff, I'm clear this is once in a lifetime and I wouldn't trade it for the world. Much love to you all! Don't take your restrooms for granted!
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Patty
non-member comment
the best ever
i am laughing so hard i think the neighbors can hear. those are the kinds of toilets we experienced in Europe! you are absolutely hilarious. i imagine the acrobatics are even more intense when you have to poop. hahahaha!! thanks for sharing. :-)