June 8, 2010

Toilet Training 101

Have you ever seen a squat-toilet? It's literally a hole-in-the-ground toilet.
The very first squat-toilet I saw was somewhere in northern Italy, in the mid 1980s. I recall the tour guide loudly informing us that there was no such thing as constipation in that town.
When I looked inside (I couldn't help myself), all I saw was a dark bottomless pit. No ceramic tiles. Just wooden planks.
It was downright, umm, Medieval.
In 2007 I saw one in India. It was a hole in the ground, in a stall, lined with porcelain and tile. It was not scary at all. I regret not taking a picture of it...I was too embarrassed. I promise to upload a photo next month! For now, here is a photo I got from pics4Learning.com:

So did I use that squat-toilet? Well, that's for me to know and you to find out :)

In India, travelers will find western-style toilets alongside the traditional squat-toilet. If you are adventurous and are game enough to step out of your Comfort Zone, here are a few tips as you prepare to do Squat Duty(pun intended)
1. Bring your own toilet paper and/or wet wipes.
2. Remove all contents from your pants pockets.
3. Put said contents in your knapsack, not on the floor.
4. Pull down your pants and underwear below your knees so you can squat and relieve yourself without "raining" on your clothes. If you're wearing a skirt, just hike it up. Better yet, throw it over your head. Nobody will see you anyways.
5. While in the squat position, try to lean FORWARD a bit, so you won't topple backward!
6. Do not throw your paper in the toilet. Throw it in the nearby bucket. If you don't have any paper, use the little water hose thing and rinse yourself.
7. When you handle the door knob, remember that too is dirty, as in ANY country. Heed your mother's advice: Always wash your hands.
Hmmmm. I think tonight I will go to the gym and practice my squat thrust exercises to strengthen my glutes, hamstrings and quads. Just in case. You never know...
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Namaste!

8 comments:

Brian Miller said...

quite the adventure...
i live in the woods fo a year so we dug our own privy...always an experience...

Baino said...

This is seriously why I won't go to India. Phobia of toilets other than my own. Actually they still have squat loos in Northern France!

Ms. Gibson said...

Brian, Baino,
Yep, I think everyone in the world has experienced The Squat, under various circumstances.
Thanks for dropping by!

King of New York Hacks said...

I actually did the "squat" one night on the most expensive real estate in New York City, Riverside Drive...I would have settled for a squat loo, but bathrooms in NYC are a rarity !

Cloudia said...

great rules! been there...


Aloha from Waikiki

Comfort Spiral

Crone and Bear It said...

Oh it's a good thing I'm in a civilized area - with MY back I'd be doing good just to get into a semi-squat and heaven only knows how I'd ever get back up. They need teeny little rails on either side so those of us who have serious issues trying to squat have something to hold onto to propell ourselves back up. Otherwise, they would simply find my dessicated body one day...and it was all for squat.

Dee Camp-White said...

Your tips are right on! I spent the summer of 2009 squatting in China--same arrangement as shown here. Great for the inner thigh;-)

Ms. Gibson said...

Cronie,
I can just see you now, trying to get up from The Squat. omg...

Dee,
Thank you for popping by the blog. I look forward to meeting you. OMG We meet NEXT WEEK!