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Toilets in China
By Di Hill
I have been living in China on and off since January 2008, doing some teaching English at a university. When I decided to come to China one thing I had not contemplated was the "adventures" I was to have inside the ladies toilet. I'm not able to tell ALL the stories, but some will be amusing or interesting. A "western toilet" was to be in my apartment, so I had no thoughts beyond that, which is a good thing, as I may have feared the worst and may not have come! Public toilets in China are places for senior people to fear!!!!! The odours coming from these establishments announces to your senses before you arrive, that you are almost at your destination if that is where you are going! It is enough to make your eyes water!! Until recent years the Chinese public toilets were "squat" toilets. These people learned from a very early age to squat comfortably. We often see men, women, children, "sitting" on their "heels" with ease. "On their heels" - not exactly, they squat with feet firmly planted flat on the ground, which is for the most part stone slabs. Rock hard. But they can "sit" for very long periods like this. No need for chairs or seating. In any case, this squatting ability is most useful for going to the squat toilets. One alarming thing about public toilets in China is that they do not provide toilet paper. One must take your own. We always carry a little pack of tissues. Does anyone forget?? Of course. You must use your imagination here. In some places, even in Shanghai, the home toilet is a pottery bowl, that must be emptied in one of the public toilet facilities that dot the suburbs and villages, as there are often no other facilities in a home. Some people will just use a plastic bucket, and empty the contents in the fields. When I first arrived I had some hilarious experiences in public toilets. There's little privacy. One must squat over a ceramic "toilet" that is in a small cubicle, or in some bizarre places (including bus stations) one has to balance over a pit. It is too gruesome to do any more explanations about this here!!! I learned where all the "western toilets" were, and I find now two years after my first experience, that there are far more than these and in four months I've been able to find these. Some of the western toilets are clean, even attractive and they will often provide toilet paper. The hilarious part is that if a local person has used the western toilet, there are likely to be footprints on the toilet seat. You see, they need to squat to "go." When I went to Xi'an to visit the Terracotta Warriors, I was amazed to find in that facility one of the nicest, cleanest public toilets I have ever seen. Tourist places throughout China are getting ready for the expected influx of overseas visitors. Many are already visiting Expo, and then travelling further on around the country. Many travellers do not manage the squat properly - we are not flexible enough. It is very difficult for older people to "go" in these facilities. I've visited private homes and ALL had western toilets, but still there are millions who live in villages without sewerage. Some of my stories about toilets in China are hilarious, but a good dose of discretion prevents me from reporting it here. Every day is an adventure in China, and toilets are just one aspect that provides much discussion and hilarity among friends. |
Teacher Dianna
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This intel was contributed by Elly
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February, 2012
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