Nanna's Nonsense: Squatties and Showers

I mentioned in a previous post that our Bangalore apartment had two bathrooms - one western and one squatty. In this post I intend to give you more information than you could ever ask for or expect about the Asian bathroom experience. Lets get right to it!

What is a squatty, you ask? It is just what it sounds like. It is an Asian porcelain throne. It is on the floor and to be mounted with both feet flanking each side of said toilet - then assume the position the name suggests. This type of toilet is recommended for young people and Asians. By the way, ours happened to be mauve in color. In that bathroom there was a low faucet and shower head and a bucket. Since toilet paper is not commonly used, every bathroom is equipped with a faucet intended for clean up following use. There was a sink and our clothes washing machine in this bathroom, too. There was no hot water in this bathroom. We primarily used this space for laundry. As in all bathrooms, the single window was always left open, inviting all local mosquitoes to party there.

A western toilet is more like the toilets we have in the US. Most "westerners" prefer using them. I have heard that some Asians are so opposed to sitting on one that they will assume the squatty position on western toilets when visiting the US.

There was a small pedestal sink tucked away in the hall - also mauve. This is where I brushed my teeth. There is a process for brushing teeth, too...get water bottle with clean water, wet toothbrush with bottled water, add toothpaste and brush, spit,repeat, rinse mouth with bottled water, wash off toothbrush with bottled water - bend down and turn on water faucet below sink, rinse sink, turn water flow off below sink. Whew! The hardest part is remembering to not rinse in sink water!

Come take a shower with me - well, not literally but let me tell you about it. To shower - turn on the geezer and wait 15 minutes for hot water. A geezer is a small hot water tank
that is mounted up high in the bathroom. There is usually a switch like a light switch you click to "on".
Take only what is necessary into the bathroom with you - as little clothes as possible and your towel and washcloth. To go into the bathroom, you must slide the deadbolt on the outside of the door and turn on the light from the outside. When you get in, you slide the deadbolt on the inside of the door.

The shower is not in a stall - it is in the end of the bathroom. Close the lid of the toilet. After taking care to put your dry clothes, towel and the toilet paper as far away as you can get them, pull extremely hard on the handle of the shower to open it. (Be thankful your son-in-law rigged the shower head up high with a coat hanger or you would be sitting on a low stool or holding it in your hand while showering with no place to put it). Begin adjusting the hot and cold water and hope for a good water flow and that it holds up at least until you get the soap out of your hair. Shower as normal while standing next to an open window through which mosquitoes feel free to come and go and you can hear all the neighborhood daily business going on. When your shower is over and the water has been turned off, you squeegee the floor with squeegee that is always provided. Remember to turn off the geezer unless someone is following you. You try to find a dry place to towel off, gather your things and exit. Deadbolt the outside again and turn off the light. Go some place to dry off better and dress for the day.