I am back...sorry for my long hiatus from this blog. There are no excuses except laziness. I have been collecting ideas and pulling together resources to share with you all though. I have tried to focus on the mostly positive things about living in China. This serves two purposes - it helps lure prospective visitors and it keeps me focused on the fun. So many ExPats just like to complain about the things they hate and I find this leads me down a tunnel of home sickness and misery.
But I think the time has finally come for me to discuss one of the more challenging aspects of living in Culture. That is the squat toilet
The squat toilet is a common sight here in China. The picture of a very clean but pretty standard squat toilet above was taken in my office. On each floor the majority of bathrooms have 1 western toilet and the rest squat toilets like this one.
Using these toilets can be tricky and requires some coordination. Squatting is especially challenging for most North Americans because it is so different from what we are used to. It requires balance, strong thighs and some aim. I have to confess these things scare the hell out of me. I know they are common throughout the world and are said to promote better intestinal health than conventional North American toilets. But they do scare me.
The squat vs. sit toilet is also a clear marker between Asian Culture and Western Culture. Western sitting toilets are found in most western establishments (Starbucks, McDonald's, Most ExPat restaurants) but they pose a difficulty for Asians. They are used to squatting and will attempt to squat on the edge of the toilets (see the picture below).
If there there are no platforms on the sides of the toilet bowl serious accidents are a likelihood. People's feet slip off the edge, toilet's topple over and in all likelihood you are going to have to touch the bathroom floor. Squatting also increases the likelihood that the toilet will break. Common problems are tipping, cracking or shifting them off their moorings. This is an example of a platform that can sit alongside a conventional Western Style toilet, allowing safety and freedom to choose your defecating preference.
Starbucks in China even has an official sign ensuring the safety of it's patrons and the longevity of it's porcelain thrones.
This is not to say the Chinese do not enjoy the Western Toilet. They have come to appreciate it's presence in the western locations and have also found other uses for them...I attach pictures from two of Shenzhen's Toilet Restaurants:
I will let the pictures of the Toilet Restaurants speak for themselves...because there are no words.
I have lived in China since July and I have only had to "squat" once - when I had my health check. Since that was technically before I moved here that means I have actually never squatted since arriving. I maintain a long list of restaurants/bars/hotels that have Western Style toilets to avoid the squat and I am proud of my no squat status. And no worries though friends, if you come an visit I will honour your freedom to choose to Squat or Not...
But I think the time has finally come for me to discuss one of the more challenging aspects of living in Culture. That is the squat toilet
The squat toilet is a common sight here in China. The picture of a very clean but pretty standard squat toilet above was taken in my office. On each floor the majority of bathrooms have 1 western toilet and the rest squat toilets like this one.
Using these toilets can be tricky and requires some coordination. Squatting is especially challenging for most North Americans because it is so different from what we are used to. It requires balance, strong thighs and some aim. I have to confess these things scare the hell out of me. I know they are common throughout the world and are said to promote better intestinal health than conventional North American toilets. But they do scare me.
The squat vs. sit toilet is also a clear marker between Asian Culture and Western Culture. Western sitting toilets are found in most western establishments (Starbucks, McDonald's, Most ExPat restaurants) but they pose a difficulty for Asians. They are used to squatting and will attempt to squat on the edge of the toilets (see the picture below).
If there there are no platforms on the sides of the toilet bowl serious accidents are a likelihood. People's feet slip off the edge, toilet's topple over and in all likelihood you are going to have to touch the bathroom floor. Squatting also increases the likelihood that the toilet will break. Common problems are tipping, cracking or shifting them off their moorings. This is an example of a platform that can sit alongside a conventional Western Style toilet, allowing safety and freedom to choose your defecating preference.
Walmart had built some Distribution Centres in China and the leader, a Westerner, approved putting in Western Style toilets. Within a few months they were all broken because there were no "squatting alternatives". So we pulled them out and installed squat toilets, leaving one sitting toilet for disabled and western usage. It is usually where they store the mops because it is used so infrequently.
Starbucks in China even has an official sign ensuring the safety of it's patrons and the longevity of it's porcelain thrones.
This is not to say the Chinese do not enjoy the Western Toilet. They have come to appreciate it's presence in the western locations and have also found other uses for them...I attach pictures from two of Shenzhen's Toilet Restaurants:
I will let the pictures of the Toilet Restaurants speak for themselves...because there are no words.
I have lived in China since July and I have only had to "squat" once - when I had my health check. Since that was technically before I moved here that means I have actually never squatted since arriving. I maintain a long list of restaurants/bars/hotels that have Western Style toilets to avoid the squat and I am proud of my no squat status. And no worries though friends, if you come an visit I will honour your freedom to choose to Squat or Not...
I remember using these in Italy as well. As a former clubber; squatting isn't anything new. But, I love all your observations around the cultural differences.
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