International Hygiene Tips: How Four Billion People Poop

Okay, so you've newly arrived in your host country and you're looking forward to all the new experiences and insights that will be a part of that. But as is usually the case, one of the first orders of business is to find a way to truly leave the last vestiges of your big modern country behind.Yeah you gotta go to the bathroom. Airline food isn't really known for its staying power, and that cold French onion soup and hot pocket are no exception. So don't really give it too much thought, and head straight for your gender's bathroom in the airport. Well unbeknownst to you you're about to step into your first episode of true culture shock when you walk through the bathroom door and THIS is what welcomes you...

Oh no...

If you are from the United States, Canada, Western Europe, Australia, or Latin America you have probably not seen a toilet like this. This is called a squat toilet in their very common in Asian, Middle Eastern, in some Eastern European countries. Do not try to sit on this as your day will go from confusing to disgusted in just a few seconds. A squat toilet works exactly the same way its name implies, you place your feet on the nonskid sides (some may need more traction than others... eat your fiber kids), squat down and do your business the same way everybody else did until some European got the idea of putting a hole in a chair. There might be paper and there might not be, most places in the world usually keep a bucket of water close by for cleaning and flushing purposes. If there is paper, it most likely goes in the wastebasket and not the toilet itself as clogging one of these things could potentially be the most horrifying experience of your life.

Every doctor will tell you that this is the best way to do your business as it is more natural and allows for a more complete job. Will I be replacing my toilet with one of these? Not bloody likely. But at the same time, if you are gonna take it upon yourself to become a citizen of the world, it's best to know how things work. It's good to know that this blog is providing some good for some folks. But don't worry, you'll get the hang of it if little kids can learn how to use one of these things, then so can an intrepid world traveler. 

Being the author of this particular niche of blog isn't always glamorous, but this is information you will need one day. I just saved you the odious embarrassment of having to ask approximately 2/3 of the world's population how they welcome their morning... 

You are welcome