China and the Art of the Toilet

(Warning, these images may cause you to cringe or barf. Hey, sometimes Gal about the Globe has to give you the bad news too).

By Diana Renee Rodriguez at Nana's Breakfast

One of my fondest Chinese memories is squatting in a public restroom with no stalls for privacy, directly across from another squatter with a lit ciggie in her mouth, a strained wrinkle on her brow and grunts which bounced around the four walls we shared. Females going to the restroom together was taken to a completely different level. Or, merely the idea of going to the restroom was taken to a level in which a Westerner, such as myself, found it momentarily challenging to grasp. That mental book of socially acceptable restroom etiquette is meaningless the second you touch ground in China.


The Toilet Paper Mystery
The Chinese invented the toilet paper 1,422 years ago. After doing my business in a Chinese public restroom, I'm left squatting over a stainless steel hole with not a single square of toilet paper in sight. At this point, I don't care if my bottom isn't pampered by Charmin's Ultra Soft tissue; A leaf would suffice! One may think that those innovative ancient Chinese genes would carry down to today's Chinese minds. But all I see is a sad failure in the toilet department after their ground breaking toilet paper invention many, many years ago.

Although scarce, there are places where you can find a roll of toilet paper nearby. They tend to be in Western restaurants such as KFC and McDonalds, or fancy restaurants and hotels. Unfortunately the Chinese restroom patrons, not used to the comfort of a roll of tissue beside them, have crazy toilet paper parties while using the facilities. And there aren't enough fúwùyuán (服务员, attendant) ladies that are willing to clean a tissue mess each hour. In conclusion, I learned to take with me my own personal supply of tissue paper. I returned home with a greater understanding and appreciation of the value of the toilet paper.

Daphna's Adventures as a GATG

Hey there Gals about the Globe! I am extremely excited to be part of such an inspiring community. My name is Daphna Cuevas, and I would have to say I'm a late bloomer in traveling but leaving that for future posts. I currently find myself living back home in Guadalajaran Mexico, yep hecha en Mexico. However, I went to middle school, high school and college in the states, and lived in France and Europe for a year and a half.

This year has been full of ups and downs but I must admit its ending on a great note. Guadalajara just finished hosting the Pan/Parapan American games and I was fortunate enough to be a volunteer attachee, which is just a fancy name for assistant. Not getting paid was totally worth being part of such an important event to the country, meeting amazing people, forming new friendships along the way and even getting to meet Canada's own Minister of Sport and the Govornor General....aka the president of Canada!

When being a Gal about the Globe, you have to learn to take any opportunity that comes your way because you never know what it will lead to. Check out my pictures and contact me next time you're in Mexico. I hope this opportunity leads me to Canada and/or Europe, so you can visit me there as well!