(Warning this update may be more than anyone wants to know.)
I have a dirty confession to make. I haven’t showered in two weeks.
My host family doesn’t have a shower just a deep bathtub. I haven’t taken a bath in around 12 years and it took me a while to get used to bathing again. Now I’ve grown to love my baths, they supply a wonderful escapism. My family only has one full bathroom and another small toilet in a cleaning closet of the side of the balcony. This smaller bathroom intimidates me and I try to avoid it.
Going to the bathroom when traveling is often part of the adventure, maybe too much of an adventure in Tunisia. What is considered a clean bathroom is nothing like the states. For example, last night I went to a concert in the nations finest opera house. While the architecture (French) was stunning, the restroom was tiny with no soap and broken toilets.
All of this pales in the face of my mortal enemy….the hose.
Tunisian’s do not use toilet paper. Instead each toilet is equipped with a hose. I know I am not alone in thinking that wet does not equal clean and well…maybe I should just leave this topic here all I have to say is Mom, that Charmin to-go has been a lifesaver.
7 comments:
Katie, I've enjoyed your blogs. Got your site from your Grandma Kalk. Just wanted you to know that the toilet looks pretty good....be thankful you are not in a place where you have to squat over a hole. We did that in Japan about 15 years ago. Maybe things have changed there, but I doubt it. You are definitely going to come home a wiser, greatly experienced person. It's wonderful that you have taken the opportunity to learn in a very foreign country. More power to you. Sue Nagamoto
Hi Katie! Your Uncle Tom and I just returned from our trip to Asia (specifically Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia)...the toilet situation is similar in parts but the squat over the hole toilets are the more difficult ones!! Your Uncle Tom commented that a grab bar would be great!
But part of travel and going to other countries is to learn how they live so enjoy the differences!
Love,
Aunt Eileen
My God Katie, a HOSE?? And I thought Greece was bad, it's a hole type situation but with the added bonus of the homeless people stealing the toilet paper and then charging you for it. And the holes did have nice treads spots for your feet.
So I finally got around to reading your blog, and all I can say is if you had e-mailed me about your layover I totally would have hungout with you in Frankfurt for 12 hours!! All I was doing was sitting around Kassel eating more chocolate and pretending to learn German.
Anyway, I'm sure you are having an amazing time, good luck with the Arabic!!
<3, Leah
WOW Katie!
Very exciting. Love your blog and pics. So glad you're having such a great time. I especially liked what you said about loving America and being part of the solution. I am a friend of your Dad's at work and I'm very glad he gave me your link. God bless you always.
This is so awesome! I mean, it's awesome that you're over there and it's a really good idea to keep this blog going. I'll have to keep up with it so I know how you're doing! I spent a little time in Europe after I graduated, the culture shock is a crazy experience but one that definetly leaves you better off. Good luck with everything over in Tunisia!
-Aaron
do you want to say that cleaning with toilet paper is better than cleaning with water , when you have poop in your hand you go and clean it with water not with a toilet paper so why don't you clean the place that the poop comes from with water too!!! ,do u now that opra clean with water, and about the shower maybe the tunisian family are a poor people ,i visit tunisia every year and every thing is normal. and when you talk about anything be sure about it before u say something is not right
Hello Katie,
I think you tend to be inaccurate and generalize a lot! Now a lot of Tunisians use toilet paper and toilet paper is sold regularly in supermarkets. As you said, your hosts are very nice, so I suggest that you ask them for it.
I also suggest that you point your hosts to your blog so that they can read what you are posting.... You would be more acurate than :)
Post a Comment