Scatology ( I am pleased to introduce to you this week my favorite foreign expert, my wife Gail, who is going to tell you everything you need to know about a subject you probably don't want to hear about at all -- but better anyway. Women simply need to find toilet's more often than men, and Gail has researched this particular field with great thoroughness on several continents. One day I am hoping she will write a scholarly account, "The Bathrooms of the World," which I'm sure will be a bestseller and support us in splendor in our old age. Meanwhile, here is a preview -- the bathrooms of China! -- R.W.) My father used to say he could write a book on French-fried Onion Rings, having ordered them in dozens of coffee shops and restaurants across the 50 states. Well, I could write a book about public toilets. I was concerned about the toilet situation in Beijing before I even arrived, having heard all sorts of horror stories from friends who had traveled in China years ago. Relax, it's not as bad as you expect, especially once you're won over to the idea that squatting over a hole is preferable to sitting over one when in a situation that may not be as sanitary as you'd like. The first issue, of course, is finding a toilet when you need one, which may be immediately. I'm not even talking about the traveler's runs here, I'm talking about the fact that Beijing is extremely dry and one way to stay healthy is to drink lots and lots of water. What goes in must come out, however, and often at inopportune moments. After practicing my "Nu cesuo, zai nar?" ("Where is the ladies' room?") and getting nothing but a blank look or the offer of something that bore no resemblance to a ladies' room, I learned to pull out a picture of the Chinese character for woman that adorns all the lady's room signs. It looks like a woman crossing her legs, which, of course, is what I was doing by that time. Another big help is to have written down the letters "W.C.". This English abbreviation for "water closet" (forget that in China there may be no water) has been adopted all over the world, except in the United States, and the Chinese recognize it and use it on their public toilet signs. You will be directed, once the nature of your need is understood, to one of several kinds of public toilets. Some are in department stores, usually on the top floor. Some are on the street and do not have running water, but are very clean, just rather strong smelling. Some are on the street and do have running water. Often these charge 3 giao (there are 10 giao to a yuan) and include a piece of toilet paper (but do carry a large supply of tissues at all times, you'll find they have a million uses). Anyway, the flush toilets are also strong smelling as most patrons do not flush them but they are clean. And one word of advice for squatting over the hole, do make sure everything is secure, sunglasses on a cord, for example, as you are not going to retrieve anything that falls in, I assure you. Now, some suggestions if the need is not quite so urgent. I haven't had a big Mac in 30 years but I've probably seen the inside of more McDonald's than any fast-food junkie on earth. KFC's are just as clean and quite plentiful in Beijing. Hotels, of course, are another great asset, they all have public restrooms near the reception area. I especially enjoy the 5-star ones where an attendant does practically everything but .........., and does not expect a tip, by the way, is not even allowed to accept one. So there you have it. In general, I find the toilet situation better than in the United States, at least in terms of being able to find one when you need one. And I've never, ever been refused the use of the facilities in China, which is certainly not the case in America. Who knows, you may even be converted, like an American friend of mine was, and find yourself climbing up onto the rim to squat over the bowl once you're back in the States! Next Week: Haircut From the Editor in Chief: If you have some travel or work experience in China to share with us, we will be very excited to hear from you! Send your feedback by e-mail or regular mail to ASM Overseas Corporation. Thank you! And if you liked this column, please check Expats In China (International Community in China) for more interesting and useful information on life in China as a foreigner, including calendar of events, entertainment, housing, employment, classifieds, personal, etc. |
