Let's talk toilets...

First- let’s play a game! Can you guess what is being depicted in the photo below? ​

Is it a color scale for UV light? A water chlorine level or pH test indicator? Did you guess a guide for your urine color?!?  Are you hydrated enough?? Hopefully, you are not on the brown end or you have some serious issues and I would recommend some medical care.

​But isn’t that FUNNY??  This photo was taken by Craig, another fellow at the elementary school we visited.  It was posted in the hallway for the kids to see and he asked us the same quiz when we got back on the bus! So, apparently Indonesia is big on making everyone aware of their hydration levels! I thought that was a unique view to begin the topic at hand. My most recent posts might have tugged at your heart strings, this one might tug at your stomach. I teach Biology- so it’s really no big deal to talk about bodily functions, but I’ll keep it classy.
As I reflected on my life in Indonesia, comparing a lot to back home, one of my greatest appreciations is for my toilet! So, I decided to share with you the struggle. Really, I think it’s just at fascinating at seeing Blue Fire.  ​

I was warned about the toilets prior to our trip, mostly by people who has visited areas in the East before, especially China.  I was preparing myself for no toilet paper (packing 20 packs of travel tissues to keep in my purse) and standing over a hole in the ground.  Actually, it was not as bad as I had pictured.  See Exhibit A on the left, taken from the school teacher’s bathroom.  This is what they would call the non-Western toilet.  There’s space to position your feet, with ridges to stand on, as you squat down and work your quadriceps. After you do your business, you throw the toilet paper in the trash can, dip the little heart -shaped bucket of water into the reserve tub to tap water, and pour it over your pee, to force it down. Thankfully, we had Western toilets at our international hotels (see below) so Number #1 only happened here.  After using this many times, telling myself it was like 'camping', it really was not a big deal.  It didn’t smell bad, there were no bugs, and it was quick and easy. But only if you wore a skirt or dress...lesson learned on that.  Trying to coordinate where your pants land was a disaster, so now I have a sense of appreciation for the Indonesian women wearing long dresses and skirts.  It’s for both modesty and functionality.  So not too bad, and this was pretty much the norm in all the local places.  The airports, international hotels, and fancier restaurants would have the Western style of toilets, that would flush.  But you were still usually instructed to not put the toilet paper in the toilet, and a wastebasket was provided. Which out of habit, I usually forgot to do! Oops- what’s one tourist’s TP going to block up, right?? The Western toilets also had a hose attached to the side, for "rinsing", like a hand-held bidet. This explains why toilet paper is not readily available.  Oh yeah, and why you never shake or use your left hand in Indonesia!
I'll let that set in for a minute...  

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Bathroom in the Aston International Hotel, our home in Jember for 10 days.

Toilet in Le Meridian, our fancy hotel in Jakarta

Exhibit B (right) is the toilet on the express train we took to Mount Ijen. Now picture the above described set up, but on a moving train! And I survived to tell about it!  
So, why is this structure the standard? I’m not really sure.  My guess is probably because it cheaper and doesn’t require connection of water pipelines. For a developing country, with the 4th largest population in the world, that would be a lot of infrastructure.  But if anyone has any other insight into this phenomenon, feel free to comment. ​

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On the other end of the throne spectrum, I have to share the most sophisticated, advanced toilet I have ever seen! This picture is the attached button bar on the toilet in the Toyko airport. My favorite feature is the "privacy" music button, with a volume bar! So no need to drown out bodily sounds, by turning on the faucet, shower, or coughing anymore! The Japanese really are techie geniuses, thinking of those around them, even providing a deodorizer feature. So considerate for the next user!  I think the U.S. and Indonesia should discuss these options in all future construction projects...look, it's cultural diplomacy at work.

Lastly, the signage we saw in Indonesia was also incredible (as seen in my starting urine color example) Indonesians love their signs and banners!  Many of our colleagues had welcome banners with their huge faces pictured on them when they arrived at their host school.  This one from our Madrasa school visit (Muslim public school) in Jakarta was a wonderful welcome sight! 

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But my favorite is the one my friend Kate and I saw, outside the public beach restroom in Bali. Make sure you have some money with you at all times! Like in Europe, you will probably pay an entrance fee to use a public restroom.  This one is unique because the cost varies based on your needs.  Around 32 cents for pooping, and only 19 cents for urination.  One of our fellows show it to her young daughter and she asked, “How much does a fart cost?
​Oh Indonesia, you have a great sense of humor!   ​