A squatty Potty

Normally I try not to be too crass and spend time on potty humor but I couldn’t resist…

While traveling through Turkey the back of the bus (yeah I was there) were having a serious discussion about what exactly do you call a non-western toilet. On our various rest stops folks would warn each other about which stalls not to use and which ones were “Western.” I’ve used a non-western toilet before so I really didn’t care either way.

For those unfamiliar with the non-western toilet, it’s basically like a shower basin, with a large drain in the centre and special, textured spots at the side for you to stand on. Women (and men in some circumstances) have to learn to roll their pants legs BEFORE dropping your pants or you will get a nasty surprise.

Non-western toilets are all over the world. As we continued on the road of what to call them, I learned that those not used to a western toilet will do some crazy stuff when confronted with one – they stand on it, just like you would the non-western one. I am totally perplexed at the thought of a Japanese woman attempting to balance atop a western toilet in heels?? Some of the fancy hotels in Japan even have pictorial diagrams in the restroom showing how to use a western toilet properly (if you could see my face, one eyebrow has been raised and is stuck there in disbelief at this whole thing).

Finally out of the middle of nowhere the spouse says, “Oh I know! It’s a “squatty potty.” With bursts of laughter and then several knowing head nods the non-western toilet has now be named. Oh to the "squatty potty" forever you shall be called!