Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Batboy]

This may sound puerrile but honest and for true it's not meant to be. When using a trad. squat toilet, should I be facing towards or away from the little sticking up part? Any tips for avoiding disaster in these quaint but user-unfriendly lavatories? Being well travelled and having leved for the past 2 years in Korea I should already know this stuff but I guess I'm a late bloomer.

[Forward Observer]

Can't answer your question, but my advice is to take off your pants & underwear completely when you attempt this action.

Good luck!

[BS.Dos.]

[CentralCali]

You face the part that's sticking up. It's supposed to keep the urine from splashing all over the place. Given the state of so many public restrooms I've seen in Korea, the design's a waste of time!

As for avoiding disaster, don't drop your drawers to your ankles. If you do, then your drawers will be catching the feces. You drop them to just above or just below the knees, then you squat, and do your business.

[harlowethrombey]

I'd rather go in the woods than try and navigate one of these.

If we're going to crap on the floor why dont we just cross out 'Korea' and put 'Third World Dysentary Breeding Ground' instead?

Never used one in 2 years in Japan. Dont plan on using one ever in Korea.

[waseige1]

Just know that the strike zone on these things is smaller than it looks.

[Bloopity Bloop]

In Xi'an China, after checking out of my hostel, I was struck with a savage urge to take a dump. For some reason, the hostel staff, whom I had just spoken to SEVERAL MINUTES prior claimed that the bathroom facilities were for guests only

The urge to go built up fast and I found myself looking at a map for potential restrooms with Western toilets (I had managed to go 5 months without having to use a squatter and I wasn't going to start there!). The sculpture museum looked promising, so I jumped in a cab, suffered for about 20 minutes when the driver got lost, paid about a $5 fare, ran into the museum after paying out $10 or so for the ticket (good thing the lines were short that day), flew into the bathroom and handled my business.

I figured that I might as well take a look around the museum having spent $15 to use its Western toilets so I took a few pictures and left.

Several weeks later, I was in Shanghai at a concert, and I had another sudden urge to go (oh the joys of street food addiction). Couldn't leave the concert grounds... so I realized it was time. Time to finally face the squatters. I bought a fat pack of tissues from a grocery store attached to the venue (weird, I know) and headed towards the bathroom.

Growing up in the States, I had never put the Asian squat into practice. So I experienced the most surreal dump I had ever taken. The crapping part felt awesome but all the muscles in my legs were burning like hell. There was incredibly creepy circus music playing and the room was hazy from cigarette smoke from the room directly outside of the bathroom.

Left the unused tissues there, probably made someone's day. Enjoyed the rest of the concert and managed to evade squatters for the rest of my time in China.

[Joe666]

This thread is chock full of usefull info. This baby has the potential to be a ground breaker. I have my "open class" in 0.5 hours and this one has made my day.

If I get nervous, I will just picture everyone using a squater!! Thanks everyone!!

[OculisOrbis]

if youre really serious about perfecting your technique.......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWTmg4dHiKg

[MollyBloom]

I actually prefer squatters. I feel like it's more of a quick process, even when I have to pee. Usually at my school if I use the western-style toilet, I have to gather my pants off the floor (because the floors are usually wet with something), then I have to make sure the seat is dry, then if the seat is cold I have to get settled in, then I have to wipe and flush, maneuver my pants back up...it's just a lengthy process. With the squatter, I go in, pull the pants down, go, flush, and am out. Plus, I like to be able to stretch my quads with the squatting motion.

[Forward Observer]

[Gillian57]

[icnelly]

[Sector7G]

Some really funny stuff in this thread. It reminds me of what I read last year during the Beijing Olympics:

Beijing organizers are refitting the toilets at three main Olympic venues after complaints from foreign athletes about having to squat, an official said Wednesday.

Most toilets in China are still of the squat rather than sit-down variety, as spectators and competitors at recent test events in otherwise state of the art venues like the "Water Cube" aquatics center discovered.

The same article had a link to this:

Proponents of squat toilets argue that:

* It is less expensive and easier to clean and maintain.[2]
* It does not involve any contact between the buttocks and a potentially unsanitary surface.[3]
* The lack of water in the bowl avoids the problem of splashing.
* Squatting might help to build the required exhaust pressure more comfortably and quickly.[4]
* Squatting makes elimination faster, easier and more complete.[5]
* Elimination in squatting posture protects the nerves that control the prostate, bladder and uterus from becoming stretched and damaged.[6]
* Squatting relaxes the puborectalis muscle which normally chokes the rectum in order to maintain continence.[7]
* Squatting securely seals the ileocecal valve, between the colon and the small intestine. In the conventional sitting position, this valve is unsupported and often leaks during evacuation.[8]
* For pregnant women, squatting avoids pressure on the uterus when using the toilet. Daily squatting helps prepare the mother-to-be for a more natural delivery.[9]
* Squatting may reduce the occurrence or severity of hemorrhoids[1][10] and possibly other colorectal disorders such as diverticulosis[11] and appendicitis.[12]

I suppose I would use one if I had no alternative. The woods are not always an option harlowethrombey(good one). But I have been here over 20 months and never had to. The bigger worry is that there is rarely any toilet paper.

[mcviking]

Possibly the funniest thing I have heard all week. I actually LOLed reading this thread.