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BigWhiteMan
Joined: 19 Feb 2010
Location: Connecticut, USA
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 Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:18 am Post subject: A serious question regarding... toilets |
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Of all the worries of going overseas, from money exchange to different electrical plugs to not knowing a language, all of it pales in comparison to my fear of non-western toilets.
While I'm sure apartments have western toilets, I've suddenly come across some accounts of public schools being squat-style.
I am mortified by this.
My buddies joke around about how I refuse to "do serious business" outside of my own home. I have an aversion to public facilities in general.
Can anyone describe the likelihood of encountering squat-toilets in public schools in Korea? What about restaurants and bars?
- BWM |
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Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:23 am Post subject: |
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Don't knock it till you try it! The story about the first time you used a squatter is one you can save for the grandkids. It's a strangely rewarding experience.
As for your question. I have no idea. In the past it's been about 50/50 for me. |
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BigWhiteMan
Joined: 19 Feb 2010
Location: Connecticut, USA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:25 am Post subject: |
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50/50???
I'm 250 lbs. I've finally gotten comfortable believing western toilets can hold me up!
Oh, Lord... I'm going to have to start doing some new kind of exercise to prep for this.
- BWM |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:26 am Post subject: |
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If you don't use public toilets anyway, then what does it matter?
In fact if you don't like public toilets because you are afraid of your butt cheeks touching the seat, then you should love the squatters because you don't have to come in contact with them at all. |
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VFRinterceptor
Joined: 22 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:27 am Post subject: Re: A serious question regarding... toilets |
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| BigWhiteMan wrote: |
Of all the worries of going overseas, from money exchange to different electrical plugs to not knowing a language, all of it pales in comparison to my fear of non-western toilets.
While I'm sure apartments have western toilets, I've suddenly come across some accounts of public schools being squat-style.
I am mortified by this.
My buddies joke around about how I refuse to "do serious business" outside of my own home. I have an aversion to public facilities in general.
Can anyone describe the likelihood of encountering squat-toilets in public schools in Korea? What about restaurants and bars?
- BWM |
You're an idiot. Flat out. |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:28 am Post subject: |
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It depends where you are. I've only run into squat toilets twice: the Incheon subway station that exits to Chinatown and in the Yongsan electronics district. I know they are much more common in rural areas. I've been here about 7 months. But I am more of a city dweller so... :/
Good luck! At least as a man you are fine for the most part. |
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BigWhiteMan
Joined: 19 Feb 2010
Location: Connecticut, USA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:29 am Post subject: |
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Excellent points, except everyone has an emergency once in a while.
I can't expect to spend 8 hours in one building every day and not expect trouble to come a' knocking.
- BWM |
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Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:31 am Post subject: |
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| Maybe your apartment will be close to your school. Mine is close enough that I can dash home after lunch, if need be. |
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BigWhiteMan
Joined: 19 Feb 2010
Location: Connecticut, USA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:35 am Post subject: |
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An apartment close to school would be super cool.
I'm glad I have a comfort level with being an outsider, dealing with the currency, and adapting to the food. How unfortunate that, despite a Master's degree and previous international travel, my questions about plumbing make me be an idiot, according to VRF.
Cheers for everyone's input regardless. 
- BWM |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:41 am Post subject: |
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| DorkothyParker wrote: |
It depends where you are. I've only run into squat toilets twice: the Incheon subway station that exits to Chinatown and in the Yongsan electronics district. I know they are much more common in rural areas. I've been here about 7 months. But I am more of a city dweller so... :/
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I was at a restaurant in that bar/restaurant area behind the Hyundai Mall (near Rhythm and Booze) and to use the toilet you have to go out of the restaurant and then into the stairwell next door and use the toilets there. It was a squatter. It was perfectly clean though.
How frequent they are depends a lot on the area. In bars and restaurants, it's often a sitter, but squatters aren't a rare sight. In office buildings, the type where each floor has a few businesses, squatters are more common. In homes, I think it's always a sitter. I think that sitters are found more in places where someone is going to frequently clean them. Let's face it, if the squatter is a little "soiled" because some drunk fellow had bad aim, the worst that's going to happen to the next guy is that he's going to get the soles of his shoes a little wet. If someone misses with a sitter, then the next guy has a real problem to try to use the toilet without actually sitting on it. |
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Kaypea
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:52 am Post subject: |
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My school has sitters and squatters. Does anybody teach at a school with only squatters?
Squatters aren't so bad, and they encourage natural and thorough evacuation. They're good for health. |
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DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 8:55 am Post subject: |
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I frequently have to leave restaurants and enter the main part of buildings to pee. It's not a big deal aside from when I don't see toilet paper and of course there is none in the stall. I'm always like "should I trek back into the restaurant and look again or should I just try to shake it off?" EDIT: I mean for urination only(I share too much at 2am).
I still haven't ran into a squat toilet in this area of Bucheon. Of course, I don't know precisely what building near B&B you mean. I wonder if squat vs sitter varies if it is a male or female restroom. I do not know. |
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Senior
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:13 am Post subject: |
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| Kaypea wrote: |
| My school has sitters and squatters. Does anybody teach at a school with only squatters? |
I teach at two schools. One is squatter only. The other has brand new thrones. Less than a year old.
| Quote: |
| Squatters aren't so bad, and they encourage natural and thorough evacuation. They're good for health. |
I have to agree with this. Someone posted a pretty good article on this subject a month or two back and got flamed to death. I secretly agreed with the OP, but was too much of a coward to back him up. "They came for our squatters, and I said nothing........" |
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BigWhiteMan
Joined: 19 Feb 2010
Location: Connecticut, USA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:16 am Post subject: |
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Kudos for bringing a WW2 reference into a pooper thread.
- BWM |
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Gibberish
Joined: 29 Aug 2009
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:58 am Post subject: |
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| Stop signing your posts. We already see your name once, that's enough. Every post you make is not a sonnet. This is a message board. |
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