If you were to take a look at the notes I’ve made in my Hello Kitty (fake of course) notebook you might get the impression that I’m preoccupied with all things toilet and other bodily function related. I never thought I was so easily grossed out by it all but I think since coming to China I’ve become more aware of my aversion to the sight of it. Using the toilet or blowing one’s nose isn’t hidden away by a stall door or a tissue here, but often is out in the open for everyone to see. And my Western upbringing hasn’t budged one bit regarding these things these past eight months.

I’ve gotten used to using “squatty” toilets, those don’t bother me one bit, but the lack of doors on the bathroom stalls is still unbelievably unnerving to me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked into the “Woman” restrooms at School #73 to find young women having conversations while one of them is using the toilet. No sirree bobby, I hunt out the stall that has the most amount of privacy. I keep my eyes firm on the ground while in the washroom. My attitude is if I don’t see them maybe they won’t see me. Granted it doesn’t always work. One day as I was exiting a stall a student tried to have a conversation with me. I got so flustered that I washed my hands as quickly as possible and bolted back to the teachers’ office.

Before coming to China I read “River Town” by Peter Hessler about his two year Peace Corps stint in Fuling. In it there is a section about a family he’s become friends with and how their little son wears split pants so it makes it easier for him to go to the toilet during potty training. While reading the book I thought “What a great idea.” That flew out the window as soon as I arrived. I now hate those pants with a passion. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, diapers, this country needs to invest in diapers.  

One thing I do have to give credit to the culture is their attitudes towards bodily functions. One is not meant to feel shame for having to use the toilet, or burp or blow their nose (but please for the love of Gordon use a tissue!). As the kids book title says “Everybody Poops” and really I’m ok with that. I just don’t want to see people do it or accidentally step in it because someone didn’t have the common sense to move their child off of to the side of the walkway. Or see a Mom hold her son over the garbage can on the bus so he can pee.

And I’ve realized it’s not the actual act of going to the toilet that grosses me out so much but how unbelievably unhygienic it all is. It just screams “Diseases here! Get your diseases here.” The irony of it all is that when I taught a lesson about the cultural differences on going to a restaurant most of my students said they didn’t like to share dishes with other people because “it can spread disease”.

I know I often write about the less pleasant things about my life in China, but the fun stuff just isn’t as exciting. Although over the weekend Niels and I spent the day with our friend Jennifer and her family in Luoyang. (I've posted the photos on my Flickr page.) We had a lovely time, I, unfortunately, ‘tho was as sick as a dog and hopped up on cold meds. I have not been sick this many times since freshman year at St. Bonaventure’s.

The May Day holiday is right around the corner, with the extra time off Niels and I will be going to Wuhan to visit some of the college students we befriended during our 10 day English Training Camp Experience in Yichang during the Spring Festival holiday.

We found out last week that our last day of teaching is June 1st. A day or so later we will head out to Xi’an for a visit with the Terracotta Warriors before going to Beijing so he can take the LSAT (on my birthday of all days) before heading home for the Summer. I’m sure some wackiness will ensue in us trying to get the school to reimburse us for our airfare home.