Normal concerns include:
- Is there a public restroom, or are the proprietors of this restaurant going to invite me to use their family bathroom?
- Is there a lock on the door of my stall?
- Is there a hook to hang my purse/jacket/bag on so I don't have to set it/them down on the smarmy, muddy, germ-laden floor?
- Is there enough or any toilet paper? (Always carry tissues...)
- Is there soap with which to wash my hands after? (Always carry hand sanitizer...)
- Are there any hand-drying apparatuses available, or will I be using my pants?
In Europe, there was an additional concern:
- Am I going to be charged for using this facility? [And follow-up: Do I have any cash or coins in the correct currency to pay for my right to pee? Is there a bathroom attendant who will expect to be tipped for pointing me to an empty stall? Do I have enough coins to tip her and keep her from being insulted by a paltry amount and retaliate by spitting on my shoes?] (always carry a couple dollars/pounds/euros/francs in change...)
In Korea, there are several additional concerns:
- Is there a toilet? If the "toilet" is just a hole in the ground, better to hold it and wait, because if you go for it anyways, you will end up peeing on your shoes (trust me).
- Did the jerks who made this restroom put the toilet paper OUTSIDE the bathroom stalls or inside? I am not kidding - they actually do this. Your ninja-like observational skills come in very handy at this point: If you notice the TP placement BEFORE entering the stall to relieve yourself, you can snag some TP and have a successful visit. If, however, you have a vague memory of successfully visiting a certain restroom before, but you fail to remember the necessary step of retrieving TP before entering your stall, you will not have a successful visit. (unless of course, you always carry tissues with you...)
- Are you in the correct restroom for your gender? Just because there is a urinal does not mean you are in the men's room. Go back and check the little bathroom pictures carefully:
...If you are still confused as to which image is male or female, or why this seems to be a restroom for chubby children, wait : and with your ninja-assassin powers of observation, note whether the next person entering/exiting the restroom in question is of the same sex as you. If not, use the other restroom.
If it is so late at night that no-one enters or exits either restroom after 5 minutes of waiting, then it doesn't matter which room you choose. Pick the one with toilet paper and soap.
Luckily for all of you, I have gone through enough restroom mishaps to safely advise you through the process should you ever be in Europe or South Korea.
You're welcome!
** I would like to clarify that the title of this series of posts is not, in fact, politically incorrect. I am perfectly aware that many of these Anna-labeled "quirks" are only regarded as quirky by me (and other foreigners) because they are different from what I (we) are used to. The title of this post series is really "Cultural difference awareness #__". However, I don't think that's as catchy as "Korea Quirk # ___", which might sound to some like I am assuming that anything different from my idea of normal is strange and quirky in and of itself. But that's not at all the meaning I was going for, thus the existence of this disclaimer to set anyone straight who was condemning me for my cultural insensitivity. I promise that I am very culturally sensitive, and that the phrase "Korea Quirk" is merely an expression of poetic license. Thank you for your understanding.
