Washroom Etiquette

The washroom situation is this country is odd. Many places don't have toilet paper and I have yet to remember to buy a little tp dispenser to keep with me. My school is one of these places. Its not that its the end of the world, it's just annoying to have to go somewhere else to pick up your tp before you head into the washroom. The main reason for the lack of paper is that Koreans don't flush it. Apparently it clogs up the pipes. That seems rather logical. The problem is that they have wide open garbage cans full of the used paper. I don't think I need to elaborate. For some reason they don't really understand that its kind of gross to use a bar of soap in public restrooms instead of pump soap. I guess there are still a lot of things I have to get used to.

Once in a while I come across the magical Korean technological toilets complete with a heated seat, bidet, tushy air dryer and courtesy music to be played while you go. It's a laugh.



When I first arrived I couldn't figure out why so many women smoked in public washroom stalls (including the one at school). Jenn informed me later that women aren't to smoke, (but of course they still do), so they must do it in the bathroom where they can't be seen by men. If they could understand me I might be tempted to say "Come out! The jig's up! We know what you're doing in there."