Toilet Talk; When you Gotta Go, You Gotta Go

There are three locations that feature flush toilets in the village: Caiman House, the Primary School, and Kaigan House (my house). What everyone else uses in the village are pit latrines, a wooden version of port-o-potties, which, of course, don't get emptied, just filled in and relocated once they've reached their quota.

Latrines have various levels of shelter, some being palm leaves on three sides and an open door in front, or perhaps a cloth covering as the door, that blows in the wind. Standard Red Cross-approved ones have four wooden walls, a zinc roof that's slanted to allow air flow at the top, and some wide boards with a circle cut to put your bottom. Not sure the standard depth.

Then, of course, there's always the 'go in the savanna' approach. Darkness is preferrable for this approach, if no darnkess, than a good bush or tree is desired. When you're on the move, going in front of or behind a vehicle suffices. Women will go squat together, especially at night, no need for modesties, it's all nature. (I've gotten pretty good at squat bathroom time, btw.)

We have a latrine behind Kaigan House, I use it on occasion. For a period of about a week, our toilet was clogged and we HAD to use it. I have access to toilet paper (House Proud!) that's not only perforated, but dusted with baby powder for a fresh smell and feel. But most people don't use TP. In other household latrines, you'll see sections of old books on the boards with the hole in it for sitting.

There seems to be some sort of elemtental statement in the act of wiping one's bottom with pages of written word. I just don't know what that statement is exactly.