If you have ever traveled in different Latin American countries (I imagine that much of the rest of the world is the same) you will notice something strange in the bathroom - no toilets lids or seats. The first time I experienced having to sit on the lip of the toilet bowl itself, well, let's just say that I was not too excited about it. It seemed like it was so dirty and wrong. I guess that when you have grown up your whole life with a working toilet seat and lid, it seems so...wierd...to not have one on the toilet you are using.
It did not even matter that in many public restrooms in Latin America, the toilets were quite literally - cleaner than anything I had ever used before in the states. Yes, literally. They had a paid attendant who cleaned, scrubbed, and sanitized the toilet after every single use! You could clearly see and smell how clean it was...yet, I was hesitant to sit down on that toilet bowl lip.
Reality check - many places (poorer or more remote) did not have a toilet. They merely had a hole to go in. THAT was very intriguing the first time I tried to figure out how to use it. lol. : )
Anyways, here is where the adjustment comes in. When we first moved into our little home here in Jujuy it had a brand spanking new toilet - never before used. But, as I am sure you guessed it - no toilet seat or lid. I suppose it is more economical. Kind of like how pick-ups in the states don't come with rear bumpers. What!?
Well, out of necessity, we were "forced" to use the toilet "as is" until we could locate and purchase a seat for it. We had no trouble locating a seat, it is just that they were very cheap and inexpensive - translation - basically junk. They were made out of a very thin, light-weight plastic that easily broke - the screw on bases separating from the rest of the lid and seat. After repairing ours 4 different times I had had enough and threw it out. I knew where we could find a very quality seat and lid, but it was in a city about 10 hours away. It would have to wait until we could travel there on business and pick one up - about a month later.
Needless to say, we were not excited about that, especially not my wife, but we would have to tough it out until we could travel to Cordoba. Over the next few weeks though, a strange thing happened...I got used to the seatless toilet!
I quickly realized a very indisputable fact - the toilet had to stay cleaner (by necessity - you're not going to sit on that thing if it is dirty!) and it was far easier to maintain clean. Think about it. You only have 1 part to clean! The other way, you have to clean the top of the lid, then the bottom of the lid, then the top of the seat, then the underside of the seat, then you finally have to clean the 1 part you were having to clean anyway + you have to clean the parts that connect the seat and lid to the toilet! Not easy. Lots of 90 degree angles, areas where the gunk is hard to reach, can hide, and begin to "grow."
As I spend 10 x's as much work now cleaning the toilet (and was less happy with the results) than before we had a "good" seat and lid, I am amazed at how much I missed the days before we had it! Seriously, I wish we did not have the toilet seat and lid. What is supposed to be more comfortable and more sanitary, now strikes me as actually being LESS. : )
I know. I know. Judge me all you want. You who so proudly sit upon your toilet seat feeling superior to the rest of the world...you just might not be superior after all. Your pride may be poorly placed. It might be, in fact, that those too poor to afford the nearly uncleanable seat/ lid configuration, are correct and should be prideful of their "low position."
Just something to think about...in our technologically "advanced" world.
Perhaps you don't have it as right as you think you do. : )
Let us not be so fast to feel superior or prideful in the things we have.
Let us be open to whatever circumstances God may want to put us into.
They may not be so terrible as you imagine. : )
Good night and God bless you all -
Be used of Him wherever He places you
Paz : )
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