Saturday, May 14, 2011

Bathroom rating

Civilization can be judged in many ways. A quick google search turns up the free dictionary which says this:
1. An advanced state of intellectual, cultural, and material development in human society, marked by progress in the arts and sciences, the extensive use of record-keeping, including writing, and the appearance of complex political and social institutions.
What is left out of the discussion of all the arts and science is, what are the bathrooms like? It has been my experience that you can tell quite a bit about a people once you get behind closed doors. It takes sustained effort to keep something as basic as water flowing into your house.  Adding heat ups the ante.

Below is a rough and ready list of the possible range I may encounter on my travels, numbered for easy reference. I will be referring back to this list as I visit various places
  1.  No facilities at all. High probability that you will be witnessed by small children. Who will laugh and be  very chatty.
  2. No facilities. Congratulations on finding someplace private. Squat.
  3. Most basic long drop.  There is quite an interesting hole in the floor.  
  4.  Again a long drop but this has a concrete floor and raised spots for your feet while you squat.
  5. A more civilized long drop.  This place has been made by an American far from home and has an actual seat.  Depending on the roof, spiders and scorpions may fall in your lap.
  6. We now move indoors. It is no longer necessary to brave the night. This place has an Arab squat style, floor level porcelain fixture.  The whole room functions as the shower with a drain in the middle of the floor. There is no longer running water and you both flush and wash from a bucket.
  7. This is the same as 6 only the water comes from the pipes-cold only.
  8. Here is a slight improvement to 7 in that we now get to sit properly.
  9. Hot water at last.  This Bathroom is what most Americans would call bare bones. This room is long on function short on niceties.
  10. Perfectly acceptable.  As nice as you would find in any suburban home back in the states.
  11. Luxury.  I have not actually used one of these but I've seen them in magazines. Gold fixtures and marble are the norm.

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