Nopoilet paper and a squat toilet okay with you?

Question

Westerners come to Asia and are somewhat taken aback when they have to use the squat toilet and was the behind rather than use toilet paper.
The do have tissue here but mostly used on the table to wipe the face.

Oops, sorry agout the spelling. someone was talking to me.

Answer 1

one word... yeeeeew!

Answer 2

While I've never been to Asia, I know someone who went to Japan on business a few years back and noticed the squat toilets. The only real issue she had was that many of them were dirty(especially in the bus and train stations). As long as they were clean, she didn't mind(and always brought TP with her). And admittedly- some people can't squat very well due to knee problems or issues with balance, and squatting can be hard if you're wearing pantyhose or high heels.

Answer 3

Is it okay? Well yes. When you are a guest in a different country/culture you need to be open to new experiences. I'm an American expat whose been living in various Asian countries for the last four years... some locations more rural than others. The funniest conversations I have with my Western friends and than with my Asian friends is about the toilet/loo/wc situation. Our approach to this is so opposite that I've found my Asian friends as secretly as appalled by western habits (you don't wash?!!!) as my western friends about Asian habits (you do wash?!!!). This is what I tell each group... (this may come across as a little crude but I hope it clears it up for you at bit.)
In western culture floors are considered dirty. This is why we don't take off our shoes in the house and would never think of going barefoot in someone Else's home- nor would we normally want anyone doing this in our home, (as we also consider feet unclean). So squatting close to the floor, especially in a bathroom is considered even more dirty. Thus the reason for the raised chair toilet (which most people do not actually sit directly on unless it's in their own home). We also try to touch ourselves afterwards as little as possible, thus the use of toilet paper between our hands and lower parts. Also water in a western bathroom is usually not.. uh.. 'water' so to come into a wet bathroom really gives most of us problems. Since washing is so important to Asians most of the bathrooms are soaked if there isn't actually standing water. Which brings us to another problem- balance. It takes talent to balance over the hole without letting our clothes touch the wet tiles and aim, much less trying to balance a powerful hose or sling a water scoop afterwards- equally without dousing our own clothes. After four years my little sons (4 and 5) have mastered the art much better than their parents. Than comes the mystery of the flush... from the modern ones which auto flush with any movement (Singapore, Tokyo) to mastering the hard manual water flush which involves flinging a scoop of water hard into the small hole with enough force to open the bottom and get a successful "flush" without splashing yourself (Indonesia, Cambodia). Since we are not used to being wet, we will still go looking for tissue paper to completely dry off with while some Asians will just take advantage of the situation and have an impromptu shower. (In our countries we usually shower once a day or even every other day, unless we've been working out or gotten dirty versus the Asian custom of bathing in the morning, evening and usually at least once more somewhere in the day, besides whenever you've worked out or gotten dirty.) And yes it's a well known chuckle in the expat communities that toilet paper is found on the kitchen table and the kitchen sink sprayer is found in the bathroom!
For any westerners reading this... here is question in reverse.
Asian are very clean. They squat and most find it repulsive to sit on a seat other naked, uh... busy butts/bums have been on... thus the footprints found on the seat. To merely wipe is equally gross, once must only clean with the LEFT hand (the right is for eating and being social) and lots of water- like a mini shower. Since it's hot (as many of the countries are around the equator) and our obsession with A/C on 24 hrs a day/everywhere seems excessive in places where power is very expensive. Many people will strip from the waist down and rinse off as well. The kitchen sprayer behind the toilet or the barrel of water is for this use. DO NOT get into the water like a bath, this is for everyone use and no one wants your dirty bathwater on their body. Likewise everything is wet because it's clean, they will rinse off the stall after they use it and will even splash the floor for good measure (Some will even leave the sink water on- moving water is clean water.). It's considered very rude to leave the bathroom dirty after you use it. You also may want to stand clear before you flush the ones with the hanging pulls with the elevated tanks (usually at eye or head level) as the higher they are the more they splash. Likewise any toilet paper would be doused not to mention not necessary (do you use paper towels in the shower?). If toilet paper is available, it's a) in a big dispenser as you walk in the door near the sinks, b) in one of the stalls with a western stool toilet, c) high up on the wall in the stall. Regardless you are expected to put the used toilet paper in the little trashcan provided, not into the toilet itself as many sewers are not prepared for this and the paper tends to be more sturdy than ours at home.... thus it's ideal use as a napkin. Don't worry, the rolls you will find on the tables at restaurants were not taken from the bathroom, but they might travel the other way! (usually in the hands of a desperate western woman)
I personally use whatever's available although I find the astonished looks from the Asian women amusing whenever I emerge from a squat toilet stall.

Answer 4

Asia is a big place, define the country you're speaking of. Otherwise, you seem like you need to travel a bit.

Answer 5

Can't do squatting and can't do washing in a public toilet. Washing can and must be done at home.

Answer 6

Always carry your own paper, that's what I say.

Answer 7

That's why you carry kleenex ladies. Just don't get the kind with lotion. ew.

Answer 8

When in Rome.....