MENA WCs

[Henia 11]

Inspired by a few comments about WCs on another thread ...

What are the toliers like in your SO's country? Turkish style squat toliets or the English style sit down toliet? Do they use bidets for cleaning up only or do they offer a roll of paper too? Running water or buckets of water? Just curious ...

Here in Algeria ... there are both types of toliets. But generally still most homes and everywhere out in public are the Turkish style toliets.

Water has been a problem in Algeria, so of course the city water system and indoor plumbing has not reached all areas.

Generally toliets in the homes are clean, very fragantly smelling of hard chemicals like bleach. A bucket of water and a cup is there for cleaning up. I have yet to see in an Algerian home toliet paper. Only found in the home's of foreigners and Algerians who have lived aboard.

But the toliets outside ... are the nastiest thing you could ever see! I try to not drink too much when I am out. But in the emergency cases, I go to the bus station where I can pay 10dinars (nothing in American money) but here same as loaf of bread for that quick release. Toliets are generally not seperated. But the doorman is generally nice enough to exit it out all the men ... Except no toliet paper, even soap ... and many times no water. I usually have something with me.

Toliet paper is sold in the markets, buuut only in the larger superettes. Rolls are expensive! (Baby wipes outrageously priced! BTW) But I see Algerians, the few that do buy it, use it for cleaning the nose!

And now you!

[Mommy2ZaidnSalma 11]

my in laws have two bathrooms in their home in jordan....one was an arabian style toilet with walk in shower, the other was an american style toilet, a bidet, and a full bath and shower...

funny story, sofyan has a handicap brother who cannot get into the tub which is why they built him the walk in shower, so he always used that one...and me, i always used the american toilet and tub obviously...so all the nieces and nephews referred to the bathrooms as

"hamam Kelly" and "hamam Adnan"

[caybee 21]

Inside: Squat type in the little shower room under the stairs, bucket of water, toilet paper (very soft, thin, and pink), and something resembling a ski rope for -- um -- foreign visitors. Extremely clean, even with 11 people staying over one night and using just the one. I still don't know how they managed that. I got used to it quickly.

Outside, well, I tried to time things so that I wouldn't have to do that, but I carried baby wipes everywhere. There were some nice ones out and about, often Western style, usually with an attendant.

[sarahaziz 0]

I hate Algerian toilets or squat toilets. I don't like using them at all I'm grateful to enjoy this now luxury American Toilet

I remember vaguely my parents every year before visiting Algeria they'd teach me how to use the squat toilet I was just like uhh no paper? Here in America our family uses paper AND water.

My dad eventually imported/exported things from France to build a French style home there over the years and we have American toilet there. My spouse bought and installed an american toilet in his mothers house because he knows I won't be able to use. Going out to the salon, shopping, etc anywhere basically I just have to deal with using the squat toilets. My aunts or husband keep a toilet paper roll there for me in the car for when we go out. That's one thing I never miss.

[Jenn! 918]

Squat style in family's home in Morocco. I remember the pink TP too! There was a hose thingie there for cleaning as well.

His aunt and uncle had a regular toilet bowl. I much prefer that on, well you know, certain bathroom occasions.

[Krissy! 0]

Like Kelly's description, there was two bathrooms -- one modern style, next to a bidet. Of course, TP don't go down the plumbing. Which is something I got weirded out about at first, but got used to. My honey did not explain that part -- but I quickly caught on.

The other bathroom, which I never went into except for one occasion (doing laundry), has the hole in ground thing, with a shower. When my honey brought us home, he showed me the "modern" bathroom, and other rooms. I pointed out the 2nd bathroom, he said "oh, you won't use it" "Why?" oooh..

Outside, I realized that it is a good idea to bring own wipes.... only very seldom are TP offered. Most had the American style TP. One time, I had to pee.... but didn't because I looked into every stall, and NO American style toilets! Um, there is actually a picture of me going into that WC specifically.... I did not know my picture was being taken! So here's the WC that wasn't so..... (for me):

hmmm, sorry if it appears side ways.

[Alhamdulillah 0]

At my hubby's home in Libya, he just redid his bathroom before coming here. It's still the traditional all in one room with the Arab toilet and shower together and completely tiled in a gorgeous green tile but he updated it by adding an American style toilet beside the Arab toilet. I understand no one has used the American toilet to this day

I have used the Arab toilet once in my life, here in the US! Because I went to a masjid in LA and that was all they had that worked that day I didn't care for it but managed without falling in lol

I don't know how anyone uses tissue paper with a bidet as I've found that just makes a nasty mess so I don't even bother buying TP anymore. My hubby installed spray hoses on both toilets when he got here and we use water. My mom brings a roll with her when she visits

[brnidokiegurl 0]

ahmeds family home had two (squat style) but the sisters house where we stayed had one small old squat on the 3rd floor off the balcony but a very nice large american style with tile shower next to the bedroom on second floor

[sarahaziz 0]

Like Kelly's description, there was two bathrooms -- one modern style, next to a bidet. Of course, TP don't go down the plumbing. Which is something I got weirded out about at first, but got used to. My honey did not explain that part -- but I quickly caught on.

The other bathroom, which I never went into except for one occasion (doing laundry), has the hole in ground thing, with a shower. When my honey brought us home, he showed me the "modern" bathroom, and other rooms. I pointed out the 2nd bathroom, he said "oh, you won't use it" "Why?" oooh..

Outside, I realized that it is a good idea to bring own wipes.... only very seldom are TP offered. Most had the American style TP. One time, I had to pee.... but didn't because I looked into every stall, and NO American style toilets! Um, there is actually a picture of me going into that WC specifically.... I did not know my picture was being taken! So here's the WC that wasn't so..... (for me):

hmmm, sorry if it appears side ways.

BTW, Jordan looks very beautiful from whatever little I can see in the photo. My friend is Jordanian but went on a study program to finish an Arabic language course in Jordan and wow through the web cam Amman was sooooooooooooo beautiful!!!

[hollyw 0]

My husband's family's home in Algiera had two bathrooms, both american style sit-down toilets and both had toilet paper and also a faucet and bucket. NOT a very strong flusher though.... Everything needed a little help to get down, apparently what they would do is use the water an dbucket to push everythign down the pipes.. I caught on eventually...

Edited June 13, 2008 by hollyw

[Henia 11]

I hate Algerian toilets or squat toilets. I don't like using them at all I'm grateful to enjoy this now luxury American Toilet

I remember vaguely my parents every year before visiting Algeria they'd teach me how to use the squat toilet I was just like uhh no paper? Here in America our family uses paper AND water.

My dad eventually imported/exported things from France to build a French style home there over the years and we have American toilet there. My spouse bought and installed an american toilet in his mothers house because he knows I won't be able to use. Going out to the salon, shopping, etc anywhere basically I just have to deal with using the squat toilets. My aunts or husband keep a toilet paper roll there for me in the car for when we go out. That's one thing I never miss.

That is why I try to avoid the public toliets .... imagine the smell in that small cramped cubicle ... then imagine slipping on God knows what weird stuff on the floor. OMG NASTY!

And the public baths are not much better either ... funny since you pay in my opionion alot of money to go there, but there is an attendant.

Also imagine being pregnant trying to use asquat toliet ... Urrrgggh ...but when I was in the hospital ... there was 2 toliets (squat and sit down) .. guess which one I picked? I never imagined women could be nasty!

[doodlebugg 10]

what does "WC" stand for?

The one in their appt was sit down type but you had to fill a bucket of water and pour it in the thing in order to flush, and no tp at all. The whole bathroom is always soaking wet because basically the shower is in the same spot as the toilet. The bidet is a metal pipe that shoots out from the toilet so basically you're sitting on the toilet and this small thin metal pipe is aimed at your azz ready to shoot water when you're all done.

I always got the portable Charmin before I flew there for both inside the house and for when I went outside at a store or restaurant. Had to be real discreet though and make sure the tp was buried in the trash since you couldn't flush it.

Our bidet here is a hose but unfortunately it broke last week and there was water coming into the basement from it. THAT was fun. LOL

Edited June 13, 2008 by bridget

[Jenn! 918]

what does "WC" stand for?

Water Closet

[Ban Hammer 13,283]

what does "WC" stand for?

women and children first.

[sarahaziz 0]

I hate Algerian toilets or squat toilets. I don't like using them at all I'm grateful to enjoy this now luxury American Toilet

I remember vaguely my parents every year before visiting Algeria they'd teach me how to use the squat toilet I was just like uhh no paper? Here in America our family uses paper AND water.

My dad eventually imported/exported things from France to build a French style home there over the years and we have American toilet there. My spouse bought and installed an american toilet in his mothers house because he knows I won't be able to use. Going out to the salon, shopping, etc anywhere basically I just have to deal with using the squat toilets. My aunts or husband keep a toilet paper roll there for me in the car for when we go out. That's one thing I never miss.

That is why I try to avoid the public toliets .... imagine the smell in that small cramped cubicle ... then imagine slipping on God knows what weird stuff on the floor. OMG NASTY!

And the public baths are not much better either ... funny since you pay in my opionion alot of money to go there, but there is an attendant.

Also imagine being pregnant trying to use asquat toliet ... Urrrgggh ...but when I was in the hospital ... there was 2 toliets (squat and sit down) .. guess which one I picked? I never imagined women could be nasty!

small CRAPPED on cubicle