The Unmentionables

Okay, I’m going to lay it out for you…the bathroom situation. I’ll try to keep it pleasant (as it can possibly be). Before I left for Moldova, I was warned that I was more likely to have internet than plumbing, which is mostly true. It’s a good thing I was warned, because I think it prepared me for my situation.

The good news: my house has an indoor shower, a bathroom sink, and a kitchen sink. The indoor shower was the best discovery. I can pretty much shower every day, if I chose to, which I don’t. I have been told that our living situations now are a lot nicer than where we will end up eventually, so I’m trying to prepare myself (get my body use to less showers). Plus my family does not shower everyday, and I am trying to integrate. So right now, I just shower every other day. I’ve heard stories from current volunteers of not being about to shower for 12 days. I’m not sure I’m ready for that yet!

The reason I was grateful for the warning: At my house, I have a viceo (outhouse). Basically, my bathroom is a permanent porta potty located about 100 feet from the house. There is a giant hole in the ground, and a concrete toilet built around it, with four brick walls with a door and a roof. I am luck to have electricity run out there, so I can see at night (some don’t have light and need a flashlight or headlight to see when they go at night).

With the electricity out there, I thought I might have one of the better bathroom situations compared to the other PCTs. But as it turns out, I am one of few with outdoor toilets; most have indoors. Oh well, it will make it easier for me to get use to whatever form of toilet I have in 3 months. Some places only have a hole in the ground. I guess I’ll get a workout for my legs.

Something new, the TP does not go in the toilet. There is a separate bucket or trashcan for used TP. This is true for all bathroom, especially indoors toilets because the plumbing system can’t break down the TP. It was weird at first, but you do it everywhere, so it does not take long to get used to.

One thing I’m not sure I’ll get used to is the smell. I won’t describe that part…I think you can guess. Just think porta potty times 100. And home to many flies. I tried to count them once, but there were too many. Even though I don’t think I’ll get used to it, the smell is a little dulled now. I don’t have to hold my breath the whole time I’m in there now. However, I’m not looking forward to being sick (even more so than normal)!

Side Note: This morning, I noticed Chupa (the family dog) munching away on something. Check out the picture and guess…

Chicken feet!