In prepping for traveling to different places, there is one thing that no one really talks about, because no one wants to: differences in bathrooms and toilets (and how to be prepared for those differences). However, it can be one of the most confusing parts of your trip if you walk into a bathroom in, say, Cambodia, and you are greeted with the sight pictured above- a squatting toilet, no sink, and no toilet paper. For those of us in Western society, this is a bit odd, and because no one wants to talk about it, you're not prepared. In honor of World IBD Day, though, I'm going to talk about it and share with you what I wish I'd known (as well as talk about IBD).
First of all, what is IBD? IBD stands for Inflammatory Bowel Disease and has two subcategories: Chron's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Both are autoimmune diseases, which means that they are not contagious, they are lifelong (there is no cure, only hope for remission), and they affect every aspect of a person's life, from physical to psychological. While some people may think that IBD is just a "bathroom disease" (hence this week's topic), it has other symptoms like weight gain or loss, fatigue, and night sweats as well as the traditionally thought of symptoms in the bathroom (including bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain). However, many people diagnosed with IBD find that they are suffering psychologically as well, especially women have a tendency to feel stripped of their femininity.
The Princess Promise charity was founded by Sophia Vicari after she was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis in college, and she hopes that The Princess Promise will help empower women with IBD. She believes that all women are "princesses"- which embody the traditional ideal of femininity- regardless of whether they have IBD or not, as well as promoting the idea that the term "princess" is flexible and can mean whatever the user wants it to mean. For example, Vicari has just graduated college with a BA in Communication Studies/PR and does pageants, while her partner (in the charity), Christine Kenny, plays tennis. To Vicari, all women are princesses, and IBD cannot strip their femininity away.
So, what does this have to do with this week's post? Traveling with an autoimmune disease is HARD, especially one where you won't know what to expect when it comes to a room where a person with IBD might be spending a lot of time- the bathroom. While this post is in honor of World IBD Day, it is not limited to people with IBD- these tips are helpful to everyone! I've broken this up by continent (not including North America or Antarctica), and then general tips that I've found helpful.
South America: In general in South America, do not throw toilet paper in the toilet, as it will clog (there are some places where there are exceptions). Instead, by each toilet, there should be a small wastebasket where you can throw away used tissue and sanitary products. Additionally, in many "non-touristy" places, there may be a lack of hand soap in the bathrooms, but there will be sinks available. For travelers, I would recommend bringing hand sanitizer or buying a small hand soap (or taking one from your hotel).
Europe: European toilets are much like those in North America, with the possible addition of a bidet. The biggest things for travelers to know for Europe is that many stores/shops will not let you use their toilets unless you buy something. Some will even charge you for use of the toilet, and then give you a voucher for that amount on the way out of the restroom that you can redeem if you buy an item in the store. For public toilets, you should always expect a small fee (around 0.30 Euro in most of Europe- the cheapest I've seen is 0.10, and the most expensive I've seen is 0.70). However, this enables the city to keep these public toilets spotless! Additionally in Europe, there is a big push for water conservation- toilets will generally have 2 "flush" buttons, a smaller one for a "half flush" which uses less water than the "full flush".
Asia: In much of Western Asia, the toilets are generally the same as European or North American toilets. However, when you get further into East Asia (Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, etc), public toilets like the squat toilet (pictured above) become common. In these places, while toilet paper is often provided, it is common for public places to run out. It is recommended to bring your own toilet paper or flushable wet wipes. Much like in South America, some places will request that you throw toilet paper and sanitary products in a bin rather than the toilet. If you are uncomfortable using toilets like this, most restaurants and other shops will have "Western" toilets, but much like Europe, you will not be able to use these facilities unless you buy something. Similarly to South America, some restrooms may not have hand soap readily available, so bring your own or a substitute.
Africa: I have not traveled extensively through Africa, so I cannot speak for the continent. This is based off of my experience in South Africa. South Africa is facing a water crisis currently, so many toilets have the "half" and "full" flush like in Europe, but it is strongly discouraged to use the "full flush" unless absolutely necessary. Other than that, the toilets are generally "Western" toilets.
General Tips: I always bring a pack of sanitizing wet wipes in my backpack when I travel, as I was caught without toilet paper when I traveled in Ecuador (shoutout to my tour leader who is awesome and packed extra!). These have come in handy multiple times, including when visiting Ankgor Wat in Cambodia, in the airport in Dubai, and in Cha Am in Thailand. Always, always bring a sealable pack of sanitizing wet wipes, and bonus points if they're flushable. Also, after I accidentally drank some water in Ecuador and got erm... sick... (don't eat fruit if you don't know where it was washed), I always travel with Cipro. Not that I'm advocating taking antibiotics for every little thing, Cipro (also known as "Traveler's Friend") made my experience so much better than it could have been. It also came in handy in Thailand when I was sick and had to be on a plane for 17 hours.
Hopefully this helps you be more prepared for toilets and bathrooms around the world, and for those who have a chronic illness, IBD or otherwise, don't let it stop you from traveling. Your disease doesn't have borders- it affects people all around the world- so you are not alone. If your disease doesn't have borders, why should you?
All information about IBD came from the Chron's and Colitis Foundation of America http://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org
Follow The Princess Promise at https://theprincesspromise.wixsite.com/theprincesspromise/blog (they're also on Facebook and Instagram!)
