Bathroom Breaks

I remember the day that my sister returned from Egypt. My mother and I were waiting for her at the airport terminal when the last person out was a little munchkin covered in a makeshift headscarf and headed straight for the toilet – my ridiculous sister. It was her first time in a non-western country and by the time she returned the thing she valued most was that porcelain shrine. Even if there was no need to visit the washroom, she went, just because she could. Never had she been anywhere before that planning a pee break was mandatory and never again has she let us forget it.

Four years later is the next time I really spend more time with her than a few weeks. I am aware of her annoying necessity of using every toilet possible, yet do not let it bother me. Only when I live with her do I learn that this obsession is contagious (although thankfully I have not been infected).

Among the people we regularly hang out with, I recognize that they are also somewhat shocked at how often we need to stop for a toilet break on a few hours journey – until I realize that they are secretly relieved that she was the one to convince the driver to stop. It seems that everyone that she spends regular time with becomes so used to stopping for toilet breaks that they too eventually cave in and continually empty their bladders at any opportunity…. Having experience with India’s squatter toilets, I have learned that not all toilets are necessary for use.

On our last trip to Vietnam, a six hour bus ride, the first toilet break did not come for some time, and as usual my sister ran towards it. I also needed to use the lavatories but after seeing the conditions – dirty squatters without any doors – I passed. The next stop we had was at the border crossing, it was very strict but since there was a line up, my sister told me to go, as she always insists everyone use the toilet whenever applicable. I ran to the closest building after having my passport stamped and walked into a flooded, cobwebbed dungeon with a hole in it, I let loose and got out of there as quick as possible. As I exited the building I see my sister arguing with the bus police men and the bus driver outside as she holds up the entire bus waiting for me to return!

If there is one thing that she knows how to argue about it’s a person’s right to use a toilet whenever they please!