Widow Makers and Other Hygeine Issues

One of the joys of living in a foreign country is getting used to the new methods of bathing and taking care of daily needs. Guatemala is no exception. Take this for example:

Photo by JoePhoto

This is what we use for showering . . . doesn`t it look safe? Instant hot waters have been used by third world countries like Guatemala for a long time, while in the Western world, they are still considered a luxury item. The problem down here is that most people end up doing their own wiring, which, as you can see, leaves a bit to be desired.

I`ve actually had one of these things (frequently referred to as widow makers) blow up while I was showering. Sparks flying . . . let me tell you, I leapt out of that shower pretty darn fast myself!

The death trap showers aren`t the only thing that is different. One of the weird things I had to get used to in Mexico was the fact that the bathrooms were so small in hotels that they served dual purposes . . . the regular one and as a shower. That`s right, no separate shower at all! And, since Mexico was so hot, all the showers were just ice water. So, basically, you had to clear your clothes and toilet paper out of the bathroom in order to shower, right there beside the sink and toilet. Interesting, to say the least.

Then there is the whole toilet paper thing. You see, here, there is a little wastebasket when you walk into the bathroom, right beside the toilet. And it`s not for just garbage, it`s for your used toilet paper.

That sounds disgusting and for the first couple of months, it is. Then you get used to dropping your toilet paper into the wastebasket instead of the toilet. The whole reason for this? Apparently the pipes here clog easier and can`t handle toilet paper. I`ve seen the results of a forgetful tourist myself in the bar where I used to work so I can vouch for the messed up pipes.

When I first came here, everything seemed so strange and foreign . . . which is the whole point of living in another country, no? But now, well, now I`m pretty used to risking my life each time I step into the shower and taking the tp out to burn each day is a routine that doesn`t strike me as odd anymore! Amazing what you can get used to, huh?