Oh Shit
This is a very complex subject when travelling. First if you are using a public bathroom you have to work out the male or female toilets. Having attended Spanish lessons we learnt the words for men and women. Hombre y Mujera’s but of course nothing is that simple sometimes they will be called Chicos / Chicas, or Ellos / Ellas , Lindas / Bobs or worse still just circle / triangle as we discovered once in Poland which is just bizarre. And then of course there is the unisex toilets which are just weird. What woman wants to use a cubicle after a man.
Having located the correct place to start the next really tricky thing is what to do with the paper. That is assuming you worked out where to get the paper before you enter. This could be in the cubicle but may also be in a common area for men and women before you go in or you may have to pay to get it before you enter. Fortunately most toilets have sign / do not throw paper in bowl / you may throw paper in bowl etc. If you are not sure we found a great web site that someone has taken the trouble to compile. http://wheredoiputthepaper.com
The final difficult part is how to flush, this could be a handle, a button on the left, a button on top or very rarely in south America automatic. Next if you have done number 2, which reminds me is not allowed on toilets in buses as the man said “wee wee yes, poo poo no”, do you press the button once, hard or hold to till the water runs clear!
My final comment on this subject is also the effect altitude can have on the bowel I never imagined that in our mid 50’s we would be having daily conversations about our bowl movements! I think that is enough said on this subject.
Thankyou for broaching such an important subject & the trials & tribulations when needing a loo in another country. I’m sure you’ve had to crouch over Continental style toilets that they have in different countries. In China we found English style toilets in hotels, but the doors only covered your middle bit as you sat down. You kind of got used to doing the business & watching all that went on in the Ladies too. Quite handy for ongoing conversations. Public loos in China was just a large room with open troughs to do your “thing”!
Fortunately the toilets in South America are mainly modern ones no swatting so far! I don’t fancy China style!