The Little Differences

There are somethings that are simply different I had to adapt immediately and just barely noticed. I'd like to share some examples of what I deal with in my home town that are so different.

There is no toilet paper in bathrooms. There is if you happen to bring it but otherwise it isn't present. How does one clean up? There's a small bucket with a handle, a tabo, and you use it, somehow. I've actually never heard how you use the tabo, of all the trainings given this point was left for experimentation. I don't know how the locals do it, how my trainers do it, and I just take toilet paper in.

Toilets don't flush. The toilets aren't squat toilets either (squat toilets are around but not as common), what is common is a toilet standing without a tank or a plastic seat. Where do you sit? Right on the porcelain. How do you flush? With the tabo, a few scoops of water from the bucket in the bathroom will usually wash away any evil left.

There are no rules within driving here. Outside of the absolute basics, like driving on the left (most of the time) and being aware of pedestrians, it's game on. There's no right of way, speed limit (that I'm aware of), passing rules (corner? Okay!), passenger limit, shoulder driving, and there's certainly nothing here that would pass emissions back home. I grew up living on a boat and having smelled my share of diesel fumes and this place is packed full of it. Actually pollution is an issue here and it's even had an adverse effect on a Peace Corps Volunteer that helped with Initial Orientation, as she lives in a metropolitan area.