She gave me something - you see in the photo on the right.You know what it is?
If not, do you have any idea what it could be?
I'll give you time to think about.
Well, so what is it?
Those who doesn't have the slightest idea, click here.
I remember I've read some articles(in Korean) about it, and thought that time "Really creative, yeah very CREATIVE!!!"
And last night something occured to me.
You know what this picture means?
I don't wanna translate the script into English coz I guess the pic itself says enough.
I saw it in the bathroom of my aunt's house when I visited her in 2002, and I was so amused that I took my camera and went to the bathroom again.
When I posted an article about this pic on my Korean blog, many visitors found it not only amusing but also very practical.
Yes, sometimes I must admit that Westerners' creativeness and practicalness are indeed admirable.
I'm not sure about the usefulness of P-mate yet(coz I haven't tried it yet), but I would highly recommend the method of the second picture to all Korean men. That'll be much considerate for the person who's cleaning the toilet. (And for sure, 99% of those cleaning people are women.)
*Update
Some articles that will be helpful to understand this posting.
12 comments:
I didn't quite understand the picture until I got to know that "Bitte im Sitzen pinkeln" means "Please pee sitting" in German. Interesting post.
Sorry, I should have translated it earlier^^;;
Do you know that i Holland / Netherland, they actually have auto-toilets for men to just pee into - urinals only. So, imagine, you walk on the road, and suddenly see men crowding around this huge cylindrical thing with their backs to us. Hmmm.....on second thought, not a bad idea....
Its okay. I have a good laugh after I realize why the guy is drawn sitting on the floor. Perhaps some guys don't quite understand simple instruction when it comes to proper toileting manner. By the way, I thought the pmate looks like a paper clog. Something like the wooden clog worn traditionally in Holland.
Aini, if Holland can invent pmate, guys crowding around a cylindrical thing in Holland is not more surprising. ^^
It's so nice to read comments from the other side. From Asia to Europe. I like to see what Asians think about Europeans, cos I only know (and blog) the european point of view about Asia.
(Song, you have a good intuition for finding "interesting" topics. I will come back later and post a bit more. Actually I'm too tired.)
Hi Stefan,
would be nice if you can give us some more informations about this topic:-)
Take your time and tell us the 'real thing' that is going on in Germany.
My aunt married a German and has been living in Hamburg for more than twenty years. I don't know exactly since when this picture has been hanging in her bathroom, but so far as I remember I never saw something like that in the 80s.
this is so interesting. i hv nvr thot that such a thing would be invented ... and I'm not sure if I'd use it. Maybe I will carry it with me and use it only when the toilet is real dirty. :P
Hi Jos!
Yes, you're right, I don't think I would really need it coz I'm familiar with squat toilets (the girl who gave me it said she couldn't "aim" in the toilet in Korea) and I don't have any problems with it. But anyway, it's a very creative idea:)
@aini: You can find such toilets also in France, Belgium and Germany. You don't see the men's backs, but their legs and heads. Only the middle part of their bodies is covered. These toilets you can often find at market places in villages or small towns in Europe. Nowadays people in urban places have their difficulties to find a public toilet. Even when you luckily find one you have to pay.
@song: I think these funny signs came up in the early 70s with the so called "Sponti" student movement (Sponti-Szene) when it was in fashion to use irony and jokes to comment the changes in politics and society. There are a lot of similiar sentences and cartoons. Just one link to find more:
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponti-Spruch
I was not so much surprised about the korean toilets (they are quite like in Europe ;-)) but this tooth brushing ritual in public toilets. Often I don't have a chance to wash my hands because of men of all ages who are standing in front of the mirror and cleaning their teeth carefully. They must take their whole paraphernalia along with them day by day, do they?!? They don't look like homeless people and some day (when my korean is better) I will ask them, if they don't have a restroom at their home place.
In Japan (and sometimes in Korea) people use special shoes only for their bathroom. I've also heard that japanese wash and take a shower BEFORE they are taking a bath. Uhm, water is water, right?!?
To all: Could be an interesting topic for those who are planning to write a PhD-work about cultural differences in the restrooms. Would like to have a copy of this work. ;-)
To Stefan: Thanks so much for your kind comment with all the informations and interesting stories:)
And about teeth brushing in public toilets... well... I don't know whether you saw those people in your university or on the street(I mean, public toilets on the street), but if in your univerisity, that's not so strange. Seems that Korean are afraid that their breath will make the other unpleasan after having meal. The idea itself it quite nice, isn't it? Just a bit bothering when you see them in the restroom:)
I see these men also in public toilets (especially subway stations). What about korean women? Do they also use their toothbrushes in public restrooms?
Sure!
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