The Guest Bathroom
This is our guest bathroom located just off the foyer. There are a few things worth noting here.
You see that green canister to the right of the toilet? That's a tank of gas. It's got a tube running up to that white rectangular box on the right-hand wall. That's our water heater.
These gas cans are pretty scary, but an absolutely integral part of life here. We've got five of them spread out throughout our home, four for heating and one for cooking. We've heard horror stories of kitchens blowing up, and in at least one case, an entire family perishing in their sleep from one of these things leaking toxic fumes. So the rule here is check your valves and keep the windows cracked.
It will happen that you will occasionally run out of gas, usually in the middle of preparing a meal or enjoying a hot shower. Not to worry. All day long we hear the cheery melody of the gas trucks cruising the neighborhoods. It's just like ice cream trucks back in the States. In fact, one of my Arabic instructors told me that the jingle that blares from these trucks was the same one used by ice cream trucks in his youth. But ice cream trucks, like the postman, have gone the way of the dodo here.
So instead we've got gas trucks. When you need gas you hail one of these trucks and a guy will bring in a new canister and take away the old one. These cans stink, enough so that even outside the air smells of fuel. The fuel mixes with the smell of jasmine and there you have the very distinct scent of the Arab world. That and moth balls.
The astute observer may notice a little hose with a spray nozzle mounted on the wall to the left of the toilet. This is how one cleans up after finishing one's business. Toilet paper clogs the plumbing, so it isn't really isn't used much except to pat oneself dry.
Both of our toilets are the Western style "throne" that we're accustomed to. Many homes have the Arab style which is nothing more than a hole in the floor which one squats over. They take some getting used to, but they aren't that bad.
You can see a panel of light switches outside of the bathroom. Even after a month that still throws me. I'll walk into the bathroom and shut myself into complete darkness forgetting that I have to go outside to turn the lights on.
The phone on the wall is for buzzing in guests outside the building's front door.
You see that green canister to the right of the toilet? That's a tank of gas. It's got a tube running up to that white rectangular box on the right-hand wall. That's our water heater.
These gas cans are pretty scary, but an absolutely integral part of life here. We've got five of them spread out throughout our home, four for heating and one for cooking. We've heard horror stories of kitchens blowing up, and in at least one case, an entire family perishing in their sleep from one of these things leaking toxic fumes. So the rule here is check your valves and keep the windows cracked.
It will happen that you will occasionally run out of gas, usually in the middle of preparing a meal or enjoying a hot shower. Not to worry. All day long we hear the cheery melody of the gas trucks cruising the neighborhoods. It's just like ice cream trucks back in the States. In fact, one of my Arabic instructors told me that the jingle that blares from these trucks was the same one used by ice cream trucks in his youth. But ice cream trucks, like the postman, have gone the way of the dodo here.
So instead we've got gas trucks. When you need gas you hail one of these trucks and a guy will bring in a new canister and take away the old one. These cans stink, enough so that even outside the air smells of fuel. The fuel mixes with the smell of jasmine and there you have the very distinct scent of the Arab world. That and moth balls.
The astute observer may notice a little hose with a spray nozzle mounted on the wall to the left of the toilet. This is how one cleans up after finishing one's business. Toilet paper clogs the plumbing, so it isn't really isn't used much except to pat oneself dry.
Both of our toilets are the Western style "throne" that we're accustomed to. Many homes have the Arab style which is nothing more than a hole in the floor which one squats over. They take some getting used to, but they aren't that bad.
You can see a panel of light switches outside of the bathroom. Even after a month that still throws me. I'll walk into the bathroom and shut myself into complete darkness forgetting that I have to go outside to turn the lights on.
The phone on the wall is for buzzing in guests outside the building's front door.
posted by P-Tribe @ 12:51 AM
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