Exactly. In our village, it was a latrine. We were lucky enough to have ceramic ones.
When I first encountered this as a 4 year old, I was so disgusted with the idea of squatting over a latrine that my parents had to have a Western toilet installed in our house in the village. When I returned at 10 years old, I was more amenable to the idea.
Every time you had to go, you had to fill a bucket of water from the well, and carry it with you to the outhouse. Then you’d squat over the latrine, do your deed, and then use a cup (a lota) to pour water over your backside, using the other hand to help rinse. Heaven forbid you had to do all of this at night.
When I got back to Canada, it was the toilet that I missed the most. Now, I appreciate the sheer convenience and modern marvel that is modern plumbing and sewage.
When I first encountered this as a 4 year old, I was so disgusted with the idea of squatting over a latrine that my parents had to have a Western toilet installed in our house in the village. When I returned at 10 years old, I was more amenable to the idea.
Every time you had to go, you had to fill a bucket of water from the well, and carry it with you to the outhouse. Then you’d squat over the latrine, do your deed, and then use a cup (a lota) to pour water over your backside, using the other hand to help rinse. Heaven forbid you had to do all of this at night.
When I got back to Canada, it was the toilet that I missed the most. Now, I appreciate the sheer convenience and modern marvel that is modern plumbing and sewage.