The Bathroom

Lately, I have been thinking a lot about something most of us do numerous times a day without a second thought: going to the bathroom. Yes, I agree, this is an odd thing for me to be thinking about but please, bear with me.

When I was flying earlier this summer I had a layover in Brussels and loved their airport's "restroom" sign....

Yes, it is different than the signs in America yet very similar and therefore I knew exactly what it was for. This got me thinking about the vast differences there are across countries yet some things are still the same. I walked in expecting toilet paper, soap, running water; I never thought twice about it.

Once I got to Liberia, though, going to the restroom was a different story. Most to the time, well, there wasn't one. Since I have had the privilege of traveling to many countries I have learned a few things when it comes to this: to carry tissues with me, always go to the bathroom when there is one available because you never know when you'll come across another one, and have to master the "squat."  

While in school with the girls they would often ask to go "pass water." Once they were granted permission they would go outside and, well, just go anywhere. No toilet, no running water, no tissue, no soap, and for them, no problem. This is what they know and how things work in Liberia. Going to the bathroom is a thing of life and therefore just happens when it needs to, no special room needed.  

On my last day, a few of the girls were going to join me on my ride to the airport and therefore came with me to the apartment where I was staying to get my luggage. I knew this was going to be a hard afternoon and was not looking forward to saying good-bye nor the 30 hours of travel I had ahead of me. As I was checking to make sure I had everything I needed to take with me I was not expecting to have, yet another, memorable experience with these girls.  

A few of the girls used the bathroom in the apartment and then Abigail, who is 14 years old, came to me and said "where is the bucket of water for the toilet?" (In many areas without running water when there is a toilet water is taken in a bucket and thrown into the bowl of the toilet which allows it to flush down the pipes.) I said "no bucket is needed" and walked into the bathroom with her and 8-year-old Angel. It then dawned on me that these two girls had never seen a running water toilet. I told Abigail how to pull the strange silver knob on the toilet and then watched these girls' eyes express amazement. Angel looked up at me and beamed a big smile which I could only imagine was a non-verbal "COOL!" 

Now in reality this whole exchanged lasted about two minutes and then we quickly went about whatever we were doing. These two minutes, however, have not left me. Something I have thought of as an every day (well multiple times a day!) thing for so many years was still a moment of amazement for two girls, 14 and 8 years old, who have never seen it before. We take for granted so many little things in life instead of appreciating that they are everyday things to us.

Last week I came back from the restroom at a restaurant and had one word for my friend... "jackpot." There was toilet paper, soap, and running water. Of course they looked at me like I was crazy but instead of coming to expect these things I have come to appreciate them as luxuries.

Tell me about your trip...

"So.... tell me about your trip." I have to admit, this has been my least favorite statement said to me recently. The last few weeks I spent in Liberia were busy and wonderful and then once I arrived home 10 days ago I hit the ground running in Western life again. This has joyfully involved hanging out with many people I have missed over the last two months. Everyone wants to hear about my trip but when they open the door with such a broad statement, I stumble around how to answer. I have tried using every adjective I can think of to describe it; I have tried sharing funny stories; I have tried sharing heart wrenching stories; I have tried to respond to that statement in many ways and still feel I never fully give my time in Liberia justice. 

I have also realized that I could talk for hours when in reality people may be asking the question out of courtesy of conversation and may not actually care to listen to a long rant about what I experienced. Even with my closest friends and family, who have graciously let me rant extensively, I still days later think of yet another story I haven't shared with them. I say all of that to eventually get at this: I have failed in keeping up with this blog while away and will work on going back and sharing some stories of things that happened. This may serve more purpose to my processing of things but hopefully at least provide some enjoyment to anyone who may be reading this.

Thank you to everyone who supported my trip both monetarily and prayerfully. It seriously would not have happened if it wasn't for all of you, and I am forever indebted to each of you. I am thankful for this adventure and all that I went through, both good and bad. I am thankful for the people I have met and the conversations I have had. I am thankful for the girls and their families that have taught me way more than I could ever think I taught them. I know my life has forever been changed and no matter what I have done for others through this experience it will never add up to what others have done for me.