When we arrived here in April we met our families in a matching ceremony, then went home with them for the weekend. When we arrived back to training on Monday, we debriefed about our time with our host families. Many things were discussed, but toilets topped the list for some trainees.
Some people had pit latrines (“out houses”) and no toilets in their house. This meant that if they had to go at night, they had to venture outside into the dark and unknown and leave their precious body parts exposed to whatever might be lurking in the latrine. These people had little patience for anyone who had a flushing toilet and a complaint of any sort.
We had one volunteer, who was serving with his wife. They were an older, well off couple. It was clearly his lifelong dream to join the Peace Corps. He came back after the weekend wondering if it would be appropriate to purchase their host family (aka his wife) a new toilet seat. Apparently the host family, even though living in a clearly nice home, didn’t have a proper toilet seat and lid. I think we all suggested he not rush out and do that - they might take offense and he and his wife were supposed to be living in the house the way it was, not perform any home makeovers during their stay.
My host family also didn’t have such things but I had already decided it put to rest once and for all the main argument men and women have about toilets. Such toilets might revolutionize life as we know it at home. If we could get people to all agree to rip their toilet seats and covers right off, it would amount to a revolutionary act. I am not saying I am in favor of no toilet seats or covers, I am just saying it has a bright side.
Fast forward to about a month ago, when my toilet seat/cover combo’s remaining plastic bolt holding them to the toilet finally broke. Both of the bolts were iffy when I arrived, so I had babied them. I mean you really don’t have to throw yourself onto the toilet each time. I blame my landlord’s son for the coup de grace during my trip to Germany while he stayed at the house to take care of the cats.
So there I am, with a Botswana toilet. The seat and lid are in perfectly good shape, so I set out to find replacement bolts. Should be easy, right? Welp, nope. One shop has a new toilet seat/lid combo for P35, but doesn’t sell bolts. I don’t want to have to carry the old combo down the road to the nearest waste receptacle, so I keep looking. Plus, why replace the whole thing when I just need the bolts? Another shop has the seat/lid combo too, but they also sell the bolts. Yeah! But the bolt set costs P57, the seat combo only P40. How is this possible?!
Now I know why so many people don’t have proper seats and lids. Their sense of fairness and understanding of what else P57 could by them requires they not spend more money on bolts that seats. As long as bolts cost more, this country will slowly divest itself of proper toilet sets. And it just isn’t in homes, but public places. I think probably when people’s sense of fairness battles and loses with their thrifty desire to have a decent seat they end up stealing bolts from existing public toilets. I ponder the possibilities. With a handful of Peace Corps volunteers arriving in a week or so for my birthday bash, we will be able to continue the discussion regarding toilets, and/or they will see I have fully acclimated.
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