
The realization came to me a few months ago, when my family went on a road trip to Chicago to visit family and take a break from our fast-paced lives. Along the way, we had to stop at a gas station in a shady suburb of St. Louis to take a break and freshen up.
As soon as I peered out the window and caught sight of several individuals who fit right in the “potential criminal” category, I knew I had to make the difficult decision of whether to wait another hour or so for a rest area or to risk my safety leaving the car.
The urgency of my situation forced me to take a risk and walk into the sketchy building. As soon as I realized the bathrooms were locked and I had to ask the male cashier for the key, I knew it would be an unpleasant experience. The bathroom was in horrible condition, and I ended up just washing my hands and leaving as quickly as I could.
It’s a day I don’t particularly like to remember. In fact, I chose to suppress the memory of my experience and forget that it ever happened. But even though it was the one of the grossest experiences I have lived through, it made me think of how hard it is in other countries.
Having visited several foreign countries and seen bathrooms around the world, I know the toilet is a luxury not bestowed upon everyone. There are still many places that don’t have running water, and many of the facilities require people to squat on a dirt floor to take care of their business.
Toilet paper itself is a luxury as well. When visiting a foreign country, I have learned that packing quality toilet paper is often as essential as packing a toothbrush. You never know when you’ll be caught empty handed in a tough situation.
With the added blessing of running water and plumbing, we can easily relieve ourselves and send our waste far, far away, instead of having to cover it with a pile of dirt, as is tradition in some underdeveloped areas of the world.
Thankfully, we live in a country where even the most disgusting bathrooms have a comfortable toilet. We are truly blessed when it comes to our facilities, even though we might not realize their importance on a daily basis.
By Afsah Khan