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While sharing a meal with some global friends recently, we discussed the intriguing topic of toilets and bathrooms—and cultural differences. It’s quite a stimulating cultural topic, and I highly recommend that you join in the conversation.
Unnecessary Waiting
Many times, in my very own home, I have waited impatiently in front of a closed door for very long minutes—waiting for someone to come out of the bathroom. I have pictured a person sitting on the “throne” with a magazine or cell phone, lingering for way too long. I ask myself, “What in the world are they doing in there for so long?!”
I’m always shocked to discover that the “someone” was actually “no one.”
There was no one in the bathroom!
Then why in the world was the bathroom door closed?!?!
Why IN THE WORLD was the door closed?! And WHERE IN THE WORLD do people close bathroom doors when there is NO ONE in the bathroom?!?!
The answer to this question is surprisingly . . . “MANY PLACES”!
Places in the world like France—and I’m married to a Frenchman who always closes bathroom doors.
Where in the World?
The following week, I brought up the “potty talk” and cultural differences at our “Oasis of Cultures” (international community group) that meets several times a month. In talking to my European and Indian friends, I discovered that many countries outside the good ‘ole USA close the bathroom doors when not in use.
Perhaps this is why:
“In North America (especially in the USA), it is quite common to leave bathroom and/or toilet doors ajar when the room is not in use. It tells one at a glance whether the bathroom is occupied. In many European homes, however, the tradition is to keep bathroom doors securely closed at all times. I think this is probably a heritage from the days when ‘water closets’ were malodorous places and one sought to keep unpleasant odors out of the rest of the house.” Merry Andrews.
In all of our homes in France, we had separate “W.C.” (British origin—”Water Closets”), with nothing in the small room besides a flush toilet and, sometimes, a tiny hand washing sink.
This was a completely separate room from the “bathroom” (salle de bains) where you would have a larger sink(s), bathtub, and/or shower. It is even quite common to find a washer and dryer in a European “bathroom,” and even a “bidet.” (Stay tuned for more on this topic in upcoming stories.)
It suddenly occurred to me that this is probably the reason why many modern, public “W.C.” in Europe now have lock dials that show “red” for “occupied” and “green” for “unoccupied.” It spares people from waiting impatiently outside an unoccupied W.C.
Actually, I think that I have seen these red/green dials on “porta potties” in the U.S. Those doors must stay closed to contain the odors!
Oops! Language Blooper!
An American friend told me a story about his recent trip to France. He walked proudly into a restaurant, with his carefully-formed French sentence, and asked, “Où est la salle de bains?” (“Where is the bathroom?”)
The man behind the bar looked at him puzzled and made a gesture of “washing under his armpits” and asked him if he needed a shower.
The American tourist laughed and said, “No! Pee-Pee!”
The bartender exclaimed, “Ah, les toilettes?!”
That’s another word for “le W.C.“
Don’t forget—when traveling in Europe, the toilet door will surely be closed. However, there’s a good chance that NO ONE is in there! Just make sure to knock!
—The Cultural Story-Weaver
MY GIFT TO YOU—GET YOUR FREE EBOOK—”THE 5-DAY JOURNEY TO CULTURAL AWARENESS”!
Rosetta Stone is a great resource that our family has used to learn foreign languages—exists in lots of different languages—before hitting the ground. It can spare you from a lot of embarrassing “potty talk”!
Let’s Weave Cultures!
Why do you think some cultures keep the w.c. door closed when it’s not in use?
To keep the bad odors contained? Because the potty is considered “dirty”? Because the potty is considered “private”? Out of cultural habit or tradition?
In your culture or country, do you keep the w.c./potty door opened or closed when it’s not in use? Why?
We invite you to tell us your own cultural stories and global adventures . . . as you engage with the world, breaking down barriers, building bridges, and “weaving cultures”! Write about them in the comment box below.
Interesting article! In Hong Kong, we always open the bathroom/toilet doors!
Yes! Exactly! Why do people close the door? Then how can I make sure if there is someone using it! And the most disturbing thing is that my Korean and Japanese friends close the bathroom door after a shower. BOOM! The point is my bathroom isn’t even equipped with a ventilating fan or a window! So the moisture is trapped and I’m worried about the germs!
I’m not sure if it’s a Korean or Japanese thing but so far around five to six of my friends do this after using the toilet or taking a shower! That’s my observation!
That is very interesting! There are so many cultural differences, aren’t there? Thanks for sharing your cross-cultural experience and your observations. 🙂
Good to know the different cultures. Open toilet doors make me gag from disgust (involuntary not dramatic). Personally wonder how the bathroom/WC door can be left open… Not just odors but noise of filling the cystern and the water spray with bacteria get everywhere. In public setting an ‘occupied-vacant’ sign is necessary, in private setting its enough to be aware of your loved ones activities.
At my research institute the bathroom door opens to the kitchen and some workmates in NZ leave the door wide open… right to where we keep and prepare food! I got the occupied/vacant signs to be installed (on private expense by my lovely friend who was happy to help) but I still find the doors open sometimes. It is hard to work on feeling nauseous when I see it but I don’t bug my workmates. Its important to respect each person and culture. I just shut the door.
Thank you, Annabel, for sharing your cultural experience, too! And, I love your last comment, “It’s important to respect each person and culture.” That is all about “Weaving Cultures”! Let’s stay in touch and continue to be cultural learners together!
in china, it was the practice for people to not even have doors on bathrooms
Wow! Now, that’s interesting cultural “bathroom” news! 🙂 How did they maintain privacy?