my. splendid. experience.: Written by my roommate Jillian Manley

Friday, March 12, 2010

Written by my roommate Jillian Manley

"The city of Beijing is teaming with ample amounts of free public toilets. This blessing and curse is said to be more present due to the Summer of 2008 when the Olympics were held there. You know you will be passing the doorway to the public toilets about fifteen feet ahead of time and are reminded of the opportunity for the next fifteen feet once passed the doorway. The stench hits you full in the face like a wave off the ocean. As if all of China's sewage resides in that small square building, waiting to assault each passer's nose and gag reflex. The set up of the toilets with in the cement square constitutes a solid line. In some, three feet walls shield you from slanted eyes, but your privacy is compromised as full bowels and bladders walk down the narrow walk way, eyes searching for a toilet not being squatted over. In most however your privacy is completely nonexistent as are the dividing walls. Inhibitions must be released as you squat down among others to do the same with your fluids and excretion. After peeing you have the choice to bounce and rock a bit swaying on your haunches hoping to "drip dry" or never be with out tissues while traveling. Of course the people are accustomed to this uncivilised practice of relieving oneself, coming in quickly, squatting over the first available toilet, doing their business, buttoning up and pushing their way out. However when a foreigner comes to relive themselves in this primitive setting it is a distracting occurrence for the Chinese. Heads turn, necks stretch, eyes stare, pushes are distributed, all for the chance to get a glimpse of the foreigner and her parts. Finally the chance to see if we are indeed the same or if there is some deep dark secret difference between us never spoken of by either race. The squatters next to you may as well abandon all plans they meant to accomplish when coming in there, for you have just unveiled the most interesting exhibit in this smelly museum. As you leave with urine, excretion, blood and whatever else the floor has bestowed upon your shoes as a parting gift, you can bet that every pair of slanted eyes is following you out."

My roommate Jillian wrote this about public toilets in Beijing. Kind of... interesting, and funny.

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A list of my favorites... created in China, inspired by Abby. Made to add to.

snuggling into a warm bed on a cold cold night, soft serve vanilla ice cream, ripples in water, having butterflies (not the animal), being speechless, playing the piano, listening to the piano, photographing life's special moments, smiling, laughing so hard you cry, sneezing, speaking another language not your native tongue to a native speaker, bay windows, pressed flowers, outbursts of song, barefoot on freshly cut grass, overcast days, organization, romances, porch swings, cool breeze on a summer day, coincidences, sunsets, early morning runs, running to not miss the bus, tender mercies, an early start, skype-ing family across the world, reminiscing about old times, memories, stories, etc., dim lights in a dark room, coconut yogurt in china, laying on the sidewalk drying off in the summer time, sunday walks, cleanliness, inside jokes, clean sheets, developing film in a dark room, long hugs...with certain people, swimming at night, coconut bread (in china), bread in China in general, waking up to the rain, being sore after working out, hammocks, screen doors, walking into screen doors, awkward eye-contact, winks, laugh attacks that almost hurt and feel like you've just had an ab work-out, heartfelt talks, constructive criticism, movie quotes, “whatever makes your boat float.”, a warm towel just out of the dryer, saying a phrase, and having you and everyone around you parallel it to a song and burst out in song., Big kitchens that can be the gathering place and the place for many memories to be made, singing, singing LOUD, Singing a song you don't know... making up words as you go., Picniks, temple walks, wind, thunder storms, rain downpours, music, bleach pens, the smell of new born babies, an infants cry, impressions from the Spirit, eating with chopsticks, phase 10, traveling, evening summer hikes, views of the city from a higher point, Korean Air, Parachute... the band, cleaninng to blasting music, bike rides, temple baptisms, temple weddings, wedding receptions, birds chirping, the sound of leaves blowing in the wind, waking up to the weed wacker and/or lawn mower early on a Saturday morning, Freshly made cinnamon rolls, Enjoying a storm from your deck, the way you feel after working out, washed feet, clean socks, Hot Potts, Surprise Birthday Parties...especially when it's not really your birthday, Fresh Flowers , the smell of Lillies, hand pulled noodles, bartering in China, The Muslim Quarter, LOVE , Bullet Trains, smiling at a stranger, getting a smile in return, special places :),inside jokes, cheesecake, laying out feeling the sun on your skin, a harmonized hymn, a good hair day, complimenting someone who needs it, giving to the needy, Yangshuo mountains, muddy bike rides, yangshuo crepe breakfast, chey kelly, stretching, soccer, hanging out with my mom, hanging out with all of my siblings. Watermelon in summertime. Skinny sharpie pens, harmonized hymns, a made bed, words of our Prophets, Conference, rearranging furniture, cleaning parties, a clean home, Buddy the Elf, evening walks, sitting/running/standing in the pouring rain- feeling the water just drench you and drip off your nose, learning to speak a different language, the what if game, bridges, gates, doors, my China kids, Zhongshan,