I have a dirty little secret.
I’m still using toilet paper. Yeah, I know, it’s repulsive and wasteful. No need to worry though, I’m becoming enlightened on the subject. I’ve just finished a fascinating little read titled “How to Sh*t Around the World” by Dr. Jane Wilson-Howarth. One would think these are the sort of things in life one could figure out on their own, but sometimes it helps to have a little guidance and confirmation that there are other acceptable practices for taking care of business.
Having not traveled to Asia before or having lived in a village, this is all new to me. I’m realizing a vast amount of people around the world do not have a porcelain throne to perch upon. After reading this book, I’m realizing there are a wide variety of toilet situations a person can stumble upon depending on where their travels take them. Likewise, it would be good for me to know some of this common sense, that’s not so common sense to me.
So how does it all work exactly? Luckily, Peace Corps has provided us with a little diagram:

A supplement provided in the Peace Corps Indonesia Health Handbook. Drawing created by current Peace Corps Volunteer Andy MakePeace.
I’ve been grappling with the concept of adopting the Indonesian way of doing things since I got here — using water and the left hand (see diagram above.) I still can’t quite bring myself to use the restroom sans toilet paper, yet even getting over the idea of squatting every day was difficult to accept several months ago. Prior to arriving, one of the first things I did when I learned of squat toilets was call the Peace Corps Indonesian Country Desk in Washington D.C. and asked if I would be able to find toilet paper in Indonesia or if I should consider packing a decent supply to get me started. To my relief toilet paper is plentiful. Some people do use it, but for many it’s just not practical or customary. One fellow trainee was even shunned from his host family until he adopted their ways. In talking to some of the others who’ve adjusted, I feel like an oddball for sticking to my American ways. Perhaps I’ll come around at some point…
I know one of my concerns was of the cleanliness of it all. Well it is quite a clean habit, given you wash your hands well afterwards and before eating food. I even have a quote from the book to prove it. “[Using water is] an excellent and hygienic habit which most Westerner’s find revolting, yet citizens of warmer countries find our habit of using paper instead of water incomprehensibly uncivilized and dirty.”
It’s true, toilet paper is considered dirty here. It can’t be flushed down the toilet, so it must accumulate in trash cans or plastic bags which may make it to the dump or be burned in the front yard.
I find this cultural clash over bathroom practices quite fascinating. When we arrived at the airport in Surabaya, I was horrified when I walked into the ladies room and everything was dripping wet. I was soon informed by Peace Corps staff that a wet bathroom is considered a clean bathroom in Indonesia.

My humble squat pot gets the job done.
And now some fun facts about toilet paper:
- Tp was first produced in England in 1957. It was called Gayety’s Medicated paper and only used by the rich. At the time it was considered embarrassing to buy such a product.
- Toilet paper rolls first appeared in 1928. In 1932 soft toilet paper was introduced.
- Another fun fact: “…in a lifetime, the average Westerner’s toilet paper use consumes about 22 trees.”
(Fun facts courtesy of “How to Sh*t Around the World” by Dr. Jane Wilson-Howarth.)
Tags: bathroom practices, daily life, how to, squat toilets, toilet paper, Wonderment in Indoland