Bathrooms in Uruguay

“It’s the similarities that bring us together” — I think someone trying to make a point about global unity said something like that once.

But, let’s face it, when you are living as an expat or just contemplating a trip overseas, it’s the differences that you find the most interesting — or at least make for the best stories.

Let’s face it, a blog about all the things that were the same here in Uruguay probably wouldn’t be that great of a read.

One of the things that I’ve neglected to write about, and haven’t seen written about are uruguayan bathrooms! I don’t have the foggiest clue how post images on drupal yet, so you’ll just have to make due with my verbal description for now….

The first thing that most people will notice coming from the US, but probably not bat an eyelash at is the extra “toilet” in each bathroom….it’s actually a bidet. Of course, anyone with any culture whatsoever (aka, not US) a bidet probably doesn’t come as some big shocker. The origin of the bidet is unknown (to me) however the name is french and (along with perfume I imagine) was a way to compensate for the Europeans propensity for skipping baths and showers for days (weeks?) on end back in “the day”.

Now as our eyes scan around the rest of the bathroom we look at the toilet itself. Don’t worry it’s not the dreaded “squat trench” it’s a “regular” toilet with seat. The first thing you’ll notice is that they were made by a mad environmentalist of some sort obsessed with fresh water savings apparently. The water at the bottom of the “bowel” more resembles that of a teacup. This isn’t all that big of a deal, yet i find myself missing the satisfying “ker-plunk” of the north american version — though not really missing the occasional backsplash — or the various machinations we’ve all developed to avoid it. The next thing you’ll notice is that many of the flushing mechanisms are flush “buttons” and not levers. It makes tearing apart and putting back together the toilet a bit of challenge….especially if you’re doing it under time pressure as i found out when our lab ate through the metal feeder pipes

Sinks seem pretty standard.

Baths and showers — while I’ve seen all kinds, there is something else which you typically don’t think about up “north” — in another energy miser move (i’m guessing) the hot water heaters are incredibly small and lame. It’s not atypical to find a hotwater heater that can’t withstand ONE shower of “regular” length — especially in the winter — and drawing a nice hot bath !?!??! fuggedaboutit.

I’m sure that there are plenty of “after market” hot water heaters that cna jack up the capacity and i seriously considered installing one (or two — as even in the kitchen there is a tiny hot water heater there to service it’s needs — about as big as a five gallon bucket) but the spaces where my hotwater heaters live in my rental don’t even appear as they’d accommodate a “regular” sized hot water heater.

Bizzare. It’s much less of an issue in the spring early fall and of course summer — although running out of hot water while hand washing dishes from one meal is typical — however, come winter, at times the bite in the air and the lack of insulation or heat in homes can make a nice hot bath or shower a really compelling proposition. however, without adequate hotwater heater space, you’re going to find yourself ending that satisfying shower with a blast of cold water to bring you back to reality.