Some of my friends and I have a similar opinion regarding the way some toilets are designed here. Imagine having dinner at a restaurant, and all of a sudden your stomach tells you that what you had for lunch is 90 percent digested. What do you do? Well, of course, you simply get up and look for a place to ease the tension. You go asking where the toilet is, and when you get there, what do you see? A squat toilet!
What a place to experience shock when you thought you’ve found the place to put the smile back on your face. Instead of relief, a challenge awaits you where you have to get into a leg numbing, knee cracking and back breaking position. To be fair, I know that in Asia, many people actually find the squat toilet is more natural, but those of us who’ve grown up in North America, this can be a horrible experience. Call me spoiled if you will, but I think most of us are used to raised, flushing toilets now.
But even those toilets come in different designs. Have you ever used a toilet with a circular bowl? They really can’t compare with the oblong ones with the extra 3 inches of space at the front. Don’t you laugh now, those three inches are very important.
Well, I guess I shouldn’t complain too much about squat toilets. It could be worse – like the standing on two pieces of wood over a big hole, which thankfully I haven’t had to use yet.
馬桶各有差別 吳大維 週記
誰說馬桶都長得一模一樣？我說那絕對不是真的! 我一向是個相當好相處的人，不會特別挑剔；但講到馬桶，我卻有滿腹的牢騷想對人抱怨。
我和一干好友對於此地馬桶的設計有相似的意見。想像你在餐廳用餐，突然之間，你的胃通知你百分之九十的中餐已經消化掉了，你會怎麼做? 當然，你會不加思考的起身，然後找地方「紓解壓力」。你前去詢問廁所在哪裡，當你到了哪兒，你看到了什麼? 一個蹲式的馬桶!
看到這樣的地方，真是令人震驚不已，特別是當你自認為已經找到一個可以重展笑顏的地方。結果，非但沒有得到紓解，反倒有個挑戰等著你--- 一個使你腿麻，膝蓋疲憊和背部酸痛的姿勢。平心而論，我知道在亞洲，很多人覺得蹲式馬桶比較自然，但對於生於北美的我們而言，這真是可怕的經驗。你可以說我們被寵壞了，我想我們大多已經習慣立式抽水馬桶。
盡管馬桶有不同的設計，你曾用過圓形凹槽的馬桶嗎?它們真的無法和擁有長形凹槽前端多出三吋空間的馬桶相比。不要笑，那三吋可是相當重要的。
我想，我不該不停抱怨蹲式馬桶，或許還有更糟的呢!像是站在一個洞上方的兩塊木板上方便；謝天謝地我還不需要用到這種馬桶。
Resource: Taiwan Student News (雙語學生報) - Sunday, July25, 1999
1. easygoing = (of people) relaxed in manner, placid and tolerant 隨和的
My mom doesn’t mind who comes to stay. She’s very easygoing.
2. picky = (infml and derog, esp US) fussy, choosy 挑剔的
3. have a bone to pick with someone = have sth to argue or quarrel about with sb
就某事與某人爭論或爭吵
Anita is looking for you. She says she has a bone to pick with you.
I’ve got a bone to pick with you. Where’s the money I lent you last week?
4. Have a word (with sb)(about sth)
=speak to sb, esp privately or confidentially
Could we have a word before you go to the meeting? 能私下說句話嗎?
"Could you please excuse us for a moment?" I request. The stylist nods.
"I'm just going to pick up some things and I'll be right back. ...
"Do you have a minute? I'd like to have a talk with you, in private."
5. regarding = about
6. opinion (of/about) 意見
What’s your opinion of the new President?
= What do you think of the new President?
Opinion is shifting in favor of the new scheme.
(輿論正轉向支持新計畫)
The project seems excellent, but local opinion is against it.
You’d better get a second opinion before you let that man take out all your teeth.
7. all of a sudden = suddenly
8. simply = in a plain or unfussy way
9. squat toilet = 蹲式馬桶
10. instead of
We sometimes eat rice instead of potatoes.
11. spoil 溺愛 嬌慣
That little girl is terribly spoiled (spoilt) – Her parents give her everything she asks for.
Spoil = pamper
12. flush
A flush of enthusiasm, anger, joy, etc.
He often flushes.
Give the toilet a flush.
Flush the toilet after use.
(以上解說內容主要參照牛津高階英漢雙解詞典)
