It's so inteteresting to learn about my country from foreigner) But I'd to remark that this experience is a little unusual even for us. It's very little part of our traditions and culture. This house from last age, but the toilet is real disgusting, I hate this kind.
In village life, these conditions seem normal. None of the houses I visited had any modern conveniences, but they were nice inside. I'll show you in a different post. I don't know what percentage of Russians live in villages? There were mostly old pensioners here, but there were a few young families and children. I imagine it is the same as in the USA, young kids want to leave village life for the big city and better opportunities. The toilet - definitely the worst part!! :)
That village is old,isn't it?So i live in a russian village that is as far from Moscow as the village of Astahova, and i've go a typical toilet in house and it is usual for our region.I would say that Kostroma region is very poor.That's why there is not a toilet in the village.Basically,a street toilet for me is very weird.
Yes, this is the Kostroma region. There were houses in better condition, but none had a proper toilet. I will show the other houses next week in my blog.
Thanks for sharing this story! I spent my vacations in my granny's house in a village like that. I can understand what you wanted to express:)) but my granny's house is like the Four seasons hotel compared to the house where you have stayed:)
This house was very old, perhaps your granny has newer construction? I think most of these pensioners would be scared if they came to the big city of Moscow. They would not know how to handle all the people and fast paced life!
The house was built in 1955. My grandma was very neat and her house always was clean and cozy. You are absolutely right those people who live in that kind of countryside can't imagine what life is in Moscow. It's like another planet for them:)
A little point of reason about this scary outhouse. Usually such a holes were in use in very passable places, like railway terminal or army barracks.
Porcellain or glazed toilet bowl can be easily and accidentally smashed. So, there is a constant need in on-duty plumber, another bowl etc. Another reason is the relative ease in cleaning and sweeping. You must only beat down the goo with the swab, maybe pour some water and strew the bactericidal agent around. Usual cleansing of the standard toiled bowl takes too much time in comparison.
Most of this work can easily be done even by aged and incapable person.
So, the relative ease of maintaining this hole is the main reason which keeps them in use.
Modern toilets are very easy to clean! You simply need a toilet brush to wipe around the bowl. "beat down the goo with the swab..." ahhhh..it's so gross!! This toilet had not been cleaned for a very long time, and the smell was horrible.I prefer modern plumbing, even when living in the boondocks!
Basically, this is the wooden sort of squat toilets. Their pros and contras are also simple: - they are easy to maintain - they are vandal- and break-proof - they are, maybe, even more hygienic: you don't need to touch anything with your body parts, only your shoes gets befouled - and again, any dirt around may be just beated down into the hole.
But, surely, in citylife I'd prefer more usual toilets. :)
I'm so impressed. It was almost the life my family had until I was about 15. But well, we did not have a fridge... of course. We were too poor for that.
Regarding not starting the stove, weird. But I understand you.
Regarding heating the water for washing, better not. If you wash with warm water, you will have problems surviving the cold outside.
Regarding the toilet, nobody sits on it; people squat.Again, the kind of life my family had. I had to bring water in buckets, carrying it for about two blocks, it was my duty... the stove too, my grandfather had Alzheimer, they did not trust him matches, but I was okay, at 8. Great experience actually.
It's good to remember our roots! My mother also came from such humble beginnings in Southern Virginia. She grew up poor, in the Appalachian Mountains and when she was a kid her family had no normal toilet - only an outhouse. Perhaps people in Appalachia still live this way? I'm not sure. Maybe I'll take a weekend trip there sometime soon to find out. It remains one of the poorest areas in the USA.
I'd like to explain you some things about problems with water and toilet. As you know, Russia - is cold country, and rural houses often are abadonned for winter. If you have in house water closet, shower and water-supply - you have to empty all pipes. Otherwise, the ice will damage pipes seriously . When I prepare our rural house for winter, it takes about half-hour, and about 5 liters of coolant. But, if you have no water-supply in home - you just close the door and go away. Ancient, but cheap and easier in maintenance way of living. And, people in such vilages usually dont have the shower every day. They wash theyselfes in banya every week. Sorry for grammatical mistakes ;-)
There aren't many grammatical mistakes in your comment, so don't worry! :) There are many cold countries on the planet and even States in the USA that have below freezing temperatures in winter, yet they still have plumbing and normal toilets. The climate isn't a good excuse for the lack of plumbing. There is simply no infrastructure in these areas of Russia to support the modern conveniences of life. And there is no one to blame for this except your officials.
The climate is a shitty excusemontrealexMarch 24 2015, 16:20:22 UTC
But the last refuge of scoundrels ("pedriots"). When you tell them that event in most remote parts of Canada, for instance, there is always running water and a warm bathroom, they say something like: "Well, there were no two wars and revolutions in Canada.". OK, you reply: "There were two wars and almost a revolution and a real civil war in Finnland, trillions of marks worth of goods were seized by Soviets from Finns, and a huge contribution was imposed on the country and yet Finns have running water etc.." Do you think it stops them? Nope. They always find to tell something else to justify.
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Usually such a holes were in use in very passable places, like railway terminal or army barracks.
Porcellain or glazed toilet bowl can be easily and accidentally smashed. So, there is a constant need in on-duty plumber, another bowl etc.
Another reason is the relative ease in cleaning and sweeping. You must only beat down the goo with the swab, maybe pour some water and strew the bactericidal agent around. Usual cleansing of the standard toiled bowl takes too much time in comparison.
Most of this work can easily be done even by aged and incapable person.
So, the relative ease of maintaining this hole is the main reason which keeps them in use.
Reply
Reply
Their pros and contras are also simple:
- they are easy to maintain
- they are vandal- and break-proof
- they are, maybe, even more hygienic: you don't need to touch anything with your body parts, only your shoes gets befouled
- and again, any dirt around may be just beated down into the hole.
But, surely, in citylife I'd prefer more usual toilets. :)
Reply
Reply
Regarding not starting the stove, weird. But I understand you.
Regarding heating the water for washing, better not. If you wash with warm water, you will have problems surviving the cold outside.
Regarding the toilet, nobody sits on it; people squat.Again, the kind of life my family had. I had to bring water in buckets, carrying it for about two blocks, it was my duty... the stove too, my grandfather had Alzheimer, they did not trust him matches, but I was okay, at 8. Great experience actually.
Thank you so much for reminding!
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When I prepare our rural house for winter, it takes about half-hour, and about 5 liters of coolant.
But, if you have no water-supply in home - you just close the door and go away. Ancient, but cheap and easier in maintenance way of living.
And, people in such vilages usually dont have the shower every day. They wash theyselfes in banya every week.
Sorry for grammatical mistakes ;-)
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When you tell them that event in most remote parts of Canada, for instance, there is always running water and a warm bathroom, they say something like: "Well, there were no two wars and revolutions in Canada.".
OK, you reply: "There were two wars and almost a revolution and a real civil war in Finnland, trillions of marks worth of goods were seized by Soviets from Finns, and a huge contribution was imposed on the country and yet Finns have running water etc.."
Do you think it stops them?
Nope. They always find to tell something else to justify.
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