A Traveler’s Confession
When asked about the places we have been, questions always arise about fear. Were you afraid to walk alone there? Were you afraid you were going to be robbed? Were you afraid you would not understand the language?
Always, with confidence, I have answered “no”.
But there is one fear I do have when traveling, and it is an irrational one I have never shared on this blog.
I am afraid of not being able to find a bathroom.
This has never happened. I have never been sick and unable to find a facility. I have never been on the verge of a bladder burst without seeing a familiar sign. Never.
But the fear remains. It is strong, and at times feels like a panic to me. What if I am in the customs line and I have to go? What if the “fasten seat belt” sign comes on and I have to go?
These scenarios have never happened, but the fear remains. I learn the word for “bathroom” in whatever country we are in. I check the maps in the guidebooks. I practice due diligence and keep my eyes peeled, even when I don’t currently have to go. Because what if I have to go later? I can always remember where that last bathroom was.
Thankfully, it does not keep me from traveling. However, it is a super annoyance to Wandering Sean. But, hey, how many husbands can say that their wife knows how to say “toilet” in 27 languages? (okay, maybe not that many, and maybe it is not something to really brag about)
How about you? Do you have any fears, rational or irrational, that surface when you travel? How do you handle them?
Amy said:
I got a good giggle from reading this! I have a tiny, tiny, bladder so I can totally relate. My fear during all our traveling around Europe was when we ended up on a crowded subway. I thought I might get separated from my husband, like the doors would shut one of us off and one of us on, and that somehow we could never find each other again. It never happened, but if it did I’m sure we would have just called each other on our cell phones or met at the next stop. But for some reason, I always got REALLY nervous that we would be split up on the subway.
WanderingDawn said:
Ah, Amy, too funny! When I think about getting separated, it makes me scared , too. But not as scared as not finding the bathroom. I can call Wandering Sean from the restroom after we get separated.
Reg said:
I have the same fear! But in my case, I really do need to go. I’ve wasted money exiting trains and MRTs to go to the rest room (HK, Singapore, Sydney) then entering again to resume my journey. I’ve inconvenienced friends by making them wait while I backtrack to the nearest bathroom. I’ve been to the bathroom of every mall and supermarket I’ve visited, and some gas stations, too. I don’t go camping. I’ve never backpacked. My friends joke that I’d need a sturdy shovel and my backpack’s content would be 80% TP! But I still travel.
WanderingDawn said:
Oh Reg, I totally get it. But I have to tell you, you might really like camping. I was afraid to go camping, too, for the bathroom scenario. But being out in the middle of nowhere helped me a little bit,to show me that in worst case scenario, I could go outside somewhere. Not helpful in a big city, but it sure was helpful in Angkor Wat!! A good motto would be “Have TP, Will Travel”.
Reg said:
Hahaha! That’s a good motto! Have to change my motto from “Will Travel For Food” to that one! So far, my travels have been to cities. I have to prepare myself that I might resort to digging when I travel to Egypt (hopefully) this year. I assume there’s no Porta-Potty in the desert. Have a good day, WanderingDawn!
Nomadic Samuel said:
I have a very similar fear regarding toilets. My biggest fear to be honest would be to have food poisoning on say a 24 hour bus journey.
WanderingDawn said:
Ugh, Samuel, I know the fear! I got sick once on a bus in Egypt . Luckily we stopped at a rest stop for dinner, and I spent the whole time in the bathroom and then pepto-ing up for the rest of the trip. But I lived in fear between the stops!!
Audrey | That Backpacker said:
I used to have that fear as well but I had to get over it travelling through Bolivia. I was travelling through a really rural area, and when the bus announced we’d be taking a bathroom break, it pulled up to a field with some shrubs, and well, that’s where we did our business….haha
WanderingDawn said:
Too funny, Audrey! Nothing like a bus ride in South America to remove all modesty!