A woman scans the Himalayan landscape in the faint hope of finding something to hide behind
There is one clincher in the argument for God being a man; men have a much easier time when it comes to writing one's name in the snow, as it were, and surely if God were a woman She would have made sure that women had equal, if not better, snow-writing abilities.
My experience of poor or non-existent toilet facilities began many years ago, and not just at some grungy festival. I still recall with embarrassment squatting behind an abandoned building in Goa a couple of decades ago, and leaping up in fright only to smack my head on the branch of a nearby tree – just because a twig had scratched my derriere and I thought I'd been bitten by a snake. And it was probably that same evening that as I tried to take another private squat, I was startled by a young man who suddenly appeared next to me, nodding companionably with the words, "all right?" as he unzipped his jeans and began watering a nearby bush.
As any woman knows, especially women travelling alone in India, toilets are an adventure all of their own.
So I was thrilled when a friend told me about the Shewee, a plastic affair that allows a woman to urinate like a man. What this little moulded funnel has is a part that slips into your pants, underneath all the important bits, allowing the Shewee to act as a kind of directional spout. And with more off-the-road travel in India coming up, I was seriously tempted to get one.
But apart from the hassle of having to carry it and make sure it is clean, here's the problem: no woman travelling alone in India wants to draw too much attention to herself, and it has suddenly occurred to me that if I am able to slip off and relieve myself au vertical, I may possibly draw more attention than if I am trying to squat somewhere with my bottom on display. Because in a country where the Shewee is probably yet to make a splash, a woman standing up to relieve herself has to be only one thing - a man.
So I am no closer to making a decision. While I have friends who have used the Shewee while trekking or hiking, it has never been in a country where about a billion pairs of eyes are watching one's every move. I have about five weeks before I hit the Indian road again, so would be interested to hear from anyone who has used one of these gizmos. I'm sure other women would like to know too. So to Shewee or not to Shewee? Your answers, ladies, please!
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6 comments:
Did you mean "eau vertical" rather than "au vertical"?
Ruth
I just wrote a really long reply and then accidently pressed back and then it was all gone so I'm going to have to rewrite it all!! *sigh*
Basically I think you should go for it. It's really small and doesn’t weigh much so isn't much hassle to carry around and it can be an absolute lifesaver!
I discovered it at a festival a few years back and I had the same concerns about you in regards to cleaning it. I thought it would be just as much of a mission to find somewhere to clean it as it would to find somewhere private to wee! I said this to the Shewee lady that was there who said it's covered in some kind of special stuff that makes the wee run straight off and leaves it pretty much dry which I thought was absolute genius! This means you don't have to wash it every time you use it, you can reuse it throughout the day and then just wash it whenever is convenient.
It sucked a bit discovering it for the first time actually at the festival when I needed it though, because I think it's probably best to practice it at home a few times. The problem I had was 'letting go'. I was telling myself to wee but nothing was coming out! hehe, a few drinks sorted it out though and then I was away! But it has taken some of my friends a bit longer to get used to, I think I'm just a natural :P
As for it drawing extension to yourself, if you using it discreetly, tucked away somewhere, then no one is going to know what you're doing. It'll be less obvious then pulling your trousers and pants down! and the thing is as well, it'll be useful when you are in the toilets too, because some of the toilets out there aren't so nice, so then no one will see what you're doing anyway!
So yeah, that's my opinion, typed for the second time, haha, I think you should go for it!
:D x
Love the reply Ruth, did make me chuckle!
Trixiexx thank you so much for putting that reply together (twice!). I agree about the horrible toilets bit, and I was thinking the Sheewee would take away the problem of having to worry about squatting or contact. (I have written extensively about toilets in A girls' guide to India.) I think you have sold it to me - you should work for Sheewee! And I am sure than any other travelling woman will appreciate your reply. Bless you!
I discovered a similar contraption (I think it was either Swedish or Finnish) at a festival and it was a lifesaver (as it meant no queueing ridiculous times for toilets).
Mine was a paper contraption and the second year they had them, they had bits of sparkly dust in them so you effectively weed pink sparkles!
Quite lovely when you're hammered but totally pointless!
I'm glad my responce helped :D and stacey, that sounds amazing, do you remeber what it was called? I want to wee pink sparkles!!! hehe.
I know, sparkley wee - sounds pointless, mad and yet strangely makes one want to have a go!
Female urination systems are currently being tested and results will be posted soon. Eek, what a subject for a blog, but useful I hope!
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