What is it about a place that makes it okay for men to piss where they please? This is definitely an area where Chiang Mai was different. Apparently in Cebu City it is the norm for men to do their business publicly - on the street, against a wall or a fence (usually of someone's home or business), on a telephone poll, between two parked jeepneys... Thankfully, they at least turn their backs in the direction of the most people or traffic but when you're pissin' on the street there's only so much you can hide from. I wish there were some warning sign that would allow me to avert my eyes pre-emtively. Similarly, I wish there was some warning when I'm walking on the street to know when to hold my nose. Ick!
There are numerous signs around the city that say something to the effect, "Don't urinate here." We may have to put one up at the house we are living in. Today just after the delivery of our drinking water, I saw the delivery man take a leak on the concrete fence that surrounds our house. He was just outside the main gate and I saw him clearly from upstairs where I was working! He didn't know I was there. Naturally, thanks to my sensitive automatic reflexes, I was quick to look away but I couldn't help but glare at him as he got in his truck to drive away. I would have happily allowed him the use of our toilet inside.
I must say in their defense, the men who I assume do this most frequently are taxi drivers and jeepney drivers who usually work 24 hour shifts. Granted, there really are few public washrooms they can access. (The washroom here is called the comfort room, or CR and trust me there's not much comforting about them except for the one in the mall where you have to pay 15 pesos ($0.35) to use it. It's worth it.) I guess it's good that most of the drivers are men because what are women supposed to do? Clearly they find a way because I've never once seen a female havin' a squat for a little relief. Yeah, maybe we're slightly jealous.
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