Adventure in Argentina

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Don't forget!

I thought this was sort of an interesting cultural thing. I took this picture in the bathroom of a McDonald's. The sign says, "Please remember to take toilet paper before entering the stall." Yes, that's right, the toilet paper is on the wall on the outside of the stall, and you need to bring it in with you. I'm not sure what the point of this is, but it seemed funny to me. This is not how things are in most bathrooms here.

By the way, note that they use the English word "box". There are lots of English words in use here, especially among younger people. I suppose it's because of the influence of Jóligüud (Hollywood as pronounced by a Spanish speaker) and the American music industry. A few examples: the "living" is the living room; "a full" means at full capacity; "feeling" is like warmth or friendliness between two people; and "restraurant" is sometimes said instead of the normal Spanish word restaurante. The words often mean something subtly different from their meaning in English. Also, they are normally pronounced with a Spanish accent, so they are often hard to recognize.

10 Comments:

  • Hey green-go

    I'll give my "third world citizen" point of view... I've seen the same thing in some fastfood bathrooms here. As some people goes there and steal the paper then the restaurants owners decrease the number of toilet paper boxes... It's my humble point of view.

    See U later green-go!!
    P.D.: I haven't mentioned before: sorry for my poor english :p

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:47 AM  

  • What do you suppose is the reason for TP outside the stall? I hope this system doesn't invade our bathrooms. This is a new one on me.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:22 PM  

  • Sadly, it's just like Jix said. People steal metres of toilet paper, either for fun or for the happiness of having something free, even if it is something cheap and stupid like toilet paper.... But if the paper is not in a private place like the stall /or box/ then you can't steal that much.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 1:44 PM  

  • Just a quick question Sak: is it sad because people steals the toilet paper, or sad because I'm right?? (as usual) :p

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:47 PM  

  • Que mal concepto tienes de mi Jix.. sad because people do stuff like that!!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:31 PM  

  • I'm sure you're right, Jix. Where I live in the US, nearly all the toilet paper dispensers in public places have locks on them so you can't steal the toilet paper.

    So it's not just a problem in the "third world" but everywhere.

    Por cierto, Jix, tu pregunta a Sak era muy incisiva. A ver qué dice....

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:35 PM  

  • How do you know if you have enough TP?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 4:48 PM  

  • Good question papacito!!! What do you do if you guessed wrong?

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:56 AM  

  • Holaaaaaaaa si si llegue shooo Jailin!! que tal Sendaii?? para ser mucho mas original y a la vez productiva para vos, t voy a escribir en español nomas de carnera que soy jajaja ( carnera = mala )..
    La verdad concuerdo con vos , es bastante raro esto del pelpa higienico..t soy honesta nunca lo vi aca, no se a que mc donals habras ido... yo igualmente justamente es por lo que dijo sak y jix...que siempre me llevo rollitos de papel de mi casa jajaja no sea cosa q me encuentre en esa situacion y como diria hugo varela " NO HAY PAPELL CORRUGADO CARTULINAAA UN PEDAZO DE CORTINA QUE ME QUITE DEL PROBLEMA" ajjaj..
    Bueno sendai la verdad toda una sorpresa tu estadia aca en Argentina espero la estes pasando muy bien...nos vemos chauchisss
    JAILIN

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:43 PM  

  • Hmm..... pregunta...

    What happens if you go into the stall and end up ¨doing¨ more than you expected . . . and with no friends or children in there with you to hand you more?!?!???

    ¡Caramba! Hay que salir con chones sucios....

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 3:07 PM  

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