by Arielle Esteban© Pat Canova
Finding a decent bathroom to do your big business can be hard, especially because the National Taiwan University campus has many buildings that are either brand new or ancient, and thus it has many bathrooms that vary in quality. And being in Taiwan, public bathrooms often have more squatty potties than a sitting toilet. After interviewing international students at NTU and investigating some of the listed bathrooms, thankfully, the quest to find the perfect water-closet ends here. Read on to see the list of the best and worst bathrooms at NTU based on functionality, cleanliness, and the presence of a porcelain throne. Worst Bathroom 1. Liberal Education Classroom Building On the outside, the Liberal Education building stands out in its state-of-the-art architectural design that puts it in the center of the brick-clad buildings of NTU’s northwest campus. You would think that its bathrooms reflect the white, futuristic newness of the building but you’d be wrong. Instead, you’re greeted with pink tiles from wall to floor and a pungent smell of a bathroom well-used by people but not as well-maintained. “The outside of the building looks nice,” stated an NTU sophomore. “But the interior is the exact opposite.” The cubicles house mostly squatty potties but opening the doors are only for the daring—or those who really can’t hold their bladder much longer. There is a sitting toilet, but its condition makes you wonder if people either failed in their hygiene training growing up or are simply assume that there is a self-cleaning button in that cubicle. Nevertheless, only use the bathrooms in this building with caution and even then, with a nose clip. 2. Computer and Information Network As you walk into the bathroom of the Computer and Information Network building, grimy gray tiles greet you, along with a stuffy atmosphere that makes you almost want to leave as soon as you arrived. The air is stuffy and damp and this dimly lit bathroom forces you to play a game of hide and seek as you maneuver your way into finding the best position to squat. The lack of proper lighting also has you hoping and praying your foot doesn’t slip into the narrow tub. And when you do manage to squat and conduct your business, your hands reach for the glistening silver toilet paper holder and find that there is no actual toilet paper. The bathroom does have one porcelain throne but the cramp and tight room makes it hard to actually do your business comfortably. Moreover, the stall is right next to the hallway entrance—meaning that any person walking by could hear you fart, or worse. “I would rather hold my pee in than go here,” says Han Sol, a first-year exchange student. “It is definitely not the best place for taking a dump.” Best Bathrooms 1. Social Sciences Building Newly renovated, the bathrooms of the Department of Social Sciences are well-ventilated and private. Gray, uniform tiles line the bathroom walls and floors which gives it an appearance of a prison cell rather than a comfort room. This seems to give an effect of keeping visitors away because almost every bathroom in the building is empty, even during class rush hours. While squatty potties are the majority, there are two to three cubicles that are reserved for porcelain thrones. The cubicles are roomy, with plenty of space and hooks and shelves to place your belongings, and the toilet paper holders aren’t empty. Additionally, perhaps it’s because of the wall material or just the locations of the bathrooms, but sound doesn’t seem to travel as well in the bathrooms. And it is because of these factors that allow you to comfortably take a dump. 2. Department of Geography The bathrooms of the Geography department gleam with white and rose-colored tiles and you catch a whiff of lemon-scented air freshener when you walk past the flapping wooden doors. The bathroom is well-lit and two porcelain thrones greet you, and cubicles are equipped with an alcohol spray for cleaning the toilet, as well as a toilet seat cover. While the bathrooms of this building are obscurely located, as most are hidden behind the elevators and there are no signs, they are not hard to find and location-wise, provides you with a discrete and private place to do your business. The Dept. of Geography is also conveniently located right next to Lu-Ming Hall and several food spots, so next time you’re grabbing a bite to eat and need to use the restroom, just drop by the Dept. of Geography. While most bathrooms on campus are generally clean and functional, it is usually the lower floors that have the most number of users, and thereby, can be smelly and not the best place to take a dump. The general rule is, the higher the floor you go, the better the bathroom quality. Happy bathroom hunting! a
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Authors
The Taida Student Journal has been active since 1995 with an ever-changing roster of student journalists at NTU. Click the above link to read about the authors Archives
May 2024
|