EgyptSearch Forums: Post A Reply

...

»	EgyptSearch Forums » Living in Egypt » Only one bathroom in Egyptian homes WHY?? » Post A Reply

T O P I C R E V I E W
metinoot Member # 17031	posted This is something I cannot get over. Its paramount in western culture, you have kids you need to have 2 bathrooms or at least a half bathroom with a full bathroom. Why hasn't this caught on in Egypt?
Mo Ning Min E Member # 681	posted Don't know who you've been visiting hon, everyone I know has at least two.
Nasto Member # 17091	posted Not all Egyptian houses have a single bathroom. There can be up to 4 bathrooms in an apartment (two of them with bathtubs and two with sinks only) or any other combination.
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted I have only one It is bigger than most living rooms though, you could probably swing a donkey in it some people are lucky to have one.
Clear and QSY Member # 15597	posted quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: I have only one It is bigger than most living rooms though, you could probably swing a donkey in it some people are lucky to have one. Bathrooms in Egypt are huge compared to the US. Some in newer houses aren't even big enough to change your mind in.
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted quote: Originally posted by Clear and QSY: quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: I have only one It is bigger than most living rooms though, you could probably swing a donkey in it some people are lucky to have one. Bathrooms in Egypt are huge compared to the US. Some in newer houses aren't even big enough to change your mind in. Mine wasnt going to be big. When we took our flat it was built, bare bricks etc, but it was 4 bedrooms or we could have had one room blocked off as we have 2 front doors. The bathroom and kitchen were to be where my bathroom is and what is my kitchen was according to the building, a bedroom. I wanted a bigger kitchen than the one I would have had if they had continued so I now have a big kitchen and bathroom an office and 2 bedrooms
metinoot Member # 17031	posted quote: Originally posted by Nasto: Not all Egyptian houses have a single bathroom. There can be up to 4 bathrooms in an apartment (two of them with bathtubs and two with sinks only) or any other combination. Actually I was dragged along to look at some new condos/flats in Alex and in Cairo. Occassionally I look online for flats but unless they are promoted towards expats its hard to find more than one bathroom Yes the bathrooms are bigger in Egypt. But I am used to huge bathrooms.
young at heart Member # 10365	posted Most new build Uk houses like mine come with ensuite bath or shower rooms now. It does seem to be the norm. I would imagine in Egypt it depends on how well off a family are. In many cases the poorer Egyptians are more concerned with putting a meal on the table than whether they have a 2nd bathroom or not!
nevermind Member # 6674	posted I think the Egyptian norm is definitely that the guests have a separate bathroom. In all Scandinavia I think we have one, at least in apartments, but then we are relatively clean people up north there . Villas are another story, villas are villas anywhere. But definitely affluent Egyptians have at least 2 bathrooms, or one to each bedroom, or similar, while here in the village you have of course one. Houses being so small, often not above 50m2, and guests sitting mostly outside on the porch . You basically have a toilet with a shower head fixed somewhere over the (how did someone here call it?) porta potty? We must be soulmates, Aisha, I also moved our bathroom into kitchen and kitchen into office. And what was to be bath is now a smallish storage. With the effect that guests who wanted to see the apartment before it was furnished, went first to the bathroom, hoping to see the kitchen, then turned around with a big surprise and headed for the 4 m2 storage - "oh it must be here then...." Basically the most important room in the house (because it is in use most of the day) - the kitchen, is usually the smallest (for not so affluent who also do not have open kitchens) around 6m2. And toilet is so small you have to turn around before entering. The whole life goes on in bedrooms, or even the main bedroom - parents watch tv there, children do their homework, even eat perhaps. While the two (or more) show-off rooms - the dining room and the entré - are kept more or less unused and intact, for those few precious guests... Though an Egyptian family receives visitors pretty often, esp. near family, but still... The 1 toilet new apartments must be the "extra new lifestyle", sono , for the new generation of "upwardly mobile"-s who never had more .
metinoot Member # 17031	posted quote: Originally posted by young at heart: Most new build Uk houses like mine come with ensuite bath or shower rooms now. It does seem to be the norm. I would imagine in Egypt it depends on how well off a family are. In many cases the poorer Egyptians are more concerned with putting a meal on the table than whether they have a 2nd bathroom or not! My former in-laws have 5 extra flats, all of which have only one bathroom. We've visited folks with 5 bedroom flats with an extra sitting room and only one bathroom. I can see Sinai having villas and delux flats having a bath and a half, but its slim pickings in Egyptian neighborhoods. A little sick and tired of looking for a open toilet and finding a little girl in all three of them back at the family house.
weirdkitty Member # 15365	posted all the flats i have been in in england, only have one bathroom. seriously, it's a flat, why on earth would you need two? i have never thought it weird. i stayed in one flat in cairo with two, and it seemed pointless. my house only has two due to an extension we built, so really don't think egyptians are backwards in this
metinoot Member # 17031	posted quote: Originally posted by weirdkitty: all the flats i have been in in england, only have one bathroom. seriously, it's a flat, why on earth would you need two? i have never thought it weird. i stayed in one flat in cairo with two, and it seemed pointless. my house only has two due to an extension we built, so really don't think egyptians are backwards in this Yeah but a majority of city dwellings are flats. Its very difficult to get a building permit for a villa in a city. When all of us stay in a large flat in Agamy then men use the bathroom in the coffeehouse on street level in our building. The girls use a "training potty" as a last resort and then they give you hell about it every time you walk past the bathroom.
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted aaaahh you mean 'toilets' not 'bathrooms'.
Mimmi Member # 3606	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: This is something I cannot get over. Its paramount in western culture, you have kids you need to have 2 bathrooms or at least a half bathroom with a full bathroom. Why hasn't this caught on in Egypt? ??????????????
Tigerlily Member # 3567	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: When all of us stay in a large flat in Agamy then men use the bathroom in the coffeehouse on street level in our building. The girls use a "training potty" as a last resort and then they give you hell about it every time you walk past the bathroom. And from which novel did you take that information??
Clear and QSY Member # 15597	posted quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: aaaahh you mean 'toilets' not 'bathrooms'. Living in a house with one toilet sucks - expecially where you have more than one person living there and you get back from a night out and both have to "go" very badly then you end up racing each other to get there first... Living in a house with one bathroom sucks when you have more than one person living there and everyone needs to go to work at the same time. Someone always ends up taking a cold shower because there is not enough time to let the hot water tank reheat.
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted quote: Originally posted by Clear and QSY: quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: aaaahh you mean 'toilets' not 'bathrooms'. Living in a house with one toilet sucks - expecially where you have more than one person living there and you get back from a night out and both have to "go" very badly then you end up racing each other to get there first... Yes but its not like you have to wait long is it? it doesnt take long to 'go'
Clear and QSY Member # 15597	posted quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: quote: Originally posted by Clear and QSY: quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: aaaahh you mean 'toilets' not 'bathrooms'. Living in a house with one toilet sucks - expecially where you have more than one person living there and you get back from a night out and both have to "go" very badly then you end up racing each other to get there first... Yes but its not like you have to wait long is it? it doesnt take long to 'go' Yes, but when you have to go very badly every second is torture. Especially when you get to be my age.
Penny Member # 1925	posted Its not really an Egyptian thing, most newer flats over 125sq mtrs will have 2 but so many flats are smaller than this so there is only room for one. There are alot of older buildings in Alex where it probably didn't use to be the norm.
Penny Member # 1925	posted quote: Originally posted by Clear and QSY: quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: quote: Originally posted by Clear and QSY: quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: aaaahh you mean 'toilets' not 'bathrooms'. Living in a house with one toilet sucks - expecially where you have more than one person living there and you get back from a night out and both have to "go" very badly then you end up racing each other to get there first... Yes but its not like you have to wait long is it? it doesnt take long to 'go' Yes, but when you have to go very badly every second is torture. Especially when you get to be my age. Or you are married to one of those men where going to the ....is a long slow experience. We used to have 2 now only have one, definitely a backward step.
sam311 Member # 17752	posted AYISHA That is the coolest thing you wrote . some people are lucky to have one. Makes me laugh . Really very funny .
anthropos Member # 9410	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: This is something I cannot get over. Its paramount in western culture, you have kids you need to have 2 bathrooms or at least a half bathroom with a full bathroom. Why hasn't this caught on in Egypt? Are you using an Egyptian toilet at the moment? So why on Earth would you be wondering about this? I know that you have had a hard time having your daughter taken from you and all but is taking a virtual crap at Egyptian toilet customs or house design going to make you feel any better?
metinoot Member # 17031	posted quote: Originally posted by anthropos: quote: Originally posted by metinoot: This is something I cannot get over. Its paramount in western culture, you have kids you need to have 2 bathrooms or at least a half bathroom with a full bathroom. Why hasn't this caught on in Egypt? Are you using an Egyptian toilet at the moment? So why on Earth would you be wondering about this? I know that you have had a hard time having your daughter taken from you and all but is taking a virtual crap at Egyptian toilet customs or house design going to make you feel any better? You don't have the right to ask where I live. I could be in Egypt right now and have had to use the neighbors 4 times in the last 2 days. Luckily the building is mainly comprised of "vacation" flats in which most residents don't live here full time. Yes I am bitchin. I don't get to live like a tourist here and I don't have my own space. Limited bathroom situations has nothing to do with my family situation.
metinoot Member # 17031	posted quote: Originally posted by Tigerlily: quote: Originally posted by metinoot: When all of us stay in a large flat in Agamy then men use the bathroom in the coffeehouse on street level in our building. The girls use a "training potty" as a last resort and then they give you hell about it every time you walk past the bathroom. And from which novel did you take that information?? Unlike you I have real experiences in Egypt within actual Egyptian context. And yeah I shower and 3 little girls use the toilet when I am in there. Sometimes they forget and they flush. I am not a masochist in this manner.
Supercalafragalistic Member # 15631	posted we only had one bathroom (no bath mind due) in the flat I was in. There were 5 of us sharing it. Wasn't really a problem, bladder control and consideration of others is all you need.
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: quote: Originally posted by Tigerlily: quote: Originally posted by metinoot: When all of us stay in a large flat in Agamy then men use the bathroom in the coffeehouse on street level in our building. The girls use a "training potty" as a last resort and then they give you hell about it every time you walk past the bathroom. And from which novel did you take that information?? Unlike you I have real experiences in Egypt within actual Egyptian context. Then get on with it then, this is Egypt not fully modern equiped USA. Think yourself lucky you're not squatting over a hole and showering with a hosepipe and cold water.
weirdkitty Member # 15365	posted Wait a second... IF you are in Egypt (first time in how long?) actually bothering to see the girl you dumped, why on earth are you on here, moaning about toilets??!! Damn, if I had a child I never saw, I wouldn't care even if there were no bathrooms when I did finally bother seeing her. But, I guess you showed long ago how little you care about your "daughter", so I guess you would care about bathrooms. Each to their own, but to me there are more important things in life.
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted shes not in Egypt, unless shes just arrived, shes trying to make you think she is.
Tigerlily Member # 3567	posted quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: Then get on with it then, this is Egypt not fully modern equiped USA. Think yourself lucky you're not squatting over a hole and showering with a hosepipe and cold water. Right on spot Ayisha - as usual. Now Egyptians would reply at this point: If you don't like it here then don't come. Anyway Amy must be having one of her pipe dreams again!!
anthropos Member # 9410	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: quote: Originally posted by anthropos: quote: Originally posted by metinoot: This is something I cannot get over. Its paramount in western culture, you have kids you need to have 2 bathrooms or at least a half bathroom with a full bathroom. Why hasn't this caught on in Egypt? Are you using an Egyptian toilet at the moment? So why on Earth would you be wondering about this? I know that you have had a hard time having your daughter taken from you and all but is taking a virtual crap at Egyptian toilet customs or house design going to make you feel any better? You don't have the right to ask where I live. I could be in Egypt right now and have had to use the neighbors 4 times in the last 2 days. Luckily the building is mainly comprised of "vacation" flats in which most residents don't live here full time. Yes I am bitchin. I don't get to live like a tourist here and I don't have my own space. Limited bathroom situations has nothing to do with my family situation. Seeing that you answer me in this way I would like to refer you to my thread on scarves and ask you to rethink the answer you gave there.
metinoot Member # 17031	posted quote: Originally posted by anthropos: Seeing that you answer me in this way I would like to refer you to my thread on scarves and ask you to rethink the answer you gave there. Its not tit for tat here. You were making assumptions and making unfair criticism towards a group that is heavily unrepresented here. The subject revolves around religion, gender and culture. My topic doesn't revolve around religion, gender nor really even culture. Because there are other cultures that have little in common with Egypt that only have one bathroom in a 3 bedroom flat. Not all nations are comprised of mainly house residences. No one considered that Egypt has one main water source, the Nile. In my home state we have literally tens of thousands of water sources and a water sanitation system that hasn't seen an overhaul in 60 years. Egypt on the other hand overhauls their water sanitation system before the decade is out. I wanted a real estate person to jump in here and give me more details about the housing development process in which developers draw up blue prints on large luxurious flat buildings but then the government informs them to reduce the amount of bathrooms in order to save water. Why would I bring that up? Because Egyptians speak Arabic, and foreigners don't. Egyptians also go to developers and rally for changes in the flat design and also go to municipal officials to encourage certain features in their housing stock either to buy the flat or to market their products to the people who live in the flats once they move in. I was trying to encourage usernames who rarely post to share information that the usernames who post regularly obviously have no experience with.
Tigerlily Member # 3567	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: I wanted a real estate person to jump in here and give me more details about the housing development process in which developers draw up blue prints on large luxurious flat buildings but then the government informs them to reduce the amount of bathrooms in order to save water. Why would I bring that up? Because Egyptians speak Arabic, and foreigners don't. Egyptians also go to developers and rally for changes in the flat design and also go to municipal officials to encourage certain features in their housing stock either to buy the flat or to market their products to the people who live in the flats once they move in. I was trying to encourage usernames who rarely post to share information that the usernames who post regularly obviously have no experience with. Go to an Arabic speaking online forum then to receive your wanted info there or even better contact real estate folks yourself but stop patronizing ES members on here you stupid woman!! Oh forgot - YOU DON'T SPEAK ANY ARABIC. Keep living in your pipe dreams.... you'll never make it to Egypt.
metinoot Member # 17031	posted quote: Originally posted by Tigerlily: quote: Originally posted by metinoot: I wanted a real estate person to jump in here and give me more details about the housing development process in which developers draw up blue prints on large luxurious flat buildings but then the government informs them to reduce the amount of bathrooms in order to save water. Why would I bring that up? Because Egyptians speak Arabic, and foreigners don't. Egyptians also go to developers and rally for changes in the flat design and also go to municipal officials to encourage certain features in their housing stock either to buy the flat or to market their products to the people who live in the flats once they move in. I was trying to encourage usernames who rarely post to share information that the usernames who post regularly obviously have no experience with. Go to an Arabic speaking online forum then to receive your wanted info there or even better contact real estate folks yourself but stop patronizing ES members on here you stupid woman!! Oh forgot - YOU DON'T SPEAK ANY ARABIC. Keep living in your pipe dreams.... you'll never make it to Egypt. I've been to Egypt more often than you have since both of us joined the forum. I don't believe you've ever lived in Egypt and I don't believe that you have been there more than once. I understand Egyptian Arabic more by hearing than by speaking which is a natural cycle of learning. Most folks when they learn from tapes and books learn to speak it before they can recognize the words and speech patterns by hearing. Anatasia there are enough westerners buying up properties in Sinai to know of this type of facilitation. But these westerners are going about it in a smart manner using a lawyer not a toyboy to help them buy a place. Now don't you have six kids to take care of, two of which are malnourished, devastated orphans?
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: But these westerners are going about it in a smart manner using a lawyer not a toyboy to help them buy a place. ROFLMAO OMG Amy that was the funniest thing you have said in ages
metinoot Member # 17031	posted quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: quote: Originally posted by metinoot: But these westerners are going about it in a smart manner using a lawyer not a toyboy to help them buy a place. ROFLMAO OMG Amy that was the funniest thing you have said in ages When I say "using a lawyer" I mean using a lawyer who isn't being compensated by the boytoy to inflate the price of the flat. Since you haven't bought a flat I can see why you'd find humor in this.
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: quote: Originally posted by Ayisha: quote: Originally posted by metinoot: But these westerners are going about it in a smart manner using a lawyer not a toyboy to help them buy a place. ROFLMAO OMG Amy that was the funniest thing you have said in ages When I say "using a lawyer" I mean using a lawyer who isn't being compensated by the boytoy to inflate the price of the flat. ROFLMAO there you go again! I cant WAIT till you actually move here.
metinoot Member # 17031	posted In otherwords valerie you just are going to chase around every thread I post in and "abuse" recreationally. You abuse prank callers, you abuse the men in your lives, you abuse people online. There is just no end to it, abuse is the only thing that floats your boat.
Ayisha Member # 4713	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: In otherwords valerie you just are going to chase around every thread I post in and "abuse" recreationally. You abuse prank callers, you abuse the men in your lives, you abuse people online. There is just no end to it, abuse is the only thing that floats your boat. How is saying you made me laugh abusing you? what prank callers do I abuse? What men do I abuse in my life and what people have I abused online? All fantasy again Amy and the abuse comes from you every single time!
Tigerlily Member # 3567	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: In otherwords valerie you just are going to chase around every thread I post in and "abuse" recreationally. That's what you would like us to do, don't you?? Good lord you are such a snake. Anyone who is on this forum here can see your true disgusting nature. I think you should be looking for a job and trying to get out of Loserville instead harassing people online but I guess you got other priorities in life?? What a poor excuse for a human being you are.....
Penny Member # 1925	posted quote: Originally posted by metinoot: quote: Originally posted by anthropos: Seeing that you answer me in this way I would like to refer you to my thread on scarves and ask you to rethink the answer you gave there. Its not tit for tat here. You were making assumptions and making unfair criticism towards a group that is heavily unrepresented here. The subject revolves around religion, gender and culture. My topic doesn't revolve around religion, gender nor really even culture. Because there are other cultures that have little in common with Egypt that only have one bathroom in a 3 bedroom flat. Not all nations are comprised of mainly house residences. No one considered that Egypt has one main water source, the Nile. In my home state we have literally tens of thousands of water sources and a water sanitation system that hasn't seen an overhaul in 60 years. Egypt on the other hand overhauls their water sanitation system before the decade is out. I wanted a real estate person to jump in here and give me more details about the housing development process in which developers draw up blue prints on large luxurious flat buildings but then the government informs them to reduce the amount of bathrooms in order to save water. Why would I bring that up? Because Egyptians speak Arabic, and foreigners don't. Egyptians also go to developers and rally for changes in the flat design and also go to municipal officials to encourage certain features in their housing stock either to buy the flat or to market their products to the people who live in the flats once they move in. I was trying to encourage usernames who rarely post to share information that the usernames who post regularly obviously have no experience with. You have such strange ideas of how things work in Egypt. Basically the government grants a license to build based on the location and size/ number of floors of the building. What you then put in it they don't care about so if you want you could stick in 10 bathrooms or a swimming pool. Its up to the developer according to the market he is trying to sell to. In our current development all will have 2 bathrooms as that suits our market and the size of the flats (250sq mtrs). So if you really can't find anything in Alex give me shout LOL. You know things in Egypt just aren't that complicated.