Latrine

The first few days at my host family’s house was quite a shock.  I thought I was mentally prepared for culture shock but apparently I wasn’t.  I could handle the bucket bath, different food, and even the lack of electricity.  It was the latrine that got me.  I had a vague understanding that a latrine was basically a whole in the ground.   However this is quite an understatement.  It was dark by the time I needed to use it which only heightened my anxiety.  I stumbled up the walkway to a roofless door frame and tin door.  To my horror, the door frame was flickering in the glare of my head lamp.  It wasn’t one or two cockroaches but at least twenty that dashed and darted about the walls of the cubicle.  I staggered backwards confused and frightened.  I tried to consider my options because obviously this was not going to work.  I glanced around meeting only the sad eyes of the starving chicken and realized this was my only option.   My bladder on the verge of explosion urged me forward.  I started stomping my feet, not with the intention of squishing any roaches but to announce my arrival.  I ducked my head really low for fear they would find my hair a soft place to nestle be anywhere near my face.  I slammed the door close and latched the door creating more of a flutter.  Just so you are aware, this practically took all of the courage I could muster.  I looked directly down at the hole which inadvertently illuminated the abyss.  I think there are a million down there.  As I squatted to relieve myself I could discern the antennae protruding from the hole waving like hair in the wind.  I considered standing but had little faith, and rightly so, in the precision of my aim.