Second Chances

While this title might sound sentimental, it is intentionally misleading. You might think I'm going to talk about something serious, but you've got it all wrong. I want to bring you into the world of toilet flushing in London.

You might expect a second attempt when embarking on such a task as cranking a lawnmower or weed-eater. You give it a pull, but it doesn't quite do the trick; so you try again... But have you ever had to take a second stab at flushing the toilet (or loo, as it is called here)? Growing up in America, using the bathroom was always a relatively leisurely activity for me. I do what I have to do, and then I casually push the lever down, often with only one finger.

But we realized quickly upon our arrival here that one cannot be so casual in one's flushing attempts. Perhaps it's simply older plumbing, or perhaps it's different standards of comfort, but you actually have to put some work into flushing many toilets in this country. There's a reason I likened it to cranking a lawnmower: you often have to be quick and forceful. It actually adds a bit of adventure to using the bathroom, especially when you're at someone's home, where you've never been before.

Imagine: you go into the bathroom and do your business. You reach to flush the toilet, giving the lever a slow, gentle push down. But nothing much happens. A little bit of water trickles into the bowl, mocking you slyly. You think to yourself, "Ok. So it's going to be like that, huh?" You give it a firmer push, and it shows a little more life but still no full-fledged flush. Now it's officially serious. You put the lid down so as to give yourself a little more space for momentum. This time you're even more forceful and quick, but still nothing of significance happens. You begin to think to yourself, "Maybe there's something wrong. Maybe I should ask someone if there's a trick to this." But then you think to yourself, "Wait a minute. When I came in here, there was nothing in this toilet. Obviously this is a fully functioning toilet, which people have managed to flush in the past. I will not let this conquer me." You give it one last push, this time really giving it all you got. Success! You feel a sense of accomplishment come over you. Then you wonder whether you should feel so proud over such a menial task. Nevertheless you leave the bathroom with your head held high.

In case you're wondering, this scenario was not purely hypothetical. Next time you flush your nice American toilet with just one try, I want you to remember us and all the English people here, for whom toilet flushing is a real task and be grateful. Maybe even say a prayer for us.