I missed ONE, yes ONE and only ONE day of class my senior year at Meredith. Ironically, that Monday just so happened to be the day in "Global Needs of Families" that covered China. IF I had been in class on this very special day (instead of stuck in the Atlanta airport) I would have heard about the many customs and traditions present throughout this incredible country. I would have learned about the family structure, the family unit, common parenting practices, and even a few things on child development. And I would have taken very detailed notes on what to except with regard to culture shock! Which, within the past 9 months I have taken in full force! A few things in particular, the "squat pots," the burping, the slurping, the spitting, and oh wait.... the peeing???
That's right - even the peeing. Luckily, it's only among babies and toddlers but it's still pretty shocking the first time it's witnessed. Okay, so maybe it's not THAT uncommon to see a small child relieving themselves outside, but on the sidewalk next to a restaurant, or being held over a trashcan in the metro... now THAT'S not something you see everyday (or at least not everyday in America.) What makes this practice most interesting is not WHERE the children decide to relieve themselves (since it's practically everywhere) it's HOW they do it, and that's with what's known in Chinese as "Kaidangku" or "Open-Crotch Pants."
I'm going to be honest, the first time I saw that adorable little Chinese darling with a big slit in his pants I thought his pants must have been cut by accident or something tragic had happened. Little did I know those pants were actually meticulously cut and sold by the manufacturers with precisely the exact width and length for optimal function and usage. Those Kaidangku I once laughed at, have now become second nature. And actually, if you can get past the fact that it's not at all sanitary for children to just go around peeing and pooping wherever they see fit, these pants really aren't that bad - like everything (even the squat pots) they have their pros! (Imagine that, I made another pro and con list) Kaidangku are environmentally friendly - no diapers to dispose of that end up in our land fills AND if thoughtfully planned, having children poop outside could actually act as fertilizer (maybe a stretch for a pro but at least I'm trying...) I've also been told by numerous Chinese friends that it's actually easier to potty train children who have worn Kaidangku instead of diapers!
These are probably NOT something I'll be stocking up on and bringing home as gifts to future parents but pretty funny non the less! (And certainly something to look out for if planning a trip to China!)
