Toilet Paper (aka- туалетная бумага)

Ok, so yes, I went to Russia this winter break and spent the New Years holiday there and I have a LOT to tell you about my experience. I learned so much and it was a really beautiful, fantastic time. However, before I write that longer blog, I wanted to publish just a quick one tonight before I go to bed.

When people ask me about how my vacation was, I usually give a general "wonderful!" remark. If we have a lot of time to talk, I can delve into more detail and talk about culture, etc. I have, however, been noticing that I tend to spend a significant amount of time talking about toilet paper.

Funny, I know, but it's true! I can't claim that this is truly an "all" or "only" Russian thing, but when I was there, I found toilet paper to be very different from what I was used to.

1. Colored toilet paper. YEP- pink, blue, yellow, green. You name it, they have it!
2. Scented toilet paper. Flowers, fruit, borsh (ok, maybe not the last one)
3. The size of the little perforated sections that tear off are rectangular, longer than the "squares" that I'm used to. This did pose a big problem- one was not enough, but two was just too much!
4. Toilet paper without a hole in the roll. Maybe I can't describe this well, but basically there is no cardboard center role. Sometimes the roll would just be toilet paper rolled all the way to the center.
5. Unfortunately, in a few places, you have to provide your own toilet paper. This can pose a big problem when you happen to be a little sick after eating too much blini and trips to the bathroom become frequent and...very unpleasant, ehm. (*note: luckily I did find some :)

(*Inside joke to Dima: TOILET PAPER MONSTER!!!)

You can guess what that is supposed to mean...

Ciao for now! More to come!

Love,

Violamad