Imagine your surprise and frustration when, barely able to contain yourself, you run into a Korean bathroom and, expecting to find the old familiar and comfortable toilet seat, you see nothing but what appears to be a hole in the floor. "What am I going to do?" you ask yourself. The answer; squat.

While homes, newer office buildings, restaurants and shopping centers come equipped with modern toilets, most older buildings in Korea do not, but instead have a Korean old-style porcelain hole-in-the-floor. Koreans are taught to squat from childhood, and it is not uncommon to see adults squatting on their haunches in public to give their legs a rest. And admittedly, when it comes time to do your business, this is a very logical position. However, to most westerners, the idea of squatting over a hole seems very unrefined, if not a tad uncomfortable.

Furthermore, unless you are in an office building or western-style restaurant bathroom, you had better bring your own tissue. Keeping bathrooms fully stocked with the necessities is not a priority here. It is best to always carry some with you in your handbag or backpack, just in case.