{"id":175591,"date":"2025-02-05T11:44:59","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T10:44:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=175591"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:27:40","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:27:40","slug":"make-the-most-of-your-toilet-visit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2025\/02\/05\/make-the-most-of-your-toilet-visit\/","title":{"rendered":"Make the most of your toilet visit"},"content":{"rendered":"

The workday is almost over. I work for a phone answering service, picking up the phone for several companies. The last caller is difficult to understand. After I ask him several times to repeat his email address, he asks if he can speak to someone else.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you’re a dork\u201d, he says.<\/p>\n

\"\"

\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLevien Willemse<\/a>, \t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPauline Wiersema<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

After working hours, I sprint into the Markthal, towards the restroom. Swearing softly, I pay the 1,20 euros entrance fee. Inside, I notice that this is not a normal restroom. The wall tiles and sinks shine and soothing music emanates from luminous amplifiers in the wall. According to a description, the toilet is designed for optimal relaxation and thus perfect for a \u2018zen\u2019 moment. A sign next to the toilet reads: \u201cMake the most of your toilet visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arriving at my apartment, I see my roommate with a gas mask on. He pulls the mask off his head and says there\u2019s something in the kitchen I need to see. The entire countertop is full of unwashed pans, plates and utensils. This is mostly the work of our other roommate, although I spot a carton of curdled lime milk that I bought two months ago and then forgot about. I decide not to mention this. \u201cWe also have a new roommate, by the way\u201d, my roommate says as he points to a wok pan containing a bag of bird food. Before I can ask what he means, a mouse crawls out of the bag.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe should give him a name\u201d, my roommate says.<\/p>\n

\u201cTjeerd\u201d, I suggest.<\/p>\n

My roommate indicates that I better step outside if I don\u2019t want mold in my lungs. He puts his gas mask back on and grabs a pan off the kitchen counter. The entire inside is covered in a thick layer of mold. He places the pan in the sink while I watch from the balcony. As soon as the faucet turns on, a cloud of bits of mold blows through the kitchen. When the pan is full, a soggy patch of mold rises to the surface. My roommate grabs it and holds it up to the window, thinking I want to see it up close.<\/p>\n

Afterwards, I try to enjoy a Turkish pizza in the living room. The disgusting explosion in the kitchen cannot be smelled here. Suddenly, a pungent smell hits me. The downstairs neighbor has lit up a joint. Fortunately, my roommate has a supply of scented candles. I choose the one with tompouce scent, although I have no idea what tompouce smells like.<\/p>\n\n\t

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