Little things mean a lot

DATELINE: August 2 2013
Patricia E Lyon

We are told by friends that we are staying in a four-star hotel. Maybe different idea about stars. We stay because our friends are here, and they help us accomplish many things for the vulnerable people of Cambodia.

One thing that worries us is a constant shortage of toilet paper. Because we stay a long time, our room cleaning does not occur until late in the day. The hotel is in very high demand, even though this is not high tourist season. (or so they say) Often tourists are turned away because there is no vacancy. The room cleaners are very busy.

Deanna and I often seek out the room cleaners or just take from their stash when we run out of TP. The toilet paper roll itself is very small, half glued together. Quality not good. But we are aware that the governments in Southeast Asia have no-cut laws in an attempt to save the forests. Paper is precious. Yesterday Deanna had an “aha” moment when she realized another reason we run out is because we are two women staying in the room and men do not use as much.

We often supplement with the good-for-nothing tiny tissue napkin things that they provide in the room. One roommate is often calling for help to the other, “Please, can you hand me the tissues?” We are glad when an arm bends around the bathroom door to provide. Yesterday when we came back from class needing to relieve ourselves in a hurry there was a Post-It Note on the new box of good-for-nothing tissues. It said, “Sorry it’s don't have.”

Due to assertiveness training many years ago today is a big day for us. When we go to buy yogurt and Cola Light we will also buy toilet paper from the western market. It only took us a month to reach this decision. We try to be careful about expenditures, but really?!