In my Elementary school, I remember kids raising their hands to ask the teacher if they could go to the restroom. One finger (Index) indicated a need for a Chouta Pashab (pee only) and two fingers for Wada Pashab (meaning full business). Here in NY, I have been visiting my son’s 3rd grade classroom on regular basis, and kids here do pretty much the same thing, a hand gesture to indicate a need to go to the restroom. But here, they don’t indicate which Pashab. Are they behind here, or what? Any thoughts?
Am laughing too hard to write down a sane response.
But yes, the same terminology is used here as well. They call it “number 1” and “number 2”. And that goes for kids and adults alike
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/biggrin.gif
Moderator ho to Ahmadi saab jaisa ho warna na ho
lol, at our madressah we used #1 and #2
Why the need to know number 1 or 2 in Pakistan? Just to satisfy the teacher's own curiosity?
Xtreme....its basically for the teacher to keep track of how long it will take the kid to be back. If the kid goes for number 1, and takes 15 minutes, he definitely took a detour somewhere, in which case he will be greeted with a 'baint di soti'.
Well let see.....
Let me go for #1 and I'll give you my input when I come back.
lol johnd...what if you don't know?
johnd has definitely taken a detour somewhere.....
There was a reason, that I thought is fairly substantial, I wanted to discuss it here. This topic is not what it may appear at a glance (well, not all of it). I just finished reading a book about the Dynamics of Family Psychology and how family members interact with one another. Having little kids who are being raised in an environment that is foreign to both me and my wife. Not only my kids are a product of an inter-racial marriage, but also a product of a society to which neither of us (my wife grew up in Iran, South America and Europe), and even though she is an American by birth, but never really lived here until we had kids. At times, I feel more American (now please don’t make fun) than she does. Raising kids in a foreign environment can be agitating so say the least.
Now back to the topic. Back Home in Pakistan, going to restroom is considered a very personal and intimate issue and one does not need to express it to everyone around you, while in US I have seen little kids (sometimes older kids) saying in presence of a company, “Mom, I am going to take a crap”, or “I have to poo”, you get the story.
But isn’t that a contradiction in itself? Kids don’t make a distinction in classroom setting when they have to go, but they do so in the presence of family and friends. Whereas, in Pakistan, they generally don’t make a distinction in presence of friends and family, but they do that in a Classroom setting. Things like that bug the hell out of me.
The family dynamics book suggests that kids that are upfront about the call of the nature grow up to be well adjusted adults, and the shy kids, when grown, don’t do as well in bigger settings. But what makes it possible for a Psychologist to deduct that saying it in a classroom (e.g., Pakistan) or saying it infront of family/friends (e.g., USA) is upfront or shy.
There is some basic flaw in this theory. I think it is a piece of shit.
NYAhmadi yar it is very personal but what the hell so it be. The story goes that I was about 5 and half and went to school with my elder sister(8 then). well..I did not knew about #1 or #2 and never needed it before so I just sat on the bench and did it to the pleasure of my heart…in my favourite blue overall…and mommi was home…
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/wink.gif
And sad thing is those 3rd graders made fun of me…can you believe it…they thought they are something…very mean people.
NYA, about the being open part, I have a friend (final year law student), who thinks you can judge someone’s personality by their bowel movements i.e. if you’re a regular crapper or if you’re constipated.
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif
and she’s very open about it…I think it’s a good thing.
ChannMahi, shame…
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
I feel for you! But, I’m sure I knew how to use the loo by age 5?
Am I the only female participating in this discussion. oopsiee
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/eek.gif
time to get back to my oh-so feminine side. hehe
Ahmadi, you used to ask your teachers before going to chee chee and pee pee stuff? Even more so, you used to go out????
This is oh soo insightful NYA
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
specially now that me & my hubby dear are in process of THINKING of having kids sometime down t/ road
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
.
I remembr, I used to inform my teacher about 2 fingers & roam abt t/ school doing awaara gardee (yep! buchpan say hii aisii thii
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/smile.gif
What’s t/ teachr gonna say? (or do?)
These psychologists - they get paid to come up with this stuff? In my opinion all psychologists should be put on the next space shuttle and sent to the moon.
johnd is taking so long…
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/biggrin.gif
Array, kidhar reh gaye bhaiiii..
http://www3.pak.org/gupshup/smilies/hehe.gif
Sab keheeriyat hai na..
Nah… Extreme.
We don’t wanna give the moon such a bad, inauspicious start …
OK OK guys, I am back, no I didn't take any detour or sutta break. You were right I went for #1 and was upgraded to #2 and when I was sitting there I realized that I had a 1/2 day on Friday so I came back and packed my computer and went home.
For both #1 and #2, I have seen different term used in differnt areas. Like in Karachi, for #1 they use
AMMA SHURLEY AA RAHEY HAY
and for #2
AMMA SHURLA AA RAHA HAY
Here in USA, they commanly use word John for both purposes. I never had experience going to my daughters school but I have seen kids using that word, especially when I had kids over my for birthday Party or any other gathering.
I just let rip no matter what