"I am Nigerian and grew up being told I must scrub my body thoroughly when I wash, otherwise I'm not clean. My sisters and I were encouraged to use exfoliating net sponges and proper soap to clean ourselves. Shower gel was banned in my house. Noah, meanwhile, has a much more lax approach to hygiene. He doesn't use soap, and will just pat a bit of shower gel around his body."
"There is no scrubbing, no real getting into the cracks and orifices: it's just rubbing a bit of gel around and hoping for the best. He also doesn't bend down to wash his feet. He says, The water will find its way there. I find it strange. This lack of exfoliation is also not good for his skin. I bought him a net sponge to use in the shower, and he hasn't used it."
"It all kicked off recently, though, when Noah came to my cousin Femi's house for lunch. Noah, who is Scottish, asked Femi why there was a bucket in his bathroom. Femi explained that many Nigerians grow up having a bucket bath, where water is poured over you from a bucket while you bathe. It's a very satisfying and thorough way of washing. Noah was amazed."
My boyfriend, Noah, uses only a little shower gel and rarely scrubs or exfoliates, which his partner perceives as inadequate hygiene. The partner grew up in Nigeria where thorough scrubbing and exfoliating with net sponges and soap were enforced, and bucket baths are common. A visit to a cousin revealed cultural differences when Noah asked about a bucket in the bathroom and showed surprise at the bucket-bath method. The partner bought a net sponge and has watched Noah shower, sometimes expressing horror at his technique, yet also notes Noah usually smells pleasant. The partner wants more thorough washing for skin and cleanliness.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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