I have included this photo not just because I love it (although I do), but because throughout my travels, I have repeatedly watched Western travelers use a bidet in almost every single way imaginable. Except as a bidet.

This is especially true of Americans. We will use it for all sorts of tasks, anything we can think of, really, EXCEPT the one for which it was intended. If you aren't used to it, having (cold) water shoot up your ass is upsetting, and most of us aren't going to voluntarily make that happen.

In America, we didn't grow up with them, and they occur almost no where. In fact, to be totally honest, if a bidet was listed on a scavenger hunt list and I needed to find one in a jiffy, I wouldn't even know where to go or where to point my car. A hotel maybe? So I am going to speak for tourists everywhere here and say, on the record, that when we are traveling in other countries, and we encounter a bidet, all we see is just an extra water source; and endless possibilities!

When I first journeyed abroad in college, to study for a semester in Italy, I remember going into one of the girls' rooms and saw that they were using the bidet to do laundry. They were using it as a tiny wash basin, to soak all of their bras and panties and other delicates. Several other girls chimed in to say that's what they were all using the bidets for in their rooms, too. I told then that in my room, we only had a mini-fridge, so my roommate and I would regularly fill our bidet with ice, and put our beers and white wine in it to chill. They all loved that idea, and said they hadn't even thought of that, but couldn't wait to try it. I'm sure if we had taken a survey at the time, we would have learned dozens and dozens more inventive bidet usages from every single person in our group.

I asked the girls if any of them were using it to...well, "you know, wash your bums?"

They all collectively groaned and giggled and squealed.

"Oooooooh, Ryan! No! That's so gross!"

They asked me, "Why? Are you guys?"

"No!" I said, immediately telling them the truth. "Of course not, that's gross!"

Being right next to the toilet, it's so much more logical to fill it with clothing and beverages and sometimes even food.

Therefore, I was quite amused when I saw this American couple in Morocco who were clearly also thinking outside the box. Great idea, Backpack Guy. Just yank that bidet hose as far out as it will go, and spray your friend down like you're washing a dog in the yard.

I love it.