Let’s have a break

During conferences the focus is of course on the content, on the presentations and on the people you meet to network. And of course during the day you have a break. In Dutch that would be a ‘koffiepauze’. When I was at a conference in Australia this break turned out to be not a coffee break but ‘morning tea’. I guess such a description is due to the British heritage and it occurred to me as an interesting cultural phenomenon. In another conference I saw the break being described as a ‘health break’ and a closing reception as a cocktail hour.

Conferences are held at universities, hotels, convention sites and many other venues. During such a break –whatever it is called – many people want to use the toilet. And this poses another interesting cultural phenomenon. In Dutch, you ask where you can find the toilet or WC but I have seen signs with descriptions such as men’s room or restroom (USA), male room and change room (Australia), gents (UK) and lavatory (airplanes). It is more and more common to use just a sign and sometimes add women or men as they do at most airports, but the question still remains what term to use when you ask where you can find one. I wonder if they’ve discussed this issue at the World Toilet Summit two weeks ago and what signs and words the organisers actually use? Maybe we will find out on World Toilet Day, November 19?

Hans-Georg van Liempd is program manager at TiU and president of EAIE. He blogs for Univers.

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