Plumbing

So I never thought that I would have an appreciation for American plumbing, nor would I ever consider it unique or well-designed. But after a little more than a week here in Ireland, I can say that the good ol US of A has a pretty logical take on things.
For one, we don't have showers that require you to pull a string coming from the bathroom ceiling somewhere before you even have a chance of turning on the water. I mean, this thing looks like a light switch pull leftover from a previous wiring set-up, and as I have heard, is not unique to our apartment complex. So my two and half days without a shower could have been avoided with a two-second motion that no one bothered to mention was a requirement to us "stupid Americans."
Frustrating.
Secondly, have you ever been in an old building or house and noticed that some sinks have separate taps for the hot and cold water? It makes pretty much no sense at all, and turns things like washing your hands or face into an uncomfortable, at best, endeavor. These lovely faucets are more or less everywhere, including our apartment complex and I do not like them. I'm dealing, and you see the locals turn them both on, and quickly move their hands back and forth. It's awkward and you better hope that the hot isn't going to scald. Last night at a more modern bar they had automatic sinks and it was amazing. Perfectly temperature regulated water from one faucet! Brilliant.
To go along with the handwashing drama, they do not use paper towels any where in Ireland really, which of course is great for conservation and litter purposes. However, the automatic dryers that take the place of the nice brown paper towel roll seem to often be cheap, finicky, and inefficient. It's ok, though, because I would rather use my pants legs and see a cleaner, less wasteful bathroom...But it's different, for sure.
And now on to the toilets. Or should I say WC? It's called either name, and not "restroom." First of all, it can then feel somewhat awkward to ask a bartender in a loud pub where the toilets are. But that is just because I'm a foreigner and they don't think anything of it. It is better to use the local terms, of course...Otherwise you sound stupid. Like the girl in front of me at school who asked for a bag of chips, not crisps, and then tried to correct herself by saying "or is it fries." Wow. Do a little homework, chickie. But I digress.
The toilets. For one, they usually really are a "water closet", with the flusher coming out of the wall and not attached to the actual toilet. And the flusher is on the left, when facing the bowl, rather than the right. And then there is the water. The level in the bowl is incredibly low, making everything really really loud. That's right. Everything. Fine, if conservation is the idea, right? Well, then you flush, and this huge rush of water comes swirling out and goes around and around and keeps coming and goes for what seems like minutes until it all drains away back to it's clean, yet low, former level. Odd. They are loud as anything, and my roomie and I have adopted a no flushing in the middle of the night rule because that thing could wake the dead.
I have to finish by saying that I am well aware that every country has their own way of doing things (such as driving on the left side of the road) and there is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with that. Homogeneity is boring. That is what traveling is about, seeing new and different ways of living life. But I have taken my observations into account with an open mind, and I still don't see the benefit of the two-headed faucet, or low level, torrential flushing toilet. But maybe I am just being a stupid American. I gotta represent, you know ;)