Or is it?
Water is such an important part of every person's life. However, in the States, we take for granted how easily available our water is and how safe it is for us to consume and use.
Just like at home, here in Zambia, water is necessary for people to drink, bathe, cook, and clean. In addition, all the animals also need water to drink and the plants need water to grow and be plentiful.
But where is all the water? Is it not in the homes? Nope!
Most homes in Zambia do not have electricity or running water. Women must walk short or long distances to a borehole or open well to draw water to carry back home. The boreholes are wells that have a hand pump that bring the water up to the surface to fill Jerry cans or buckets. Some open wells are still in use and water is gathered by sending down a bucket on a rope into the hole and pulling the full container back up to the top. It is a very time consuming and sometimes arduous task!
Once the containers of water are filled, women (because it is the task of women to gather water in Zambia) will put the heavy buckets or cans on their head and carry others in their hands sometimes as well. People may have to walk 100 to 500 meters or more to get their water.
When the water is finally home, it can be put to use for bathing or cleaning or cooking. However, for most of the water, in order to ensure it is safe to drink, it must be boiled or treated or filtered first before drinking.
Also, when one wants to bath in Zambia, their is no shower. One much first heat the water over a fire if they want it warm. And then, just using a basin full of water and a cup to pour water over oneself, a person is able to bath in Zambia. My favorite part about bathing in Zambia is that I can bathe outside under the African sky with the stars above my head. Such a beautiful scenery for bathing!
So, every person needs water. And in many places, water is easily attainable and of a high quality. But, places like Zambia, water is not so readily available everywhere and the process of gathering and using water is so much different than at home in the States or other places like Europe!
It is certainly a bit of life in Zambia that one much get used to, but it is such a small part that one is easily used to it quickly!! I have yet to try to carry water on my head, but maybe after two years I will be able to walk with 20 liters on my head with no hands to steady it! Who knows, it could happen!!
