My First Bucket Shower

So for anybody who has previously read, I may have mentioned the fact that my homestay family luckily has warm running water. What I failed to mention or realize is that that's only true sometimes. When it's not the rainy season (like it is now), the water supply gets rationed certain days of the week. So, we have now not had running water since Thursday morning. I guess that's only 2 days, but it feels like a long time.

Regardless, last night I experienced for the first time what is called a bucket shower. Sooner or later my time was going to come, but I was expecting later rather than sooner. I was somewhat demoralized because my little sister asked me to help her bathe, and I had to tell her no because I don't know how those types of showers work. Keep in mind that she is 6 and I am 20. It was kind of embarassing. so, after this little situation with Malaika, I wanting until she went to bed to ask my mama about how I actually set up the bucket shower. I swear it's not actually that hard; it's just really new and I'm not used to it at all.

So, basically, there are these giant barrels around the house that water is stored in and that is what you use. However, that water is cold, so you go into the kitchen and boil some of the water. Then, I went into the bathroom and put some of the cold water in. And from there, it's moreso just figuring out what's going to actually get you clean and what's going to just leave soap on your body. To be honest, it was a very satisfying feeling when I was over and done. Can't wait for it to happen again!

Lessons learned: 1. Africans avoid long hair for a reason. It takes forever to clean.  2. Technology has tainted our view of the world sometimes. 3. Simplicity is nice sometimes.

Here is a picture of the water barrel and the bucket I showered with...just in case you were wondering.