H2O

So in a effort to better describe life in Cameroon, I think each week I will write about one particular aspect of living here (instead of trying to cover everything at all once). So to begin - this week - all about water. Yep water. Back home water was something I didn't think too much about other than I really liked having a nice cold glass of water. But here - well things are a little different.



To start with basically all water is contaminated - whether it comes from a well, a forage, or tap. So you can't exactly just turn on the faucet and fill your cup up and having a refrigerator that dispenses water is pretty much unheard here. Nope. Instead you have to boil water and then filter it. If boiling isn't an option, you could add half a tablet of iodine or 2 drops of bleach (eau de javel). Now you may think - ok that is not so bad - boil water a few times a week and filter then fill up your water bottle for drinking. But let me run some things by that maybe you haven't thought about....


Brushing your teeth for instance. Since the water (even tap) is not good to use, every time you brush your teeth you have to drink your bottled water but you also have to clean your toothbrush with the bottled water.


Showering - now not that you are exactly drinking shower water but I always think of Charlotte in the Sex & the City Movie (first one) when they are on vacation and she is showering and forgets where she is and opens her mouth - yeah kind of like that every time I shower - I try to not get water in my mouth. And I mean I do try to make it semi-clean water but adding a few drops of bleach everytime but still definitely not clean water.

If you are out and about and for some reason you did not plan well and don't have clean water with you so you are forced to buy some water - beware- those kids selling nice bottles of glacee (cold) water are no good - that water is definitely not clean as generally those bottles of water are actually just bottles that the kids have filled up with not clean water - always check the seal!

And one last thought for you - if you are out and of course it is hot and you happen to come across what looks to be a nice stream/waterfall/river and you see plenty of other Cameroonians already enjoying the cool water and you think - oh I will just put my feet in - well think twice before doing that unless you would like some schisto or other parasite/bacteria getting in through your skin and possiblyl living in your body for years without you even knowing - yep dont touch that water - at all.