As foreshadowed in the last post, our building has not had water in a week.
A pipe burst, and they have thus far not fixed the problem.
Well, to be fair they dug a hole under the leaking pipe and if you are lucky you can sometimes scoop water out of this hole. I personally choose not to because the hole is located dangerously close to the dumpster and I believe people are now confusing the hole with an augmentation of the original dumpster.
I digress.
This week has taught me just how much we Westerners take for granted.
Did you know to wash your face and brush your teeth it takes almost a full liter of water?
This is insane.
Since I have been here the toilet has not actually flushed on its own so we have to manually fill bucket, flush, cheer, etc.
To flush a toilet takes almost 5 liters of water!
The next time you brush your teeth, for the love of the god you worship, PLEASE turn off the water!
This is not to say I have become a total hippie. Far from it. I alone in the house refused to go without a shower. I got extremely lucky most nights and there was a trickle of water...enough to fill a bucket and wash for 3 days. On the fourth day I succumbed to the will of the pipe gods who refused to emit even a trickle of water and showered elsewhere.
Anyway, since coming to Ethiopia I have discovered a whole new trove of ways to save and skimp. Below is a list of my favorite methods of conservation.
Hangers
Contrary to popular media/advertisement, a clothes hanger will actually hold up to 5 -10 clothing items depending on the clothes of course. When I came here, there was one clothes hanger for me. I came with I believe...10 dresses, 7 skirts, 1 pair of jeans [my stupidest move by far] and at least 5 jackets.
Yeah, you really figure out ways to teach that hanger who is boss.
Free linens!
I know many people in America who take napkins from restaurants. But, how many take toilet paper? Well, this one does now. But only from the five star hotels which demand that you buy outrageously overpriced tea in order to use their internet.
*Dear Ethiopian government if you are reading this, your internet and tea services are great! Super! I love very much!!!
Chile Peppers
If you're feeling particularly broke someday and can't afford to eat expensively, ask for lots of chile peppers with your meal. They're free and count as vegetable quota of the day.
Water Bottles
There is no recycling system here but why throw away those bottles when you can use them to build rockets for kids or when you can turn them into trash cans?
Phone Credit
If you're really out of money and credit, don't stress out. Just dial *807*yourperson'snumber-poundkey. This sends that person a lovely text message requesting they call you back...for free! My favorite discovery of Ethio Tel.
Reuse, you fool
A tissue can be reused at least 3 times. I don't care how gross that sounds.
Hygiene
You learn quickly to use a fraction of your soap and shampoo during showers when you discover that you only have half a bar of soap left and 2 months to go.
----------------
Told you guys I was Chigarum.
Anyway, I sincerely hope this helps you guys with any future travels of yours to a third-world country.
---------------
Oh my god. I have racked up 12 birr at this internet cafe. I must go if I want to eat fruit with dinner...by the way, the mango banana juice here? TO DIE FOR. Literally, if nothing else I wouldn't mind getting hit by a taxi just for having been in the company of this godly drink.
K. Bye.
A pipe burst, and they have thus far not fixed the problem.
Well, to be fair they dug a hole under the leaking pipe and if you are lucky you can sometimes scoop water out of this hole. I personally choose not to because the hole is located dangerously close to the dumpster and I believe people are now confusing the hole with an augmentation of the original dumpster.
I digress.
This week has taught me just how much we Westerners take for granted.
Did you know to wash your face and brush your teeth it takes almost a full liter of water?
This is insane.
Since I have been here the toilet has not actually flushed on its own so we have to manually fill bucket, flush, cheer, etc.
To flush a toilet takes almost 5 liters of water!
The next time you brush your teeth, for the love of the god you worship, PLEASE turn off the water!
This is not to say I have become a total hippie. Far from it. I alone in the house refused to go without a shower. I got extremely lucky most nights and there was a trickle of water...enough to fill a bucket and wash for 3 days. On the fourth day I succumbed to the will of the pipe gods who refused to emit even a trickle of water and showered elsewhere.
Anyway, since coming to Ethiopia I have discovered a whole new trove of ways to save and skimp. Below is a list of my favorite methods of conservation.
Hangers
Contrary to popular media/advertisement, a clothes hanger will actually hold up to 5 -10 clothing items depending on the clothes of course. When I came here, there was one clothes hanger for me. I came with I believe...10 dresses, 7 skirts, 1 pair of jeans [my stupidest move by far] and at least 5 jackets.
Yeah, you really figure out ways to teach that hanger who is boss.
Free linens!
I know many people in America who take napkins from restaurants. But, how many take toilet paper? Well, this one does now. But only from the five star hotels which demand that you buy outrageously overpriced tea in order to use their internet.
*Dear Ethiopian government if you are reading this, your internet and tea services are great! Super! I love very much!!!
Chile Peppers
If you're feeling particularly broke someday and can't afford to eat expensively, ask for lots of chile peppers with your meal. They're free and count as vegetable quota of the day.
Water Bottles
There is no recycling system here but why throw away those bottles when you can use them to build rockets for kids or when you can turn them into trash cans?
Phone Credit
If you're really out of money and credit, don't stress out. Just dial *807*yourperson'snumber-poundkey. This sends that person a lovely text message requesting they call you back...for free! My favorite discovery of Ethio Tel.
Reuse, you fool
A tissue can be reused at least 3 times. I don't care how gross that sounds.
Hygiene
You learn quickly to use a fraction of your soap and shampoo during showers when you discover that you only have half a bar of soap left and 2 months to go.
----------------
Told you guys I was Chigarum.
Anyway, I sincerely hope this helps you guys with any future travels of yours to a third-world country.
---------------
Oh my god. I have racked up 12 birr at this internet cafe. I must go if I want to eat fruit with dinner...by the way, the mango banana juice here? TO DIE FOR. Literally, if nothing else I wouldn't mind getting hit by a taxi just for having been in the company of this godly drink.
K. Bye.
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