Let The Rains Come

We are entering the rainy season and getting rain now every other day. Emily doesn’t understand why we have no water in the house when it is pouring outside. Can’t blame her.  I keep trying to figure out if there is a schedule for water being off.  It seems though that it is off during peak times ie getting ready for school, breakfast, shower and then comes on for a few hours mid to late morning and then goes off when I am starting to make dinner, but could be noon. It turns on again just as I want to head to bed. Luckily I find doing the dishes at ten relaxing and don’t mind the late night chore.

The water makes a gurgling noise through the house.  So we set about doing the “water” duties--flush the toilets, fill the water filter, do the dishes, do the laundry, and take a shower.  Then fill up some extra buckets around the house for the toilets and sinks.  Time permitting it is good time to clean floors etc.

We have two large water tanks to store water outside.  So we are never truly without water. The kids take turns carrying in water. 

Many compounds (houses or several houses together) have there own "clean" water.  Clean for Cameroonians to drink but not expats.  In some "Quarters" (neighborhoods) there may be a communal water spigot with cement tubs around it for laundry.  Many people still use the streams for drinking and laundry.

 Since there is rarely water when the kids are home they have gotten quite used to bucket baths and I think the girls prefer them to showers as the tubs we use for them are so big it is like they each have their own mini bath tub.

Once the rain comes we will have water and have to do the laundry first thing in the morning, because the clothes have to come off the line when the big black clouds start looming above mid-afternoon. Or you’ll hear one kid yell “rain” and they all go racing out to get the clothes and bring them inside on their head.

 

I look forward to the return of daily rain, and spectacular thunderstorms (though they disrupt the internet).  It is so green and lush here when it rains.  I thought my feet were tanning, but it is just the red/brown dust.

This may all seem crazy to those in the US, but it has become quite routine. 

-Joy