No Maji (water)

Being back at home, you turn a knob to receive not only water but hot water. Here, you turn a knob to receive water. If you want hot water you have to flick on a switch a few hours before you need it, to turn the water boiler on. We though, don't have water from the city that comes through pipes from whatever water treatment plant that it comes from. Here, we have well water. There is a large tank with pipes that go down a few miles into the earth to receive maji (water).

About five days ago, no water was coming out of the facet when we turned the knobs. We then realized the pump was broken and we had to call some plumbers. It took 3 days to get water here again. Since it's the cold season, there is no rain. It may seem weird but the seasons are different here than back home. It goes wet (hot)/dry (cold)/wet (hot)/dry (cold). So not only was the tank empty but there has been rainfall to help water the crops, no water to fill in buckets, and the ground is very dry.

The school had to buy a big plastic tank and bring in a truck (like a oil rig) full of water to fill this plastic tank. The children then had to use buckets, fill them outside, and shower with only what water they had.

Now, those few days for us were difficult because we were used to having water. The water here we can still not drink (we have to boil) but we were still very lucky to have water coming out when we turned the knobs. But in the surrounding slums and other parts of Kenya, most people don't have well water. It really makes you appreciate more that when a knob is turned, water comes.



One of the boys playing on the bus. In the back left corner is a shot of the water tank.



Just a random picture of the boys, they love karate/ninja things.