water

Getting clean drinking water in China requires effort, specifically boiling.  China faces problems with both a water shortage and widespread water pollution.  The tap water is contaminated, so getting drinking water is job number 1 everyday.

In one of our health sessions, we were told all about the perils of drinking the water, and they went into great detail on the treatment of diarrhea.  They also warned us about the effects of not drinking enough, saying that PC China Volunteers have a higher rate of kidney stones.  I've seen people with kidney stones and I will do all I can to get enough water in me.

It's not that easy.  The choices are to boil or buy, but we can't even trust all the bottled water because some companies fill bottles with tap water, and some vendors refill bottles.  Last weekend I accidentally bought a bottle of water from a street vendor that had been refilled,  and I was too far away before I realized it to go back.

on campus boiled water shop

thermos cluster

On the SNU campus, near our whole group classroom, is a boiled water shop where people go to fill-up huge thermos bottles.  Or, these bottles are left out to be filled, but I've never seen anyone going around filling them.

We are lucky that the PC provides us with large bottled water dispensers to fill our smaller water bottles. It takes a conscious effort to drink, drink, drink.  More than a few Volunteers are trying to stay hydrated with the standard 20 oz bottles of 3.2 beer that's a lot like Coors Light, but worse.

our whole group classroom...everyone downs water

my home sink: do not touch that tap!