We woke up this morning to a campus without water. I kind of paused, and then brushed my teeth with the little bit of water left in my water bottle. I threw on a shirt, and left my room to go to breakfast. This is rather a normal thing here in Swaziland, at least in Term Two, when it stops raining, because that's where we get out water from ("god bless the rains down in Africa...").
But, upon opening my door to the big, wide world, I had to practically climb over the mangled ruins of IB1s who had never dealt with a lack of water before. I could hear screaming, quite a few moans, and one siren wail of "what are we doing to dooooooooooo?" It's like they were incapable of remaining human without instant water.
I'm not sure if I should say I helped or anything, because there's not much you can do (other than wait) when the water stops coming out of the taps at school. So, I went to breakfast, where there was Muesli, which is massively special, and none of the other IB girls got to see, because they didn't dare go out in public without a shower.
I just laughed. Not showering for one day? That's fine. I once spent five days in Malawi without a shower, and that wasn't even considering the cow pie smeared across my back.
Anyways, gotta go do my siSwati prep. Which can also be done without water, no problem. I mean, other than my tears at the fact that it's so much harder to reach the word count in siSwati because words are combined... example: Ngingatijabulisa = I am able to make myself have fun. DO YOU SEE WHAT AN ISSUE WORD COUNT IS?
But, upon opening my door to the big, wide world, I had to practically climb over the mangled ruins of IB1s who had never dealt with a lack of water before. I could hear screaming, quite a few moans, and one siren wail of "what are we doing to dooooooooooo?" It's like they were incapable of remaining human without instant water.
I'm not sure if I should say I helped or anything, because there's not much you can do (other than wait) when the water stops coming out of the taps at school. So, I went to breakfast, where there was Muesli, which is massively special, and none of the other IB girls got to see, because they didn't dare go out in public without a shower.
I just laughed. Not showering for one day? That's fine. I once spent five days in Malawi without a shower, and that wasn't even considering the cow pie smeared across my back.
Anyways, gotta go do my siSwati prep. Which can also be done without water, no problem. I mean, other than my tears at the fact that it's so much harder to reach the word count in siSwati because words are combined... example: Ngingatijabulisa = I am able to make myself have fun. DO YOU SEE WHAT AN ISSUE WORD COUNT IS?
I am definitely applying for Waterford and I have to ask, what are the boarding experiences like? I'll be in IB1 if - God willing - I am accepted for the 2015 academic year. I would just like to find out what the bedrooms are like, do we get enough space because I have many clothes and accessories and electronics lol. Also, the bathrooms. This maybe quite personal, but are you comfortable using them?
ReplyDeleteI also have to ask, what is the food like? Will be allowed to cook my own meals if I want to in the kitchen? And I hope there are hairdressers around, I am very obsessive about my hair. But if not, I can take care of it myself. No water huh? how do the others who haven't had much experience with such problems deal with them?
ReplyDeleteHello! I hope your application is going well, hopefully you will be accepted! Let me answer your questions - but first, I think I have to say that it's not fancy. You're going to have to make do with what there is, if you're accepted, and appreciate what there is, and don't worry too much about what there's not. I'm not sure where you're from, but Swaziland is definitely not America. On the other hand, Waterford is not a village, so it's not like the end of the earth or anything. Keeping that in mind, and remembering that anything that's not perfect makes for better stories later... :)
Delete1. Bedrooms are small. Tiny, even. My room last year was the smallest in all the IB hostels here - a bed, a desk, and a small cabinet. And not much space other than that. On the other hand, my room this year is bigger. Some rooms have roomates, some don't. But, nobody gets much space. You'd definitely have to cut down on the stuff, although there are some girls who have found creative ways to fit half a department store into their rooms. I just keep t-shirts in a cardboard box :P
2. The bathrooms are wonderful. They're plain, concrete, etc, but they're kept amazingly clean by the makes (the housekeepers for the hostels), and that makes such a differences. In my hostel, we share about three showers and two toilets per ten or twelve people. I mean, we're all living together, and we all know each other, so sharing the bathrooms has never been an issue.
3. School food is school food. Don't expect anything amazing. They try, but it's rough. You can cook for yourself in hostel if you want, where there is a small kitchen with a stove and oven. But there's really no need to do so on a daily basis.
4. I'm not sure if you are black or white. If you are black, there are plenty of hairdressers who can do cornrows and extensions and braids and etc etc etc. If you are white, learn how to cut your own hair. Fast. The hairdressers in town just haven't had enough experience with white hair to know what to do with it.
5. People who haven't had much experience with lack of water and electricity panic at first, complain, cry, and fall to the ground in a puddle of misery... just kidding. You'll deal with it, just like everyone else. And soon enough, you'll have had plenty of experience with these things, and forget that it's really an issue :)
You have no idea how much you've saved me with these answers, THANK YOU SO MUCH. I actually live in Ghana but I'm from Uganda, so yes I am black. But I am so scared of these things like no water, no electricity isn't much of a shock to me. But it's one of the reasons why I'm applying, I need to break out of my comfort zone because anything can happen to me and I might just have to live without running water or electricity for a while.
ReplyDeleteIf there's no water, are we allowed to leave and shower like, at a friend's house or something? Because the idea of me not showering feels wrong. You're lucky you can do without it, it must be easier for you over there.
Thank God there are hairdressers available, I know I have one issue out the way because my hair always gets messy and it's just rough so that's a relief, I don't feel like packing my hair products and appliances as those may take up all my space.
I am sure the girls will help me find a way to redecorate my room, because I love fashion and style, I literally cannot live without having 500 outfits to choose from, even if that's too much.
Once again thank you so much for answering my questions, I really hope I get in, this school just sounds like the perfect school for me. If I do get in, I will make blog posts about my experiences like you have! Such an inspiration x