The Great Unwashed

[OZgronk]

Since Sunday night (it’s now Friday night) we have had constant blackouts for periods of between 12 and 24 hours at a time and absolutely no water.

And also since Sunday night we have only had 1 shower, that was on Tuesday at midnight when the water came on for just 10 minutes and we made a mad scramble for the bathroom.

We had left the light switches and a tap on to alert us just in case ...and when we heard the water and saw the lights come on we fought each other to be the first in the shower as we didn't know how long the water would last. I got there first and afterwards as I was taking the opportunity of the power to check the emails, a series of expletives coming from the bathroom told me that the water had gone off again in the middle of my wife’s shower.

Since that night we haven't had a drop of water in the taps. We have had to rely on a well from where the school pumps water 3 times a day for 10 minutes to allow people to fill buckets for washing and flushing.

I missed this morning's fill so had to race out between classes to fill the bucket to flush the toilet… two morning bogs sitting in the crapper isn’t something one tries to leave for too long….. we are trying to decide the best way to wash our jocks and socks tomorrow and we are getting adept at boiling the kettle and having a bird bath from a bucket.

But the worst part is the smell from 100 unwashed kids in each class room...it smells like an arm pit, at least we can be thankful the weather is a bit cooler now, but still ... whew...!

The cause is a bit unclear but apparently they had to release all the water from the dam in the river that flows through the city.

Apparently there needed to be some maintenance work or something to do with a new bridge they're building. We can actually see the dam from our room and we noticed that the water level has dropped way down.

Now this river which is a tributary of the Yangtze hasn't much water flowing through it at present because there hasn't been a great deal of rain recently so they probably thought it a good time to empty the dam for maintenance or whatever.

Now three things have resulted from this; one being no water for the city and the second being no power as the dam also has a hydro generator built into it. The third of course being that because there is very little flow in the river it’s going to take a long time for the water to build up again.

So we guess everyone in the city of about 1 million has to rely on wells for water, and no one can say for how long.

For drinking water we have a little "spring" water factory just outside the school gate which distills fresh water so we are right for our 20ltre bottles for drinking and cooking. The school community usually just drinks the well water anyway with no ill effects so its OK for washing in and we have our steriliser for our plates and things so we are OK in that regard.

Tomorrow we will go for a walk to the dam to see whether they have closed up the flood gates so we can get an idea of what’s happening.

During the week, in an effort to relieve the boredom of sitting in the dark and seeing if we could outdo each other in describing our B.O, we rang the two Canadian girls who teach at another school here to see if they wanted to go out for dinner which they did.

It had been a while since we had seen them so we had lots to catch up on including swapping our survival tips for the water and power outages.

The first little eatery we found with a generator turned out to be a "hot pot" place so we ordered what the other tables had and settled back.

The owners made some wild gestures and we took it that they were apologising for the lack of light but when the pot came out and was set onto a burner on our table and all the other diners gathered around to watch us...the reason became obvious after the first mouthful...this stuff was blazingly hot, and we entertained the crowd with our efforts to cool our mouths.

I ordered 4 bottles of bing pijou, but the owners explained (well they used various sign languages and a lot of maiyous) that because there was no electricity there was no refrigeration therefore no cold beer....so hot beer it was. We had to drink so many (many more than the original 4) in attempt to slake our raging thirsts and try to put out the fires, that the next morning Marg couldn't get up she was so hungover and I had to do her first lesson for her.

Today they have cancelled the end of month exams for this weekend, and at lunch time sent as many of the kids home as possible to relieve the pressure on the well. (The Head Master is a chemistry teacher and has the brains to realise what could happen if that water supply became tainted)

Never a dull moment let me tell you...we really laugh when we think of the outcries from home when people have water restrictions that stop them from washing their cars with a hose or lose power for a couple of hours in a storm!

But I would kill for a shower right now.

[George61]

You better delete that post Gronk. I can smell you from here.
Seriously, though, that's gotta be a bummer, big time. ( I didn't think I could write like that)
I could probably stand the unwashed body part, but the unflushed dunny would kill me. Good luck. Showers aplenty in Jinan ....if they would let you on the train!

[Dr. Gonzo]

Sounds bad, though most Chinese students don't shower more than once a week anyhow.
The stinkiest students I've had were Sudanese. Perhaps years in arid refuge camps or, as I've been told, they think BO is a turn on.........WTF, it was rancid.
But yeah, provincial China is fun. I'd nearly forgotten the regular power outages, blocked drains, rats, cockroaches in Guilin for 2 years. Shanghai was heaven.

[con's fly is open]

There's a tale to tell for the rest of your life.

[Arlis]

That happened here as well. 36 hours of no power AND no water. Best part? NO NOTICE! YAY!

Just come home, go to bed, wake in the morning and oops - the toilet isn't flushing a second time. Started using the drinking water for brushing teeth, washing hands, a bit of flushing, and just a total drain on everything else.

No showering, I couldn't handle - I had a wedding party to attend to that night! So, went to one of those shower places that seem to be everywhere, grabbed one there, tail-headed back and put on a suit. Damn bother!!!

Got back, place stunk to high-heaven, I considered a hotel just to relieve the pressure but I thought, "It can't possibly be too long now!" I also left the tap on and the light JUST to make sure I had access as fast as possible - flush access that is. Woke up in the morning, went to check - NONE.

That's it booking a hotel. But the water and power came back later that day so I didn't go. Still angry about it though - no warning, over 36 hours, and I live in Qingdao!

Ranter out.

[Lotus Eater]

Touch wood it hasn't happened here yet - happened at previous university - no hot water for a week - had to finally bite the bullet and have my hair cut so I could have a hair wash in hot water!! used my kettle to create a 'cat lick wash for the rest of me.

What about showering together next time???

[Crippler]

deborann said:

Touch wood it hasn't happened here yet - happened at previous university - no hot water for a week - had to finally bite the bullet and have my hair cut so I could have a hair wash in hot water!! used my kettle to create a 'cat lick wash for the rest of me.

What about showering together next time???

Lots of water at my place, if you are here before 10PM...

[Mr Nobody]

Water hasn't ever been an issue here, but power outages are random and unannounced. Partly, they divert the electricity from homes to factories at times when demand is high or supply is low, eg, with the moon festival so they could make moon cakes.

Shenme? I hear you cry. So did I. Bizzarely, the fridges and freezers didn't defrost even though the stoppages were over 12 hours at time. I was impressed.

[OZgronk]

I agree Mr Nobody, their fridges seem to have very good insulation and door seals, or perhaps its the "beer effect", that is that 2 dozen cold pijous holds the heat at bay!

Now if the furniture manufacturers could just hire a few people from the white goods sector they might have some wardrobes and desks that don't fall apart as soon as they're used.

[George61]

they might have some wardrobes and desks that don't fall apart as soon as they're used.

But they're cheap!
Like all furniture, you only get what you pay for. Real wood is bloody expensive here.

[Mr Nobody]

Hey, not too bad down here for prices. A nice decent quality leather lounge 5-suite is about 4000 rmb, although better ones are about 6000 (cheap fabric ones down at around 2000). They just recently discovered the recliner rocker, so they are coming in at around 12000 for a 7 seater suite, the bastards, since it is a fashionable up-market item. The solid wood ones are about 3000, and beds are under 1000 - maybe 700 or so for a queen size sort of thing.

A sofa bed is about 1000.

My computer chair cost about 200.

Solid wood desks are about 300 from memory.

None look like they will fall apart in a hurry. Some of the solid wooden stuff looks set for a lifetime or two.

[Ruth]

OZgronk, another chapter for your book. Wow, five days without water. We went through a 2 or 3 day dry spell last year and I learned from a fellow saloonie (Steiners, maybe?) to keep a full bucket in the bathroom. Except one bucket wasn't enough to get us through. I now have a huge bucket, with lid, full of water under my bathroom sink and a smaller one, again with lid, at the foot of the bathtub. Because of these precautions I've never needed to dip into the large bucket, although we've had to use the smaller one to flush and wash a few times just recently.

Has your situation changed? Sounds like a huge deal if the entire city is affected.

[OZgronk]

Good news folks, the water and power came back on yesterday.

Our school was the last place in town to get the water back because, being on top of a hill and the highest point in town, the water took an extra day to get up to us and start filling the water tower. Having the power going on and off meant that pumping took that much longer.

We are now a pair of sweet smelling, clean clothed, happy little vegemites again.

[Chips Downe]

But how are you going to get the students to use it? I work in a 'university' (motto: Sport not Thought) where the new students spent weeks marching and yelling, (military training) and the ball, any ball, is the general god... but I bet they don't go to their bathhouse once a week... I've said it before, hygiene is one of the biggest cultural differences!

Flu season, to say nothing of Avian whatsit, is almost upon us... ask them how to stay healthy - I thought it would be a useful discussion starter...

"Do lots of exercise and drink lots of boiled water..."

[Ruth]

yes, drinking boiled water seems to be the general cure-all here. But to stay really healthy one must wear lots of clothes - at least up here in the frozen north. My husband and I are told almost daily, "You should wear more clothes." They wear long underwear 10 months a year - okay I'm exaggerating, more like 9 months a year.

OZgronk, glad to hear your water/electricity situation has improved. Quick, get a couple of buckets and fill them while the filling is good.

[Newbs]

Ruth, copy on all you said about drinking boiled water and wearing more warm clothes.*

They wear long underwear 10 months a year - okay I'm exaggerating, more like 9 months a year.

Well, down in Hangzhou I swear that a lot of people wore them for 10 months, if what I saw "airing" on the line was anything to go by.

* In fact, first sign of bird flu I slipping on a cardigan. That ought to do the trick.

[gengrant]

But the worst part is the smell from 100 unwashed kids in each class room...it smells like an arm pit, at least we can be thankful the weather is a bit cooler now, but still ... whew...!

I was in DongGuan over the weekend, and while being apparently the only tourists in the area, was suckered into posing for photos with every person at the outdoor mall...one (extremely beautiful, I must add) girl posing with me for her pic was VERY STINKY...I told my colleague in not so many words, who then told me that she (the girl I was posing with) and her friend (who was taking the photo) understood English, which would explain why they ran away so quickly...oops!

[Mr Nobody]

I think I will ask this stuff of my classes, see what they say. Interesting. I might write up a list of things that really improve health. BTW being fit doesn't really do a whole a lot for viruses or infections. Just prevents you know, unfit diseases, like insulin resistance, hypertension and obesity. It does help the immune system a little, but fit and healthy aren't the same thing at all.

[OZgronk]

Did you notice the ads at the top of the screen on this thread?

[Mr Nobody]

The reactions of the advertising to what we say are often highly amusing. It is based on what people say in their posts.

There have been threads dedicated to trying to get weird responses out of the ad robot thingy.

[Ruth]

My coworkers are convinced not dressing warmly enough is what causes a cold. What's the Chinese word for 'germ'?

[Mr Nobody]

I don't think they have one. I tell people over and over that germs cause disease not environment, but no one here, well, or in Oz for that matter, will beleive it for a moment.
"Put on a jacket, or you will catch cold."

I tried the one about spitting and chinese toilets (treading in all the filth and traipsing it through the house and streets) are the cause of disease but that doesn't work too well either. I once convinced my (now) wife by email, and the next time I came, there was a western toilet. Now, to convince people that western style showers also keep the floor clean and flush germs away, and I am in business. And washing regularly, although that doesn't seem so bad down here in the south.

[gengrant]

has anyone noticed or bothered to research this: does income level have an impact on hygiene? I mean, are those with more money also more apt to shower and/or use deoderant?

just wondering...

[Mr Nobody]

Deodorants or antiperspirants do not have any impact on health that I know of, except of course for the high levels of aluminium compounds in most products may trigger alzheimers in those prone to it genetically. Plus they clog pores that are designed to breathe and therefore impede heat loss. Certainly, they do not help personal hygeine - quite the reverse.

I also know of no research to which you refer. Be interesting. However, the most important ones, such as crappers and spitting, and general knowledge of hygeine, I would say yes, both education and income (which are related in any society) do affect it.

Educated people down here shower at least daily, especially in summer. Western toilets aren't a feature in any home I have been to though, unlike HK or the bigger more modern cities in Guangdong. Educated people here abhor spitting, say only the uneducated people do it. So I guess it is working.

My wife keeps things so clean they are virtually sterile. Cleaner than I used to keep things in Oz, that's for sure.

[OZgronk]

I tell people over and over that germs cause disease

Yet they absolutely will not pick anything up off the floor or ground with their fingers...they will stuff about using implements of all types to pick up things, and that goes for eating fruit like watermelon whereby they use toothpicks etc, (when there is a perfectly good rind to hold onto).

So do they understand something about hygiene or is this a herd mentality thing and they have no idea why they don't touch things with their fingers?