Dry Island

Stressing out is really not an option in Guadeloupe. Sure, the beautiful beaches, amazing sunset, great year-round climate all do their part to keep the blood pressure low. But more importantly, if you stressed out about all the inconveniences - large or small - you would certainly be dead upon arrival.

Case in point: Yesterday, at about 9:30 in the morning, a large open-bed truck comes rumbling by, stopping at the top of our street. The driver yells out his window, in a thick creole accent, that the water will be cut. At least, that is what I learn minutes later. I had no idea what he was saying. But when will the water be turned back on? I run up the street to see if I can catch the truck, but am unsuccessful. I think it won't be long, and that surely they'll turn the water back on before lunch time. Lunch comes and goes, and still no water. I somehow managed to get through the day with the one liter of drinking water in the fridge, and a bit of water in the pot left over from the morning tea. That included washing my hands once, cooking a ramen, and drinking exactly two glasses of water. Water is not restored until 4:30 in the afternoon. Having thought that the cut would last no more than a few hours was the problem. I had a window of maybe a half an hour where I should have filled every receptacle, every pot, pan, and jar, with water. After having drank several glasses of water, and washing the crusty lunch dishes, I said to myself "Next time, I'll know what to do"...

...thinking that next time I would be similarly forewarned.

But no...Guadeloupe simply doesn't work that way. Apparently, I was lucky to have been forewarned. This morning, while still in pajamas and finishing off my tea, I hear M. swear. He's got a face full of soap and he's just found out that they've cut the water. He has to finish washing his face with the water from his water bottle that he brings to work. There is not even a dribble, as everybody on the street must be vainly attempting to draw the last drops out of the system. There is the disheartening silence of a completely dry pipe.

The neighbor was nice to give us two liters of drinking water. M. was therefore able to at least finish washing up before leaving. He was stingy about the water, and so was able to leave me practically the two 1 litre bottles. After washing my hands once, I still have 1-1litre bottle, and 3/4 of the second. I've decided that brushing my teeth can wait. I've also decided I should stop drinking, as that leads to water usage on a massive scale... water that I don't have. And don't know when I'll have.

I'm hoping that they'll restore the water before lunch time.

Stress-free and overly optimistic...