Water, Use It Wisely

At home, in my small village in the central part of Afghanistan, I used to carry water in buckets on my shoulders from a stream 100 meters from our house. Being born in a mountainous area with water scarcity, I understand the value and importance of fresh water.

Considering my lifestyle in Carlisle and my lifestyle back home, there is a significant difference. I can not make a comparison between here and there, but I try to be conscious when using water, particularly when taking a shower. My maximum time in the shower is 5 minutes, during which I open the faucet, wet my body, then apply soap, and lastly rinse. All this literally takes less than five minutes. I take a shower in cold water even in winter. I am now used to it. My skin wants it.

I have seen my roommates running the hot water nonstop for two hours. I cringe and become uncomfortable at the sounds of constant drops of water in the bathtub. Of course, I can't say anything except that my stomach churns and churns. Welcome to the land of America, the land of capitalism, where everything is overused, I tell myself.