One of the biggest adjustments to living in China is only being able to drink bottled water. I am a huge water drinker and love numerous ice cold glasses throughout the day. I must admit I’ve been spoiled growing up in Tulare, our water is amazing. I am not just saying that because I have grown up with it, of all the water I’ve tasted it is the best untreated water.

     

    Here in China you can’t drink from the tap all drinking water must come from a bottle. I go through 5gallons in a little over a week. At the beginning I was even using bottled water to brush my teeth but that just got to be to much. So the Water cooler sits in the corner of my living. It really is a pain sometimes to have to fill up ice trays all the way in the living room but it won’t exactly fit in my kitchen any where.

     
    It sits in the corner of my livining room, why not the kitchen I have no clue.

    It sits in the corner of my living room, why not the kitchen I have no clue.

     
    The Chinese do not drink their water cold, they prefer hot drinks. This is aggravating to say the least. I really should call this think a water heater rather than a water cooler. The cold side doesn’t work! The hot side sure does and that kinda carries over to the cool side. I have been assured this defect will be a blessing in the winter but let me tell it sure ain’t in the summer! When I first got here I had to purchase ice cube trays, there was no way I was going without ice for a year. You should have seen me trying to explain ice cube tray to Wendy in the Store. She finally understood what I was going for but they just aren’t as common here with every one’s preference to warm water.

     

    Water Tickets

    Water tickets

      At the beginning of the month I purchase my water tickets at a little store on campus. I hope to be able to order my on water by Christmas but until then, Adam or Wendy call over for my refills. It costs ¥5 a ticket. It is convenient that the installation doesn’t take any Chinese, I have an idea of when to expect him, he buzzes the apartment he is the only non-English speaker to buzz so I assume it is him and let him up. He walks in replaces the water holds out his hand for a ticket then I say 谢谢, thank you. (I figured out how do to Chinese Characters on my computer!)
     
       
     
    Shower water box
    Shower water box
     
    My shower is solar heated which is fine for now, but I am a little nervous for the cold days to come. Eventually it will go to electric during the winter but I don’t know what to do on the random overcast days right now. I have luckily figured out how to refill the water when it goes down. I almost ran out of water in the shower the other day, not something I recommend.
     
    It is still strange having so many electrical outlets and cords in your your shower. There are covers on all the plugs but overall it still makes me a little nervous.