Do Americans understand water?

The water is out once again in my ward of Manyana, the first time this happened I had various talks with my family members and Batswana about the water situation in Botswana. The fact that Botswana is a land locked desert area means that most of the water in Botswana is brought in from the north. Manyana is one of the lucky villages that has water pipes running throughout, each compound with their own spout. In other villages there are only communal spouts that Bats must take their water jugs and wheelbarrows to daily in order to have water.   All the water in Botswana is 100% safe to drink although I have been noticing that rarely happens. Rather water that is collected from the spouts, when they are working, is used for washing, cooking, cleaning, bathing, everything! Although many of the houses have running water, there is no hot water and the skins and tubs are rarely used.  The cold water is collected and placed in pots over an open flame in the compounds “fire pit” in order to have hot water. Most families have a small water reserve built up for cases when the water is out however it has been about four days without water and many families are running low. During my first week in Manyana the water was off for about two days and I happen to have class visit to the Kgotla, you local government to meet the Kgosi head of the local government. When we asked him about Manyana’s water situation he laughed at us Americans, saying that we have no idea about living without running water, which for many Americans especially the ones on my trip is true but not by large. I was upset by his accusation that it is impossible for us to understand Manyana’s water troubles are not something that stops daily life. Although I have never had to fill buckets daily to bathe cook clean jalo jalo. I have gone without hot water and running water. I think our question about the water was taken has a complaint rather than a desire to know more about the environment that we are living in and studying in and about. The longer I stay in Manyana the greater similarities I see between the social problems of an African rural village and the poor urban and rural communities in American.