Dirt, Dirt, Dirt and more Dirt

One thing that you need to get used to when you are in Africa?

The dirt. Your hands can never be clean, you always have the familiar dusty feeling on your fingertips and no matter how many times you wash with all the soaps imaginable, 5 minutes later, you are bound to get dust on your hands again.

In the night, when i come back... if something has not been in the cupboard, you can be sure that there is a layer of dust on your clothes/ computer/ any surface area. the floor will be filled with black specks or bits even though the cleaner cleans everyday.

Some stories to share.. hee hee..

First day here, i wanted to take a bath... on the tap... brown water appears. After a while, water becomes clear... just shower la.

Washing the dishes, my plates are white... ran the water and noticed black specks on the plate. OK, told myself i didnt wash it properly. Ran the water again, now some strands of straw can be seen... Haha.. just wash la.

Washed my clothes in the washing machine. About to lay it on the NEW SHINY rack they have given to me.. did a cleanliness test by wiping a damp towel on the rack.. turned our BLACK. Spent awhile cleaning the whole silly rack before laying my "clean" (not sure if it is really clean) clothes on it.

The other day, wanted to cook porridge. Pour the rice straight from a vacuum pack, once cooked, bit into it - Extremely grainy and sandy. Throw away the whole lot.

Some of my colleagues have complained about skin irritation - burning skin, itchiness, red spots on body... Yep, it is reaction to the unclean water we are bathing in... I'm fine, not affected at all... Looks like not bathing regularly back in Singapore has finally paid off for me by immunizing my body against dirt...

So the only thing i can do if i really want to be clean is to wrap myself in toilet paper and start sanitizing everything i see and filter everything I eat/ drink/ bathe with. That's ridiculous and will attract way too much attention... Not to mention, it will be difficult to go to the toilet...

Let's just take it as it comes... :) At least, my bed is clean.. cause the mosquito net keeps out dust too. Yep... Still settling in...