Surprise! Cold showers are actually, in fact, cold.

I was told it wasn't that bad. 

They said, "If you can get through the first 45 seconds, you'll be fine!"
"It's a mix between refreshing and exhilarating!"
"It's not thaaaaaat bad, just make sure you hurry."

By "they," I mean the African-adventure-advice man I had invented in my head, and by "it" I mean a cold shower.

It most definitely was that bad.

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This morning was the beginning of my "first world problems" here in Swaziland. After a full night's rest at the Lodge, the interns and I got up to start our first full day at Project Canaan. I had tried to shower last night, but the water never got warm and since it was in the 40's outside, I was also a bit chilly already (we have no air conditioning or heat at the Lodge). So, I put off showering until this morning, when I was just sure the hot water would be back and I would have a nice long shower. 

Well, that didn't happen.

I tentatively stepped into the shower, turned the hot water knob all the way on, and immediately a plague of shivers was sent down my spine. I cowered in the corner as I stuck my hand in the stream, waiting for it to get warm. After a minute or so, I was relieved when I felt it get hotter and moved to stand fully under the water.

"Ahhhh!!!"

It hadn't gotten warmer, my hand had just gone numb. And as I jumped back into the corner, my shakes only got worse as I glared at that mean stream of cold water. So, instead of trying again, I shampooed my slightly wet hair, reluctantly rinsed it, and decided that a sponge bath would have to do for today.

After cleaning, dressing, and eating breakfast, I reflected a bit on my morning. My thoughts during the ordeal had been, "How dare I not have cold water! Isn't that like an American right when traveling?" but now, as I looked back at my ordeal and simply had to smile. As awful as it seemed for me to have to undergo a freezing shower, I remembered all I knew about the ordeals the majority of Swazi people have to go through on a daily basis. They don't have to take cold showers because they don't even have showers. They would probably jump for joy if given the use of a shower, regardless the temperature of the water! And here I was thinking I had just been given a taste of Hell via cold water. Ironic.
It was humbling, and it only being the first day, I'm sure I will have countless more "first world problems" to keep me honest during my time here.


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It may have been a small incident, but that cold shower ordeal reminded me of why I wanted to have this internship experience in the first place: as much "change" as we First Worlders want to bring to Africa, it is more often that Africa ends up changing us, and usually for the better. I believe I was led to this trip by God, and that He is teaching, humbling, and blessing me in ways I haven't known before in order for me to accomplish His will for my life.

I hope that in these next weeks I'll be brought out of my comfort zone ("into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is") in order to fulfill a greater purpose, but I'm hoping the cold shower lesson was only a one time thing :)


With love,
-Audrey Wright