Shower the People

Today we came to the realization that we never explained the showering process for us (non-ger dwellers, yet apartment residents with no bath tub or hot water). Yes, it seems like an awkward subject, but as with the clothes washing process, it is involved and layered.











It begins with our toilet room arranged as it is on a daily basis with the tumpen tipped against the wall on the shower curtain.




















Then, Nathan attaches the string that connects the shower curtain to several points in the toilet room to allow the showering individual to shower without the curtain touching their body.








It is now time for the water heating process. We must fill the solar shower approximately 5 times to fill it with enough water to shower. We can't simply boil water for this process. We boil one liter at a time and fill the rest of the electric tea pot with cold water from the tap as to not melt the solar shower.














The first time is easy enough. You simply have to keep the plug open on the solar shower and let a little air in to give room for the water.










Going through this process 5 times can be tedious. Trying some fun ways to fill the solar shower can fill your time.






















Some times short folks have to stand on a chair to practice the "under the leg" move.

Other folks do not require the chair for such fancy moves.

Did I mention it is a tedious process?





















I apologize for this version of filling the solar shower, but it has a purpose. Every New Years since 2003 we've gone down to Georgia to spend it with our friend, Mike Ray. Nathan thought this was just the sort of thing Mike would LOVE! We miss you Mike! This 5th filling of the solar is for you!
















Then comes the new technology, the extra strong clothes hanger. The hanger is attached to the solar shower so it can be hung on the pipes in the toilet room.

The next step is one that a "non-full sized woman" can't do by herself! The very heavy solar shower filled with warm water has to be hung near the ceiling on the pipe.












The kitchen and toilet room are two of the coldest places in our apartment. With the help of the Peace Corps issued heaters the shower process becomes a more pleasant experience!


Now, it's finally time to shower!

Poof! You're clean! All that hard work is over, right?
NOPE!

The next step requires the tallest person in the apartment to return the strings attached to the walls of the toilet room to their original "at-rest" position.

Finally, the process finishes by emptying the tumpen into the toilet!
Congratulations, you are now clean!