what i’ve learned in peace corps cambodia [pt. 3]
March 16, 2011
how to hydrate.
Until living in tropical Cambodia, i don’t recall ever having to concern myself with drinking enough water to stay alive. Maybe it’s because I grew up in frigid Wisconsin, where, more often than not, I was trying to stay warm rather than hydrated. Or maybe it’s because in America, drinking water flows freely from kitchen sinks, refrigerator doors, showerheads, and drinking fountains. In Cambodia, drinkable water must be actively found and (usually) purchased. Drinking lots and lots of water, however, is probably one of the better habits that I’ve picked up in the Peace Corps. I rarely leave the house without a water bottle or two with me in order to combat the fluids lost through the ever-present sweat that makes me glisten in a not-so-flattering way. The worst way to start a day is with a parched mouth, so it’s important to drink enough water before bed, but not too close to bedtime to avoid rolling around in bed with a groggy mind and a a full bladder. And there’s no better feeling, when emptying that full bladder, than seeing that clear, hydrated stream leave the body, making more room for a refill.
