I have never really been excited about bring back souvenirs from Congo. BUT this time, I was excited about getting two souvenirs. (Ok, I was excited just one other time.)
On this trip, I brought back two of the infamous yellow water jugs. They hold 20 liters or just over 5 gallons of water. They weigh over 40 pounds when they are filled with water.
These yellow water jugs are everywhere throughout Congo and most of Africa. I have seen them in the capital city of Kinshasa to the most rural village in the bush. They are used by women and girls to carry water from a distance water source to their homes.
They are for my show and tell, and feel presentation. I want to make it as real as possible for people to understand and experience the task of going to fetch water. Most of us have never carrying more than a half-gallon pitcher of water from our kitchen to the table.
Thankfully, most of us will NOT carry five gallons of water, weighing more than 40 pounds, up a hill, two miles or more, back to our home, once or twice a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.
