W3: A Day without WATER

 Have you ever imagined what life will be like without WATER? 💧

Not just no water to drink, but no water to cook, shower, clean, or even flush the toilet. It's hard to imagine, right?

But I don't have to imagine it anymore. Because I've experienced it! 😓

    It happened a few months ago, when my town suddenly faced a water crisis. At first, everyone though it would last a few hours, but the hours turned into days! As a student, I never thought water would affect my daily life this much. Suddenly, everything became difficult, like waking up without water to brush my teeth, skipping showers, and even having to reuse the water just to wash my hands. Our kitchen couldn't function, we had to save every drop of bottled water we had. School? Close indefinitely, because there was no way to keep students safe or clean. And I keep thinking: If it's this hard for me as a student, how terrible must it be for a hospital? For patients needing clear water to survive? For babies needing formula? For doctors needing to clean their hands before everything?

    I couldn't imagine. 

    Let me tell you something funny: One evening, as I was looking for my notebook, I accidentally found my little brother's diary. I know I shouldn't have read it, but curiosity got the best of me. Inside, I found this entry, written during the days of our water crisis:

    "Dear Diary,

    Today is the third day without water. It's getting more boring. School is closed, but it's not fun because Mom won't let me go out to play! She says, "No water, no outside!" And she even won't let me take a bath! I feel like a sticky lollipop stuck under the sun. Dad is talking with Uncle Lim from next door, and they are talking sooo long about water. I think they are making 'water plan'. Dad even brought back two buckets of water that smelled a little funny from Uncle Lim's house. Mom said we can only use it for washing feet and flushing the toilet (yuck!).

    And I heard Dad say that if we can't find more water, we won't have dinner tonight. I wanted to cry because I'm already hungry and I really miss fried chicken! 🍗

    So I close my eyes and made a wish. I wish a superhero would come flying down with a BIG water tank, spraying water everywhere like fireworks! Then I can take a bubble bath, eat fried chicken, and play outside until bedtime. 

    Anyway, I hope tomorrow there's water again. My toy dinosaur also said he misses his bath. "

    His words were simple, but they hit me hard. For him, it wasn't just about thirst. It was about missing his freedom, fun and comfort. And that's what I realized, water doesn't just keep us alive. Still, even during those though days, I witnessed something beautiful. 💞

    Our community didn't give up.

    Neighbours started to share water. Those with water tanks offered to help others. Some people set up rainwater-harvesting systems using buckets and tarps. Others organized water collection trips to nearby towns. People worked together like I had never seen before, it was about survival, cooperation and kindness. 👬💦

    When the water finally returned, I felt like I was living in luxury again. Taking long showers, drinking clean water and cooking meals without worrying. But this experience left something inside me. I realized how much I had taken water for granted. Now, every time I drink a glass of water or take a shower, I remember those days. In time of crisis, it wasn't just about surviving. It was about staying peaceful, fair, and united as a community. Without cooperation and calm leadership, things could have gotten much worse.

    Water is not just a resource, it's life itself. 💧

    And it's time we start valuing it before it's too late! 💙