Throughout Global Seminar: Water there were lots of discussions and talks about peoples experiences with water. We have heard many different stories detailing different relationships with water and how they have shaped the presenters life. Today, I have interviewed Myrcka del Rio, a fellow student here at Antioch College. Myrcka is a Los Angeles, California native, a place where water is steadily becoming an issue over the years. In this report, I will be gaining insight into the Myrcka’s story and experiences with water from the sunshine state.
A: What is your most memorable experience with water?
M: Sooo, when I was younger. My mother grew up in Mexico and it was very dry. I think her only source of finding water was this tiny little creek that she showed us when we went. We were cutting down cacti [laughs] — she was cutting down cacti and she would put it in a salad. So we were on the side of this mountain and we see this creek and she and my aunt freak out like, “Oh my God! It looks very similar to the creek that we used to go to!” My sister and I are just like, “Oh my God, I just want to go home…” So we like get in the creek, but before— wait, no. We didn’t get into the creek. We actually went and bought water shoes because it was very rocky. There were probably cacti in this water [chuckles]. We actually got water shoes from Wal-Mart for like two bucks and then they’re like, “Ahh, go have fun!” and we did. We eventually did because we were kids, you know. It was funny how excited they were to see it.
A: So did this like strengthen your connection with water? The fact that you mom showed you her origin with water, did that impact your experiences anymore?
M: It showed me—I guess now that I’m older and I can reflect on it, we live in California and we had the ocean right there and we had easy access to it. We could go swimming pretty much whenever we wanted because it wasn’t far. My mom would never go into the water; she would just watch us play around in the water. She knows how to swim, but because she didn’t grow up near the ocean and she wasn’t used to seeing such a large body of water, I think it kind of scared her. She would just rather see us play and have fun because she only had the tiny little creek to play in.
A: Do you think about the amount of water you consume on a daily basis, like individually?
M: Both of my parents are from Mexico and neither one of them had easy access to water like we do from tap. My father grew up near the Gulf of Mexico and they all had to fetch water. So, we weren’t allowed to use water that we didn’t need. For example, if we got a cup of water and didn’t finish drinking it or need all of it, and we’d want to pour it out my parents would be like, “NO, DRINK IT. Don’t get so much next time!” So, we’ve always had reserved bottles of water somewhere in the house that we were not allowed to touch.
A: No I totally get it, for like emergency reasons correct?
M: Yeah [laughs]
A: So throughout Global Seminar: Water, we have talked a little about the California drought crisis how do you feel about that? What have you learned that you didn’t know or that further confirmed your relationship with water?
M: Honestly, it’s not something the state itself talks about. I didn’t hear about it until I came to Antioch College. It was shocking to me that so many people were concerned about the drought and I had no idea about it. Umm, I think— I feel like I’ve always had to have a close relationship with water. Not to sound cheesy or anything, but my last name, del Rio means “from the river”. I guess water was something my parents valued greatly and so I guess I always did as well. I thought it was something everyone did like brushing your teeth and you turn off the water right away. You know, you take a five minute shower and get out kind of thing. Even though I knew that my parents had a hard time getting clean water, I didn’t really know it was such a huge global issue. Especially in Nicaragua where you make that walk and you had to ration out your water. It’s like dude your house is right there and I still have to make the walk back; I can’t give you my clean water. It was very eye opening it and very harsh saying no.
A: I totally understand I remember being in the situation I remember my first time going out to the community in Chichigalpa, I only brought one bottle. I didn’t realize I had to ration because on the first trip I was like out of water. I eventually had to start bringing two huge bottles of water and freeze them so they’d melt along the way and I would ration like that.
M: Yeah because hot water doesn’t do it
A: No, it really doesn’t. It literally kills you [laughs]
M: [laughs] you just can’t.
A: Do you think that you’ll carry these values throughout your life? DO you think you will continue to have the vales the vales you’ve gained from your parents and maybe develop some philosophies of your own?
M: I hope so. One of my goals in life is to help provide communities with clean drinkable water. I’ve already gotten to do that once, but I hope I get to do that again. Then there are water bills and I don’t want to pay a lot of bills! [Laughs]
As individuals, our experiences with water will vary and our perspectives will all have different out looks. In speaking with Myrcka del Rio, I’ve gotten a chance to understand her story and perspective of water. I’ve had a chance to hear her background story and the root of where her philosophies and beliefs come from. In all honesty there should be more people who have this way of thinking in the efforts to preserve and reduce water us
Antioch College--Global Seminar: Water 