"Thirsty kids? Not on my watch."

Today at school, a student in one of my classes was apparently very thirsty. 

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Those of you who know me well, know I love two things when it comes to food:

1. Bread.
2. And water.

I'm a simple man.

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I mean, she was really thirsty.

This girl's small bottle was upside down for at least 15 noticeable minutes (of only a 40 minute period), as she insatiably got what little she could from a lone ice cube melting way too slowly.

I felt bad for her.

(As I gulped from my own water bottle.)
Hey, she made me thirsty.

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As her class participation was concerned, this was nothing short of that classic example we're all familiar with - the kid who does poorly in school because he can't concentrate for lack of adequate care to his aching tooth.

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That she had a water bottle at all was striking to me. Generally, I've noticed most people don't drink nearly as much water as I do. Here in Korea though, it seems remarkably so. 

Koreans don't ever drink water.

When I ask how they are, "How are you today?"
sometimes students say, "Teacher, I'm thirsty." 
I say, "Go get some water."

But I know they won't. 
They don't ever go get some water.

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Though I've heard different from a few friends at other schools, in both of my elementary schools there are no drinking fountains in the hallways. 

Actually, drinking water for students (and teachers) is rather inaccessible. The only place to fill up is in the cafeteria, the doors of which are locked around 3 PM, before school ends 1.5 hours later. 

Why?

For me, my routine is to make the journey from the lone back door through the cafeteria's kitchen - nods, smiles and surface-level "hellos" included, as the lunch ladies dry utensils from the day's lunch.

It's awkward. 
But my thirst propels me forward.

I digress.

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I gave her water.

I wanted to give them all water.

I realized today, I want to give all children water.

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I didn't want to make a scene of it, so I thought I'd discreetly take her empty bottle to the back of the room to fill it from mine; but she resisted and I couldn't communicate my intention without drawing further classroom attention to the bumbling.

I gave up and walked the room, joining in on the chant my co-teacher was leading, "Pencil-case. Pencil-case. It's my pencil-case."

Another minute of ice rattling against plastic.

I'm gonna do it this time. I opened my bottle at her desk and poured a lid-full into hers. She downed it.

I walked to the back of the room. 

A boy stretches his bottle toward me.

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Reminds me of Burning Man 2008, when I spent the better part of four hours asking strangers if they were sufficiently hydrated and offering them water - a certain rarity in the desert of Black Rock City, Nevada.

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For a few years now, I've thought I want to be involved in the issue of clean and accessible drinking water around the world. 

Surely, our next world wars will be fought over access to clean and affordable drinking water.

Sadly.

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CORRECTION: Just learned one of my schools does indeed have water fountains on every other floor.