Lost in Translation

My Obsession

Everything can change at some time. However, it is difficult to change one's taste. With the development of science and technology, a lot of families  have water purifiers at home. Because tap water does not need to be boiled, it can be drunk faster, therefore it is convenient. However, in China people like to drink boiled warm water. I have an obsession with plain boiled water, which I like to drink. Even though I have been in Chicago for almost a year, I still cannot get used to the taste of the tap water.

People like to drink boiled water in China. The reason why people don’t drink boiled water in Chicago may be because of the price of bottle mineral water is cheap and tap water is cleaner than China.  In addition, there are water fountains everywhere, and people here like to drink bottled mineral water. Mineral water is very convenient, and can be brought everywhere and provide people the water that they need. There are a lot of students that prefer to have bottle of mineral water in Chicago. For the price, Chicago’s mineral water is cheap. For example, four dollars can buy a pack of  24 bottles of mineral water. The opposite of the price of Chinese mineral water which is 35 yuan for a case. However, people like using bottles to carry water from home in China, and I  have continued this habit.

When talking about the drinks in Chicago and China, fruit tea which is found in milk tea shop is an important member. Fruit tea has become popular in recent years, and many people think it is better than milk tea. In Chicago, there are many milk tea shops that use tap water for ice drinks, especially fruit tea. In the past, I was a fruit tea lover. However, I changed my mind when I drank a fruit tea with the taste of tap water here, so I don’t drink fruit tea in Chicago anymore. I have drunk some great fruit tea in China. The real fruit tea should be tea plus fruit, not fruit plus tap water and sugar. The difference between these two ways to make the fruit tea is that one taste is tea with a real fruity aroma, the other one is only sweetness. Since coming to Chicago, I have stopped my love of fruit tea because of the tap water.

In fact,  when I was in China, I am used to drink the boiled water. In U.S., because water purifiers have become popular, people just like to drink the tap water without boiling. Nevertheless, I don't like the taste of the tap water. In my opinion, tap water tastes the same as the smell  of the water in the fish tank in my house. I had an awkward experience few months ago, one of my friends who grew up here, saw me fill my bottle with hot water and asked me why I didn't like to drink tap water. I thought in my heart how does he drink the taste of the fish tank water? However, I only know that science shows boiling water can remove some impurities and it is healthier. It will change the taste such as the difference between raw meat and cooked meat.

People like drinking bottle water, fruit tea plus tap water and tap water in Chicago. However, I don’t like the taste of tap water or the fish tank water taste, so I prefer bring water by myself. I miss some friends who bring water from home like me, I am a bit like an exception now. In a word, I can't adapt to the habit of drinking tap water. It is difficult for me to change my taste. Therefore, wherever and whenever I go out, I will still carry a bottle of boiled water from home.