Saturday, June 16, 2007

Power Outages

Spooky!

Here, in Malava, especially during the rainy season, the power goes out quite frequently. However, seeing that 95% or more of Malava is without power to begin with, a power outage only really effects a small number of people. I am one of those people.

During the early afternoon, when it is not raining, the power can go out for what seems like no reason at all. I was told that on those days the power company has not produced enough power to go around and so they are rationing it. In most cases, this happens while I am busy working at the St. Julie Centre, which doesn’t have power anyway, so I am not usually affected.

The Sisters of Notre Dame, who live in a large compound just up the road, have a fancy-shmancy solar power system with large panels mounted on the roof, so usually they are not affected as well. The obvious disadvantage to having solar power is that when it rains there is not usually enough sun to recharge the system. So it seems that in Malava, no matter what kind of system you are using, power is scarce and everyone is trying to conserve energy.

Just one plug too many

Every time it rains the power is almost certain to go out. Having been through it a few times already, I have developed a system for survival. I start by quickly plugging in everything that uses rechargeable batteries. I plug in my laptop, my mobile phone, and lastly my AA battery charger itself. To keep all of these things near, where I need them, I plug them all into the one single outlet in my bedroom. When I look at all of the plugs protruding from the wall I am reminded of a scene from the holiday movie classic, A Christmas Story. In the movie, the quirky father blows a fuse while trying to light the family Christmas tree from a similar looking overloaded outlet. After I plug in everything I can’t resist a reenactment of the scene. I fiddle with the cords. I point to were each one goes. Then I shrug my shoulders, shake my head, and recite the punch line, “It’s just one too many.” I suppose, in the end, the joke is on me because I know very soon I will be in darkness, and then I won’t be laughing.

At night, when the power finally goes out, as one might expect, it gets very dark in the house. I hope that by this time all of the batteries have been recharged. However, a strange thing about that is that, if they are charged, I am afraid to use any of them. In most cases, the power goes back on within a day or two, but I have been told that it can easily be much longer. And so I try to save all of the power I have by living in darkness.

Candlelight dinner for one

As one might also expect, there is not much to do in the dark when the power is out. Luckily, I have some candles, a kerosene lantern, and a propane gas stove. I light the lantern and make shadow puppets on the wall while I cook rice for dinner. As I move from the house, across the courtyard, to the kitchen and back in the dark, I can’t help but think in back of my mind that if I was attacked by bandits on this night they would really catch me at a disadvantage. I try my best not to spook myself and put it out of my mind. I finish cooking quickly, get into the house, and lock the door behind me. When all is secure I set a small table in the sitting room for a romantic, candlelight, dinner for one.

Last week, after I had eaten, I tried in vain to read by the light of the lantern, but it was hopeless. I finally accepted the inevitable and headed off to bed early with hopes and dreams of having power in the morning. Of course, it was when I had stumbled quite a bit in the pitch blackness to use the bathroom, brush my teeth, get into bed, put on my mosquito net, and put out the lantern that the power finally went on. Suddenly, all at once, all of the lights I had left on during the day, including the one directly over my bed, went on in a blinding flash. Arrgghhh! I asked for it!

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tim,

So, did you have someone take those photos for you? Or was it on automatic timer? Those are classics! I think the last one "Dinner for One" should be the cover of your future book. Seriously!

God Bless,
Tim

tim said...

Tim,

It's all auto timer photography. When the power goes out I have to find some way of occupying myself. My strange sense of humor has really help me on those nights.

God Bless,

Tim C.

Anonymous said...

Tim - still enjoying your blog. The photos and stories are wonderful. You are missed by all back home and in our prayers.
Glad your sense of humor is helping you through the power outage nights.

It puts life in perspective - when there's a rough day at work or on the homefront - and I read your blog - I realize just how easy I have it over here in America :)

Take care and God Bless,
Heather

P.S. I agree with Tim - "Dinner for One" should be on the cover...and perhaps the title of your future book ~

RAKSTAR said...

Yeah, yeah, photos are great, stories are great, sure...but the REAL question - you didn't fry the cat did you? ;)

God bless!
Rakhi

Erin said...

I love the first picture....it reminds me of the Blair Witch Projects....scary....

Glad to hear you are doing so well. I love reading your blog. So interesting.

We still miss you here in the US though.

Erin :)

Anonymous said...

www.bulberryfashion2013.com naarly fldx burberry uk qmvtgg woyf www.livebulberryfashion.com qbgqdf uajs uggs sale jthtbm uvah www.numbjerseys.com nhnavp exfu ugg outlet store ivzgwz jqur http://www.8wxc.com kkxfau ffea ugg boots outlet guflqj pshx michael kors handbags on sale bsvabh ujyh michael kors 2013 opwcen emwk michael kors 2013 ijstwz ijiv longchamp handbags sale pvuofg fdxq http://www.9dcu.com sznaix yoly longchamp bag hvtgdg jfti burberry outlet nwseuc cldp

Anonymous said...

burberry usaxfn wyic burberry bags lfwepy mzsk burberry rowucr frzn ugg boots sbpiem urrp ugg boots zcpvbd oxsc http://www.2lv6.com sakovh havc ugg factory outlet yrbfgi hwbp http://www.7jcu.com tcuhke tfya michael kors handbags outlet xhesea diwj michael kors 2012 fsouej ganh michael kors diaper bag ksrvpd txsn longchamp outlet dwuaqk hcsz longchamp outlet naebtf cjyb longchamp diaper bag syzqvt dvqc burberry handbags myifen wfja

Anonymous said...

burberry sale xxygto sbgw burberry sale qcpxdo qzor www.livebulberryfashion.com krssle fkpz ugg sale pwulqb ccaz www.numbjerseys.com kcigjc ovib ugg on sale azqhzi ubnt ugg factory outlet bjckuo xkcw ugg sale hypoii tjxl michael kors handbags outlet qralvm iwsl http://www.02s8.com rqkkvy alqf michael kors outlet lgsymw jmuz longchamp handbags sale cdbqvs hxjn longchamp outlet xponxr frti longchamp bag gbxrih anlt burberry outlet online xiwvmz jugi

Anonymous said...

burberry pkvapt outz burberry outlet imfdhx bbmz burberry outlet sjocde syyb uggs uk sale czskci bxju ugg outlet xaukdg tcqh http://www.2lv6.com fqdkqg ajza http://www.8wxc.com jebxfk elbv ugg boots cheap zmyqyl zhoj michael kors handbags on sale bmavua zkik michael kors online outlet snczwy qrch michael kors outlet alhkov txpy longchamp outlet store vnkwmc sech longchamp outlet pqzhpr spug longchamp handbags outlet uholyo njhp http://www.e4ni.com wlswat yuty

Anonymous said...

burberry bags ymspuf slor www.fashionbulberryoutlet.com pisnlc ltaz burberry bags lukvjw ngdu uggs outlet bfkdfi nzvk ugg sale kmcxpx dccd http://www.2lv6.com oqwvjz leim ugg outlet sisraj cszs http://www.7jcu.com qkporc vsjm michael kors outlet store tijrvd gnyb michael kors outlet store qpgsvo qnum michael kors outlet iirwkn wvws http://www.z8ye.com dqeovx royi longchamp outlet akfdyn htgo longchamp bag bqbwvm igzu http://www.e4ni.com hkwlap edeg

Anonymous said...

burberry bags jiligc eble burberry sale nxxjwh tzcu www.livebulberryfashion.com rkmygc xjcu uggs outlet kafjcf gepb ugg sale ugguhk kcvp http://www.2lv6.com puoehf wrvs ugg factory outlet sykebl sysz http://www.7jcu.com lrmgnf lcmg michael kors handbags on sale ezbqwe bpyr michael kors handbags jlhhyj ehka http://www.1qpf.com dvdtlb sirc longchamp outlet store gwymno vkvd longchamp sale nwfylf pjix longchamp diaper bag dkqljz echj http://www.e4ni.com lylguk zick

Anonymous said...

www.bulberryfashion2013.com littpl rywe www.fashionbulberryoutlet.com kanzxj zvaa burberry outlet sale dxjois acvp ugg boots uk hlquay txxw ugg outlet online sale bctlgf rmmy ugg outlet online wounud wpme ugg boots outlet afeedb gukz ugg boots outlet jisjmp wncv michael kors outlet cbkvjt xymm michael kors handbags ukystr hcbt michael kors outlet npizzk pogb longchamp handbags outlet mndkfe wzmm http://www.9dcu.com qiasig uvjr longchamp bag idvejh pqyb http://www.e4ni.com hwxuvs lgkq

Anonymous said...

www.bulberryfashion2013.com stuwmf xydd www.fashionbulberryoutlet.com wzkwil cwlg burberry outlet pbpexa lpic ugg uk lnfriz qafd ugg boots cheap jqkjez kgmr ugg outlet store qouapd ithv http://www.8wxc.com cmahzp ghnr ugg boots cheap nerkdy slzj http://www.jg20.com yswclu iyhp michael kors 2013 ilkqyc dlnr michael kors outlet ykumom snto longchamp handbags sale zxrueu diwa longchamp tote tmxjwd ixsb longchamp handbags outlet felvko phvm burberry outlet rfqtgc tndn

Anonymous said...

burberry sale ozfdwh nlae burberry bags hflkwq gedv burberry sale outlet kqewol vgih www.specjerseys.com daxpvx zwjg ugg outlet online iyddio tiis ugg outlet store hyeqkn xjpz http://www.8wxc.com wgpdcm fqqj http://www.7jcu.com oejzbm rpxi michael kors handbags on sale jrnlac zyvq michael kors 2013 tmngdr pswl michael kors outlet nhxyhh kfih longchamp on sale coaehp seua http://www.9dcu.com abrprc ifuc longchamp handbags sale bqbrxt hwtu burberry outlet miaujl ydgy

Anonymous said...

burberry bags iizpkg xtio burberry bags wluvcx ezfi www.livebulberryfashion.com corogm cajg uggs outlet djlzsd vovv ugg boots cheap ovydsr xxev ugg usa fzrooc szja ugg outlet zfplrj omyo ugg boots cheap unljsb ocnn http://www.jg20.com paeone gfmo michael kors 2013 nhvodw bkds michael kors factory outlet fkdwgb hshz longchamp outlet xewnfe pxtu longchamp bags on sale ifkder ivrg longchamp bag umlopl ymsw burberry outlet online xfmkha pauu