Rain and electricity.

 

Before the other day, it hadn't rained in Addis for two months. Dust and dirt were everywhere—especially, as I like leaving my windows open in my apartment (I've figured out how to close them at night, don't worry). Dry weather also means more flies, and warmer weather. So, in a region where you normally go 3 months without any rainfall you're hoping and praying for it by the end of that period, as there are some side-effects worse than dust and dirt that aren't so obvious.

 

Ethiopia gets a huge chunk of its power (maybe all?) from hydro-electric dams. I've actually heard that there's enough running water in Ethiopia to power Africa, if exploited correctly, but that sounds like a modern folklore considering the longevity of the dry season. (The Ethiopian government is actually building the world's deepest dam.) Consequentially, when there's no rain there's limited water and power, and that means regular power and water cuts.

 

Reading about the experience of living in Baghdad (always a curiosity of mine) I always come across the topic of regular power cuts and wondered what that was like. Back in America it was almost impossible to comprehend (unless you lived in NYC a few years back). Right now in my neighborhood we have a bi-weekly power cut. You never know when; the government cuts off power to different neighborhoods each day—we all take turns.

 

As it turns out power cuts really aren't all that terrible to endure. Sure, your fridge will warm up a little, but that's about the only adverse effect I've noticed thus far (except for not being able to watch all of March Madness—and I did watch on the one satellite T.V. the OU/UNC game). Besides, I find reading and working by candlelight Romantic (referring of course to romanticism and not to chocolate, roses and Valentine's day). And as any good green American, I can simply reason that power cuts help the environment. Also, every business in town has a generator, which keeps things running quite well.

 

Far worse is the water cut offs. When that happens I take showers, bathe rather, with two pots full of water that I heat up on the stove for ten minutes. All happening at 5:45 in the morning when I wake up. Thankfully the water usually comes back the following day. (Although we went 3 days without water in January.)

 

And then you go off campus into the surrounding neighborhood and realize how water and power can be such a minor detail. This is all they know. None of the people who live around our campus have running water—just shantytowns. I remember when I arrived in Addis one of the things that struck me was the permanence of young boys, girls and women on the streets carrying these dirty yellow jerry cans. I later realized (don't know how long it took me) that they water jugs. And I'd be surprised if those shacks had electricity, which would explain why cafes with electricity are crowded at night.

 

So, finally, as of a few days ago (I started this blog 2 weeks ago) the short rain season has begun. Don't know how long it'll last, but it's wonderful!!!

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