For some time now I have wanted to have a posting each week on something here, but I have been just getting by with some stuff that has been happening. Two things that are well known here in Mt Hagen that do happen are blackouts and town water cutting out.
Firstly, I am really grateful to have electricity where I am. For some time now since arriving in Mt Hagen I have been having a good run without experiencing many blackouts. Normally they have taken place when I am out at the hanger and we have a backup generator there. Or they are for short periods. But the last week or so we have experienced quite a few blackouts here during the night and over the weekend. They can range from 10 minutes to half a day. Funny enough they occur normally during inconvenient times, especially cooking or eating dinner. But the worst time has been while having a shower one evening and being left in the absolute dark and trying to find my fluorescent lantern. I normally navigate well around a house in the dark. But I am amazed how effective candles are.
Secondly, with the water turning off can be an inconvenience as well. Fortunately normally per house or two there is a rain tank. But either town water or tank water is not that safe to drink. People react to it differently, for some people it has no effect and others it does. Back home I had a steel stomach, nothing could mess with it. But here is another story, the tank water can cause a bit of trouble. Either causing my stomach to rumple or a bit of gas (I’m sorry to say Bay, but I think you would self-combust if you tried that water, hahaha. I’m almost crying). So with the town water and tank water, as a precaution we have to first boil it and then filter it. And water being the main fluid that I drink here, it is time consuming. Again the worst experience I have had with town water here again involves the shower. I had been at work all day, not knowing the water had been off. And normally when it comes back on the first thirty seconds or so does not just have air in it, but also a brown substance, either dirt or something. So once in the shower and turning on the water, I was covered with this brown water and was followed by a manly scream of shock and frustration.
There are many reasons why the power and water cuts out, but at the end of the day I am not sure exactly why. But it is a common way of life here.
October 29th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Good post.
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