Light up my Nights

Literally. As it’s kind of dark without electricity. (File this one under Ongoing Domestic Adventures with Emma).

So I’ve been cut off from electricity for the past week (going on 2 weeks, now). (Yes, woe is me. Many badass, more hardcore volunteers of the past lived without electricity for their whole service. I’m going to write this one anyway, though - hope that’s alright). Se fue la luz - and so begins this tale.

* * *

Back to early September. At this time, I started living on my own. Paid rent, with water, and electricity. I had luz nearly all the time, day and night. About a month into this charmed lifestlye, my neighbor told me to sign up at Edenorte (electrical company), or else they would cut me off and leave me in the dark. I thought this was a smart idea. Then school started. Time went by. In short - I didn’t sign up, but still had luz all the time. After the second month like this, since I hadn’t been cut off, I realized electricity must be covered through my rent. All was bright for five months. 

Flash forward to the present and I’m sitting in the dark. Pero, como? Wasn’t I paying for electricity? Nope, guess not as I can’t see anything right now. It is definitely my own fault for never signing up. Apparently that was a necessary step, after all. At the same time though, how can a company give their service away for free for over 5 months? Because that’s essentially what just happened, too. I’ll count myself as lucky, and yes, even a little malcriada, for this mistake. 

Anyway, in general, going without luz has not been difficult - lighting candles looks prettier, and let’s face it, for me life without a stove is just about the same as life with a stove. Meanwhile, clothes are piling up, and the one electrical convenience I do miss is my little washing machine. So, no mas. I anticipate the forthcoming days that Edenorte charges too much/makes me wait forever in their lines. Bring it on guys, I need to do laundry. :)

* * *

In other luz news, my barrio has started petitioning Edenorte for improved electrical systems. Which is important, apparently had been promised to them long ago by the electric company, and from a safety point of view - is pretty necessary. 

Reporters came to the neighborhood to document the entangled wires and listen to my neighbors’ concerns about electrical safety. A group met the reporters on our main road, and then we all marched through the barrio to film different lightpoles - the main points of concern. 

my neighbors talking to the cameras:

most local news reporting is conducted this way.

 main power line in the barrio:

one of the lightpoles that connect wires to houses:

I hadn’t really noticed before, but most of the “lightposts” in the neighborhood are just tall sticks or branches stuck into the ground (note that last picture there). And all the wires that power my neighbors’ houses are tied and twisted onto other wires (well, that part I noticed, claro) and supported by these sticks. After a while, certain would-be “hazards” (for lack of a better word) like these stick lightpoles just become normal; life functions around these things, and so the hazardous conditions don’t seem as dangerous as they really are. More of what I mean: 

• The sidewalk suddenly drops and there’s a big, four foot deep hole in the ground. (You can either fall in, or you walk around it).
• Or six people pay 15 pesos each to crowd into a tiny Toyota sedan from the 80’s. (It’s inexpensive transportation, and preferable to walking at noon in the sun).
• Or all of these electrical wires are crossed/tied onto each other and supported by a stick. (...but at least you all have light at night, right? Come on, guys!).

In this way, the Dominican Republic is pretty recognizable in terms of infrastructure - sidewalks, roads and cars, electricity - all these things exist here; (not exactly living in that remote “mud hut” in the Peace Corps). And I know some of my visitors have taken a look around at the more urban areas of town and thought, “We’re in America right now!” and at times, I think the same, too. Then that moment of familiarity subsides, and something small and everyday like the gaping holes in the road, or the sweat of strangers pressed up next to you in a tiny overpacked car, or the haphazard electrical wires, visually reminds you of what “developing” can mean, and that even though recognizable comforts exist, it doesn’t mean these actually work as expected. 

Well, that’s about enough electricity writing for one post. Illuminating, yes. Thank you for reading and God bless, all! 

XO

PS - Cuidado there in that snow, Bostonians. :P (but seriously, yikes. Be careful, fam & friends!)