H2O...Drip Drip

Oh yes, Tarrafal is my home...through thick and thin. Quite often my home doesn't have electricity and water. No big deal, it is as expected. Currently, we haven't had water for nearly a week. This is a major problem. Normally we have running water for an hour or two each morning. Just long enough to fill up the various buckets in your house for later use. There is never running water at any given point during the day for usage. Always you use water taken from the buckets you prepared in the morning, and hopefully your supply doesn't run out. My supply has run out. Last time this occurred, this past summer, the village went an entire two weeks without water and electricity. This was due to the motor at the power plant breaking down. It took two weeks for the plant to get another up and running. Showers were scarce or taken in the ocean, washing clothes was not an option and I was completely out of contact with Peace Corps the entire time, fun. I was informed today that our Municipal Hall is responsible for our water shortage. Apparently Municipal Hall is in charge of paying the electricity in order to generate water disbursements. One problem, Municipal Hall is unable to pay the electric company so the power has been cut off. This directly affects the entire village because no one is receiving water. Question, if the Municipal Hall can't afford to pay its electricity bills how is a village or better yet a city (we were recently deemed a city) supposed to be functional? Guess its back to showers in the ocean or showering with a 1.5 liter bottle of water bought at the store and wearing dirty clothes while trying to smother the musty smell with lotion, deodorant and cheap sprays. I am lucky enough that bottled water can be found at the store and my water conservation skills are improving...that much I have the Municipal Hall to thank for.

*Note* I chose to share my feelings on this subject not as a means to complain or blow off steam...just as an entertaining read. I actually find the whole ordeal humorous and it brings another topic to discuss during the day.