Lomé, July 7 2008
One of the most captivating aspects of working abroad is being a witness to the world’s precious cultural diversities as well as observing the ways in which reality shapes the ways of living people have around the globe.
I am presently living in Lomé, the capital of Togo. Here, electricity cuts happen daily, sometimes for only a few hours but they can last more than 12. Often, when I come home from work I find there is no electricity in my house. After two months of being here, I have gotten used to lighting candles and now I find the light of a candle much more charming than common lights. I cook with natural gas which is helpful since I don’t need electricity to cook a nice meal.
Not knowing when there will or won’t be electricity, you must always be prepared; any minute you could lose the current for hours and hours. You need to keep everything charged: cell phone, lantern, computer, etc. Your habits change and you hardly notice yourself quickly adapting to this new reality.
The place where I live is called Cartier SousaNetimé and, like any other urban African neighbourhood, it’s pretty noisy most of the time. There’s always loud music playing during the day and late into the night, regardless of what day of the week it is. It seems like these rhythms don’t really bother anyone’s sleep. This must be part of what it means to have music running through your veins.
However, when there is no electricity, quietness fills the streets and allows me to hear the people’s voices. I live on the second floor of a building and from my balcony I see my neighbours gather together around the fire, talking and laughing. I like watching these scenes because I feel that I am observing a timeless practice that has existed as long as human kind.
I consider myself lucky because so far, we have not yet had water shortages. Nonetheless, people in Lomé advise that this is only because we are in the rainy season. I don’t want to think about it yet.
I have learned that we don’t need as much to live as we may sometimes think. Many of the things we believe are essential to us are not necessarily so. They bring comfort and are good to have but aren’t fundamental.
On the other hand, the living conditions here are so challenging and demanding for people. I wish I could do more to make things better and more equal! It really hurts to see the enormous disparities between us but that’s also why we find ourselves here. And I know that we need to remain strong to be able to contribute with our work and hearts toward the improvement of their lives, our lives.
I am presently living in Lomé, the capital of Togo. Here, electricity cuts happen daily, sometimes for only a few hours but they can last more than 12. Often, when I come home from work I find there is no electricity in my house. After two months of being here, I have gotten used to lighting candles and now I find the light of a candle much more charming than common lights. I cook with natural gas which is helpful since I don’t need electricity to cook a nice meal.
Not knowing when there will or won’t be electricity, you must always be prepared; any minute you could lose the current for hours and hours. You need to keep everything charged: cell phone, lantern, computer, etc. Your habits change and you hardly notice yourself quickly adapting to this new reality.
The place where I live is called Cartier SousaNetimé and, like any other urban African neighbourhood, it’s pretty noisy most of the time. There’s always loud music playing during the day and late into the night, regardless of what day of the week it is. It seems like these rhythms don’t really bother anyone’s sleep. This must be part of what it means to have music running through your veins.
However, when there is no electricity, quietness fills the streets and allows me to hear the people’s voices. I live on the second floor of a building and from my balcony I see my neighbours gather together around the fire, talking and laughing. I like watching these scenes because I feel that I am observing a timeless practice that has existed as long as human kind.
I consider myself lucky because so far, we have not yet had water shortages. Nonetheless, people in Lomé advise that this is only because we are in the rainy season. I don’t want to think about it yet.
I have learned that we don’t need as much to live as we may sometimes think. Many of the things we believe are essential to us are not necessarily so. They bring comfort and are good to have but aren’t fundamental.
On the other hand, the living conditions here are so challenging and demanding for people. I wish I could do more to make things better and more equal! It really hurts to see the enormous disparities between us but that’s also why we find ourselves here. And I know that we need to remain strong to be able to contribute with our work and hearts toward the improvement of their lives, our lives.
posted by KB at 8:20 AM
1 Comments:
HI nathalia! what a interesting experience you have there! your story about the electricity shortage reminds me a bit of Aceh, we usually had electricity a few hrs during the night. thank you for sending your updates! all the best for you there..
maybe someday i can work in Africa too. Insya Allah :)
lots of hugs
Angel
Post a Comment
<< Home