I came back to Tamale on Saturday all excited to rest and refresh myself. HA.
Did.Not.Happen.
My first few days I did not have power. Then I thought I would go to some place that had air conditioning (like I mentioned in the last post). I asked them questions ahead of time if they have a/c and a generator. Yes to both. Yay! As I am leaving my house, the power comes back on! I was so angry. So, then, I head to this place and he gave me a room but they did not have power!!! I was so peeved. I said, "but you guys have a generator" and he said, "yes, but to start ours we need a certain car battery and that car has gone to town." ARE YOU SERIOUS??? I waited for 2 hours and said "forget it. I can have a/c at my own house" so, I left and went home.
I tried putting my a/c on but the current kept going up and down I thought I might blow it with the surges so I shut it off. And then...the power went off. It was like 90 degrees at 9pm. I cried. I had to. I mean, seriously?? I laugh now, but at that moment I just could not take it.
I called an a/c repairer guy to ask what I could do to run my a/c and he said I should buy a stabilizer which would help protect it from the surges. So, I did. And $100 later, the man came and hooked it all up. BUT that night we also had no power. Insert tears and whining. I am the worst. You know, when you have all these big ideas of what is going to happen and how great it will be and then the TOTAL opposite happens??? And so, when difficulties come, they seem even worse than they really are. And Damary is in Accra so I am alone. No one to whine too :) but I called her so she heard it all :)
Another day went by with surges and even though I ran the a/c for a bit I still was too afraid it would break so I shut it off. But a little bit sure was nice.
Thursday was the first day we had power all day. Then Friday the power was a bit better but I think tonight I will run the a/c all night.
What a week! I mean, Wow. It was not restful, though I did run away to a hotel pool for one day. That was lovely. And one day I took a really long nap. That was great too. I also ended up in middle of the Tamale when the new chief was going thru town. I love cultural things like that. Imagine a famous person coming to town. It was something like that. It was loud. People were so excited. Kids left school. Women were dancing. Men were shooting off guns that just make huge boom sounds. It was very cultural. There were so many people. Thankfully, I saw two of my neighbors and they called me to come stand with them and explained all that was going on. It was over 100 degrees and we were just standing out there cooking like an egg on a hot skillet! So glad I did not forget sunscreen.
I head back to Gushegu tomorrow. I think I am looking forward to not being in Tamale :) I gotta push myself this week in language. Push myself the next three weeks! With God's help I can do this!
Sorry I used the word "so" so many times. And I think I also used "and" in the beginning of too many sentences :)
