aripeskoe
(living in ghana)
31 August 2006
Light Off!
A quick lesson in Ghanaian English: electrical power outages (aka blackouts) are called "light off" in Ghana. This phrase can be used in the following way: 'The Internet cafe is closed because [it is] light off.' In this example, "it is" is optional and is often omitted depending on the preference of the speaker.
This phrase, light off, is really cute when spoken by Ghanaian children. For example, when there was a blackout at my homestay house, my little sisters would yell 'light off.' And it was cute. However, it sounds kind of silly when adults say it. Nonetheless, it's a common phrase these days.
All of Ghana's electrical power is generated through a giant hydroelectric damn on the man made Lake Volta in the eastern part of the country. Although international aid has its many critics, this project, which was either funded by some Europeans or the Japanese (I can't remember) seems like a big success. It continues to power the country in an environmentally friendly way and I've read it normally generates a surplus which is then sold to neighboring countries.
However, apparently it has not rained enough in that part of the country. So there is some sort of power sharing scheme in effect. I don't know the details but the bottom line is that everyone now only has power for 12 hours a day. For me, that meant no power from 6 PM last night to about 6 AM this morning. No worries, I have nothing, other than an overhead light, that would need power. And I kind of like walking through my village in the dark. But, different parts of the country, and even different parts of the same town, are on different schedules. So when the internet cafe was closed yesterday because it was light off, that was not cool. I've been told that this sort of power scheme was last in effect 4 years ago. It lasted for 2 months.
To back up a bit, I have finally moved into my town where I will be spending the next two years (countdown starts...now!). Peace Corps volunteers in this country often go on short vacations between the end of training (August 19 for me) and moving into site. These vacations are "unofficial" because they technically violate a policy that I won't go into here. So if I did go on a vacation, it would be pretty foolish of me to write about it on the Internet. Nonetheless, I've heard that a beach on the edge of a jungle is a beautiful site.
Addendum #1: I've heard the Mets are doing pretty well. That's good.
Addendum #2: Thank you Jon/Mike/Dan/etc for your hilarious questions. I'll try to get to those at some point. And thank you for the reminder about toenails. I took care of it this morning. But I am in the process of growing my Peace Corps beard. Not sure how long I'll keep that for.
Addendum #3: Classes start on September 11 here.
¶ 5:05 PM
Comments:
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Peskoe thank you for educating us about ghana's electrical capabilities. I feel like I am getting a very good feel of the country. It doesn't sound like people depend that much on elecricity there. In NYC when there is a blackout there is mass hysteria. If one decided to do an experiment where they shipped 1000 NYC inhabitants to ghana and calculated how long they survive I would predict 43 hours. Peskoe do you agree or disagree?
Peskoe I know my questions have been pretty challenging and that you need time to search through ghana for the answers but I need to ask you more questions.
1) Would you live in ghana for the rest of your life? the hydroelectric power and yam festivals sounds like greats perk.
2) do you wear sun tan lotion in ghana. Have you every heard of melanoma? wear sun screen. preferably spf 6000. Do they even sell sun screen in ghana?
3) if you needed a 3 musketeers bar at 3 A.M where would you find one? How about 3 p.m. ?
4) when do you predict the first sidewalk will be made in ghana? Over under 2080.
5) How many courses to a ghanian meal? zero or one? Is there such thing as desert?
Alright don't forget you're jewish american peskoe roots.
love,
Oren Adler
Just kidding,
Adler
Peskoe I know my questions have been pretty challenging and that you need time to search through ghana for the answers but I need to ask you more questions.
1) Would you live in ghana for the rest of your life? the hydroelectric power and yam festivals sounds like greats perk.
2) do you wear sun tan lotion in ghana. Have you every heard of melanoma? wear sun screen. preferably spf 6000. Do they even sell sun screen in ghana?
3) if you needed a 3 musketeers bar at 3 A.M where would you find one? How about 3 p.m. ?
4) when do you predict the first sidewalk will be made in ghana? Over under 2080.
5) How many courses to a ghanian meal? zero or one? Is there such thing as desert?
Alright don't forget you're jewish american peskoe roots.
love,
Oren Adler
Just kidding,
Adler
# posted by 
: September 05, 2006 1:36 AM
: September 05, 2006 1:36 AM
interesting anecdote: jake s. (from high school) recently began a real estate program at columbia university. and he apparently made a bid for the village voice.
--uri
--uri
# posted by : September 05, 2006 5:53 PM
: September 05, 2006 5:53 PM
First of all, the Mets are great. We even got our first Jewish player (Shawn Green), although if you come back you can still become our first Ghanian Jewish player. Hurry back!
By the way, have you shared your harrowing tales of the NYC Light Off from 2003? I don't know about you, but I was without power for a good few hours.
By the way, have you shared your harrowing tales of the NYC Light Off from 2003? I don't know about you, but I was without power for a good few hours.
# posted by : September 07, 2006 5:58 PM
: September 07, 2006 5:58 PM
1) light off = vulnerable native chicks. think about it.
2) simmy is correct. the mets are amazing. their magic number is currently three and it is possible, if atlanta wins both sides of a doubleheader against the phils, and the mets beat the marlins, that they'll clinch tonight. hopefully there won't be a light off in englewood so i can see the game.
3) can you name 3 big ghaniskian celebrities? does the public like soap operas or game shows more? do any of these celebrities adopt american children or give their money to those americans in need, say like yankee fans?
4) could you please tell me about each student in your computer class (if you have multiple classes, simply provide information about your first class after lunch)
(p.s. mike, we've discussed meals, please refer to when peaskor stayed with his family and ate like a piece of fruit, some badly made bread and some other funky stuff for lunch, which he'd gladly give up for some ice cream).
i'd like you to create a giant mixed methapor describing these kids by likening them to people i know. like the tall, skinny, lazy kid with a snapple and a beak, who can jump over garbage cans in a single bound. that's kindori. get it?
5) why do you know so much about ghana?
that is the most serious question i've asked. honestly, i don't know that much about the U.S.
how do you know about power arrangements of ghaninianian neighbors?
for this exercise, do not say that you read up on ghana at the internet cafe. please assume that it is light off in the cafe. also assume that your only supplies are epoxy glue, a yardstick, and 2 packs of big league chew (original and grape).
6) do you go to hashkama or the main minyan?
7) can you please mail me some ghaninianian currency?
8) tell me your ADDRESS!!!!!!!
9) is public nudity widely accepted in your village?
10) how many starbucks are in your village?
11) teach us more farsi
d
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2) simmy is correct. the mets are amazing. their magic number is currently three and it is possible, if atlanta wins both sides of a doubleheader against the phils, and the mets beat the marlins, that they'll clinch tonight. hopefully there won't be a light off in englewood so i can see the game.
3) can you name 3 big ghaniskian celebrities? does the public like soap operas or game shows more? do any of these celebrities adopt american children or give their money to those americans in need, say like yankee fans?
4) could you please tell me about each student in your computer class (if you have multiple classes, simply provide information about your first class after lunch)
(p.s. mike, we've discussed meals, please refer to when peaskor stayed with his family and ate like a piece of fruit, some badly made bread and some other funky stuff for lunch, which he'd gladly give up for some ice cream).
i'd like you to create a giant mixed methapor describing these kids by likening them to people i know. like the tall, skinny, lazy kid with a snapple and a beak, who can jump over garbage cans in a single bound. that's kindori. get it?
5) why do you know so much about ghana?
that is the most serious question i've asked. honestly, i don't know that much about the U.S.
how do you know about power arrangements of ghaninianian neighbors?
for this exercise, do not say that you read up on ghana at the internet cafe. please assume that it is light off in the cafe. also assume that your only supplies are epoxy glue, a yardstick, and 2 packs of big league chew (original and grape).
6) do you go to hashkama or the main minyan?
7) can you please mail me some ghaninianian currency?
8) tell me your ADDRESS!!!!!!!
9) is public nudity widely accepted in your village?
10) how many starbucks are in your village?
11) teach us more farsi
d
# posted by : September 13, 2006 3:41 PM
: September 13, 2006 3:41 PM<< Home