Happy Blackout Monday!

From 8-10:30pm on the dot, one of the only things that runs on time in South Africa, the power goes off in my neighborhood. This is part of the "load shutting" plan enacted by Eskom, the national power monopoly, that attempts to ration electricity and stave off the impending and inevitable shortages. Even though household consumption accounts for only about 20% of all energy consumption in South Africa, these rolling blackouts sweep through the whole country in staggered sets about twice a week. (We also have one on Fridays from noon to 2) The whole situation is gigantic mess and just an example of shockingly near-sighted political and economic planning. In the townships, the blackouts, of course, last much longer sometimes, according to a friend who lives in Langa, stretching up to 7 hours. I have a good enough candle set up that I never have too many problems, but it just reminds me how far this country has to go in terms of infrastructure and how really Third World it is once you venture beyond the downtown tourist scene. I feel like so many people visit and never see beyond that.