A candle and a laptop

Life is getting difficult in Addis.

The constant power cuts, every second day from 6am to 10pm. The irregular internet connection even at work. It is annoying for us, so I can’t even imagine how the less fortunate people are managing. So many small businesses are closing down. They cannot cope being only able to work half of the time (if they are lucky and get electricity at least half of the time). From the little coffee shops, barbers, internet cafes to the informal welding businesses and so many factories, they are all struggling.

We tried to stop for a coffee the other day outside town, they were open with the waiters wondering about, but not selling anything. They will not have power that day until late at night, but just hang in there.

When ordering something (eye glasses, leather products or just photocopying services) it can take up to 3 weeks instead of the usual 3 days.

Expensive hotels and well established businesses have generators but are still subjected to sudden power cuts that can even be dangerous. One example is the tread mill machines at the gym that can hurt who is running at high speed when stopped suddenly.

We also find charismatic situations in these conditions. A mid size supermarket adapted to the crisis using a tiny generator for the cash register machine and having the employees helping the customers choosing their food items in the shelves with torches. This is ok for canned food but I prefer buying the meat, fish and milk products from the few supermarkets that can afford to have a bigger generator most of the time so that the freezers can benefit too. Medical services are naturally also affected.

Last week we went to a private dentist and gave up and runaway from a tooth extraction that was going to take place using a torch, as there was no lights! I think (I hope!) the major hospitals have generators for emergencies, but who knows…

I am glad I am leaving soon for a few weeks into a more ‘normal’ country. It is raining several times a day; it is cold and wet most of the time. This is the season when Addis is really quiet. More than half of the people we know go on holidays with the children.