Saturday Post -- 13/03/10

These days, energy saving's all the rage, with people increasingly looking for ways to cut their costs and do their bit for the environment. In Trinidad, it's a local hobby, though, like many things here, the people don't have much say in the matter.

Some years ago the head honchos in the local energy company decided they weren't being paid enough and proceeded to swindle the users of millions of dollars. Most of the offenders are now behind bars but the money was never fully recovered. So the energy company came up with a convenient method to recoup their finances: power cuts. Barely a week goes by without at least one four-hour power cut here in Trinidad. Indeed, it's to such an extent now that the weekly newspapers will notify citizens of upcoming cuts! The pattern is depressingly familiar here in Bolivia; corporate criminals gorging themselves at the country's top tables, but when the party's over, the average joes are left to pick up the bill.

I'm posting from an internet café in the centre of town as we have just been hit with our third power cut of the week (though conveniently I'll be able to finally catch the goals from Wednesday night)! The reasoning behind this recent spate is simple: it's absolutely roasting! During periods of extreme heat, people increasingly resort to their ceiling fans and air conditioning outlets, which devour more electricity than the Texan criminal justice system. Thus, vast fortunes are saved. And this has been a particularly hot week, with temperatures reaching the high-30s.

Mercifully, the skies had clouded over on Sunday afternoon, when I attended the football match with Farid, otherwise I'd have emerged looking like a lorne sausage. The match itself was a typically early-season affair, neither team looking particularly sharp but unfortunately the visitors were the least worst of the two, cruising to victory despite being a man down in the final 30 minutes. Still, it was good to be on the terraces once again, I had a good conversation with Farid (pictured), and there were a few surprises in store (see earlier post).


While Mamoré look to be regressing, Amanda's Spanish only gets better by the day. This week's milestones included helping to take a Sunday school class last weekend and sharing a request at Thursday's prayer meeting. (the request was for the mission evening that the young people back at our church in Glasgow, Shettleston New, are having this Sunday evening. They emailed some questions and we replied with answers and photos -- hope it goes well, guys!) Re. the English language, I have now come to the end of my online TEFL course and will look to use the next few weeks to plan classes. I won't be doing any teaching until at least May, as FT have dedicated the first three months of our time here to getting our Spanish sorted.

Finally, we took receipt of our newly-stamped passports this week. Hurrah! We can now stay in the country until the 3rd of March 2011, although we will of course be looking to extend our stay by then with a two-year visa. But we're not out of the bureacratic woods quite yet. This week we'll begin the process of applying for our carnets (identity cards). Despite the extreme temperatures, I'm considering investing in a pair of gloves. For the paper cuts.

Prayer
• Productivity/focus for Craig as he begins preparing materials.
• The carnet application.

Praise
• Friendships that continue to develop, both in and outside the Foundation.
• Amanda’s Spanish.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda