As most of you know, life tasks just take longer to accomplish here. Our new house (we moved in Aug 2012 but were absent for three months!) was not connected to city water when we moved in. We had to call for a tanker to come and deliver water 2-3 times a week. We would run out and not be able to flush toilets, do laundry or dishes on a fairly regular basis. It was a pain in the neck for Tom to keep calling the water guy and he had to be paid in cash in small bills each time. And he didn't want to have me or our house helper pay him because we are women and he didn't want to look at us. Really. He would hold his hand out and look the other way (= His idea of being religious, apparently.
So during our absence, apparently the modern convenience of being connected to the city water main reached our neighborhood and everyone is now connected! Our water guy was surprised to get a call from us because everyone in our neighborhood is connected.
Because we rent our home, the landlord had to give his approval in writing and send something with a stamp/seal for us to give to the water utility company. Instead of filling out an on-line form or mailing in something to us or to the utility company, our landlord hand wrote a note, put it in an envelope and put it on the bus from his town (15 hours drive or a 4 day bus ride from our town). Hysterical process once Tom registered what he was saying.
Several days later, Tom got a call from the bus driver that he had some papers for us and that we needed to meet the bus to pick them up. Tom did so and after giving them to the water utility, in about 12 business hours the whole process was finished. Life is crazy here, some things are so old fashioned (like sending a paper by bus) and other things so efficient (you show me any american utility that could move that fast!) and you just never know what you are getting!
All the being said, I will never have to monitor our water levels or think about how much laundry I am doing in one day again.....hopefully!
Also typical to life here, during the process of getting our water hooked up, a major pipe burst from the city water main to our water tank on the roof. Tom had to get that repaired as well today. He has put in two long plumbing days. Thank the LORD he can figure this stuff out!!
So during our absence, apparently the modern convenience of being connected to the city water main reached our neighborhood and everyone is now connected! Our water guy was surprised to get a call from us because everyone in our neighborhood is connected.
Because we rent our home, the landlord had to give his approval in writing and send something with a stamp/seal for us to give to the water utility company. Instead of filling out an on-line form or mailing in something to us or to the utility company, our landlord hand wrote a note, put it in an envelope and put it on the bus from his town (15 hours drive or a 4 day bus ride from our town). Hysterical process once Tom registered what he was saying.
Several days later, Tom got a call from the bus driver that he had some papers for us and that we needed to meet the bus to pick them up. Tom did so and after giving them to the water utility, in about 12 business hours the whole process was finished. Life is crazy here, some things are so old fashioned (like sending a paper by bus) and other things so efficient (you show me any american utility that could move that fast!) and you just never know what you are getting!
All the being said, I will never have to monitor our water levels or think about how much laundry I am doing in one day again.....hopefully!
Also typical to life here, during the process of getting our water hooked up, a major pipe burst from the city water main to our water tank on the roof. Tom had to get that repaired as well today. He has put in two long plumbing days. Thank the LORD he can figure this stuff out!!
2 comments:
Yeah for being married to men named Tom who can fix things!
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