04/09/09

One night this week, I was sitting at the dining table working on my laptop and I heard an electrical gargling sound coming from the laundry room and noticed the lights dimming as it happened. It sounded like someone was sticking an electrical wire in water and it was causing it to boil. It happened once and then stopped. A few seconds later it started again, then there was a pop and the lights went out downstairs except for the kitchen. The wiring here is a little strange. All lights in the living room, my room and Jonny's room were out, however the kitchen worked fine except for the outlet that the refrigerator and water cooler are connected to. It wasn't that big of a deal because we just ran an extension cord to the refrigerator. The next day, Roger came over and changed a fuse. He thought it was the water heater. We knew there was a problem in the laundry room for some time because Jonny kept getting shocked when he put his hand in the water that was running into the washing machine. He had been shocked a few times. It was strange, because no other water sources shocked us. Roger shut the water heater off so it wouldn't continue to cause problems. Since then, we have been without hot water, but that hasn't been too bad because it is starting to really warm up here and a cool shower is what I would prefer anyway.

A week later, I went to Cap Haitian (which I will write about soon) and when I returned I found out that the water heater had leaked throughout the night and flooded the first floor. Fortunately for us, everything is concrete and tile, so nothing can really soak up the water such as wooden floors, carpet, or studs in the wall as you would find in many American homes. Jonny had been home and cleaned it all up himself, so I was grateful to come home to find that he had already taken care of it. This week Roger and Norma had gone back to the States and have purchases a new water heater and will have it put on the next boat, so we should have it later this year when we return to teach.

If I could have any appliance break down here, I don't mind it being the water heater as it is the least needed. It would stink if I was in the US and it what in the middle of the winter, but it isn't bad considering it is warm here.