Every morning I wake up, generally to the pleasant sound of rabid barking dogs or periodically to my bedroom ceiling crumbling down upon my tranquil face while my dad hammers away on the roof. I get up, brush my teeth, and hop in the shower. The shower, let me explain, has an electric water heater. And, on the wall of our bathroom, there is a switch that I generally flip while i brush my teeth, to get the electric generator going and warm up the water. This switch has a rubber cover on it, and the electric switchboard has a plastic case to keep wet individuals from electrocuting themselves. Thus far, this has worked quite well for me. However, the plastic casing has been getting loose, and falling off. And this morning when I walked into the bathroom it was gone completely. Instead, on the wall was the metal generator complete with metal coils, wires, screws, all glimmering brilliantly in the morning sun pouring through the windows. As i brushed my teeth and daintily grabbed the rubber cover of the switch a conversation with my mother rang in my ears: ¨Electric showers? You´re going to electrocute yourself! Make sure you know how to use it¨ she´d warned, after reading about the elctric water heaters used in most of ecuador. So i was careful, i made sure to avoid touching the metal and i hopped in. Now, this rarely happens, but periodically the shower water is too hot. I repeat, 99% of the time, i am freezing my butt off, but today that electric heater was really doing its job. So much so that half way through the shower I had to turn it off because the water was scalding my body and there is only one nob to turn the water on and off, nothing to control temperature. So, carefully, i reach for the rubber casing. Slowly i begin to flip the switch into the off position, taking care not to touch the metal plate. But, ALAS, a ROGUE DROPLET of water hanging from my thumb reached its watery limbs as far as it could and clung to a metal coil miliseconds before I could pull my hand away, and suddenly VOLTS OF ELECTREICITY COURSED THROUGH MY NAKED ARM AND BODY AND I FLEW AGAINST THE WALL OF THE SHOWER.
That´s right. I was electrecuted while showering this morning.
After my heart started beating at a normal pace again, i toweled off, walked back to my room and got dressed. Just another morning in Lumbisi, Ecuador.
<3 nik
I think it's time to come home . . . .
ReplyDeletethis is probably the most crazy story, EVER! haha the stuff you guys write about is usually pretty crazy and off-the-wall but believable i guess since i've had similar things happen to me in iran...but getting electrocuted in the shower b/c that's where the electric generator is?! CRAZY!! i feel like at least half of all americans would be dead by now if they had to live in ecuador...people here electrocute themselves trying to blowdry their hair as they shower!
ReplyDeleteSTAY SAFE!! allie and i need friends next year <3...kidding but please do come back in one piece! :)
Tonight, we met two Fulbright scholars from Ecuador who are studying in the U.S.--they're both young engineers getting their Masters degrees here. We took them to dinner and had the most amazing evening with them. They were so nice and it was such a pleasure to be able to talk to them about your experiences there (only the good ones, of course) and to learn about them and their families. I tell you this because one of them is from Cumbaya and the other from Quito! They gave us their contact information and said that if you ever need anything, we should just let them know and they'll make sure you're taken care of. Should I call them now? Anyway, they have a few favorite foods from home that they really miss and want you guys to try: Hornado (special roasted pork from a town in the valley on the other side of your mountain called Sangolqui), Llapingachos (mashed potatoes with cheese, deep fried to a golden crisp), and Majado (plantain verde). How's that for it being a small world!
ReplyDelete"uncle" mesrob says to stay. Your mother is sounding like your grandmother.
ReplyDeletePS: Next time use a piece of wood to turn the power on/off.
ReplyDeleteHi Nikki,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading some of your blog stuff I think I understand why your mom and grandmom say come home. But I vote with my brother. Since you are there, stay. By the way, are you earnind college credits for this adventure? Have you planted the Armenian and Greek flags in Ecuador yet?
Best
George
1. Mom, thank you for caring about me from halfway across the world!
ReplyDelete2. Mesrob, i'm glad you understand that electrocution is just a small hiccup along the road of self discovery.
3. George, yes I'm getting college credit for studying here. In other news, i have yet to plant our flags in the New World, but i'll be sure to stake our claim before my tour is through!
<3 nik
Live it up Nikki -a little electricity is good for flat hair! At least you wouldn't get caught with dirty underwear, should you have needed medical attention. I was electricuted once, in a hospital.I somehow touched the metal of my cell phone charger while plugging in to charge. dumb. Hey, at least I was dressed....
ReplyDeletelove, cristen
yup, I did that number in Peru.
ReplyDeletethat's crazy! i hope you're okay nikki :)
ReplyDelete