Happy birthday – here’s a power cut to celebrate…
It was the usual routine this morning – walk, coffee, work. Until, that is, the last was knocked out of the schedule by a random power cut at the apartment.
I’d just started an online lesson with my favourite, and regular, Japanese student when everything went West. The lesson, the fan, the fridge, my caffeine-fueled buoyant mood – all gone in a flash.
It means that I’ll likely suffer a penalty for a ‘cancelled’ online lesson. Something I can ill afford when margins are so slim. Also, fridge-stored food will suffer, possibly in the rubbish basket.
After it dawned on me what’d happened, I trudged down five flights of stairs to share my unhappiness with the ( wonderful ) hotel receptionist.
Via my phone, and Google Translate, I learned that the power would be restored at 11:00 a.m., two hours hence.
This isn’t rare here – whole suburbs go black. But at the last apartment, we were at least warned the previous day. It seems the current apartment manager(ess) doesn’t have the nous to keep up, or wasn’t told.
Learnings
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Prepare for the worst
That is, have a backup plan. Examples? Power cut
– ask apartments whether they have such thing as backup power supply. Use the dinky wee
USB charger I have to power whatever I can. Internet down – Get some reliable phone data, ffs. -
Remain calm, focus, execute
That was the mantra I used in Thailand. One I need to revive as I start another full-time teaching stint.
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Smile
Whatever happens, don’t lose your rag. It’s a bad look, it won’t help, and it’ll earn oneself enemies. Half a world away ( 8665 km ) from home, I need all the friends I can get.