Last Friday the power cut out first thing in the morning –
affecting the whole of Fakaofo. Apparently a transformer or something gave out
at the solar power plant which is a hundred metres behind our house.
That meant that we were without our electric fans all day in
35-36oC heat which was very unpleasant, but the bigger concern here
is that frozen food in freezers doesn’t last all that long in that heat.
Fortunately for us – the power came on again at about 4pm – but
only in Fenua Fala where the electricity is generated. Fale had to wait until
about 4pm the next day when a ship that was here had made it to the next atoll and
back for parts.
After about 36 hours with no power, the decision was made to
inati (distribute – see my previous post about inati) a good portion of the
food in the huge store freezer that had begun to thaw as the doctor deemed it not good enough to sell.
Here’s a picture of the huge quantity of chicken drums,
chicken quarters, burger patties, pork, bread and carrots that we received as
our share of the inati. (Side note, since the first experience of inati in my
previous post – we’ve also had a ‘cash’ inati and a fish ‘inati’ and now this
meat ‘inati’. You can just about live off inati in Tokelau it seems!! The
generosity of these people know no bounds!
Tokelauans are respectful, generous and loving people. Tokelau mo te atua!
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