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From Where I Sit: Hamilton’s International Perspectives

By Priti Kharel ’18

As I stood in front of the microwave in Commons I was struck by the question, “Is there electricity right now?” Intuitively, I took out my cellphone to look over the power supply schedule. Then suddenly lightning struck! “Oh, I am in the US,” I thought to myself.

This is the first time that I have been outside my native Nepal. Having just arrived, my notions on how systems work oscillate between two worlds: the world where I came from and the world where I am now, and will be for the next four years. These two worlds are so different from each other that it is taking me quite a while to adjust to the new setting. And a large part of this new setting is 24 hours of an unrestricted supply of power.

The fact that I am amazed by the reality of 24 hour power might sound surprising to many people reading this. Back in Nepal, we have power outages, commonly referred to as ‘load-shedding’. This means a minimum 2 hours of power loss in the summer and a maximum 18 hours in the winter on a daily basis.

Power outages in Nepal result primarily from a very low production of electricity that cannot adequately meet the surging demand for it. The low production can be attributed to Nepal’s political instability and absolute dependency on hydroelectricity for power. Political instability has slowed the ongoing construction of hydropower plants, creating a short-term shortage of available power. Many investors have been prompted to withdraw hydropower investments due to uncertainty regarding the country’s financial market, which directly affects the country’s long-run production of electricity. Also, Nepal’s fast-flowing rivers, which are the country’s primary source of electricity production, freeze during winter. This results in a massive decrease in the production of electricity.

There is no doubt that Nepal’s economy is heavily affected by load-shedding, as many industries are unable produce at their potential level. Power outages increase the cost of production for the existing firms, as they have to use alternative and expensive energy sources. Consequently, many goods experience either a rise in their price level or a decrease in their quality. Meanwhile, the uncertainty in the energy sector discourages new firms from joining the market. The lack of new industrial projects has contributed to Nepal’s high unemployment rate, 46% in 2008 according to the CIA. 

Power outages affect Nepal on a national scale but, more importantly, the lack of power impacts individuals as well.  Accustomed to the conveniences of electrical appliances, people have found power cuts to be a major setback in their daily lives. For years, we have had to change the patterns of our routines judging by mobile applications that were set to remind us about the power supply schedule. I remember how the entire community used to wake up in the middle of the night just to pump water and charge their phones and other appliances because the power would only be available at that time.  There were many passionate Nepalese sports fans who could no longer gather to watch their favorite teams playing on television.  As a student, I often had to study using battery-powered lanterns.  There were times when I had to stop doing my work because I had no source of light. Of course, over time, everyone adapted and we learned to live ‘normal’ lives. Indeed, life with power cuts was what became normal.

As I grew up, I began to realize that the power outages were responsible for routine behaviors. For example, it is during power outages that all the members of my family gather together, cook food and have lively conversations. These gatherings are much more precious and enjoyable than watching television or scrolling through Facebook pages ever could be.  During the blackouts, I used to go outside and embrace the night sky, with stars that shimmered brightly in the natural darkness. There are so many other aspects of life that technology overshadows, and most people fail to realize what they are missing.  Granted, living with electricity is normal for Americans, but for me it is a luxury that I have learned to appreciate. I remember those moments of happiness back home when power was supplied earlier than it was scheduled. It felt as if someone had provided me with an unexpected gift.

Now at Hamilton, I microwave my morning milk everyday with a sense of longing for those moments with my family. Yet I am so privileged to be at Hamilton, where I know I can turn a light on to study any time of day or night—so I will adjust to my life as a student here with a smile on my face.

“From Where I Sit” is a column dedicated to the international voices of Hamilton’s campus.  If you are an international student and are interested in contributing a column, contact Sarah Rahman (srahman@hamilton.edu).

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