the lights are not all on upstairs

The power has been going out a lot lately. We use electric heat, so its pretty cold when it does. It was out again the last day and a half. But now it is back. Everyone keeps asking why this happens, so let me try and explain a little more about the place we call Georgia.

Power here is the weirdest, most corrupt, and infuriating thing to deal with for people here I think. I have actually seen men draw knives at their neighbors because of being so pissed of about not having power.
Now this is all info that i have been told, but some of it conflicts and none of it makes sense, so you see if you follow this:
Apparently when one person on the block doesn't pay, everyones power gets turned off. I asked why its set up this way and i was told its because they only pay for one meter, and so everyone just splits the total evenly, instead of measuring how much power each family uses. So surprise surprise families like mine are usuing lots of electricity for our electric heating and various other gizmos, while other families that prolly use no power pay WAY too much for it, and can't afford it when it comes time to pay the bill-- so everyone loses power.
Secondly, apparently when they cut power to a house, they actually physically cut the line (like someone out there walks around all day cutting lines and repairing them), so I think that when its time to actually get our power back, they have to go repair the lines. Or something (again this is just what i was told).
Finally, some of our neighbors had power, and I said, "wait, why do they have power?" And I was told it was because they paid MORE. So I asked if we should we pay more. And then was told that no, we don't pay more because we shouldnt have to pay more and its wrong. Now, don't think for a second I am not a person who totally stands behind having our morals and fighting corruption. But I asked how much more and they said 5 lari. Sometimes you have to weigh your morals against freezing your butt off while you sleep. But ok, so I have a moral family. Fine. We can freeze.

So, the other day my father (who seems to have amazing powers of persuasion... dont know what that means) went to them and told them to turn ours on (I asked what he said.. and was told that he told them he was who he was and they needed to turn it on. So they did. Don't know why, but saying my family name tends to get you lots of things in this country. Maybe I should be worried. So we had power.
BUT, then the neighbors complained that we had power and they didnt, so then ours went off again.
Yet again, my host father went down... did what he does... and got it back on again.

BUT here is the clencher... wait for this... its good.
We can't turn on any of the lights, because if we do, the neighbors will know we have power and will complain. So we are all using candles and pretending we dont have power so we can keep our power and keep the house warm and our cell phones charged.

If that doesn't make you want to move here.

Oh Georgia.... when will I ever understand?