it's taken me awhile to get all these up and in one place, life's busy what can I say? all of my trip pictures are here and I will be scattering them throughout soon... somewhere between the hurricane and flying to Finland...
http://s338.photobucket.com/albums/n436/cirenel/mexico/?albumview=grid
26.8.08
14.6.08
What were they thinking-
it was Saturday again, so we took it easy. Slept in (was much needed), swam a bit. Had lunch, slept more… yea… was a lazy bones.
Maru came and picked me up at about 5. We came home. I got a chance to talk to them a little more and exchange contact info. I am going to miss it here very much because, in all honesty, they’ve totally opened up their home to me and treated me as a daughter.
Tomorrow, at 1100, we leave for Veracruz. Monday, at 0600 we leave Mexico. I am going to miss it, but will be back.
Maru came and picked me up at about 5. We came home. I got a chance to talk to them a little more and exchange contact info. I am going to miss it here very much because, in all honesty, they’ve totally opened up their home to me and treated me as a daughter.
Tomorrow, at 1100, we leave for Veracruz. Monday, at 0600 we leave Mexico. I am going to miss it, but will be back.
wrapping up and walking around
Hours: 3.5
So we woke up and met at ESBAO to pick up the guys. We then went to two schools in one ( in the morning is one, in the afternoon the other). However, there was a problem. The computer teacher wasn't there and the computers were on government grant. Thus, the administration there didn't want us to touch them until we met with the teacher. So we waited... and waited. Truth be told, the machines looked like they had never been used still sitting there under their plastic wrap. They never showed.
After we were told they were quite frankly not coming and to leave, we moved on to the next school on our list. However, they were closed. Something about a crack in the budgeting that couldn't pay the teachers or something odd like that.
The day felt wasted. But it was redeemed a little.
We split into smaller groups and meandered around el Centro. It was nice, Taylor and I were with her brother Luis Carlos who, despite all shyness, speaks perfect English. He's kinda a lot awesome, studying to be an industrial engineer. I got a chance to go back into the church and, since no ceremony was happening, a bunch of pictures. We ended up waaaay down by the Burger King before returning to the municipal palace to wait for everyone. The walk did a number on my legs and I kinda fell asleep on the steps.
Upon getting home, I went with Maru and Ernesto (and Mia) to her mother's house for lunch. It was her mother's birthday so several of her friends were over as well. Was quite nice, had tostotas. We then went to the football final. The first two teams compeated for third. The guys in green and white (aka the LaLa/Corona sponsored team) won. Ernesto and his team took the field ready to compete, but alas, the other team didn't show. They won by default. Ernesto was more than a little mad since he had wanted to play so much.
Maru brought me to meet the group in el Centro. They had just finished their dance and were lining up for El Mundo's photographer when I popped up. Fondo gave everyone a rose and a certificate of thanks. I am now officially Claire Luikar.
I went to Taylor's for the evening. Ended up out with Dulce and her friends again, being sketch. Dulce isn't just a playa, her social life is like a novella. So much I could possibly mention but think I'll just jot up a radio play instead of type it all. We went back, Dulce crashed since she had to be up early for dance class. Taylor and I met up with the group and ended up at a club. Some of the younger girls had been begging to go all week. So, the almighty “they” sat in the corner, watching... Paco, John, Durnin, Amanda, Nieto... like hawks. On their behalf, Chustz, Madeline and I kept a closer eye on everyone since we blend easier and have the natural instinct to watch out for what could easily be our (or in Madeline’s case is literally) little sisters. Madeline has grown on me quite a bit this trip. I think we just can’t function well as coworkers and bump heads a bit. Outside of that though, she really isn’t as bad as I thought she was… rather cool really. Glad I give people second chances, I enjoy being wrong when they turn out better than I thought. Everything went ok, Muu was more fun... though the live band was better. We got in the van and all went home.
Most of us anyway. A few girls took it upon themselves to sneak out and go back with Fabiola. Then not answer their phones when John tries to call them to track them down. So he called Chustz and me to try and track them down. They aren’t answering for us either… hitting ignore. I swear, they damn well better have more sense then they are showing.
So we woke up and met at ESBAO to pick up the guys. We then went to two schools in one ( in the morning is one, in the afternoon the other). However, there was a problem. The computer teacher wasn't there and the computers were on government grant. Thus, the administration there didn't want us to touch them until we met with the teacher. So we waited... and waited. Truth be told, the machines looked like they had never been used still sitting there under their plastic wrap. They never showed.
After we were told they were quite frankly not coming and to leave, we moved on to the next school on our list. However, they were closed. Something about a crack in the budgeting that couldn't pay the teachers or something odd like that.
The day felt wasted. But it was redeemed a little.
We split into smaller groups and meandered around el Centro. It was nice, Taylor and I were with her brother Luis Carlos who, despite all shyness, speaks perfect English. He's kinda a lot awesome, studying to be an industrial engineer. I got a chance to go back into the church and, since no ceremony was happening, a bunch of pictures. We ended up waaaay down by the Burger King before returning to the municipal palace to wait for everyone. The walk did a number on my legs and I kinda fell asleep on the steps.
Upon getting home, I went with Maru and Ernesto (and Mia) to her mother's house for lunch. It was her mother's birthday so several of her friends were over as well. Was quite nice, had tostotas. We then went to the football final. The first two teams compeated for third. The guys in green and white (aka the LaLa/Corona sponsored team) won. Ernesto and his team took the field ready to compete, but alas, the other team didn't show. They won by default. Ernesto was more than a little mad since he had wanted to play so much.
Maru brought me to meet the group in el Centro. They had just finished their dance and were lining up for El Mundo's photographer when I popped up. Fondo gave everyone a rose and a certificate of thanks. I am now officially Claire Luikar.
I went to Taylor's for the evening. Ended up out with Dulce and her friends again, being sketch. Dulce isn't just a playa, her social life is like a novella. So much I could possibly mention but think I'll just jot up a radio play instead of type it all. We went back, Dulce crashed since she had to be up early for dance class. Taylor and I met up with the group and ended up at a club. Some of the younger girls had been begging to go all week. So, the almighty “they” sat in the corner, watching... Paco, John, Durnin, Amanda, Nieto... like hawks. On their behalf, Chustz, Madeline and I kept a closer eye on everyone since we blend easier and have the natural instinct to watch out for what could easily be our (or in Madeline’s case is literally) little sisters. Madeline has grown on me quite a bit this trip. I think we just can’t function well as coworkers and bump heads a bit. Outside of that though, she really isn’t as bad as I thought she was… rather cool really. Glad I give people second chances, I enjoy being wrong when they turn out better than I thought. Everything went ok, Muu was more fun... though the live band was better. We got in the van and all went home.
Most of us anyway. A few girls took it upon themselves to sneak out and go back with Fabiola. Then not answer their phones when John tries to call them to track them down. So he called Chustz and me to try and track them down. They aren’t answering for us either… hitting ignore. I swear, they damn well better have more sense then they are showing.
12.6.08
And I thought the internet had to most piracy per capita
Hours: 3.5 (everyone wanted to go see the market since it's our second to last work day... punks)
We met at ESBAO again, they were supposed to have all the computers hooked into the internet and ready for us to run a few downloads on them. Nope... nada.
So we went to finish up at Guadalupe Victoria and deliver the two monitors they needed. The two machines left both had the same problem. I know I've seen this problem before, but it was an old IBM laptop that didn't have any hard drive formatting in place. These hard drives were both formatted and worked fine. Was a huge pain. It got even more interesting when students swarmed the room requesting autographs and watching asking what different parts did. All in all was good. Got one of them working before Durnin caved to the wishes of the majority and told us to pack up.
The market was pretty cool. We spilt up into groups. I was with Chustz, Kellie, Juan Carlos, Luis Carlos and Lauren. They had everything. Pork, chicken, sides of beef, cow heads, and everything in between hung out for display and sale. Seriously, there was a mountain of dead chickens. More pirated movies and music than the internet. Tomatoes, onions,cacti, lunch stalls, cheese, chillies, bread, cabbages and barrels of every grain imaginable neatly organized in their places. Toys, spells, pictures of everyone from the pope to celebrities, game machines, religious statues, hats and electronics all side by side. One section devoted to shoes and clothes had the feel of a cave with everything hanging above and around. I still can't decide if the spicy, pungent smell of fresh chili, corn, meat, cheese, sweat and wood is good or bad but it won't come off me.
Taylor insists we won the game on Sunday. I say we didn't simply because the people who scored most of our points were on the other team... I say it was pity!
This past week has gone by so much faster than last. Last week felt like a month, this week has felt like a day. Tomorrow is our last day of work... I think they might take some of the younger girls to the club. We'll see. My family is going to a wedding in Veracruz and won't we back till morning so I think I am staying with Taylor's family for the night. Saturday is our last day here. Sunday we head to Veracruz so we don't have to wake up at 3 to catch the plane on Monday.
Brennen Frasier is even funnier in Spanish dubs.
The afternoon was absorbed in the last cooking class (with tasty empanadas.. Taco Bell can never be the same) and walking through the church and Palace of Justice with Paco, one of our driver dudes, as our guide. They were in the middle of rosary in the church so I avoided taking the pictures... out of reverence and whatnot ( I may not be practicing but I still have respect for those who are.) The Palace of Justice on the other hand, was most impressive if for no other reasons than because Paco has amazing connections and knows everyone. He got us into the archives to view all the super old documents, to the mayor's office to check out the digs, to the meeting room where laws are debated and passed and more. The control room for the recently installed CCTV system and the secret passage from the bathroom to the old theater behind the building that could easily be used as an escape route were the icing on the cake. This just seals what we all already knew, Paco rocks.
We met at ESBAO again, they were supposed to have all the computers hooked into the internet and ready for us to run a few downloads on them. Nope... nada.
So we went to finish up at Guadalupe Victoria and deliver the two monitors they needed. The two machines left both had the same problem. I know I've seen this problem before, but it was an old IBM laptop that didn't have any hard drive formatting in place. These hard drives were both formatted and worked fine. Was a huge pain. It got even more interesting when students swarmed the room requesting autographs and watching asking what different parts did. All in all was good. Got one of them working before Durnin caved to the wishes of the majority and told us to pack up.
The market was pretty cool. We spilt up into groups. I was with Chustz, Kellie, Juan Carlos, Luis Carlos and Lauren. They had everything. Pork, chicken, sides of beef, cow heads, and everything in between hung out for display and sale. Seriously, there was a mountain of dead chickens. More pirated movies and music than the internet. Tomatoes, onions,cacti, lunch stalls, cheese, chillies, bread, cabbages and barrels of every grain imaginable neatly organized in their places. Toys, spells, pictures of everyone from the pope to celebrities, game machines, religious statues, hats and electronics all side by side. One section devoted to shoes and clothes had the feel of a cave with everything hanging above and around. I still can't decide if the spicy, pungent smell of fresh chili, corn, meat, cheese, sweat and wood is good or bad but it won't come off me.
Taylor insists we won the game on Sunday. I say we didn't simply because the people who scored most of our points were on the other team... I say it was pity!
This past week has gone by so much faster than last. Last week felt like a month, this week has felt like a day. Tomorrow is our last day of work... I think they might take some of the younger girls to the club. We'll see. My family is going to a wedding in Veracruz and won't we back till morning so I think I am staying with Taylor's family for the night. Saturday is our last day here. Sunday we head to Veracruz so we don't have to wake up at 3 to catch the plane on Monday.
Brennen Frasier is even funnier in Spanish dubs.
The afternoon was absorbed in the last cooking class (with tasty empanadas.. Taco Bell can never be the same) and walking through the church and Palace of Justice with Paco, one of our driver dudes, as our guide. They were in the middle of rosary in the church so I avoided taking the pictures... out of reverence and whatnot ( I may not be practicing but I still have respect for those who are.) The Palace of Justice on the other hand, was most impressive if for no other reasons than because Paco has amazing connections and knows everyone. He got us into the archives to view all the super old documents, to the mayor's office to check out the digs, to the meeting room where laws are debated and passed and more. The control room for the recently installed CCTV system and the secret passage from the bathroom to the old theater behind the building that could easily be used as an escape route were the icing on the cake. This just seals what we all already knew, Paco rocks.
11.6.08
“Without you, we have no chance.”
Hours: 9.5
It was just the heat.
Today started like a normal day. I talked to John, the meeting to get city funding for the wireless project was supposed to be this evening so I went along with the group. Of course, there was a disclaimer that it could change. First, we went to ESBAO to collect working power supplies we needed to replace at CHD from their room of spare parts. A biology teacher pulled us into his classroom and thanked us profusely after showing us a quick slide show of his students, what they did and how our work had helped. His work with his students included his trips to the local hospital to witness surgery and operations specifically births and c-sections. (He is a real doctor so it makes sense... though the picture of one of his students holding a placenta like a freshly caught fish does not.) Afterwards, he gave us all these certificates... was a little awkward and spur of the movement but I live for that.
We split up. A few people went back to CHD to switch out the power supplies and tie down the last few issues. The rest of us went to Guadalupe Victoria across town. (it's the school Mr. John gave a graduation address at and they named the class in honor of him awhile back) We were going to check out the lab we had set up there and do a few required fix-it things. They too had a few computers that simply would not turn on. I hopped off the van and walked through the gate. My phone buzzed. The meeting had been moved. So I hopped back in the van and met John and Neito at their hotel. I popped on the “nicer than jeans” outfit I had had stashed in the van and we left.
We made it to the Place of Justice and sat for a bit. And waited. And waited. Finally, it came through that he was tied up and would see us later. However, our other two meetings (with the people who we would be working with in telemedicine if the city was willing to put forth the money) were still on.
So we went to DIF, the social services agency run by the mayor's wife who has supposedly turned around much of their former inefficiency and fought to turn it into a force to be reckoned with. There we met with her (the mayor's wife) and several directors of programs. They all agreed to back any telemedicine program we would start and said they would be more than willing to offer their doctors on staff to help. I think we have a visit to DIF as a group on Friday... we'll see.
We then met with one of their doctors on staff appropriately named Minerva. She too showed great interest and support in the proposed project. She also was curious about accessing patient records from any hospital from anywhere either by means of a database or remote access to make her job and the jobs of those working for DIF easier. Possible other projects for the future could emerge from this. Since we were talking teleconferencing, we ended up on the computer with Greg in Baton Rouge. Greg was fun to work with, especially since, unbeknownst to him, he had a fan club at school.
After a very late lunch (it was 4.30 when we sat down), we finally made it to the mayor's office with the mayor there. He's a nice guy overall, considered a grassroots sort of politician who is for the people and actually gets things done. For instance, when he first took office the bathrooms in the public schools were appalling holes in the ground. He made sure running water and other modern amenities were installed. In other words, it would seem he actually gives a damn. (Madeline and Virginia are actually staying with him as their host.) Anyway, we sat down and went through the plan.
El Mundo (of course...) has an office in the area we want to pull the initial connection through. The position of the office is ideal to send the signal up the mountain to Tinajtas which is in an ideal location to beam it to three schools slightly down the mountain. The geographical position of these schools makes it impossible to send the signal directly to them. Once the signal reaches its destination and connects to a wireless access point, it can be pulled into the school. The nice thing about this is, the stations where the internet signal is sent and received have a 5 mile radius where internet can be accessed. This means that in addition to the school receiving a signal to use 15 some odd miles away, people in the immediate vicinity could access as well.
(note, I have all sorts of fun graphics that go with this, but the internet looks at me like I am nuts when I try and put them up, I will as soon as I can though)
Interestingly enough, one of the areas set to receive a chunk of the signal didn't have electricity until 2 weeks ago. They had been promised it for over 50 years and finally got it.
After all we said and done, he signed the project in agreement and the check to Motorola was cut: 20 grand USD... They begin installation and setup next week. Mind you I won't be here but I will be back. As his quote above implies, he'll need our help getting this all in line and I fully plan to continue. And let's hope all goes well.
But yea...It went through! It went through! It went though!
Old bug count: 32 (every time we enter a new part of tow I find more)
It was just the heat.
Today started like a normal day. I talked to John, the meeting to get city funding for the wireless project was supposed to be this evening so I went along with the group. Of course, there was a disclaimer that it could change. First, we went to ESBAO to collect working power supplies we needed to replace at CHD from their room of spare parts. A biology teacher pulled us into his classroom and thanked us profusely after showing us a quick slide show of his students, what they did and how our work had helped. His work with his students included his trips to the local hospital to witness surgery and operations specifically births and c-sections. (He is a real doctor so it makes sense... though the picture of one of his students holding a placenta like a freshly caught fish does not.) Afterwards, he gave us all these certificates... was a little awkward and spur of the movement but I live for that.
We split up. A few people went back to CHD to switch out the power supplies and tie down the last few issues. The rest of us went to Guadalupe Victoria across town. (it's the school Mr. John gave a graduation address at and they named the class in honor of him awhile back) We were going to check out the lab we had set up there and do a few required fix-it things. They too had a few computers that simply would not turn on. I hopped off the van and walked through the gate. My phone buzzed. The meeting had been moved. So I hopped back in the van and met John and Neito at their hotel. I popped on the “nicer than jeans” outfit I had had stashed in the van and we left.
We made it to the Place of Justice and sat for a bit. And waited. And waited. Finally, it came through that he was tied up and would see us later. However, our other two meetings (with the people who we would be working with in telemedicine if the city was willing to put forth the money) were still on.
So we went to DIF, the social services agency run by the mayor's wife who has supposedly turned around much of their former inefficiency and fought to turn it into a force to be reckoned with. There we met with her (the mayor's wife) and several directors of programs. They all agreed to back any telemedicine program we would start and said they would be more than willing to offer their doctors on staff to help. I think we have a visit to DIF as a group on Friday... we'll see.
We then met with one of their doctors on staff appropriately named Minerva. She too showed great interest and support in the proposed project. She also was curious about accessing patient records from any hospital from anywhere either by means of a database or remote access to make her job and the jobs of those working for DIF easier. Possible other projects for the future could emerge from this. Since we were talking teleconferencing, we ended up on the computer with Greg in Baton Rouge. Greg was fun to work with, especially since, unbeknownst to him, he had a fan club at school.
After a very late lunch (it was 4.30 when we sat down), we finally made it to the mayor's office with the mayor there. He's a nice guy overall, considered a grassroots sort of politician who is for the people and actually gets things done. For instance, when he first took office the bathrooms in the public schools were appalling holes in the ground. He made sure running water and other modern amenities were installed. In other words, it would seem he actually gives a damn. (Madeline and Virginia are actually staying with him as their host.) Anyway, we sat down and went through the plan.
El Mundo (of course...) has an office in the area we want to pull the initial connection through. The position of the office is ideal to send the signal up the mountain to Tinajtas which is in an ideal location to beam it to three schools slightly down the mountain. The geographical position of these schools makes it impossible to send the signal directly to them. Once the signal reaches its destination and connects to a wireless access point, it can be pulled into the school. The nice thing about this is, the stations where the internet signal is sent and received have a 5 mile radius where internet can be accessed. This means that in addition to the school receiving a signal to use 15 some odd miles away, people in the immediate vicinity could access as well.
(note, I have all sorts of fun graphics that go with this, but the internet looks at me like I am nuts when I try and put them up, I will as soon as I can though)
Interestingly enough, one of the areas set to receive a chunk of the signal didn't have electricity until 2 weeks ago. They had been promised it for over 50 years and finally got it.
After all we said and done, he signed the project in agreement and the check to Motorola was cut: 20 grand USD... They begin installation and setup next week. Mind you I won't be here but I will be back. As his quote above implies, he'll need our help getting this all in line and I fully plan to continue. And let's hope all goes well.
But yea...It went through! It went through! It went though!
Old bug count: 32 (every time we enter a new part of tow I find more)
10.6.08
It´s all about connections
hours: 5.5
Today we went to another orphanage, Casa Hogar Dalego to check on a lab we had previously installed. There were several machines that outright wouldn't turn on and several more that refused to run updates. 6 that wouldn't turn had failed power supplies. Best we figure, the damage to power supplies from constant flickering and brownouts. We're going to replace them tomorrow after we find the ones we need at ESBAO. One had a loose video card and was cake to fix. What made this very interesting: the wasn't enough space in the lab itself for us to work, so they set up several tables... outside... with flowery table cloths. Was great.
Juan, Juan Diago and Miguel were fighting with one computer trying to get its case off. I noticed they were pushing the wrong way and offered to help once they had been at it for awhile. I popped it right off and they couldn't help but laugh that my skinny non-muscular self had managed to get it off.
The differences with this orphanage: it has fewer children, is smaller, is in the middle of the city, it receives government funding as the lady who runs it has connections into the system and it isn't staffed by a family.
Lunch was fun, had fresh cactus. Apparently, it's the type that the bird is holding on the flag... or that's the best I can figure from the Spanish I was told. Was most good, like watermelon.
My sunburn is getting better. I think in part because of the vast sea of moisturizer I've given it. It's been a good day even though I've felt rather ill for a good part of it. Hope it's just the heat.
Today we went to another orphanage, Casa Hogar Dalego to check on a lab we had previously installed. There were several machines that outright wouldn't turn on and several more that refused to run updates. 6 that wouldn't turn had failed power supplies. Best we figure, the damage to power supplies from constant flickering and brownouts. We're going to replace them tomorrow after we find the ones we need at ESBAO. One had a loose video card and was cake to fix. What made this very interesting: the wasn't enough space in the lab itself for us to work, so they set up several tables... outside... with flowery table cloths. Was great.
Juan, Juan Diago and Miguel were fighting with one computer trying to get its case off. I noticed they were pushing the wrong way and offered to help once they had been at it for awhile. I popped it right off and they couldn't help but laugh that my skinny non-muscular self had managed to get it off.
The differences with this orphanage: it has fewer children, is smaller, is in the middle of the city, it receives government funding as the lady who runs it has connections into the system and it isn't staffed by a family.
Lunch was fun, had fresh cactus. Apparently, it's the type that the bird is holding on the flag... or that's the best I can figure from the Spanish I was told. Was most good, like watermelon.
My sunburn is getting better. I think in part because of the vast sea of moisturizer I've given it. It's been a good day even though I've felt rather ill for a good part of it. Hope it's just the heat.
9.6.08
“Burn a cd for a girl, she has one cd. Teach a girl how to burn a cd…”
Hours: 6
Normally, I'm of the mentality “when you're a guest, eat whatever is put in front of you”. I just couldn't do it this morning though. The copious amounts of sunburn affected me as it always does: low fever and queasy stomach. Add that to a tortilla with a fried egg (one of the few things I have trouble eating (the texture and smell just throw me off)) and nada, couldn’t do it. It was ok though, somehow between the house and ESBAO I picked up a coke which helped settle it all.
Amanda showed us the paper. We were in it again (remember, El Mundo is stalking us). This time we’re on the front page, the headline above the fold with the story and pictures of yours truly on the inside. This actually directly influences the day’s events.
Juan brought several of the older boys, in part to learn and in part to help. We started by testing to see if they actually had fixed the power. We managed to turn them all on and not trip the circuit. Yay! I was giving Julie instructions for how to get ride of those pesky power on passwords (somehow, one of the machines has one) when Neito popped in. He needed a few people to go with him across town. A school had seen the aforementioned article and was wondering if we could swing by and help them with a little maintenance and repairs they weren’t sure how to do. Virginia, Alexa, Madeline, Juan, his younger ‘brother’, Neito and I went. Not knowing quite what to expect, we grabbed a few extra parts. I got to hold a fistful of RAM without an antistatic bag for the ride… it felt so wrong.
It was interesting to say the least. Raphael Ramirez Primary has some lab. They have several machines with Windows ’95, several with Vista and some with all possibilities in between. Some of the machines hooked into the internet, others didn’t. Their main concerns were several suspected virus infected computers and 2 that wouldn’t turn on. One of these was a matter of flipping the power supply switch into the “on” position. The other was strange, the power supply was knocked into the machine (nothing held it in place) and the only way to get –into- it to screw it in place and poke around as needed was by means of one of those weird circular keys like the used to lock floors in elevators. They didn’t have the key so we set to work with setting up virus protection and cleaning up those that could be cleaned up, since let’s face it, a 2 G hard drive can’t hold a modern antivirus and still fully function.
We worked there for several hours before returning to ESBAO to meet up with everyone. They had hooked the internet into several computers. It was working but moving sluggishly. Since it was getting to that time where we stop, Taylor and I resolved to crack into their infrastructure and see what they had set up tomorrow. Of course, since the internet is provided by the city and thus under governmental control (including monitoring) there are certain things we can’t touch. If nothing else, we can see what they have and maybe try to find an improvement that doesn’t interfere. I’m excited; I will probably get to do the part I really love.
Over lunch, my grandmother started asking about U.S. politics. It’s been a popular topic as of late… can’t imagine why… She’s actually the one who told me about Hillary pulling out… I’ve been in such an internet blackout the past few days, only getting on to update this, I’ve not had time to read up. Even though, I don’t think the internet in this house could take CNN or BBC’s web pages. It would break. I can only imaging how much gas has gone up since I’ve been gone. I need to find out how to make the soup with the noodles and greens. I’m willing to bet it has chicken broth in it but it’s so good.
After lunch we met again, dancing once more. I’m getting a little better, I still suck though. We’ve now incorporated the shoes’ special noises, skirt motion, the fans, floor movement and spinning. We could put on our own floor show at one of those insulated resorts in Cancun. I’ve danced so much in the past three days, my hips are rebelling. We gathered up after for our standard evening discussion. Most of the topics that came up were what more we could do for Casa Hogar. Everything from trying to start an annual drive within SJA to attempting to contact Oprah came up. I’m sure we’ll find a few good ideas.
I’m not sure exactly what we’re doing tomorrow. We were supposed to head into the mountains some to a school we set up last year to check on them but there have been many mudslides and much flooding so we’ll have to play it by ear.
I love playing things by ear.
I’m off now, my father rented a movie. Since I stay up a little later than both kids working on this and watching a little bit of television to try and expand my vocabulary he figured it would be good. He actually almost rented an odd sci-fi I watched right before coming down here: Cube:2. I would kill to see the Spainish dub over of that.
Normally, I'm of the mentality “when you're a guest, eat whatever is put in front of you”. I just couldn't do it this morning though. The copious amounts of sunburn affected me as it always does: low fever and queasy stomach. Add that to a tortilla with a fried egg (one of the few things I have trouble eating (the texture and smell just throw me off)) and nada, couldn’t do it. It was ok though, somehow between the house and ESBAO I picked up a coke which helped settle it all.
Amanda showed us the paper. We were in it again (remember, El Mundo is stalking us). This time we’re on the front page, the headline above the fold with the story and pictures of yours truly on the inside. This actually directly influences the day’s events.
Juan brought several of the older boys, in part to learn and in part to help. We started by testing to see if they actually had fixed the power. We managed to turn them all on and not trip the circuit. Yay! I was giving Julie instructions for how to get ride of those pesky power on passwords (somehow, one of the machines has one) when Neito popped in. He needed a few people to go with him across town. A school had seen the aforementioned article and was wondering if we could swing by and help them with a little maintenance and repairs they weren’t sure how to do. Virginia, Alexa, Madeline, Juan, his younger ‘brother’, Neito and I went. Not knowing quite what to expect, we grabbed a few extra parts. I got to hold a fistful of RAM without an antistatic bag for the ride… it felt so wrong.
It was interesting to say the least. Raphael Ramirez Primary has some lab. They have several machines with Windows ’95, several with Vista and some with all possibilities in between. Some of the machines hooked into the internet, others didn’t. Their main concerns were several suspected virus infected computers and 2 that wouldn’t turn on. One of these was a matter of flipping the power supply switch into the “on” position. The other was strange, the power supply was knocked into the machine (nothing held it in place) and the only way to get –into- it to screw it in place and poke around as needed was by means of one of those weird circular keys like the used to lock floors in elevators. They didn’t have the key so we set to work with setting up virus protection and cleaning up those that could be cleaned up, since let’s face it, a 2 G hard drive can’t hold a modern antivirus and still fully function.
We worked there for several hours before returning to ESBAO to meet up with everyone. They had hooked the internet into several computers. It was working but moving sluggishly. Since it was getting to that time where we stop, Taylor and I resolved to crack into their infrastructure and see what they had set up tomorrow. Of course, since the internet is provided by the city and thus under governmental control (including monitoring) there are certain things we can’t touch. If nothing else, we can see what they have and maybe try to find an improvement that doesn’t interfere. I’m excited; I will probably get to do the part I really love.
Over lunch, my grandmother started asking about U.S. politics. It’s been a popular topic as of late… can’t imagine why… She’s actually the one who told me about Hillary pulling out… I’ve been in such an internet blackout the past few days, only getting on to update this, I’ve not had time to read up. Even though, I don’t think the internet in this house could take CNN or BBC’s web pages. It would break. I can only imaging how much gas has gone up since I’ve been gone. I need to find out how to make the soup with the noodles and greens. I’m willing to bet it has chicken broth in it but it’s so good.
After lunch we met again, dancing once more. I’m getting a little better, I still suck though. We’ve now incorporated the shoes’ special noises, skirt motion, the fans, floor movement and spinning. We could put on our own floor show at one of those insulated resorts in Cancun. I’ve danced so much in the past three days, my hips are rebelling. We gathered up after for our standard evening discussion. Most of the topics that came up were what more we could do for Casa Hogar. Everything from trying to start an annual drive within SJA to attempting to contact Oprah came up. I’m sure we’ll find a few good ideas.
I’m not sure exactly what we’re doing tomorrow. We were supposed to head into the mountains some to a school we set up last year to check on them but there have been many mudslides and much flooding so we’ll have to play it by ear.
I love playing things by ear.
I’m off now, my father rented a movie. Since I stay up a little later than both kids working on this and watching a little bit of television to try and expand my vocabulary he figured it would be good. He actually almost rented an odd sci-fi I watched right before coming down here: Cube:2. I would kill to see the Spainish dub over of that.
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