I had a number of errands to do - for myself and for others on the team, and since I was the one who was free, I had a chance to go do them and explore David a bit.
First, I had to go to renew my data plan so it wouldn't lapse. Sanchez (our driver) helped me find the mail center for +Movil ("MasMovil") my carrier. I had to get a number from this interesting display
and then wait. And wait. And wait. Finally, my number was called and I found out that to add money to my data plan I first had to buy regular cell phone time, and then pay for the data from that.
The process was as follows:
1. Add prepaid time to phone --> Press *166# [code on the card] # Send/Call (depending on the phone)
I had to add $15 USD - so I had to do this twice - once for a $5 card and another time for the $10 card - no such thing as a $15 card, even though this is the standard rate for data)
2. Now, move money to data plan --> Press *456# Send/Call
3. A menu comes up with Blackberry (1) or Other (2) - choose 2 then click "Reply" in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
4. Another menu comes up - choose the length of time for the data (30 days) --> Reply" in upper right hand corner
5. Another menu comes up - discrete purchase (1) or ongoing/continuous (2) - choose 2 and click "Reply" in the upper right hand corner one last time.
!*%#!
Fellow HCI'ers and others, tell me - is this an intuitive process? I was mighty glad to have someone who could explain this in English while doing it. I now have it safely documented in my purple book!
Next was the Farmacia for a friend, and then the fun part, a quest for beads. Unfortunately, almost all of the beads available in Panama are plastic - this is true in Panama City as well - so I had to try several places, but finally, upstairs in a "Sederia" (a store that sells many things - for parties, for crafts, etc.) I found a few (and I mean a very few) stone and glass beads for new necklaces - this time for Maritza and for Sanchez's wife. Plus some taiga beads - I haven't seen these before so I stocked up.
Back to UTP we sped. Once I got there, I found out that there were 2 Ngobe-Bugle people - one a student and one a gardener on staff - who were available to meet with to interview. This was intended to help add context to the research that Aris and Lydia are doing. We were saddened to find out that they were pretty much assimilated into mainstream Panamanian culture, speaking Spanish in the home, being out of touch with migration patterns, and such. I totally understand this. After all, the Ngobe-Bugle are an indigenous peoples who have been marginalized and relegated to remote impoverished places in the Comarcha - a sort of reservation. But it is also kind of sad to see the loss of their language and culture. It also underlines the need to actually spend time in those remote areas and to work closely with people who can help us understand what is happening, and also who can help us find culturally appropriate ways to co-design if technology proves to be a useful tool to help provide access, learning, and healthcare. If. IF.
And then, the skies opened. Lightening flashed followed almost immediately by loud, booming thunder.
And rain.
Lots and lots and lots of rain. The torrents were so loud they drowned out conversation. And almost immediately, they filled the drains and flowed like rapid rivers through campus.
How to get home? Even with an umbrella, in this downpour of epic proportions, there was no way we were going to get into the Dean-mobile without getting drenched.
Or was there?
Brilliant Sanchez to the rescue! He had found a place to park under an awning that covered the entire van! Yes, there was a huge, deep puddle on one side, but the other was only a little puddle (amazing given the downpour) and one by one, we were able to get into the van basically dry - OK, a bit damp around the edges, but basically dry.
Whew!
We wondered if it would be possible to rive, but that was selling Sanchez short. He negotiated the roads, puddles and all, like the champion driver that he is.
We sped through the night as the rain abated, past villages and schools and homes.
And dogs. Lots and lots of dogs. Many were asleep in the now-dry road. Others were walking nonchalantly across the street, seemingly blissfully unaware of the hurtling van. Sanchez had his hands full avoiding them all, as the rest of us gasped and applauded his skill.
On through the night we traveled and finally, we reached Santiago, our resting place for the night.
And for dinner? Why, sanchoce of course.
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