Today, I met with my class on a Tuesday - a day usually reserved for Karla's lectures in the evening. However, this week, Karla was (supposed to be) in Austin, Texas on vacation.
Except that early Saturday morning, luckily before she set out for the airport, she realized her passport had expired. Oops! So instead of being away, she was here. We went to lunch, and planned a number of things including how we can organize the Panama UXPA chapter, how to get more work from Panama published, and how we can continue to work together after I leave. It was lovely.
And then, we met with the students. I was trying to teach in Spanish - which lasted about an hour and then my brain gave out. Luckily, Karla was there. She helped to explain more about what we'll be doing tomorrow when the students meet with the Dean (Nicolas) who is the stakeholder for the web page redesign work we're doing as our class project. We practiced open-ended questioning again, and covered NDAs and other things we need to have prepared for the interview.
The students will be coming to my office tomorrow morning for a last review and then, with luck, at 10 am, we'll be in our meeting. It promises to be interesting! And fun (I hope)
It will also be in Spanish. So I'm heading off to bed early so I have as much Spanish "bandwidth" as possible.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Of lights and cold storage (Monday)
The day began with a city-wide power outage. Luckily, I had come down early and grabbed a cab BEFORE the power went out. There were tales that the power draw from the new Metro had caused a problem - a huge problem - and had tripped the whatever-it-is-that-protects-the-grid-from-power-surges. Or maybe not. But whatever it was, the whole city was plunged into darkness (for those without windows or in elevators)
Whatever the cause, when I got to UTP, the lights were off and the lift was not lifting.
So I lifted myself up the stairs. As usual, a kind gentleman took my briefcase up for me which was really helpful because I was bringing back books I'd used over the weekend to put together the slides for the course I'll be teaching at the Regional Centers next week.
Thing was, I didn't know how long the courses were going to be. I had a meeting with both Nicolas (the Dean) and Geralis (the Dean of Academics) at 9 am to sort all of this out. But, alas, Nicolas had another meeting elsewhere. So I wrote out an email EN ESPANOL! And it was almost all correct! I was very proud of myself. Of course, I couldn't send it until the power came back on so the wi fi was working again. But a small detail.
It was lovely because I could see (my office is near a window) and my laptop was charged so I could work, at the same time that I heard a veritable party swirling around me. I like these times.
And, best of all, it was a reasonable temperature! Usually the office is frigid! Like SERIOUSLY frigid! It seemed colder than in our house in Minnesota in the winter. Everyone keeps scarves, shawls and even jackets (as in for outside in the cold) in their offices to deal with it. I have a scarf, a gorgeous hand-woven shawl given to me by Simone Barbosa in South Africa last year, AND my wool ruana in my drawer. And I often am STILL freezing.
The power did come back on after not all that long (at maybe 10 am?) and, although the temperature was fine at that point, it promptly plummeted. Precipitously. Perilously. Plummeted!
Soon, despite my layers (one of which was the jacket I wore to work in the morning), my teeth were chattering. I kid you not. I was freezing. I tried making myself a cup of tea. I walked around a bit. I went outside the office area where it's not air conditioned. None of it warmed me up.
So I had to leave. I went home and worked on my class and little by little, my brain thawed and I was actually able to think.
The course isn't all complete yet but it's definitely a lot closer than it could have been had I stayed.
Whatever the cause, when I got to UTP, the lights were off and the lift was not lifting.
So I lifted myself up the stairs. As usual, a kind gentleman took my briefcase up for me which was really helpful because I was bringing back books I'd used over the weekend to put together the slides for the course I'll be teaching at the Regional Centers next week.
Thing was, I didn't know how long the courses were going to be. I had a meeting with both Nicolas (the Dean) and Geralis (the Dean of Academics) at 9 am to sort all of this out. But, alas, Nicolas had another meeting elsewhere. So I wrote out an email EN ESPANOL! And it was almost all correct! I was very proud of myself. Of course, I couldn't send it until the power came back on so the wi fi was working again. But a small detail.
It was lovely because I could see (my office is near a window) and my laptop was charged so I could work, at the same time that I heard a veritable party swirling around me. I like these times.
And, best of all, it was a reasonable temperature! Usually the office is frigid! Like SERIOUSLY frigid! It seemed colder than in our house in Minnesota in the winter. Everyone keeps scarves, shawls and even jackets (as in for outside in the cold) in their offices to deal with it. I have a scarf, a gorgeous hand-woven shawl given to me by Simone Barbosa in South Africa last year, AND my wool ruana in my drawer. And I often am STILL freezing.
The power did come back on after not all that long (at maybe 10 am?) and, although the temperature was fine at that point, it promptly plummeted. Precipitously. Perilously. Plummeted!
Soon, despite my layers (one of which was the jacket I wore to work in the morning), my teeth were chattering. I kid you not. I was freezing. I tried making myself a cup of tea. I walked around a bit. I went outside the office area where it's not air conditioned. None of it warmed me up.
So I had to leave. I went home and worked on my class and little by little, my brain thawed and I was actually able to think.
The course isn't all complete yet but it's definitely a lot closer than it could have been had I stayed.
 |
| I need to wear (left to right): A turtleneck shirt, a jacket, a scarf, a wool shawl, and a wool ruana Not shown but in my desk drawer for extreme times: Long underwear! |
Sharing Mothers Day
Today was International Mothers' Day. Even though Panama celebrates Mothers' Day in December, we celebrated today. I had the wonderful opportunity to go to brunch at the Intercontinental Hotel as the guest of the wonderful Patricia Thomas. What a lovely person she is!
You may recall a month ago I had the chance to go on a "Sentimental Journey" around the old Canal Zone? It was Patricia who organized that and who drove us around and regaled us with the stories of the Zone prior to handover to Panama. It was a special day.
And so was Mothers' Day!
We had a delicious brunch and a most delightful chance to talk. I learned more about Patricia and her husband, George, who died just over a year ago. He must have been an amazing guy to have as wonderful a wife as she!
We luxuriated in the ambience, the food, the music and, most especially, each others company.
And, when I came home, I had a lovely chance to catch up with Anna Rachel.
Sweet!
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