Not an "ordinary" day

Today was my first "ordinary" day at the Technological University of Panama (Universidad Tecnologica de Panama or UTP for short)  Although it was hardly "ordinary" because, as is becoming clearer and clearer, "ordinary" is not a word that describes life in Panama.  Perhaps one day, it will seem "ordinary" to me but not now.  Not yet.

Wonderful Elba (who I will be profiling - I've been working on it but I can't quite capture her specialness so I will continue working on it) picked me up and whisked me to campus.  We had a quick lunch together - and discussed the way that Panamanians eat:  their main meal is at noontime.  This makes a ton of sense and I plan to change my ways from a rice cake and a handful of almonds to a real meal.  I cooked tonight to make that possible.

She had to go teach and I had a call with a Ph.D. student at Georgia Tech, one of Beki Grinter's students who had had Gary Marsden on her committee.  She asked me to step in - not to fill his shoes because I can't (nor can anyone), but to be part of her dissertation committee in lieu of Gary, given his extremely untimely death late last year.   I am touched that she asked me yet also humbled.  As I read over Deana's proposal, I was struck by how perfect Gary would have been for this role, and I felt the waves of sadness rush over me again.  It seems so strange to contemplate a world without Gary - yet here we are. Deana and I had what felt to me like a great conversation - she's another fabulous young scientist who's going to make the world a better place!

The rest of the afternoon was spent getting the key to "my" office - it's actually an office I'm borrowing from another faculty member who has 2 offices - this is her "coordinator" office and she's now using her "faculty" office more.  Geralis, the other Dean, went down to the UTP store to help me find and buy a UTP shirt - and I also got a UTP hat to use during my upcoming rap at CHI.  Or, should I say, "the other Dr. Dray's" upcoming rap.  Yo!

And now, after cooking dinner (the first one that I've cooked so far that you could actually call tasty), cleaning up, and working on a letter of reference for another amazing young scientist as well as on editing an article for Interactions, I'm pooped.  David will be calling when he gets back from his piano lesson - and, for the first time since I arrived, I'm really tired and may end up taking the call in my night gown, ready to leap into bed as soon as we finish talking.

So, although it was, by many measures, an "ordinary" day, it was filled with wonderful people, interesting ideas, and the exciting enthusiasm of students.

Sweet dreams to all!  Buena noche!

Transiting the Canal (Pt. 2)

More photos of the Canal, from my wonderful new camera (THANKS, Anna Rachel and David!)

First comes a small flotilla of 3 sailboats 

Here comes the first mule...

pulling the bow of the Maersk Bintan...

followed by the second mule.

Together, they pull the ship forward. 

The ship's captain must give up the bridge
to a Canal pilot who takes the ship
through the locks.

The crew came out to watch us watching them

The ship sinks as the water in the lock begins to fall...

until the name can no longer be seen.

Finally, the lock opens... 

and once the gates are completely open...

the sailboats scurry out into the lake

followed by the Maersk Bintan

And so it has transited the Mira Flores locks.

Sunday in Pictures

Today in pictures:

One of the rapidly disappearing "Diablos Rojos" - "Red Devil" buses

Decano (Dean) Nicolas and me at the Panama Canal

Elba shows us how big the chain links used to pull the ships
through the canal used to be when they still used chain

It's an occupational hazard for folks like me (and Elba)
Whenever you see a confusing error message or a
bad design, you feel you HAVE to document it

A simulation of the Canal control room

Nicolas was about here on the day the Canal started its expansion
He has a bit of rock from those first explosions

A large ship transiting the Canal

As the water level has fallen, the ship has settled deeper
into the lock.  There are 2 "Mules" - train engines
that pull the ship ahead at the bow.  The one had 3 on each side,
two on front and one on the back, which probably accounted for
part of the $150K transit fee

The railroad tracks right next to the ship in the lock are for
the mules.  They go remarkably fast considering what
they are towing.

Susan at the Canal

The Maersk Bintan from Singapore exits the locks

Elba in her hat - it's a Panamanian hat but it's not a Panama hat
(those are made in Ecuador - don't ask me why)

Next into the locks - the Canal runs 24x7x365

El Decano Nicolas

Nicolas and me

Nicolas and Elba

Coming into Panama City

Over a door in Casco Viejo (Old Panama)

A fanciful creature to keep your flat safe

Casco Viejo - newly painted

And a bit more "real"

Nicolas and Elba

And here I THOUGHT I was in Panama...

Lovely residence in Casco Viejo

The New Panama City across the water

Church

I couldn't pass up this lovely grill work

La Iglesia San Felipe Neri
Where I lit a "candle" for Kevin Brooks (who has Pancreatic cancer) and his wife,
Laura Packer, and another for the Computer Engineering Department
at UTP

Guess who?

I wish I could remember which Plaza this is (anyone?) but it
has lovely crafts and other delights

 It has been an amazing day with so many wonderful parts!  These photos are a bit of a window into it, but they don't tell the whole story because they leave out the wonderful conversations, laughs, new things learned (did you know that the Centennial of the Panama Canal will be on August 14?  I'm tempted to return for it!) plus the exercise of walking.  It was a lovely day.

And I'm exhausted, so please forgive me for not posting more.  "A picture's worth..." and all that.  (More photos tomorrow)

Saturday

Today began with some tummy bug issues which I will not describe, but which led to a long nap from which I awoke feeling much better.  Which was good.  Very, very good.

So I set off to the SuperExpress market up the hill on Tumbla Muerta (one of the main drags)  It's not far, and it was breezy, so I felt just fine walking up there.  Once I got inside, however, it became clear just how hot I was.  I sweated the whole time I was there.  Which was a while because I found the upstairs - and explored up there.  There's a really nifty escalator for carts in addition to the one for people.  Here are some photos of the way down:

Approaching the top (with my trusty shopping cart in the basket)

It enters the mechanism..

And engages with it..

to carry it down while I'm on the escalator

and as it approaches the bottom...

and voila!  We're down!

 It was fun as always to be at the supermarket, and this time, I really lingered and explored, finding many things I hadn't expected - such as an apron (to keep me from messing my clothes up).  I didn't find a Panama FIFA jersey in my size - but I'll keep looking.  That is definitely something I want to find.

I walked back home with my trusty grocery cart (THANKS, Jean Andino!) and felt very proud of myself that I had managed with exactly the right amount of stuff to fit into it, with the TP in a nylon bag I brought with me.

The results of the shopping expedition

So I put everything away, and did laundry, and now, I'm completely exhausted so good night all!  Thanks for coming with me on the journey!