The Other Dr. Dray, renowned (???) rapper (?!) most recently appearing at CHI 2014 in Toronto, was wrapped today. Friend and colleague Lydia applied her expert skills to Susan's head and voila! A wrapped rapper.
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Talking with my hands (at CHI)
 |
No captions please! |
Somehow, it's always kind of a shock to see ourselves as others see us. Or at least it is for me.
These snaps are from the "Official Record" from CHI.
Guess I really DO talk with me hands! (And face apparently)
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Planning (Tuesday)
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.
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.
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!
Sunday, May 11, 2014
Ouch!!!! (Saturday)
This critter made my day - but not in a good way! After a day spent working on the presentation/class I'll be giving at the Satellite campuses of UTP week after next, and having a delightful Skype call with Sewellyn, I settled in to watch a movie and do a bit of beading to relax. I was quietly minding my own business when, about 9 am, it felt a sharp bite on my leg. I jumped up, and felt 2 more bites as I tried to shake whatever it was out of my pants and, since that wasn't being successful, stripping them off as fast as I could. Out crawled the able beastie.
Stomp. Die you! (wiggle wiggle) Stomp STOMP! (wiggle) Stomp STOMP STOMP (with vocals added and a couple of, well, let's just call them "R" rated words) Finally, no wiggles.
BUT I felt my tongue getting tingly. And maybe to swell? Panic!
I raced into the bathroom and grabbed an Alavert - 10 mg of Loratadine in a Fresh mint flavored disintegrating tablet. The welts on my leg were getting bigger and bigger and I felt panic! Here I am in Panama, with minimal Spanish and a numb tongue! What to do?
Luckily, one of the wonderful people at Balboa Union Church, Emily Maduro, is a doctor. I quickly grabbed my phone and "What's App'ed" her. And, doubly luckily, she answered! We had a back and forth conversation where I told her what had happened, and what was going on now. At first, it seemed like I should go to an ER - fast! I was afraid! How to get there? (Cab) What about my bad Spanish? (She said that a private hospital should have English speakers so not to worry about the issue of language.) But I was really scared. I think that made me feel tightness in the chest - but then, the welts started to go down and the pain eased, while the numbness of the tongue started to lessen as well. I can't say it's totally gone now - but perhaps that's from something else. Emily stayed with me until it seemed that the crisis had passed. I am so incredibly grateful!
Whew!
Another lucky moment! Thank you so much, Dr. Emily!
Hola! Chica? (Friday)
(Friday's blog was written on Friday - but alas, a widespread outage of Internet service meant it could not be posted. Nor could I watch a move or listen to music or anything else electronic. So instead, I went to bed early. Lovely!)
Today was a lovely day. I had an early teleconference with Michael from Kenya who is planning to come to Panama next month for a vacay. I'm hoping he can help my students with data analysis and with creating paper prototypes after the visits we'll be doing to improve the UTP website. Then, I headed into work. I had to be back home for a fabulous session in a virtual conference, "You in UX" put on by two of my favorite folks - Tracey Lovejoy and Gayna Williams. The other sessions have been great too but this one, done by Donna Flynn, who I first worked with when she was at Microsoft and who is now at Steelcase. It was inspirational. She talked about being very intentional about her work and family life and had found ways to weave things together with her current post. Donna is a great person, and it was wonderful to hear her so happy.
In between, I had a visit from Lydia. She brought me the lovely hair ornament I've posted above. It's a Tembleque, a head dress worn by women wearing the Pollera - the national dress of Panama for women on the Azuero Peninsula. If only I had a bit more hair! But I love it and am so touched by Lydia's generosity.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)