In which I attend a Faculty Meeting in the morning and become Faculty in the afternoon OR: From Consultant to Academic in One Short Day

Today started with the much anticipated (by me anyway) Faculty Meeting.  Dean Nicolas presided and began by introducing me and another newbie on the Faculty.  I was able to figure out much of what he said for some time as he described proposed changes in the way that faculty is evaluated, but once the discussion became heated, I found my Spanish lagging and after an hour of this, I was unable to follow much of anything.

                   The Dean Oversees the Faculty Meeting 

I'm trying to look at this in my usual "Glass Half Full" manner - since it's hard not to just be disappointed at my lack of Spanish!  But then again, I've been here one week, and I can get a cab to campus (finding out "cuando es la carrera desde aqui et UTP" - how much does it cost to get from her to UTP?- before getting in), buy groceries and even find out where something is in the store (how can I ask for matches or a lighter?  Easy-peasy - just look in my handy-dandy yellow Langenscheidt's Pocket Spanish-English Dictionary and point to words).  So I guess I'm making progress.  Slowly perhaps, but progress nevertheless.

So it was that I had just finished lunch with Elba when who should walk in but Karla Arosemena, my "original" Fulbright "handler".  Karla now works as the Private Secretary to the Rector (President) of the University.  As busy as she was before, she is now in a whirlwind!  And as a result, she doesn't really have time of her own.  But she's teaching the first HCI class here, and the plan was that I would do the "practical stuff" on Wednesday, while she would do the theory and experimental stuff on Tuesday and Thursday nights.  I had a vague awareness that the term started this week - after all, Elba had to go teach classes, but somehow, this hadn't actually translated into the awareness that *I* needed to be teaching this week too!  <doh!>  So when Karla came to my office, it took me a moment to realize why she as there - to take me up to the classroom where I would teach the class!

Gulp.

As we mounted the stairs, Karla filled me in on what she had been talking about last night in the first class - the "human" part of human-computer interaction.  She didn't have time to give a whole lot more direction when we arrived at the classroom.

Gulp.

Without really knowing what I was going to say, I leapt in.  I guess there is a benefit to having consulted and taught for so many years because I've had to learn how to "wing it"!  And so I did.  For the next two hours, I talked about how I had come to HCI, how we founded SIGCHI and CHI, and got the students to tell me their names and why they wanted to learn about HCI.  I showed a series of photos of "Interfaces of our lives" - it's funny how dated some of those things seemed like, serious, does anyone still use a portable CD player? - and then discussed how we get started.  By knowing our users.

The students were terrific - they listened speak in English and even got many of my jokes.  And they bravely answered me in English.  I'm really excited to get to spend time with them!  I am staunchly committed to bringing their voices - and the voices of students and others around the world - into the field, and to listen to what they bring.  For they bring amazing and interesting perspectives.  And besides - they laughed at my jokes, right?  ;-)  I promise I'll be ready next week - but overall, the class went well and we had fun (or I did anyway).

So, in one short day, I went from not-an-academic to an academic - or at least a temporary-academic!  

But man, am I tired tonight!  Buena noche!  I'm heading to dreamland - you?

Portrait of an amazing woman: Elba

Elba Valderrama is a most incredible person.  She's smart - think brilliant.  She's terrific to work with AND she's great fun!

Elba is just finishing up the final edits on her dissertation and hopes to graduate in July.  But, being a super high-achiever, she's done her graduate work not in Panama or even Spain where she could use her native tongue, but in Germany.  Yep, in Germany.  And in German.  And that's not all, she also did graduate work in France speaking, you guessed it, French!  Plus, of course, she's also fluent in English.  A Polyglot!

She has been extremely generous of her time and her talents - and her gas as she has been picking me up and bringing me back home daily.  All this despite the fact that she's teaching 20 hrs a week - plus handling all the administrivia that accompanies teaching at a university (don't ask me - I'm not an academic, remember?)  But she is always cheerful and helpful.  Always.

Did I mention she's a lot of fun?  She's got a terrific sense of humor - which takes a high degree of fluency - and she has a lovely lyrical laugh too.  I'm having a blast working with her.

She sounds like an ideal host, eh?  Yes.  She is!

AND she's a wonderful friend.  Definitely!

I'm looking forward to working with her to figure out what research projects are feasible - which also means finding money and some relief from her courses IMHO.  Just a few things to sort out... but I know we will because we both really want to work together.

So thank you very much to UTP for having Elba on staff!  And thank you to Elba for being - well, Elba!  :-)

Becoming

Those of you who know me well know that I am not an academic - and I was, frankly, concerned that I would be totally out of place at UTP because of that fact.  But, so far at least, I'm wrong.

Today, the wonderful Dean Nicolas brought by a tray of brownies, with strict instructions not to share them.  Well, of course, I shared - how could I not?  That would not be me nor would it be Panamanian!  Although he didn't make them - he is rumored to make absolutely amazing brownies - they were quite tasty.  I brought home those that didn't get consumed by friends and neighbors, and wrapped them in cellophane before popping them into a zip lock bag and straight into the freezer.  They will be a lovely every-so-often treat!

We're planning a party, Elba and me!  It's going to be on 12 April in the Party Room at the apartment (note to self:  Reserve this!)  Although it is not very "Panamanian", we're going to ask people to bring a typical Panamanian treat to share.  I'm quite excited!  I hope we can announce it tomorrow at my first-ever Faculty meeting!

Yes, tomorrow will be my first ever Faculty Meeting.  For those of you who are academics, this might seem like a non-event.  Why get excited about such a banal and ordinary fact of academic life?  But, obviously, I'm not an academic.  So this promises to be wonderful fun.  Stay tuned!

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!