First Steps
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A thousand apologies for not writing sooner. The Internet lies far away, and one often wastes much time travelling to get it, only to find that it is out of service, or that one must take the bus back before one has time to assure one's community of one's continued existence. Our ISP is talking about installing the equipment early, maybe mid-October, so you may hear from me more often in a bit.
Note: To stem any confusion, this will be my primary pulpit for the duration of my involvement with the Red Libre de Ometepe project, as well as my subsequent travels, since most of the same people are interested in both.
Right. So where have I been the last near-week? Friends, I've been many places. Things are going quite well for the project and yours truly. I'm getting the resources and support I need. I'm meeting people interested in the project, and they are excited that this is happening. They're kind of coming out of the woodwork--apparently there are some students from Rivas who want to interview me about the network, and perchance lend a hand.
And of my life? going well. People know who I am. I know few of their names, embarrassingly, but so it goes. The progress of the project and the sense of community I'm developing through it are what I missed last time I was here, when I felt at times so out of place and hence lonely that I wondered how I could ever spend five months on the island. I even have access to Bernabé's pickup truck now, so I can get around, and he's going to get me a spare cell phone (imagine that!).
Let me recall some moments:
A thousand apologies for not writing sooner. The Internet lies far away, and one often wastes much time travelling to get it, only to find that it is out of service, or that one must take the bus back before one has time to assure one's community of one's continued existence. Our ISP is talking about installing the equipment early, maybe mid-October, so you may hear from me more often in a bit.
Note: To stem any confusion, this will be my primary pulpit for the duration of my involvement with the Red Libre de Ometepe project, as well as my subsequent travels, since most of the same people are interested in both.
Right. So where have I been the last near-week? Friends, I've been many places. Things are going quite well for the project and yours truly. I'm getting the resources and support I need. I'm meeting people interested in the project, and they are excited that this is happening. They're kind of coming out of the woodwork--apparently there are some students from Rivas who want to interview me about the network, and perchance lend a hand.
And of my life? going well. People know who I am. I know few of their names, embarrassingly, but so it goes. The progress of the project and the sense of community I'm developing through it are what I missed last time I was here, when I felt at times so out of place and hence lonely that I wondered how I could ever spend five months on the island. I even have access to Bernabé's pickup truck now, so I can get around, and he's going to get me a spare cell phone (imagine that!).
Let me recall some moments:
- Walking the kilometer up to the Finca from Balgüe (which means old, almost abandoned), through forest, past farm and hut, in the rain, past fireflies, not far from howling monkies, barely able to see enough to know which way to walk because I took the last bus back from town and it was late.
- Coming to the Casa Álvarez of Tagüizapa, being scolded for not coming sooner. Their house improved. Random kids along the 20-25 minute walk from Altagracia know my name.
- Sitting on the second-floor veranda at Magdalena, rain pouring down on the ceramic roofing, fantastic lightning illuminating different parts of the island, the lake. Feeling exhilarated.
posted by Peter Abrahamsen at 9/30/2004 12:13:00 PM
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