A real update, this time:

The Internet connection is working pretty well, though the power isn't. The commercial power grid comes and goes, and makes us fear damage to the very expensive hardware we just put in. We still can't use the hydroelectric system here because the tap they just put in for coffee processing equipment would (and did) bust from the increased pressure caused by the generator. The good news is that the replacement parts David brought down for the inverter appear to work.

It didn't take 24 hours for people to start asking to use the Internet connection. People who already have email accounts (mostly off-islanders working at the Finca) want to check them, and everyone else is anxious to play with this Internet thing everyone's always talking about. So today we set up a nice little browser box for folks to use.

The Big Meeting that was going to be today got postponed to tomorrow without anyone remembering that I'm supposed to go in tomorrow for a root canal. They ran out of minutes on their phone again, and I can't get David's phone to work right, so I haven't been able to postpone the dental appointment. This is the state of communication on the island. It keeps relationships within living communities strong, though, and I'm a little worried to see how that will change in the future.

We'll be sure to let you know how the meeting goes tomorrow.