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Not so fast… [2015-10-26]

I postponed my blogging until today so I could triumphantly report that we had finished the work at all four of the schools in our project plan.  But, as often happens in our work, there was a bit of a glitch this morning so we’re not quite done yet.  The good news – electricity was on when we arrived at Oldadai Secondary School.  The bad news – the voltage was varying between 130 volts and 155 volts (with the nominal range here being between 220 and 240!!!).  We think the problem is fixable by running a line from the main switch box (which was showing a steady 165 volts) directly to the computer lab, but the clicking UPS and the buzzing servo voltage regulator meant that we weren’t going to work today.  The teachers at Oldadai think they can finish the work by tomorrow, so Neal and I hope to head back Wednesday for the teacher and student orientations.  But thank goodness the electricity was on today so we could discover the problem!  If we'd been running on the generator, we wouldn't have known about this.

We also ended up making yet another trip to the computer store.  One of the monitors we brought from the US didn’t seem to work well with the VGA interface, and we couldn’t find any place that sells DVI cables here in Arusha.  Thank goodness we are staying in an area with several computer and electronics shops within walking distance, so I dashed over and picked up a 19” monitor.  And somehow I doubt that is my last trip…  No matter how many spreadsheets and lists that I have, I always seem to miss something!

Saturday Neal taught a workshop for folks from Habari Node, Arusha Node Marie, and African Malaika on building a Reneal server.  This is actually pretty exciting for us, knowing that others can install the Reneal system wherever and whenever desired without Neal and me needing to be present.  Neal wrote up some scripts to make it easy, so it’s a matter of having a DVD or USB flash drive with the scripts as well as a USB hard drive with the actual Reneal server content.  We are going to let our “students” try out the process next week at Spiritan Mission Seminary, an Arusha Node Marie internet recipient.  We will be there to watch and advise, but they will be in charge.

Yesterday was a welcome day of doing nothing.  I did tinker with a Tanzanian grade template a little, and I’m hoping to share that with the computer teachers at the System Administration class that we are planning for late next week.  Neal also had a few odds and ends to do on the computer, but mostly we just relaxed and ate junk food and rejuvenated.  We have a long stretch of work coming later this week, starting Wednesday when we return to Oldadai Secondary School.  Thursday, Friday, Monday, and Tuesday we’ll visit our 2013 and 2014 schools (Ilkiding’a SS, Mwandet SS, Mlangarini SS, and Mukulat SS).  Over the weekend we’ll head to UAACC to install the system there, which will likely take both Saturday and Sunday.  So… lots of work to do yet, even though the project plan is nearly completed!  But we wouldn’t be nearly as far along without the incredible help offered by the team here.  We are so grateful for their support!