November 28, 2007 at 11:59 pm (Computers, OLPC, Technology, laptop)
Thank you for being one of the first to participate
in Give One Get One.
All of us at One Laptop per Child were inspired by the number of people who joined our Give One Get One program on its very first day! Your participation makes you part of the growing community of people working to give children all over the world new opportunities to grow, explore, learn and express themselves.
Your XO laptop is on the way.
Your donated XO laptop will soon be delivered into the hands of a child in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Haiti, Mongolia or Rwanda. In one of our recipient children’s own words, “I want to thank you people because you had given us the laptop and I love it so much.” Your generosity will make a world of difference in these children’s lives, and in the future of their respective countries.
Thanks to your early action, your XO laptop is scheduled to be delivered between December 14 and December 24. Our “first day” donors are our highest priority and we are making every effort to deliver your XO laptop(s) as soon as possible. We will send you an update upon shipment.
I love being part of something cool and new! Can’t wait to get my hands on this laptop.
-vc
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November 24, 2007 at 12:34 pm (Family, Peace Corps, Technology)
Created with dumpr.net – fun with your photos
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November 23, 2007 at 10:20 pm (Family, Good-byes, Nomination, food, friends, waiting)
Yesterday was the start of saying goodbye. It was my last Thanksgiving with family for a few years, if all goes as planned. It was a fun, happy, warm and yummy thanksgiving, tinges with a bit of sadness. My daughter and my new son-in-law had it at their house. Liz cooked up a traditional Thanksgiving feast. Turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing and cranberry sauce. Fiya, my granddaughter and their niece, was there and so was Liz’s friend Sammi. After dinner we girls watched football with Eric. Love that player named Kitten or was it Witten? We ate to much. We laughed a ton.
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November 16, 2007 at 7:03 am (Family, Nomination, preparation, waiting)
My family is crazy, loving, supportive, funny and loud! I am going to miss the convergence of personalities that make my family. They better come visit me!
-vc
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November 16, 2007 at 7:00 am (Peace Corps)
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November 12, 2007 at 10:10 am (Computers, Internet, Nomination, OLPC, Technology, preparation, waiting)
Today I bought the cute little green computer created by One Laptop Per Child. I set my alarm for 5:45 a.m. so I could order the minute it became available at 6:00 a.m. this morning. AND I GOT ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This will be another lesson in patience! They hope they can ship them all by Christmas! oh my! So instead of a birthday present for myself I guess it will be a Christmas present for myself.
I of course want this computer because it was designed for just the conditions I will be living in when I am in Africa. It’s practically indestructible, open source software, loaded with video, audio, networking etc.
I will of course share what I find as I play with this new toy/tool.
If you bought on and live in the Hartford Area please join my Facebook Group OLPC Hartford CT.
-vc
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November 10, 2007 at 11:55 am (Nomination, Peace Corps, Volunteer, medical clearance, paper work, waiting)
Last week 4 pages of my medical history came back to me. I had to write an essay about how I go a scar on my left thumb! OK so I was a Klutz in Jr High School does that have to brand me for life!!!! be in my official Peace Corps documentation? At a Girl Scout sleepover we learned how to make a piece of wood catch fire if there was no kindling around to start the fire. They were called fuzz sticks. OK so even the name sounds a little ridiculous! You made them by using a jackknife to cut slivers of the stick away from the main stick. These slivers then would catch fire. So I missed and cut a sliver from my left thumb. no big deal. At least I didn’t try to catch my thumb on fire after that!!
Luckily or maybe not so luckily I was sick the day after these papers came back to me. Had to visit the doctor so she could fill out the appropriate info. i.e. we forgot to check a few yes or no questions. There was no follow up for a surgery I had 4 years ago and she had to document that i was not taking cholesterol medication because one paper from the doctor’s office said I was.
I am waiting to go to East Hartford to the medical records division of my surgeon for the surgery that happened over 4 years ago. I can’t remember when I first went to the doctor for this problem or when the surgery was.
Then then then my medical paperwork will be finished!!!!
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November 5, 2007 at 3:38 am (Peace Corps)
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November 3, 2007 at 8:06 pm (Africa, Nomination, Peace Corps, Volunteer, medical clearance, new culture, waiting)
May 30 2007 – it’s been 6 months since I sent in my application for the Peace Corps
July 14 2007 – it’s been 3 1/2 months since I was nominated to serve in Africa
Sept 2007 – its been 1 1/2 months since I sent in my medical information
Nov. 19, 2007 – I turn 50
June 2008 – Africa working in Information Technology
I am a very linear person. I like to know where I am going, how long it will take me to get there and all the steps in between. This wait has surely been a learning experience for me. Between my 50th birthday in Granby and June 2008 in Africa there are so many steps. And the worst part is I don’t know half of them.
Language
What language will I speak? I would love to begin learning that language or at least listening to it!
Packing
What will I need what will i want and how much can i take with me. How much can i purchase there?
Communication
How will I communicate with people back home? The world IS smaller but only if you have internet access where you are living. I won’t own a cell. Too expensive.
I feel like I am doing a waltz when I want to be jitterbugging!
-vc
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November 2, 2007 at 11:18 am (Adjusting, Nomination, preparation)
I have settled in to my new place and am actually spending some time here. It’s because I got that bug that’s going around but never the less I am getting physically and emotionally acclimated to my new space. No regrets about leaving the apartment. My downstairs neighbor was a horror. I could never be quiet enough to pass a week without her pounding on the ceiling or stomping around in her apartment after i got up from my recliner or went to the bathroom in the middle of the night. I will not miss her. I also won’t miss Fish Enterprises. Please don’t rent from them. They are so big they have forgotten who, the renters, has made them so big!
I have not regrets because this is getting me one step closer to my goal of going to Africa with the Peace Corps. I may have said before but I’ll risk repeating myself – I know this room in this house could feel like a luxury suite in the finest hotel. I have a garage, a garage door opener, running hot and cold water, central heat and air, a mattress, a fridge, a washer and dryer etc. My house mate is very friendly and personable.
Just waiting on my medical clearance to find out where and when for sure.
-vc
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