May 17, 2009
Testing is underway with the autoclave. There have been only intermittent periods of strong sun, but what else is new here? I have done only preliminary testing on the autoclave so far, meaning that I am only temperature testing at the moment. First I tested the autoclave just by using the thermocouple already installed by the team at UD and placing it into the modified solar box cooker. Then I painted the autoclave black and performed the same test again.
This week has been crazy, busy and a lot of fun. The ETHOS Breakout students have been enjoying their week in Sabana Grande, and most of their schedule has occupied me as well. As I shared last time, I went to Somoto Canyon and Ocotal with them, and this week I have attending a history class and several solar panel workshops with them. We also played a large soccer game after work on Monday with the locals, and Tuesday we played Ultimate Frisbee with them. Early Wednesday morning we woke up at 5am to hike up a mountain before breakfast because our schedule was so packed. I spent a good part of Wednesday aiding them in the installation of new solar panels and in two houses, taking them off the grid and hooking their lights up to the solar power. In the evenings we have been just talking together, listening to good tunes and playing cards. Thursday afternoon was their despedida, or good-bye fiesta, which was a lot of fun of course. They did a “cultural exchange”, where the Nicaraguans made them dance and be all awkward, and the Dayton students made them play a game and do a butts and guts exercise class and be all awkward. Unfortunately, the students left Friday morning, and so things are compartively lonely now, but this also means that I can finally get a breather!
Friday May 15th was my birthday!
I think that, despite how much I love to travel, this is the first time I have ever been in another country for my birthday. I’m not quite sure what is going to happen today, other than the fact that it is quince de Mayo, and so it is a big day in terms of celebrating some patron saints day. There are masses in the morning and fiestas in the evening. We´re just going to pretend that the fiesta is actually for me.
So now it is Nathan and I left until the other volunteers come. Today, Sunday, we are in Esteli, a town 2 hours south of us, just to sight-see for a day. Saturday I spent reading my books (I just finished a great English science fiction classic, Viriconium) studying Spanish and relaxing. Nathan and I also went for a very long walk, further down the path through Sabana Grande than I´ve ever gone before. I really liked the area that we saw; it was more lush, but it was also much more remote.
This week I plan to get a lot done with Autoclave testing. In my downtime, during testing, I will be repairing a wind generator that broke. It was a gift from a previous volunteer, and apparently it broke just a few days before we arrived. I will be keeping my eye out for other projects too, but I also hope to teach some basic testing and researching classes to the young´uns here.
I think that is a lot said in a few words, and now it is time for lunch! Nathan and I are going to check out some of the nice churches and scenic areas of Esteli afterwards, then probably head home. We are anxious for other volunteers to arrive, and I simply cannot wait to go back to Leon and Granada. Those were some gorgeous, fun places.
Hasta la proxima vez,
-Daniel
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