The Nepalese Adventure: Day 5

Day 5

• Early wakening again today. Reminded me somewhat of a record Mark Hobson’s uncle used to play: 6 o’clock, up with the Coq….

• Toilet mastered now!

• Chow Mein for breakfast  - remembering how close to China we are, that makes some sense. Not a lot, but some! It’s still only breakfast!

• Skipped the shower. - extra deodorant instead.  Cleaned my teeth on the small concrete balcony where the tap is. Obviously didn’t use the tap water but the only place where there is a drain (in the floor) for spitting into. From curiosity I wondered where that actually led. Underneath the balcony is a small diameter pipe, slightly wider than a hose which, when followed goes to the property boundary and just empties into the waste ground just beyond my bedroom window. Tonight, in the interests of time management, I’ll skip the staircase challenge and go clean my teeth out in the bush. By the way, all the staircase is concrete, no banisters and the path to the toilet has a 10 foot drop either side of it. Hail the Iphone torch once again!

• First day at school. I was introduced to the computer Lab: 7 desktop computers and a printer. 3 are new and the rest donated. The old ones are battered, dented and filthy as they were rescued from earthquake impacted buildings. When I think of the rooms full of computers deemed "outdated" and waiting to be disposed of in my past life. If anyone has any ideas for getting them out here, they would be sorely appreciated,

• Met the principle, Vice principle and one of the main English speaking teachers, Parshuram. Parshuram understood that I was a computer engineer and was confident that I would have no issues resolving any problems I encountered. I didn’t like to disillusion him on either account so accepted the title (best one I’ve got these days). The full remit was for me to check all computers, fix or note down any faults and prepare them for use in the afternoon lesson at 2pm.

• (Boring Bit:) One PC wouldn’t boot. Suspected hard disk drive failure. Proven by swapping with HDD from another computer. When I was alone, I employed my vast experience of IT technology experience and whacked the disk on the concrete floor a few times, a trick shown to me by an IBM engineer to be deployed as a last resort. (At that time it prevented major catastrophe to our billion dollar business!) Put the disk back in and hey presto - It Worked!!

• Spent an hour or so standardising the machines so they all appeared the same - easier to teach (AKA "train") that way. For the GTA/Kuoni readers, this entailed a software audit (thought I’d left those behind). Only 7 computers - used a pen and paper for the audit!

• At 1pm I was told I would be teaching the lesson! Gulp. Not much time to prepare. Threw together a Powerpoint which I think a few of you might want to use for self education: Mark, Phil, Dad, Anouche…..

• 13:55 – Power cut!  Aarrrrrrgghhhhh!!! Now teaching the computer class was going to be without computers! This was the biggest challenge so far: 
• Teaching a class with little or no preparation. (I don’t even do a leaving speech without preparation and I’ve had plenty of practice there!)
• To a class who understand almost no English (A teacher was translating what I was saying).
• We didn’t move from classroom to Lab due to no power so I had no props to defer to.

•  I admit I floundered somewhat and was as glad to hear the school bell going then as I was      when  I was a pupil myself!

• Just imagine for a moment (no, really! Try imagining…!) trying to explain to a class of 7 year olds (or anyone for that matter) what a computer is. What it can be used for. What the internet is. I mean, what IS the internet exactly? Is it something?

• School out at 4pm. I went back to my cell room and was asleep in under 10 minutes. Slept till 6 and then went to be social for a while in the café till 8. Gong to hide and watch some TV now. Thought I had brought last few episodes of Walking Dead with me but seems I didn’t. (Karen - you cant watch them till i get back that means!)  Have to make a start on Blindspot instead. Seems cheating somehow to be enjoying some first world entertainment (although on second thoughts, its American!) but I’m breaking myself into the new way of life gently. (Also why there was no run today! J)