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Hola!
Another quick update from the (now working) computer lab at Montana de Luz orphanage in Honduras.
Awesome story: when the orphanage was founded, it was meant to be a hospice for children here with HIV. The mortality rate was thought to be so high that they built a morgue on-site at the orphanage. Within a couple years, however, the medicine in Honduras and the quality of care at Montana de Luz increased so dramatically that the morgue was no longer necessary.
I am sitting in that morgue right now.
In 2005 OSU Engineers converted this room from a morgue into a computer lab for the children to use. Here they can learn basic computer skills like typing, spreadsheets, etc. They even have access to the internet (with a VERY GOOD filter) so that the entire world is open to them to learn from.
These are exciting times for MdL. I spent today changing out their lighting system to improve their efficiency and hopefully lower their energy bills. It's not as dramatic a project as the computer lab, but still very fulfilling.
Alright, time to get back to work! More when I'm back in Columbus.
Adios and take care,
Rob
Hola!
For more information on what I'm doing over Spring Break, check out this page.
Just checking in very quickly on one of the adviser's latptops here in Honduras.
It's hard to describe what life is like here in at Montana de Luz orphanage in rural Honduras. Ever since getting here we've been rushing about, securing equipment and supplies and getting started on our various projects.
I'm on the Energy Team, which means I am doing the following:
-Energy Audit
-Generator assessment
-Transition to CFLs/T8 (more energy efficient bulbs)
-Energy-saving solutions
There's a bunch more going on here than that implies though. Just today we went to the capital, Tegucigalpa, and met with a representative from the government energy company. We were able to get a bunch of information from them, and an official will actually be coming out to the orphanage tomorrow to help with the energy audit.
It feels awesome to be here. It's overwhelming, seeing the children here and how simply they live. It's very humbling, and it feels great to use what engineering skills I have to do something truly good in this world.
More on this trip later!
Take care,
Rob
Oh and in a future day,
There may be waves,
But I must say,
The skies, have never looked so clear.
Oh and I guess we made it,
'Cause it ain't far to go from here.
I'm freeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
Spring Break will be positively epic.
I'll have pictures and whatnot when I get back.
More, I wanted to reflect a bit on Winter Quarter.
This was a WAY better Quarter for me in terms of Academics. I won't throw around numbers, but let's just say that there was significant improvement. Now, if you're a follower of my blog, you know that I've been hitting the books/study rooms pretty hard this Quarter. This meant less time for friends, but much better grades. Also, 25 credit hours was pretty ridiculous. I could use a Break.
Fall Quarter was way more about time meeting cool people and general hanging out. But my grades slipped.
Spring Quarter's main objective will be to find the perfect balance. Fall Quarter felt great, but it was painful to see my grades suffer. Winter Quarter felt very rewarding, but it sure wasn't very much fun. Maybe I can finally find that perfect balance next Quarter. A place where I can be super involved, a super good friend, and get super crazy-good grades too.
But hey, I AM a freshman. I'm not supposed to know what I'm doing yet, right?
Tune in next Quarter to find out how it goes!
Take care,
Rob
PS- My Spring Break plane flight is going to be... interesting.
80 grand later,
I found out that all that i had learned,
Is that you should show up,
To take your finals and your midterms.
One Final exam stands between me and my glorious Spring Break in Honduras (see older entries for details).
Finals week is a bit of an oddity here at OSU.
For one thing, there are no classes. A Quarter is ten weeks long, plus a week of exams. The idea is that we should be studying nonstop for these Finals this week, so no more classes are necessary. Also, it's a short week: Finals are scheduled all week long, but different kids have different tests on different days. One of my rooommates is already gone, and it's only Tuesday night. My last Final is tomorrow evening, and I have two roommates staying until Friday morning.
This relaxed schedule is super nice. I spent all day Monday locked in a study room with a Calculus book and a bunch of review materials. Monday night was the Calc exam, and I think it went FANTASTIC. Engineering H192 (computer programming) was this morning at 11:30, and I think that also went very well. I had a Final Paper due for Engineering 367 (Technology and Society) tonight at midnight, but I just finished it and submitted it.
I really spent all afternoon with friends. I did my usual Big Brothers/Big Sisters thing, and swing dancing was positively awesome (I love Tuesdays!). But there's just something especially good about life when you've got no class to go to. College is ten times awesomer without the classes. :-)
Take care (and happy St. Patty's Day!),
Rob
But I'll wait outside,
Hoping that I'll catch sight of the sun.
Entry Part I
Here at OSU, we have a really cool group of kids who run something called OUAB. That's the Ohio Union Activities Board. Basically, they're all about making awesome-ness happen for the students of OSU.
A particularly cool event that took place on March 7 was a cool little session with Kari and Grant of Mythbusters. It was moderated by FEH (Fundamentals of Engineering for Honors)'s very own Rick Freuler, who is like the coolest guy ever.
Dr. Freuler with a very pregnant Kari and the ever-awesome Grant of Mythbusters
I love how OSU has so many opportunities like this. There are always cool things like this going on around campus, and I only wish that I could go to more OUAB stuff. They consistently bring in great high-profile acts, and I definitely recommend cruising around their website for a better glance of what types of activities they run.
Entry Part II
The other cool thing that happened this past weekend was Overnight Hosting. Prospective Honors Students have the option to do an overnight Sunday-Monday visit to OSU, and I get to be a host! This past weekend was especially important because these prospective students were all here to interview for the Presidential Scholarship.
The Presidential Scholarship is kind of a big deal. Like, full ride big deal. Super duper big deal.
I hosted a bright young man named Zak, who is looking to go into some sort of Biomedical Sciences major. It was rather fun connecting with a current HS senior, because it seems like just yesterday I was in that position, making up my mind about college.
We played some racquetball, met with some some of my Biomedical Sciences friends, generally hung out, and went to class.
I really enjoy the reaching out process. What can I say, I'm a fan of OSU and hopefully that enthusiasm comes through a lot. Heck, it's why I write this blog!
Take care,
Rob
I need some sleep,
It can't go on like this.
I tried counting sheep,
But there's one I always miss...
It is ironic that even as the temperatures began their improbable climb towards 70 degrees, the metaphorical storm clouds were gathering around my Armageddon of a Thursday.
Thursday's Schedule of FAIL:
-Calculus Midterm II
-FEH Lab Memo DUE
-Physics Midterm Corrections DUE
-Must begin work on next ENG 367 paper
-Wednesday = classes until 7:18PM, so I got a late start on all this
I did not sleep. At all. Wednesday night was super unfun, with me camped away in the nice study rooms on floor 15 of Lincoln.
Ths study rooms are super nice and super spacious. Unlike other dorms, I've never seen Lincoln run out of study space. There is a completely quiet space and a space for groups/noisey studying. Each space is also made up of several smaller rooms, so you can get some privacy to work if you need it. These study rooms have been a huge help to me in rough times like Wednesday night into Thursday.
End results?
-Not-so-hot grade on Calc Midterm... :-(
-Excellent FEH Lab Memo :-)
-Finished (correct) Physics Midterm Corrections :-)
-Excellent ENG 367 paper :-)
I suppose you win some, you lose some.
Take care,
Rob
I wish that I knew what I know now,
When I was younger.
I wish that I knew what I know now,
When I was stronger.
Tuesdays are especially cool for me these days.
As I have mentioned before, Tuesday nights belong to the OSU Swing Dance Club. It is still absolutely amazing, and I highly recommend that people check it out.
Starting this week, my Tuesdays got even better! Through a program at OSU, I was able to learn about mentoring opportunities in the Columbus area. I had to apply, attend a training session, go through a bunch of paperwork and an interview, and then when all that was done I was given my assignment!
I'm part of the School-Based Mentoring Program of Big Brothers Big Sisters. This means that all my mentoring is done as part of a structured after-school program. This is super convenient for OSU students because the activities and timeslots are all ready selected for us; we just need to show up and supply enthusiasm and a genuine want to help out the kids. My little guy is a third-grader, and we've been working on his reading skills.
With all the stress of crazy homework and lab reports and running all over campus, I've found that this simple little once-a-week act of reaching out to the local community is a great way to make the day a bit brighter.
In school, I do well. But here, I do good. :-)
Take care,
Rob
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