and now we teach.

Simon and I finished testing all the computers today and then moved 2 of the desktops down to the new computer lab, set them up along with the four laptops and taught our first class.

Now we had just tested these computers and the laptops we had donated two years ago had been in use and were working and the two I'd brought with me this time were working well so it should have gone smoothly.

First we discovered that the built in desk in the computer room was too narrow for a keyboard to fit in front of a monitor - some of these monitors are about 2 feet deep - remember? So we angled them with the students sitting sideways. Then we turned on the two desktops and one started up and the other did not. The fan ran quite loudly and nothing ever appeared on the monitor. Down one computer.

One of the Lenovo laptops that we brought before started up perfectly and the other did not. Then I realized that the Toshiba laptop that I brought this time does not have any word processing software on it and word processing was going to be this day's lesson. For a minute I thought we would be down to 3 computers when the Lenovo finally started after 3 tries and I found Windows Note on the Toshiba.

So starting with one of the Form 5s, most of whom had been in Form 3 when we were here before, Simon and I taught them how to create a word document, save it, find it again and close down the computer.

I will review the syllabus and structure as much learning as I can in the two lessons we will get with each of the forms between now and next Wednesday.

I am so impressed with the Edubuntu software. I wish I had been successful setting it up on the Toshiba before I left because the two Lenovo laptops would boot off the same disk the Toshiba would have used but alas, I had no luck getting that Edubuntu ISO file downloaded and installed.

If anyone reading this has old computer parts around, I know where there is a good home for them so let me know.

On the home front, we are still without water at Hill View House and not very hopeful we will see any soon. And three of us in the house have been sick this week with conditions that require a lot of flushing. (I'll spare you the details.) At least last night the race to the toilet slowed down enough that we had water to spare for washing this morning. We are all looking forward to our trip to Peponi this weekend, not only for Sand Island and brownies but for running water and showers!

Rose