Another long day in the IT room (see picture below), plagued with issues from the first minute but we must be getting somewhere.
Three bricked Linksys routers that need to be fixed, endless power cuts and problems with the new software I'm trying. Each time I get it working, it breaks and I have to start again; frustrating to say the least - I can't even find the cause for the breakage. If I were in the UK, I'd get in the bath and work it through in my head. That's not an option in Macha, much like the other things that happen.
The challenge here is where we are. Ordinarily in the West we might throw the kit out of the window and buy something new. Or, just order a new box on the Internet. Here we have to create something out of what we have and make the most out of what we have. It's possible, just not easy. But wouldn't life be dull if everything was!
Sunday and everything's closed, including the toilet. No food all day and a 30 minute round trip to the toilet makes things tricky. 15:00 arrives and the power goes out but I make friends with someone in the street and we talk for an hour about friends, family, Winston Churchil and Cliff Richard.
Finally off to the van Stams for a barbecue, roasted crocodile (no kidding) and other delights were warmly welcomed. Better still, a cup of coffee - something that's not easy to find over here… It was nice to unwind with everyone. Then, home in the back of a pickup truck, watching the cloud of red dust illuminated by the dim moon.
The power's still off - hopefully not for long...
Wi-Fi Hotspot News
What was the point in the trip?
To install the PolkaSpots Wireless Hotspot System in Macha, a rural village in the heart of Zambia.
Why was it important?
Their Internet access costs thousands of dollars a month for a 128kbit/s service (about 30 times slower than the average UK broadband line). They have over 100 users and our system was used to control access to ensure everyone gets a good quality service.
Surely there are more important things to worry about?
I thought so too 12 months ago but I've change my mind... Being involved in such a project makes you realise how important it is to keep these remote communities connected to the world. The schools and hospital have access, jobs have been created and adults are taking distant learning courses. There's even a lady who teaches an 8 year old piano from her home, more than 8,000km away.
NB. I wrote this from my hut in the Zambian bush so there are a few typos!
Winston Churchill and Cliff Richard Visit Zambia
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