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06 Sept 2002 |
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| 6.45 a.m. and the driver arrives to pick me up for my class in Udong. One hour later we've pushed our way through town. Then it's foot down, hand on the horn - half an hour of mad driving to reach the school. My class of sixteen are already there working hard. "What time should we shut down the computers for the switch over of the generators?" "Oh, they've done it already." "Really?" "Hey, you at the back - don't just stare at the screen, save, quick!" "Click?" "Yes, click!" 9.50 a.m. the power goes off - just when my students are learning to save! It was 8.55 a.m. yesterday and 8.30 a.m. the day before. Looks like the person in charge of the generator is getting into work later every day. "Teacher, my computer is not working right." "And mine too." Almost 10.30 a.m. and the power goes off again for an hour. "OK, shut down." "Grab a library book and let's go home." Three days a week we go through the same routine. Just how long will it be before the privately own electricity company takes notice of our little project? Money for UPS (uninterruptable power supplies) has been a constant battle with the sponsors - it's lucky that we still have any computers working! | ||||