Some more questions from back home:
Q. Tell me about the trip to El Salvador. First impressions?
A. It was much easier than the other international Ticabus trips. It was still 10+hours but we did not get our bags searched… at least not to the extent that it was from Panama to Costa Rica. We went through Honduras to get to El Salvador so there were 2 border crossings. I think we are getting better at travelling this way.
There was a mix up to where were suppose to be dropped off. Our tickets said destination: San Salvador. We drove through San Miguel, not knowing people were waiting for us there. Kim will blog more on this…
First impressions: awesome country; once again complete different from any of the other countries. The Rotarians that we have met are leaving a great impression of what the people are like here: warm, hospitable, accommodating. On the bus, Doug befriended a local who stayed with us until we were able to contact our billets. He translated for us a few times and offered a level of comfort.
A. It was much easier than the other international Ticabus trips. It was still 10+hours but we did not get our bags searched… at least not to the extent that it was from Panama to Costa Rica. We went through Honduras to get to El Salvador so there were 2 border crossings. I think we are getting better at travelling this way.
There was a mix up to where were suppose to be dropped off. Our tickets said destination: San Salvador. We drove through San Miguel, not knowing people were waiting for us there. Kim will blog more on this…
First impressions: awesome country; once again complete different from any of the other countries. The Rotarians that we have met are leaving a great impression of what the people are like here: warm, hospitable, accommodating. On the bus, Doug befriended a local who stayed with us until we were able to contact our billets. He translated for us a few times and offered a level of comfort.
Q. What is the weather like?
A. Nicaragua hit 39 degrees Celsius before humidity when we visited one of the remote villages. We wore dress shoes to the village (presentation later that day and to be honest we had no idea we were going), you could feel the extreme heat come from the ground up into your feet! At night it went down below 30 degrees, depending on where we were.
El Salvador is more like Costa Rica: nice warm temperatures but we still needed a sweater outside at night.
A. Nicaragua hit 39 degrees Celsius before humidity when we visited one of the remote villages. We wore dress shoes to the village (presentation later that day and to be honest we had no idea we were going), you could feel the extreme heat come from the ground up into your feet! At night it went down below 30 degrees, depending on where we were.
El Salvador is more like Costa Rica: nice warm temperatures but we still needed a sweater outside at night.
Q. Have you enjoyed Nicaragua more/less than the other countries?
A. Nicaragua was different from the other countries in many ways. It was a much more relaxed pace than the other countries which was nice to recover a little and enjoy ourselves at the beach, but the nature of the program is busy and intense so we missed out on that a little. It is a beautiful country but it is the second poorest in the Americas (poorest is Haiti). Poverty is everywhere.
The team enjoyed Leon (I loved Leon), Masaya and Granada. Personally I found Managua (the capital) tough due to high crime and a constant need for heightened situational awareness. While Kim and Curt were a little sick the last night in Managua, Doug, Alicia and I went out to get snacks and cash. The hotel insisted that we cannot leave without the hotel’s driver. While waiting for the driver, Alicia walked outside the front of the hotel. The receptionist yelled telling her to get back in the lobby. So even with the two security guards with shotguns standing outside it was still perceived to be dangerous to be out there. Don’t worry, we are not there anymore.
A. Nicaragua was different from the other countries in many ways. It was a much more relaxed pace than the other countries which was nice to recover a little and enjoy ourselves at the beach, but the nature of the program is busy and intense so we missed out on that a little. It is a beautiful country but it is the second poorest in the Americas (poorest is Haiti). Poverty is everywhere.
The team enjoyed Leon (I loved Leon), Masaya and Granada. Personally I found Managua (the capital) tough due to high crime and a constant need for heightened situational awareness. While Kim and Curt were a little sick the last night in Managua, Doug, Alicia and I went out to get snacks and cash. The hotel insisted that we cannot leave without the hotel’s driver. While waiting for the driver, Alicia walked outside the front of the hotel. The receptionist yelled telling her to get back in the lobby. So even with the two security guards with shotguns standing outside it was still perceived to be dangerous to be out there. Don’t worry, we are not there anymore.
Q. What was your first full day like?
A. Today was our first full day in El Salvador. We joined some Interact students from Canada at the beach.
A. Today was our first full day in El Salvador. We joined some Interact students from Canada at the beach.
Q. Are Curt and Kim feeling better?
A. Yes. Curt recovered a few hours before the bus trip (thank god, I was sitting beside him!) and Kim recovered most of her energy.
A. Yes. Curt recovered a few hours before the bus trip (thank god, I was sitting beside him!) and Kim recovered most of her energy.
Q. How many hits on the blog?
A. 4724. Most of the audience is obviously from Canada but there are strong numbers following from Panama, United States, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. There must be a small audience from Morocco, United Kingdom and Mexico. Chile is showing hits, which would be Ana Luisa Sepulveda following us; she is an international consultant from Chile that we spent a day with in Panama. Hola Ana!
MC
A. 4724. Most of the audience is obviously from Canada but there are strong numbers following from Panama, United States, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. There must be a small audience from Morocco, United Kingdom and Mexico. Chile is showing hits, which would be Ana Luisa Sepulveda following us; she is an international consultant from Chile that we spent a day with in Panama. Hola Ana!
MC
Thanks again for blogging! Fun to read. Be CAREFUL, and be buddies for each other esp in this home stretch when you're weary.. After such intense times together I imagine you will be both excited to get home, and wondering how you will function without your team beside you!! Cheers, PammyD
ReplyDeleteHere's another "Q" for your list Mark: Have you observed any engineering feats or practices unique to Central America, and if so, why are they not employed in North America? Do you foresee any "red tape" issues with recycling strand jack cables for use past their established service life (despite not posing any realistic safety concern). Ok, that's 2 questions...
ReplyDeleteQ & A Stragglers
ReplyDeleteStragglers from Dave: It is engineering related so please I am not trying to board you.
Q. Have you observed any engineering feats or practices unique to Central America, and if so, why are they not employed in North America?
A. Yes. They build suspended concrete floor slabs differently for residential homes here, I see for multiple reasons: material availability and the low cost of labor. If we want concrete floors we would typically truck in coreslab that would be pre-made in a controlled factory. Here they use labor intensive system called beam and block. This is not popular in Canada but I do see it’s benefits (likely not outweighing the cost).
We build with wood floors because we have that resource and they build with high labor demands because it is cheap.
Most concrete for residential homes is mixed in a pile on the street with guys turning it over with shovels. I have seen that lots of places. Again the low labor cost means they do not need a concrete mixer!
You asked...!
Q. Do you foresee any "red tape" issues with recycling strand jack cables for use past their established service life (despite not posing any realistic safety concern).
A. I would imagine that any engineer designing a bridge with used strandjack cables would take the fact that the material was used into consideration and that would account for any red tape. Although Western has a policy to scrap our cables, they are still good to use for other purposes. We replace the cables because we leave little marks in the cables with our jacks. Also it allows us to ignore fatigue considerations as our loads are accurate and we can use a more accurate safety factor… it’s a long story and I could go on all day… again, you asked!
MC
Thanks Mark, I just know how increasing liability concerns can hinder the best intentions. As for the concrete, thanks to heritage beyond my control, I've been that guy on the end of the shovel!
ReplyDeleteDS