However after an hour things did start to happen we had some machinery (see the images) the Scroll/Fret saws are really impressive with adjustable LED lighting and a flexible Air blower run from a variable speed controller all in all a nice piece of kit. (If we had anything to cut on it of course )
Apart from the main power tools we also received a variety of hand tools though had to laugh a little when we discovered 7 Dremmel Multitools (We had asked for 2), that aside almost all the tools we had asked for had turned up. Unfortunately we didnt have any materials or consumables but were promised they were on the way. When we left at 1600 they were still aparantly on the way - maybe it was the traffic in Bogota that was the problem. A more pressing need was some where to actually sit the kids when they arrive tomorrow as each class room had the massive total of 2 stools between them and only 5 what can best be described as tables (these tables are made from steel leg construction with a slab of Marble on the top (It takes 3 people to move each one, once I had mine placed I was pretty sure I wouldn't be moving them again, fortunately a few more turned up robbed from a local physics lab, and I soon had enough to set up one classroom, and through some clever research we found an empty class with 48 stools in it just the number we needed for the 2 classes, the understanding of I have it therefore it is mine only works as long as you have the KEY to lock the door. Soon we had both classrooms with a variety of tables and a selection of stools such that we can actually sit everyone down - Now if we can only get the paper and pencils in time tomorrow morning (Yes I am starting work at 7am) then we might even be able to do a simple lesson on Folio cover design. (All that practice I got at St Andrews will find a use on Day 1 - I am sure Robert one of the Tech teachers there will be laughing and if he isnt some one for goodness sake wake him up :) )
We also had our technician arrive today was a bit touch and go if we would get one before the school started but thankfully he turned up today, He is called Nelson (and no he doesn't have one eye - thats Amy's teddy bear called Nelson because its only got one eye) and he is in his final year studying for a degree in engineering ! (Thats the man not the teddy) and has never seen let alone used ANY of the power tool equipment we have in the rooms. Somehow I think the learning curve will be huge, and of course he doesn't speak any english.
But that aside an extra pair of hands (While he still has them in one piece) was always welcome, and he worked hard all day - in an imacculate 3 piece suit.
As an aside after searching high and low for a Lauderette, Bogota has Dry Cleaners on every corner - I finally found one about 5 minutes walk from my flat !!! So tomorrow night I can put my washing in and have a change of clothes again soon (OK I still have a few things left) but it will be a huge plus to get the washing done, ironed and folded for the extorionate sum of 4 pounds UK.
Thanks have to go to Diana my D&T colleague out here, she is Colombian but trained in UK and I'll be honest without her I would probably be on the flight back to UK, she has been a world of help in both translating and sorting out the wee things you take for granted but then realize you have no control over when there is a huge language difference, even down to getting a Taxi (Safely). So big thanks to Diana and to her boyfriend Dan for putting up with my demands on her time.
Tomorrow we get our first taste of Colombian Kids will they be any different to Scottish Weans, will there be the same problems you associate with schools in UK.. Guess I find out Manyana !!!!
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