Oct 2007 Newsletter: Yumi's Monthly Note
Hello Everyone,Just came back from a month long trip. It was an Around-the-World trip heading to west, which usually is better than traveling east. Still I had a terrible jet lag even after one week passed.
After visiting Kenya at the end of August, we visited London, Vienna, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris, Boston, and Seoul. While in London, we experienced Labor strike of subway traffic system which gave us a headache trying to reach our meetings. Vienna visit was very nice as we discussed 3 location Webcam event planned in November. Then Netherlands was very exciting as we have met founders and presidents of various organizations which are active in new media and social contributions. Waag Society, Media Guild, and V2 were very welcoming and excited to see Pangaea starting its formal European operation from Amsterdam. These people instantly understood what Pangaea is trying and very excited to collaborate, advice and help as we are paving our road into Europe with help of Simon, who was former Media Lab Europe Director and currently holding professor position at University of Amsterdam. Waag, Media Guild, and V2 all are located in very unique building. V2 office is located in renovated space of warehouse, Media Guild in the renovated building facing docking yard, Waag is in old castle like building. I really envy them to be able to work in such creative environment.
Visiting UNESCO HQ in Paris, we gave them updates on the decision
we reached in Kenya UNESCO that they decided to make Kisumu Center to
be the place for Pangaea Pilot location and preapares its net
infrastructure in November, and we will provide facilitator training
in January and starts activity there. This is a critical move for us
to see our program working at hands of all community people.
When this challenge goes well, we will move to start 10 more centers.
I will keep you all updated.
Traveling from Paris to Newark, USA, as Toshi and I were ready to check in at the counter, the airport personnel came to us and asked to show tickets and passports. When we did, that led to hundreds of questions...... Why were we in Kenya? Why were we in Dubai? (Because it was Emirates flying from Nagoya to Kenya, and have to stop over there...) What were we doing in Amsterdam? Who paid for your tickets? What is the method of payments???? Questioning went on about 45 minutes while all other passenger in front of us and back of us are all finished checked in. I was getting ready to get angry, but Toshi was cool to stop me as we don't want any trouble going to US. Well... These airport check ins have been such a headache for us as we travel around. It never feels good to be treated as some kind of criminals when we are doing great project!!! I hope these situations improve soon.
Visiting MIT Media lab, we have not visited there over two years. Our friends were all fine, Mitch showing us Scratch, Tod starting Future of Opera, and Walter with OLPC. They all were happy to learn progress we have made and promised collaborations with Pangaea. Walter will send us two PC to test OLPC and we may barter some contents. Well it was very nice to meet our friends at Cape and Inman Square, too.
This month Pangaea Ring writer is Ms. Cathy Song. She leads Pangaea Activity as Facilitator Leader at Mizy Center, Seoul, Korea.
See you next month.
Yumi
Traveling from Paris to Newark, USA, as Toshi and I were ready to check in at the counter, the airport personnel came to us and asked to show tickets and passports. When we did, that led to hundreds of questions...... Why were we in Kenya? Why were we in Dubai? (Because it was Emirates flying from Nagoya to Kenya, and have to stop over there...) What were we doing in Amsterdam? Who paid for your tickets? What is the method of payments???? Questioning went on about 45 minutes while all other passenger in front of us and back of us are all finished checked in. I was getting ready to get angry, but Toshi was cool to stop me as we don't want any trouble going to US. Well... These airport check ins have been such a headache for us as we travel around. It never feels good to be treated as some kind of criminals when we are doing great project!!! I hope these situations improve soon.
Visiting MIT Media lab, we have not visited there over two years. Our friends were all fine, Mitch showing us Scratch, Tod starting Future of Opera, and Walter with OLPC. They all were happy to learn progress we have made and promised collaborations with Pangaea. Walter will send us two PC to test OLPC and we may barter some contents. Well it was very nice to meet our friends at Cape and Inman Square, too.
This month Pangaea Ring writer is Ms. Cathy Song. She leads Pangaea Activity as Facilitator Leader at Mizy Center, Seoul, Korea.
See you next month.
Yumi
Posted by: kumakinoko | 3. Newsletter
