I'm in a hostel in Porto, Portugal right now on a trip with my Int'l Management class. I am posting this incredibly late. Laura, the blog administrator and enforcer of the contracts probably hates me - sorry Laura.
Yet again, I have another reason why my post is late. One of the most ridiculous strings of technological breakdowns I've ever had in my life:
My computer is dead because my US/Europe electric current converter blew a fuse because the laptop needed more power than the converter could supply. I didn't realize this until I borrow my roommate Ewan's converter and blew that fuse too. I didn't have an internet connection so I activated my BlackBerry's global capabilities which comes with a European plug as well and it is now having difficulty holding a charge. It's also turning off randomly and often so last night when I wanted to call a cab I borrowed my classmate Laura's phone. After I got off of the phone the signal went dead and in place of the signal bars the phone read "SOS" - it is still reading SOS. Before giving up on technology last night I was attempting to start my computer up with the little juice it had left so that I could put my paper (which was due Tuesday night) onto my thumb drive and work on it on one of the computers in the computer lab in the dorm where we were staying. After 30 minutes of searching for the thumb drive, which I had the night before in Lisbon, I decided to just try to connect to the wifi in the computer lab and email the paper to myself. I figured out very quickly that you need to be a student at Universedade do Minho in order to use the wifi. Today while I was on the bus I was attempting to post this very blog from my BlackBerry. After 30 or so minutes of typing I had what was damn close to a finished product but I wanted to go through and check the post once more for any errors before I uploaded it and we were at our destination and needed to get off the bus so I put my phone in my pocket and got off. When I got inside I pulled my phone out to finish up real quick and it was in the midst of restarting. Once it booted back up the post had been erased.
I am able to post this now because the driver of our coach bus that has been driving us around this week, Joao (read: the man), was nice enough to walk with me over to the mall nearby and get a converter - not before visiting three different stores to get it, of course.
The paper that I'm writing is on globalization. In the paper I have been arguing that the social, political and economical playing field of the world is flattening drastically and we are becoming more interconnected despite vast geographical differences. If I submitted my paper on Tuesday I would have definitely stayed with this position. After experiencing a complete inability to stay connected to the world this past week I may have to re-evaluate some of the statements in the paper.
Tony Robbin's Soap Box:
Today I enjoyed lunch and a few beers overlooking the Douro River in Porto, Portugal. After lunch I took a little booze cruise on a boat down the Douro. After the booze cruise I enjoyed a tour of Portugal's oldest Port Winery and a wine tasting afterward. I am now back at my hostel. I am about to head out and grab a bite to eat and then a night out on the town. I enjoyed all of this today through a school trip. The school is giving me $600 through their Wright Global Scholar program. I also found out that there is a trip going to Mexico in January which I will undoubtedly be signing up for as soon as I get back.
What I'm trying to say is that UB offers students a lot of opportunities. If travel abroad isn't for you then there are plenty of other opportunities here. Join some clubs or organizations, get connected and network. After attending three different colleges in 4 years I've found that when you get involved and get to know people on campus you enjoy being there and naturally do better in your classes. It will also likely be the difference between you enjoying college and not. The kicker is if you're reading this then you're probably already involved. If you're not involved then you have probably never heard of this blog and probably don't bother to look at the daily digest. If you don't know anyone on campus then holler at your boy. You can send me an email by clicking on my name at the bottom of this and hitting the email button on my blogger profile. Hopefully I'll hear from someone.
Yet again, I have another reason why my post is late. One of the most ridiculous strings of technological breakdowns I've ever had in my life:
My computer is dead because my US/Europe electric current converter blew a fuse because the laptop needed more power than the converter could supply. I didn't realize this until I borrow my roommate Ewan's converter and blew that fuse too. I didn't have an internet connection so I activated my BlackBerry's global capabilities which comes with a European plug as well and it is now having difficulty holding a charge. It's also turning off randomly and often so last night when I wanted to call a cab I borrowed my classmate Laura's phone. After I got off of the phone the signal went dead and in place of the signal bars the phone read "SOS" - it is still reading SOS. Before giving up on technology last night I was attempting to start my computer up with the little juice it had left so that I could put my paper (which was due Tuesday night) onto my thumb drive and work on it on one of the computers in the computer lab in the dorm where we were staying. After 30 minutes of searching for the thumb drive, which I had the night before in Lisbon, I decided to just try to connect to the wifi in the computer lab and email the paper to myself. I figured out very quickly that you need to be a student at Universedade do Minho in order to use the wifi. Today while I was on the bus I was attempting to post this very blog from my BlackBerry. After 30 or so minutes of typing I had what was damn close to a finished product but I wanted to go through and check the post once more for any errors before I uploaded it and we were at our destination and needed to get off the bus so I put my phone in my pocket and got off. When I got inside I pulled my phone out to finish up real quick and it was in the midst of restarting. Once it booted back up the post had been erased.
I am able to post this now because the driver of our coach bus that has been driving us around this week, Joao (read: the man), was nice enough to walk with me over to the mall nearby and get a converter - not before visiting three different stores to get it, of course.
The paper that I'm writing is on globalization. In the paper I have been arguing that the social, political and economical playing field of the world is flattening drastically and we are becoming more interconnected despite vast geographical differences. If I submitted my paper on Tuesday I would have definitely stayed with this position. After experiencing a complete inability to stay connected to the world this past week I may have to re-evaluate some of the statements in the paper.
Tony Robbin's Soap Box:
Today I enjoyed lunch and a few beers overlooking the Douro River in Porto, Portugal. After lunch I took a little booze cruise on a boat down the Douro. After the booze cruise I enjoyed a tour of Portugal's oldest Port Winery and a wine tasting afterward. I am now back at my hostel. I am about to head out and grab a bite to eat and then a night out on the town. I enjoyed all of this today through a school trip. The school is giving me $600 through their Wright Global Scholar program. I also found out that there is a trip going to Mexico in January which I will undoubtedly be signing up for as soon as I get back.
What I'm trying to say is that UB offers students a lot of opportunities. If travel abroad isn't for you then there are plenty of other opportunities here. Join some clubs or organizations, get connected and network. After attending three different colleges in 4 years I've found that when you get involved and get to know people on campus you enjoy being there and naturally do better in your classes. It will also likely be the difference between you enjoying college and not. The kicker is if you're reading this then you're probably already involved. If you're not involved then you have probably never heard of this blog and probably don't bother to look at the daily digest. If you don't know anyone on campus then holler at your boy. You can send me an email by clicking on my name at the bottom of this and hitting the email button on my blogger profile. Hopefully I'll hear from someone.
P.S. if you are interested in what I am doing in Portugal I have a blog that I am keeping up with pictures and photos. I will be here until Friday October 16th. The website is milestoportugal.blogspot.com
2 comments:
Miles,
Do not worry I am not upset at all. I totally understand. Its amazing how much we miss our technology. What would we do without it. It seems like you are having the best time. Be safe and keep enjoying your wonderful trip!
Laura
Hey Miles! Glad to hear that you're enjoying Portugal.. I'm so jealous :( If I had the financial means, I would've definitely taken a spontaneous trip! But definitely go to Mexico. I actually went Jan 2008 with Professor Randolph...it was AWESOME! Cuernavaca is absolutely beautiful! I've actually been meaning to go back and visit my host family but haven't had the chance to.
Well hopefully, this will be the last of your technological issues. Be safe and have fun!
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