Saturday, January 30, 2010

Robotics

The last four hours, I have been building a robot.  And I can still hear drills buzzing, people shouting directions, and hammers pounding from the other room.  In front of me sit the motors and gear boxes that I just build.  The frame is being shaped and put together as I write.

Ingrid, a fellow American student from Michigan, started a FIRST robotic team at our school in December, before break.  When we returned building, designing, and programming started in full.

http://www.usfirst.org/

This is an awesome project because we are learning how to work together, how to use technical and programming skills, and five people will have the opportunity to travel to Israel for the actual competition.

The students working on this project are from UWCiM, the gymnasium, and a local technical school.  Local students are all working together with us internationals to make this dream a reality - and a cool one at that.

The final robot will be about three feet by three feet, and controlled remotely through programming and a human controller.  The challenge this year is like a soccer game, and robots work together on teams to see who can score the most points during the 2 minute 15 second playing time.

I am really enjoying the opportunity to physically build something with my hands, so often in school we write papers, talk about concepts and ideas, but don't create anything physically.  I find a lot of personal satisfaction from building things, putting together motors, and trying to figure out how a robot can kick a soccer ball.

For project week, which is coming up in early March, I hope to find a project to make something physical as well, or make a concrete difference instead of superficially investigating something.  An ultimate project would be similar to the work that I did in La Purisima Mexico two summers ago - building houses, soccer fields, or community development.  If you have any ideas or opportunities you are more than welcome to pass them along!

That's all for now folks!  

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Suplemental Blog

I'm not going to switch blogs, but I started a new blog to post pictures etc on, because wordpress offers more options for posting.
The web address is

 http://hilaryjohnson.wordpress.com

Enjoy the photos from the winter weather we have been experiencing recently!
I will post the link, whenever I post on it so you still only have to check this primary one :)

Ingredients


Ingredients in a documentary film produced in Portland, which explores the impact of eating quality foods grown with care locally verses mass production which is detrimental to the health of our society, physically, and they would argue economically.


Here is a short exerpt: 



The local food movement takes root.

American food is in a state of crisis. Health, food costs and our environment are all in jeopardy. A movement to put good food back on the table is emerging. What began 30 years ago with chefs demanding better flavor, has inspired consumers to
seek relationships with nearby farmers.

This is local food.  


http://www.ingredientsfilm.com/


Take it into consideration :)

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Where I've Come From

"For greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City
Greater things have yet to come
And greater things are still to be done in this City."

- Chris Tomlin


Mostar is always changing, fluctuating, and shivering with development.
Each day my eyes blink with surprise at the unexpected things which happen here.


This morning, I sat up at six o'clock in the morning and looked out to see snow blowing sideways,
and swirling everywhere, like a crazy tarantella.  As I gaze out now, the first footprints have already been completely covered.  I will be making my own path soon.


When I arrived home late last night, I found a book lying open on my bed with a note from Leah, "Something to reflect on this evening."


The Road Not Taken
  Robert Frost
1874-1963
Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bend in the undergrowth;


Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,


And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.


I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.


The road on which we travel makes all the difference.  Coming to Mostar, to UWCiM, is the road less traveled by, but it is making all the difference in my own life.  
There are two primary ways, it has opened countless new horizons and opportunities to explore and pursue and by challenging me academically, personally, spiritually, creatively, and through time management, and stepping up for leadership I have grown, and become more of myself.  Right now I am in the middle of this journey, and the growth is intensely centered, but I am at peace within the craziness of life here, and wake up enthusiastic for each new day.  


I am very privileged to be here, and I would like to thank the people who ultimately make it possible: my parents.  Mom and Dad, thank you so much.  I want to let the whole world know how much you mean to me as the human beings whom I hold closest.  Without your support emotionally and financially I could not be doing all the incredible things that I am doing here.  I hope to make both of you proud.  I love you. 


Thursday, January 21, 2010

Word of the Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consociationalism

Consocialtionalism

Shaked and I finalized the plans for our Educational Reform Conference today.  We are finishing up the schedule and writing the invitation letter.  Then we just had a really interesting conversation about Palestine.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Contact Note

If you would like to receive a notification e-mail when I update my blog please send me a message at
hilarygo24@msn.com

And I will put you on the list.

Cheers!