Becoming a Statistic

Every morning when our group gets off the bus from the Trans-American Highway, we have to cross four lanes of rush-hour Costa Rica traffic with the added adventure of an active railroad track separating the opposing lanes. When traffic opens and there is no train, we dash across the first two lanes and stand on the tracks until we get the opportunity to dash across the remaining two lanes. Every time we successfully cross the road, I jokingly quantify our success with a fabricated statistic, e.g. “Alright! We’re 12-for-12 crossing the road, guys!”

This morning when we arrived at our stop, the traffic was heavy and the train was approaching. As I sullied around waiting for a chance to cross the road, I perceived that the train was sounding its horn more than usual. When we were finally able to cross, I was shocked to see Gavin, one of our group, waiting for us on the other side. Before I could make any sense of the situation, he relayed to us the details of his unfortunate incident. After getting off the bus, he crossed the first two lanes of the highway during a brief opening in the traffic, stopping on the tracks. By this time, of course, the train was just about right there and was honking at him vigorously. Perhaps with less regard for the traffic than for the train, he moved out of the way and crossed the remaining two lanes of the highway. Gavin almost became a statistic!

Later we learned from Gladys that one of her employees had had a similar experience. Being tired and not fully cognizant (as was the case with Gavin), the woman failed to notice the train at all but happened to have just finished crossing the tracks as the train passed. I venture to say that this train passed the woman absolutely as closely as possible, because it ripped off parts of her clothing.

In lab today, each group built an infant incubator temperature monitor which sounds an alarm and causes an LED to flash if the temperature rises above a given value. We soldered the components (a thermistor, microcomputer, piezoelectric speaker, LED, battery pack, and resistors) into a circuit board and then took the device to J.J. to have the operating program loaded onto the microcomputer.

During lab, one of our lab instructors, James, a mechanical engineer, showed us some videos illustrating the uses of microcomputers at his own workplace. His team developed specialized gloves with accelerometers in each finger for the manipulation of robotic arms and computer controls. Part of the glove project is a DOD contract intended to develop a bomb-diffusing robot that can be operated by an expert wearing a blast suit, including gloves. Current bomb diffusing robots require the operator to manipulate the remote control with his or her bare hands, which is dangerous in a blast area.

After classes today I stayed at the academy to work on homework until this week’s Latin dance lessons began. Although I felt much better about the footwork and movements this time, I certainly have a long way to go.

On another note, at this point, having only twelve more days in Costa Rica, I’m beginning to realize how much I’m going to miss this place when I leave. I’ll miss the guys I’m currently living with; Flory and her 3, 5, and 6 year-old grandsons; Flory’s Costa Rican cooking; the friendly shop owner a block from the school who provides us with the cheapest, quickest lunch (after asking how we’re doing); Ric’s expertise and training help; etc. But all things must happen in their time, and I need to remain focused on the fact that Costa Rica is only the training month (no pun intended), while the primary purpose of this program lies in what may be accomplished during the second month in Honduras.