Holidays = More Time to Obsess About PC
So, I’m here at my aunt’s house for Thanksgiving. The food was phenomenal. The internet…not so much. I’ve been on my computer for the last two hours trying to catch up with peace corps blogs and other things. The internet is in for 2 minutes..then it’s out for 1. In for 5 minutes, out for 2. Rinse and repeat. Our hosts have trouble with their wireless, so my mother and I are stuck trying to get internet from houses near by. So my internet alternates throughout the night. I’ve grown to hate “Dawn” only because her internet hates me. Every five minutes my mom hears me go, “No, Dawn!” But at the same time, how can I hate Dawn since she chose not to password protect her internets?
Anyways, I’m thoroughly upset that I haven’t been keeping up with some of the blogs that I’ve been reading. I’m entries and entries behind. If this internet wasn’t so shotty, I would have caught up to some of them by now. I guess I’ll leave that to winter break. A lot of my favourites are blogspot posts, but I really have no idea how to follow them through wordpress. If anyone knows, please help me get a clue!
So, on PCwiki, last week – week 46, I think. This girl bought a flip video to vlog. I want to do the same thing, but I’m concerned about the ability for me to consistently upload videos onto youtube. I have no idea what the connection would be like.
Also, I just started camera talk with a couple of people, and I’m still debating whether or not I should bring my DSLR. I feel like if I take a point and shoot, I might regret it, picture-wise. My PCV friend in Togo recently asked me about the durability of my DSLR. He has a point and shoot now, but wants a better one for Christmas. He wasn’t concerned about it being stolen, but I feel like it all depends on your post. It’s the kind of thing I won’t know until I get there. Kimberly just received her invitation packet (yay!) and she said that there’s something about insurance in there. I’m curious about how that works.
Technology wise, I think I’d bring my netbook, DSLR, iPod, and Flip (if I get one). Has anyone been considering the type of materials they’re bringing with them? I was thinking about purchasing some camping equipment too. I heard it’s very convenient. Liz, if you read this one, I’d really like your opinion on the camera thing.
Has anyone heard anything about Lesotho? Apparently it’s still considered open, but considering the circumstances, I’m unsure if Lesotho is out of the running for me.
Also, I decided if I get invited to Kenya, then I’m going to India for MCAT – and probably spend whatever is left of my break time there exploring the country. A friend of mine said she was down if I end up taking MCAT there.
Hmm..what else? I’m slowly telling more of my friends about my decision. It feels nice to finally open up. There’s really no turning back now!
Who I’m most envious of, at the moment: http://awabroad.blogspot.com/
That’s it!
Interesting blog.
I could identify with most of it.
BTW – - – regarding your camera considerations, the specific site you get assigned to will determine a lot of your decisions. I have been leaning toward a point and shoot mostly because of the convenience when out and about. Not only would I hate carrying my Canon DSLR and not also have my other lenses, tripod & other accessories. Yeah, I have a photographer’s backpack to carry my camera, accessories and even my laptop, but I cannot imagine carrying it all of the time while walking, in public transportation and also keeping it with me for security reasons when in any activities. I am actually looking at an alternate to my Nikon digital point & shoot. Canon makes a nice point and shoot with 12 megapixels AND a 35x optical zoom. Takes HD videos, too. Pocket size and not too pricey either.
You know, I’m dead set on bring my tripod or purchasing one of those tiny ones. Which Canon camera is it?
I got so excited about this post, I had to make myself slow down and actually pay attention instead of just jumping to comment. When I was living in South Carolina, the internet I “borrowed” was HomeNetwork1. I still have it saved as a priority network just for the memories
It’s so funny that you wrote about the flip and camera, I was just on the phone with my sister in law for three hours christmas shopping via amazon, and she was saying how she wanted to get me a flip to take videos, but then we settled on a camera bag instead. However, now I’M set on getting a flip for myself because I love the idea of giving little video tours of my house or showing people how I do simple things. (Third goal, right?!) As far as my camera goes, I have a nice, sturdy Nikon DSLR that I’m not worried about getting bumped around or anything. I’m pretty much committed to taking it with me and being VERY frugal with how I use it until I’m absolutely sure of my place in the community and the relationships I’ve built. I’m taking my more modern 24mm autofocus lens, and then probably just one more, either my 50mm or 105 mm, both of which are older and manual focus. This girl’s photostream is breathtaking, and there’s actually a picture where she comments on keeping her camera under wraps for several months. Her camera is a very nice one, so I respect her judgement and her decision to bring it and use it carefully. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mwong64/sets/72157606642872398/with/2953917701/
I will also be taking my point and shoot, and I’ve been MAYBE thinking of covering it in tape and coloring it black to make it look ugly and beat up. That would most likely be my main camera in training, while I’m getting my footing in my community, etc. My DLSR would be to take when I travel, and after I’m sure of my place in the community. (I’m not taking a tripod at all, I rarely use mine now and am more into candid/street/life photography anyway)
I think your technology list is pretty spot on with mine, except I have a macbook instead of a netbook. I think I do want the flip, too. Even if there’s not much access to internet, it’s just like pictures; upload them when you can, but more importantly you’ll HAVE them
I also want camping equipment! I hate not knowing where I’m going because it would be so convenient to ask for some things for christmas!
Kim and Christina also are way into photography and would be good resources for ideas!
I think your reply was longer than my blog post! haha. Those photos you linked me to were amazing amazing amazing. Makes me want to take my DSLR for sure. You mentioned you were going to bring your point and shoot as well. Does it not shoot video? I have no point and shoot, but I feel like I still need to purchase one. Lew mentioned a camera in the comment above yours about the Canon PowerShot SX130 IS. It looked pretty impressive to me. I think I might ask for it for christmas. It’s about $249.00.
That is a good idea to make the camera look worse off than it actually is. I’m contemplating how to do that without actually ruining it. Perhaps covering it in a plastic bag and taping that instead? IDK. Will figure things out when that time comes.
As far as camping equipment is concerned. The sleeping bags to me seem like they will be the most expensive. The PCwiki shows all these discounts we get as invitees, but I’m not sure how nice of a discount all of them are. Also..shoes! I’ve been looking for something I can wear everyday/hike/run in. In addition to technology, I heard that an external hard drive is recommended. Have you read any volunteers using a charger with a solar panel?
All these things come to mind, but I don’t want to get too excited about it. haha
It does, but it’s a bit older and the quality is kind of crappy. I found a nice Flip on sale today for Black Friday and grabbed it. I definitely want a super light sleeping bag, and a small tent, too, maybe. I’ll have to figure out where I end up and then see what the PCVs there recommend. I love camping and traveling so I’m hoping to do some of that, but how much is obviously up in the air right now, but the sleeping bag will come in handy if I want to visit other PCVs or if I have someone visit me. Haha, I haven’t even thought about shoes… I guess I’ll see what ppl say once I get my invitation.
Sorry for the long comment – it was just that everything you wrote about was stuff I was thinking about and talking about today!
Don’t ever be sorry for long comments. I enjoy reading them!
Well, since you have a wonderful new flip video, I’m expecting a vlog post sometime soon.
I don’t think I’ll need a heavy duty sleeping bag or anything, unless it’s Lesotho. Hmmm…I hope I get an invitation sooner rather than later so I can PLAN (In my mind, when I wrote out “plan”, I imagined it as if it was a rainbow forming with a sound of something resembling a harp…sorry if that was TMI). Anyways, I think you’ll be buying all this stuff before me, so please keep me updated! And remember: details!
I really want to take my DSLR camera. I’d love to take a FLIP too but I’m also worried about being able to upload videos. It’d be really nice to be able to send videos back to people at home. Things like “this is my house” “look, an elephant” or to record cute holiday messages.
Well, I did some research on youtube, and people are uploading blogs there. The only thing is that it’s once ever 2-3 months. That’s not bad considering some people don’t update their written blogs for that long. I’ve seen blogs for Morocco, Uganda, Zambia, and Swaziland. Also, small updates from Kenya, Lesotho, Ghana, and more. I think it would be nice to have a bunch of small clips and edit them together. Then have that one day dedicated to uploading stuff to the interwebz.
I’m bringing my DSLR now, for sure. I like Liz’s way of thinking. Small pointnshoot and DSLR. I’m going to buy a pointnshoot that also takes videos. The flip is cheaper, but it’s really complicated just to take a picture, so I really don’t want to deal with that.
Also, lol at “look, an elephant”
I have nothing constructive to add, but woo that’s me! I’m glad our blog stalking is mutual
Haha, yes. I’m finally getting caught up with PC stuff, so I’m back to being a creep.
also, I lied, I do have something constructive. on the bar on top there’s the My Account menu. Under “Manage my Subscriptions” you can add the URL of any blog you want to subscribe to.
I looked into switching, but didn’t really feel like figuring out all the kinks in wordpress so blogger and I are staying friends. Just something I figured out
Thanks so much! I just looked into it. The only bummer is that I cannot get email reminders. Does blogger ever give email reminders?
truly no idea. if it does, I haven’t figured it out. everything I follow is put nicely on the homepage for easy stalking