Altilab2005 - Distance Education Blog

How long can a day be?

Last time I wrote I was sharing my new girl nerves.

I got over them and went to my Intro to Sakai session.

We were a small but gorgeous group so we introduced ourselves and then settled in for the next 3.5 hours.

At the break I said Hi to the guy in front of me who's from Oz. Turns out he lives in Perth - Scarborough!

Yup - small world. He's a Brit who has an Irish mum and moved to Oz.

I'm a hybrid with Irish parents who moved to Ireland - a kind of karmic people balance.

The Sakai introduction was great and made me feel both shit scared and excited.

Thank God/dess they have the same physical manifestations (increased heart rate and breathing) or I would have been in trouble.

I can see the real potential for Sakai to be the base for the SKIL2 learning space.

And - I have to learn a lot. So much that my head may explode.

And -I do not exclude the possibility that after a year I may not be able to build the vision of SKIL2 that I have ... but that's a very worst case scenario.

What I am experiencing is totally common in any new learning experience ... that sense of the huge chasm between what you want to know ... and knowing how much you don't know and have to learn.

Then Mike and me and Amy (one of the presenters) walked the 40 minutes to the newbie reception. It was fun chatting and laughing as we went along.

Paris is really beautiful and a walking city. Every corner has beautiful buildings and little cafes ....

Met a few really nice people who have offered any help I need to build SKIL2.

They weren't just saying it - they were asking for time to chat with me during the conference ... and was there anyone I wanted to meet ... too sweet.

An aside - we find it easy to dump on Americans (and darlin's some of them really don't help themselves. I listened to a couple at my gelato stand say things - very loudly - like ' there's no bell,,, I bet we wait here for ever,,').

Well - Mags and my neighbours (Lynda and Derek) are fab and two of my favourite people.

And the Sakai folks are American - and totally delightful.

I have a feeling that if I asked nicely - they'd pretty much build SKIL2 for me.

I think the real sense of community and support appeals to me.

I'm deeply value driven so it's a real buzz to have people offering their time and skills for free.

Apart from me - there were 2 things people loved at the reception when I chatted with them - the SKIL2 business card (got rave reviews from everyone - beautiful,cool, love it ... ) and Diva (my new 7 inch laptop)

People were asking if they could borrow her to show their mates.

If I was on commission to sell the Asus Eee 701 - I'd be able to finance SKIL2.

I left the reception and walked for over an hour home.

Lolling Liz not happy.

Even with a map I get lost - but what a city to get lost in.

I wandered past the Luxemborg Gardens and down the Boulevard Saint Michel - then into the Boulevaard Saint Germain and into my street - Rue Maitre Albert.

Went to the Creperie for a so so dinner.

I realised around 9.30 that all I'd eaten was a fruit salad for breakfast. I tend to forget food when I am energised.

Drinking about 3 litres of water a day and walking about 3hours.

Tired Lizzy.

What no photos!!!!!! - I hear you yell.

Yeh - and when exactly have I had the time to upload and resize the photos my dear reader?

No time at all at all.

Patience mon ami - I will get it sorted soon.

Love Paris and will be renting this studio for a month either in the Autumn or next year - early Spring.

If people want the contact I will share it only with my devoted readers. And I'm booking it for October.

I feel really comfortable here - as I do in Ballinamore.

Should have heard me raving about Ballinamore at the conference drinks - I love living there.

I don't speak a lot of French but I say hello, and good, and bye, and thank you instinctively - not just verbally but in my head.

Off to sleep now. Tired ... tired,

Sweet dreams.

Bon nuit.

Liz

So - here I am at the conference at the Marie Curie Uni.

Lots of men and a few women. Lots of American accents talking programming talk. Some french men across at another table - probably talking about dinner.

Me?

I've got my conference pack and a wireless connection. They have set up this huge room with tables and connections. There are a few people typing away on their computers.

My Diva laptop is the prettiest.

Feels a bit like being the new girl at the new school (something I have had a lot of experience doing - 6 or so schools when I was a kid). Everyone has someone to play with but me.

And I'll just sit back and watch people for a while.

I'll find some playmates real soon.

The newbie reception tonight will be a good place to start meeting people.

I'm also about to go to an 'Introduction to Sakai' session for 3 hours. The room will be full of newbies like me.

Hot and sunny outside.

liz

Bonjour mes amis

Sorry it's been a few days since my last blog ... it's taken me all weekend to find an adapter for the computer ... and ... get the computer linked to broadband.

I did get a chance to write some stuff offline so I'll paste it in here.

The trip from Dublin to Paris redefines nightmare.

The Dublin Airport Authority deserves a good thrashing.

There so called 'welcome helpers' sent me to the wrong line where I waited for an hour only to be then told to go to another line.

It's like the 9th pit of hell combined with what I think Limbo must have been like.

Folks - it is a rare thing to see me in a rage ... and it's a cold and scarey thing.

I seethed.

Anyway - read what I wrote on the plane as I was living it.

June 27 In Dublin the day before going to Paris.

Lolling in Brown Thomas restaurant waiting for my sauv blanc and duck roll.

So - here I am sipping on the sauv blanc and eating the yum duck roll - and - I'm watching the well dressed women around me leaning forward to each other and chatting about who knows what.

Its hot as hell in here and in Dublin.

I left Ballinamore wrapped up and cold. Thanks Cathy for the lift and great chatting to Mrs Smith & Siobhan - they're off to party in Cork.

Look at the new banner again.

Does anyone remember the tv series - Bewitched?

I thought the type face and design had a resonance of that show. I loved the show and I wonder if Marc thinks I'm a witch.

Did I mention I'm off to Paris?

I'm pretty sure that Maggie and the rest of the neighbourhood is sick of hearing about this Paris trip.

Somehow I've been able to bring it into every conversation

' Ah - your dog died. Did I tell you I'm off to Paris.'

'Great to hear about your bypass surgery ... love affair ...new book (congrats Derek) ... Spain being in the final ... Did I tell you I'm off to Paris?'

28^th June - Saturday - 7am.

And here I sit in the Aer Lingus plane.

After a long, long, long wait in the wrong line (thank you customer care at Dublin Airport - not - you big stupid people) and then another wait in another line - and then a run to get on the plane .... we wait.

We wait for an hour in the plane to get a berth to take off.

The plane is full ... of big and small people ... goddess bless them for their patience.

I did the quick check in online. And then we all had to line up to get our baggage checked in - yup - that's efficient - not.

To say I'm a little irritated would be to understate my feelings ... I'm an easy going woman but stupidity and bad service do my head in .... breathe ... breathe ... breathe... breathe

Oh - and did I tell you I have a middle seat?

And I'm deeply claustrophobic.

Yup - that's me screaming at the back of the plane .... breathe ....

And did I have an early night last night?

Not at all.

I was at Eden restaurant with Mary & Jo eating and drinking more white wine.

The cab woke me at 5am. I had about 3 minutes to get ready.

Looking forward to getting into my studio apartment in Paris and just lying down.

Folks - this is hell.

Breathe ....

I may never fly again ...

I think I'll go by ferry or swim or grow wings.

Staying strangely calm ...

They are playing classical music ... a brave attempt to sublimely calm us all.

Please get me out of here.

Your soon to be Paris blogger .... HELP .... help ....whimper ...sigh

Later that day - in Paris

I'm in love- with Paris.

Got ripped off by a dodgy cab - 90 euro.

Arrived early at Rue Maitre Albert where my studio apartment is ... and climbed the 6 flights of stairs with my huge case.

and then life just went blissful from there on

The studio was ready and it's a dote ... on a quiet street literally across from Notre Dame. It's kitted out with everything and a chaise lounge.

Liz is in heaven.

I went wandering around the neighbourhood and bought some lovely greek food and some french rose (6 euro a bottle).

After my late night, early morning and fraught flight ...I lay my head down for a siesta.

Was woken to the sound of pounding music and remembered that it's the Gay Pride parade .

It ran all the way down the Boulevard Saint Germain - which is 10 steps away from the apartment.

Thousands and thousands of people ... all celebrating (photos to follow when I can work out the new photo software on this laptop).

Great fun and I danced away and celebrated along with everyone else. It went on for hours.

In Paris they have these huge open trucks and organisations all dance on them. Between each truck was a few hundred people walking.

When the noise got too much I wandered off and explored the streets around my neighbourhood.

So far I have found:

• a creperie on the corner - think I'll have breakfast there in the morning. Also had a citron gelato - nice and cold
• a few lovely shops - bought a great necklace
• A comic shop that sells manga and tin tin. Which ones do you want Marc?
• an asian grocery across the street where I bought a mango

And here's a spooky/serendipity/synchronicity thing...

Literally 20 steps from my apartment is a shop that sells computer books and magazines!! And the guy knew about the Sakai conference!

I kid you not.

Sipping a glass of rose and eating olives stuffed with orange - yum.

It was 30 C today but is lovely and cool now.

I have my balcony window open and I can hear the sounds of people talking and walking ... really lovely.

And on the hour I hear the bells .... the bells ... of Notre Dame.

I love Paris.

Bon nuit from your Ballinamore Paris correspondent.

p.s. James - if you're reading this let me know if the sunny funny garden kids were able to garden yesterday after the rain. Just leave a comment here.

Sunday June 29

Wandered up the Rue Mouffetard which has lots of cheese, wine, chocolate, pastry shops - and an open vege and fruit market.

The feast to the senses is quite amazing and I will post photos soon.

For 14 euro I bought bags of cherries, peaches, strawberries, lemons, tomatoes ... huge handfuls of basil, mint and lambs lettuce.

Came back to the apartment and ate an amazing salad.

It's in the high 20's here and hot. So - I had a siesta.

Wandered out again and strolled along the Seine watching people in outdoor cafes sipping wine and others browsing through the booksellers wares.

Me?

I'd bought a citron sorbet at the creperie at the bottom of my street and happily ate it as I wandered along.

My destination was the university where the conference is being held. About 15 minutes walk along the Seine.

Found the Uni and wandered in to see if there were any Sakai signs up.

As I was making my way out I was approached by 2 security guards who asked me something in French.

I replied that I didn't speak French .. smiled.

They replied that they didn't speak English ... smiled.

I wandered out.

June 30 Monday

Some of the preconference sessions started at 8am this morning.

Yeh right.

I will be attending the afternoon session and then a reception for newbies like me this evening.

Sunny and warm here today as I walked along the Boulevard Saint Michel looking for an electrical store.

I really am enjoying just wandering Paris. There's so much to look at.

The buildings in this arrondisement are really beautiful and my apartment feels like it's all part of the neighbourhood.

It's central to the Seine and the Marais (great shopping) and all the Left Bank bookshops and tea shops.

And - it was only 550 euro for the week.

I'd say that it's just right for 1 person or 2 people who are very very very close.

I think I'll come here for a month next year and write and wander.

Will post photos tonight dear reader.

Au revoir

Liz

p.s - Lynda & Derek. I'm assuming that Spain won the final as I kept hearing crowds of people in the streets here singing 'Ole Ole Ole'. You guys must be delighted.

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I have uploaded the presentation that I delivered in EDT08 (European Training & Development Summit) in Prague last week to SlideShare - widget below. A few transistions and alpha transparencies have suffered in the conversion process, but the core of the slides are OK - email me if you want an original.

[slideshare id=481446&doc=edt08june08004-1214227621735178-9&w=425]

(photos from flickr)

Hope your week has had some sunshine in it.

Mine has been interesting and fun.

I've been enjoying how useful and portable my new laptop is - small and beautiful - style and function combined.

Everyone who sees Diva the laptop - loves her and wants one.

I'm imagining the Pixmania.ie crew scratching their heads as they see a buying spike in a place they have never heard of - Ballinamore.

Not only do we live in a beautiful place but we're also tech savvy.

Speaking of tech savvy - Moo Bar now has free wifi.

Do yourself a favour and pop in for a great coffee and bagel (I am scared of how much I love their brie, bacon and cranberry bagel) and surf the great netsphere.

Tonight Moo Bar has latin dancing classes.

Congrats also to Brent in Moo Bar for the great website he has designed single handed.

I showed him a 'how to' article on Google Pages (their new free & easy web site design tool) and he was off and running.

Let's see - what else has happened in my week?

I got a new contract with Leitrim Tourism, County Council & Leitrim Enterprise Board to develop an all of Leitrim promotion week.

I've called it Experience Leitrim Week - Explore + Enjoy.

The name does what it says on the tin.

Last year I wrote a Leitrim tourism product development strategy and this will inform the development of the week in April 2009.

It's a really exciting opportunity to promote the county I love.

I'm recommending a blended approach that will cover 8 themes and have 2 streams.

The streams involve a mix of packaged events/tours and what I'm calling 'build your own experience' - where you can see a wide range of places, people and events that are happening in the week and you choose what you want to do.

It could be a history walk in the morning - a massage in the afternoon - a caili in the evening - and some quiet stargazing before bed.

I'm facilitating a brainstorming meeting in July and am developing a strategy to enable Leitrim people - and people who love Leitrim - to give us their ideas. We'll be using social media and conventional media to listen.

One suggestion I have is for anyone to send photos to the Leitrim Tourism site (new site will be up in a few weeks) of the places, people and events in Leitrim they love.

I have also recommended that their site build in a number of interactive tools so people can communicate their ideas. I'm thinking that 30 second podcasts of people, characters, sayings ... from leitrim people would be great as well.

The session in July and the invitation for leitrim people to contribute ideas for the Week will be such a great opportunity for all of us to show what we love about this wonderful county.

I'm really looking forward to being a small part of the whole process.

I ate my fave bagel 3 times in Moo Bar this week. I may have to join a circle of people where the opening lines are

' Hello, my name is Liz and I'm a brie with bacon & cranberry in bagel addict ...'

Sad - very sad.

My brother Sean celebrated his birthday so I had a great chat with him in Oz. They were sitting outside after a bbq and he said it was getting a bit cold - yeh - 24C! Wimp boy. We were lucky to hit a max of 12 this week and it rained most days.

I also found out yesterday that I didn't win a social entrepreneur ireland award.

Yeh - disappointed for about 30 seconds and then let it go.

Everything has its opportunities and costs and the SEI award was no different.

I gave it my best shot and the rest was out of my control - and I never ever fuss, worry or bother about things beyond my control.

5000 euro would have come in handy for the development of SKIL2 - as would the notion of the award. They also wanted awardees to commit 5 days to networking events and that would have been costly.

I've asked them for some very specific feedback and I will use it to fine tune my presentation of SKIL2 to private and third level sponsors.

Everything really is a learning experience and I believe very deeply that the attitude you choose to any situation is what ultimately counts.

And it's the perceived failures that test our resolve. Success is easy to smile at ...

(photo from Flickr)

I choose to see this as an opportunity to fine tune how I communicate SKIL2.

I'm also very grateful to the SEI award.

Deciding to go for the award made me develop SKIL2 beyond a vague idea. It wouldn't exist otherwise.

Has not winning an award shaken my resolve about SKIL2?

It takes more than that to derail my belief in the real impact that SKIL2 could have for small to medium non profits.

Life and my business as a social entrepreneur and consultant is full of challenges - you just keep your eye on the vision and learn from everything and everyone.

So - that is over and now I focus on the future.

An aside - it's interesting to explore where you 'face' in terms of the Past, Present & Future.

I am definitely a Present & Future focused person. While I think about the Past it is not where I face. I have an uncanny ability to just let go (good and bad thing) of the past.

A dear friend would identify herself as facing the Past - a real connection to people and places along her life time line. She is well able to dream the future - but her dominant 'facing' is the Past.

Where do you face?

The next step in the SKIL2 journey - is a journey.

Off to Paris (Love saying that!) next week (Saturday 28th) for an international open source learning management systems conference - Sakai.

Look out delegates - Liz is in town.

I hope to meet people there who will help me build SKIL2.

I will be blogging on Diva for the week I'm in Paris.

And this afternoon I go and play in the Sunny Funny Garden with the kids and some grown ups.

Thank you Lindy for the seeds you sent. We will have such a plethora of sunflowers that satellites in space will be able to see their smiling faces in Ballinamore.

The crocheted butterfly is a dote and has pride of place in my kitchen.

And tomorrow I'm off on an impromptu visit to a dear friend at his country retreat in Athlone.

Given the appalling state of public transport in this country I'm amazed that there is even a bus from Ballinamore to Athlone. I'll be happily ensconced on the number 77 with my newspapers at noon tomorrow for the 2 hour trip to Athlone.

Looking forward to catching up with Feargus and exploring a bit of Athlone.

Oh yeh - had my hair cut and coloured yesterday (stay with me Dad) and love it.

So there you go dear reader - a week chock full of fun and adventures - and soooo many more to come.

Have a fab weekend.

Liz