G Ardamerinos
My first interaction with Wiki (24/7/2012)
After talking with Mrs. Georgia Proestopoulos for the last time (yesterday) I was extremely disappointed and depressed for many reasons, but I decided to stay. It sure is a valuable experience but I think that it could be ten times better, did it have more organization. If it wasn't for my classmates I wouldn't know what would happen. Never mind. Yesterday, I decided to take action and start designing the 3D cad for the trencher, even though it wasn't what I expected. I used all the knowledge I gained from Greece and I started the project. I did the design of the motor, the base and the axis with Creo Elements in which Nassos helped me a lot by measuring some parts and Theo with Big George designed the trencher's head with google Sketchup.So far, the designs are pretty good. Generally, I feel that we are just starting to be productive and do exactly what I came here for. I am very optimistic about the trencher and I believe that in three days we can make it work, not very effectively but good enough for a prototype. I want to build it and show it to everybody. Just to say that I was creative. I have been working on it the last two days and I spend many hours in front of my computer, so I feel really good about it. It needs a lot of work, patience and observation. I also feel nice about the fact that Marcin participates in this project even for half an hour a day. This really encourages me and if we finish the trencher project early I would be really glad to build more stuff. I also studied SAT physics these days and I keep walking... as for the TOEFL, I don't know but I don't feel like studying for it with all these people around me, I just can't concentrate.
The previous days I was very frustrated and I couldn't stand this place any more. I was thinking of my family, my friends and especially Iliana who is leaving to Canada in the 3rd of August for good this time and I wanted to be at the airport to say goodbye. I was really angry because during these 22 days that passed I was waiting for things to become better and I was trying to participate in a project in the workshop but "we weren't the priority" so I was just waiting for Marcin to make a decision so as to organize something. Otherwise we should leave. After trying for so long I just wanted to leave and at that point things became better but I was really tired and knowing how many things I could do in Greece all this period I just wanted to go back. Then I thought about it and I said that since I came here I should be productive in this opportunity and spend even the last days efficiently. I am not sure yet about if its worth staying, but I want to make sure that I made the best I could. Walking in the dark... We will see in the end. :/
Arrival - Now
We are in the half of the program. Since our arrival many things have happened that may change my life and my perspective generally for life forever. I thought about which are my goals and my priorities, what and who worths in life and what and who doesn't. I realized how many things can someone do in his life not only for him, but also for society. A discussion with my friend Tzelos made me to think about what I really want to do in my life and how should I behave in very mentally hard situations like death. Death makes you reorganize your thoughts and pay attention on the real life. Nothing is stable so you have to experience everything you can and spend substantial time with your family. We live just once. Also I got closer to my classmates and had really fun moments with them, especially with Big George, xixixixixi.
As for the work I did here all this time it is very complicated. In the beginning we collected roots from a purple flower. Then, when we started the meetings, we did a lot of chores that had to do with agriculture, the near environment and workshop's electricity. In tandem, I tried to participate in any project in the workshop, but I ended up with only doing chores and sometimes Bri and Aidan taught me some things about welding, torching, construction, etc. Chris helped me a lot to understand some things about 3D CAD and he was always there when I was lost. What is more, we began learning Arduino! It was something that I couldn't do in Greece, but the negative part is that we learned only some basic stuff for them and when me and Theo had enough questions to ask, they just told us that we were not the priority and this project unfortunately stopped after a lot of effort with tutorials and imagination. A couple of days passed without doing something specific. I studied for SAT, read my book, searched for some topics and watched tutorials. I was really in the need of doing something creative which would have to do with engineering, so I decided to fix Marcin's motorbike. Chris helped me and in some hours we made it work. I was very proud of myself. During the next three days I didn't do something specific so I decided τo try to fix an old rototiller. Unfortunately, it was so old, dirty and broken that I don't thing there is any chance of repairing it. Then, Aidan told me about another rototiller which was in a better condition. While taking a look on it I observed that the fuel tank was missing. I tried to find another one but I failed. After this Marcin arrived. Gabi told me to search for water filters and so I did. Also during all this time, some participants taught us a few things on engineering and agriculture. Our project started right after these things.
