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Early Riser

We arrived in Port-au-Prince about 2 PM Saturday afternoon. Sunday was our first work day. I was on the first boat going ashore, at the crazy hour of 5:30 AM. My assignment was to set the GATR antenna up at the boat landing zone, and assist with communications there. Unfortunately as we pulled out of Colombia, the AC adapters for two of the BGAN terminals were left behind, along with some extension cords. So that meant using the GATR would really be useful.

After two days of getting up at 4 AM and being ashore by 6 AM attempting to get the GATR antenna on the network, I still have not been successful. It is really hot here, and the first morning I forgot my hat. I set in on one of the x-ray machines in the Casualty Receiving area while I was loading my backpack with an MRE and lots of bottled water. It wasn't until I was on shore that I realized my mistake. I had some sunscreen and a bandana, so was able to avoid a bad burn. In between bouts of working out in the sun, I'm able to take a breather under the big canopy that's been set up. The breeze that blows through there, along with the shade, makes the heat almost bearable.

I'll go back out again on Tuesday and work some more. I can find the satellite, get receive lock on it, but the problem comes with a strong enough transmit signal. It's really strange, since the antenna performed so well in Ecuador and Colombia.

Yesterday and today we've had medical personnel ashore, working at three clinic sites. Both days I've seen many Haitians get on the Hospitality boats to come out to the Comfort for surgical procedures.

Around lunch time today Greg, the MAF program manager, stopped by to say hi. I'll be staying with him this coming weekend. It was good to see him, and was a small sign to me that my time on the Comfort is coming to an end. A week from today I'll be flying home.

Posted by David at September 3, 2007 04:17 PM