We took the plane to Guatemala today. No food was served, but there was television playing (lots of “Everybody Loves Raymond”). The most exciting parts of the ride were when they made us fill out a confusing form just to tell us that, “Oops, it’s the wrong one,” and the landing, which was just like a roller coaster with a good view.

We finally got in to Guatemala City’s small airport.  Almost to the exit, a guard asked me something in Spanish. This was the moment when I realized that I was in a place where I knew nothing anyone was saying.  Outside we found a guy holding a sign with our name on it and we followed him to a car in a parking lot. I heard some faint American pop music on the radio as we entered the car.

They began their trip from a warehouse in Oakland, California last summer and ended it in Antigua, Guatemala. Eighty computers – donated to Child Aid by The Indigenous Society – were wrapped, packed and shipped to Guatemala for use in our schools and libraries.

The social multiplier effect of a donation of 80 used computers to Guatemala is mind-boggling. The equation goes something like this: Take 80 computers multiplied by 8 hours total of learning time a day multiplied by 5 days a week multiplied by 52 weeks a year plus the Internet and it equals hundreds of children with access to thousands of new learning opportunities. This, in an area of the world where just finding any educational opportunities is a challenge.