What did you say you were doing in South Africa?

First of all...for those wondering why I haven't blogged more frequently...consistent internet connection is a luxury! It's so intermittent, its difficult to upload my blog!

So, to answer the question of "What on earth are you doing in South Africa?", which I seem to be getting alot....
 
Our project at the University of Limpopo is to provide recommendations for their Centre of Excellence in Human Language Technology. They want students to be able to type or speak in their native language (there are 11 languages in the province of Limpopo) into a computer and have the computer translate to English. Lofty goals for a 4 week assignment.

For starters, our team of 12, and our fabulous Digital Opportunity Trust representatives, Jill and Muriaki drove 90 minutes to the Ivanhoe Mines by our awesome driver, Joseph.

 

 Our first experience was having to stop to let a troop of baboons cross the “highway”. A unique commuting experience, for sure! If you look carefully, on the right side, you can see them. I wasn't quick enough with my camera. There were about 30 of them!

Our second experience was to take a breathalyzer. Anyone entering the mines must be tested for alcohol – even if we were only going into the corporate office – not “into the mines”. Employees say “9 before 9”, meaning 9 drinks before 9:00 pm to pass the breathalyzer. Pretty sure I won't have a problem with that!

The team of 12 IBMers getting briefed by Muriaki in preparation for our upcoming projects.

 

Before embarking on our specific project, the Corporate Service Corp team of 12 IBMers met with the stakeholders of all 3 projects: ICT project – developing a strategy for the Limpopo Economic Development, Ivanhoe Mines team is working on a strategy for developing community centers in very poor villages, and our team. This photo is of all the stakeholders, IBMers, and DOT coordinators. It was very enlightening!

After the "big meeting", we finally got a chance to speak with our stakeholders from the University of Limpopo.  (left to right) Professor Khomo, Sameer (my team), Mr. Manemela, Anshu (my team), and Mike (my team). Both are very nice gentlemen that are very passionate about keeping first languages of indigenous African people by providing text to speech and speech to text for all 11 languages spoken in Limpopo – quite a lofty goal and mountains of challenges!  

Some companies have squirrels outside their offices…..Ivanhoe has monkeys!

There were lots of them outside the Ivanhoe offices. Apparently there is a problem with playful monkeys breaking into cars and stealing food.

 

Waiting to see what type of trouble he can get into!

 

 

"IBMCSC"

The University of Limpopo main entrance and security gates. This is where we go to work every day.