Another Peruvian moment...

Before I continue with sharing about the conference, I just have to tell about another Peruvian moment we just had.

Yesterday morning, our sweet empleada, Maria, was mopping upstairs and accidentally hit the plug with all the computer stuff out of the wall. Normally, one would just plug it back in and all would be well, but not here. I plugged it back in and we had internet, but no Vonage...again. It is a very persnickety system.

I worked all morning doing the unplugging and replugging of every cord connecting the Vonage to the router and by doing so lost my internet connection as well. I spent the rest of the day unplugging and replugging the router stuff, even unplugging everything in an attempt to set it all up again as if brand new, wrapping up the superfluous cordage hoping that just tidying up would even help. Nope. We went to bed with the router unplugged praying that it would be done with it's fit by morning.

I awoke and replugged the router cheering it on as the little lights began flashing. Still nothing. Now I realize I'm going to have to call Telefonica, the service provider and let them know our Speedy internet no existe (doesn't exist). And I'm pretty sure they aren't going to have a "press this button for English" option.

After breakfast I get on the phone - it takes two tries to get through to someone - not bad. I immediately ask the little guy I get to speak slowly - which he does sometimes - and we get busy trying to figure out the problem.

He has me turn the router on and off. I do and then inform him that we have done this many times. "Ahh yeah. Ok, then open up your browser and type 123.456.1.1" (I made those up - I don't remember the numbers). I am thinking this isn't going to work, since I don't have internet, but I also know that I don't understand the techinical logistics, so I obey.

Nothing. I relay the report to which he then tells me - and this is the Peruvian moment, "Then the problem is in your computer ,because if you can't get that page to open, that means the problem is not with the router. You need a new computer." Of course.

I relay this to John and he says, "Tell them to send someone over." I obey and am told , "We can send someone over, but if there is nothing wrong with the router, you will have to pay between 50-70 solis." I relay this to John to which he says, "I'll take that risk. Tell them to send someone."

So the technicians show up about 45 minutes later - very punctual and very un-Peruvian. Take a look at our router, do some magic and have it working within 5 minutes. And we didn't have to pay anything. Muy amable. Very nice.

I tell the techs that the guy on the phone told me that we needed to buy a new computer. Even they laughed at that.

So congratulate us. We made it through our first service call in Peru without help - and got what we wanted - the internet is fixed and even the Vonage is working...for now.