According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word “loading” is defined as this: “Place (a load
or large quantity of something) on or in a vehicle, ship, container, etc.”
What seems like a straightforward task in definition could not be further from the truth, and this
became apparent in the sheer amount of planning, coordination, and logistics that went into making
today possible. There is so much more than simply picking up equipment and shipping it off to our
destination. No, what we accomplished today is the result of months of preparation and logistics to
ensure that everything works as it should.
Our story begins months earlier, well before the truck arrives at our pickup location. Our first
challenge was already clear: Meticulously selecting the ideal monitors, keyboards, and computers
suitable for the students in Nepal. We don’t just choose the highest-end computers or the cheapest
option. Instead, we search for a balance between price and quality. We search for an equilibrium of
these compromises the best we can and find the best hardware to accomplish our objective. After
much debating and discussion, we came to the choice of hardware. Using the capital we’ve raised,
we purchased the necessary quantities: 50 monitors, keyboards, and PCs.
Once our purchases were complete, all of our supplies would be delivered to a central location,
where they would be securely stored until moving day arrived. And today was the day we had all
been waiting for. Weeks of planning and coordination would now finally come to fruition, and each
of us adjusted our schedules to ensure we were free and available for the day.
When the final bell rang, signaling the end of another school day, we all met up in the Lounge and
then continued on, to the house generously offered by one of our members, where all our supplies
were stored.
Once we arrived at that location, we didn't waste any time. We dropped our bags and started waiting
eagerly for the truck that would send our devices on their journey to Nepal. As we waited, we took
advantage of the downtime to work on the ACAMIS grant proposal we had been working on for the
past week. It wasn’t the most thrilling part of the day, but it was necessary. We brainstormed,
revised, and made sure all the finer details were sorted out.
During the downtime, we held a productive team meeting, where we tackled a range of tasks, from
assigning who would create the PowerPoint presentation to check in on the progress of the Visa
applications for the trip to Nepal. We all sat around the table, working as a team to ensure that we
would be able to complete the preparations for our journey without any major setbacks in the
process.
Although the driver took longer to arrive than we had originally hoped, our excitement bubbled
over as soon as we spotted the grey storage truck pulling up in front of the house. Without
hesitation, we rushed to the door, ready to begin loading our supplies into the truck.
We began with the larger boxes, which contained the keyboards, knowing they were sturdier and
capable of withstanding the trip, even when stacked at the bottom of the truck. We carefully lifted
the heavy cardboard boxes and loaded them into the truck, with the driver helpfully making sure
they were packed into the available spaces as efficiently as possible.
After that came the PCs, which we carefully loaded onto the truck, taking notice of the condition and meticulously ensuring that there was no chance of damage to the electronics. After that, we finished our loading by stacking the monitors into the truck.
With the last monitor secured, we took a moment to stand back and admire the goods within the
truck, the boxes packed tightly against each other. All the effort we put in seemed worth it, knowing
that each piece was one step closer to making a real difference in the lives of those who needed
it most.
As we waved goodbye to the truck, a sense of pride and accomplishment washed over us as the
weight of what we had completed sunk in. Bit by bit, we were making a true difference.
Another milestone in our long journey toward a successful trip to Nepal was now behind us. With
March 30 just under a month away, the excitement was building. And when that long-awaited day finally
arrives, I can’t wait to continue this blog while overlooking the cityscape of Kathmandu.
Blog Written by Jonathan Leuth
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