Global Kids' Online Leadership Program

Having one home under my belt, I was ready to build a larger property for Global Kids, to challenge me to take my SL learning to the next level.

I decided to keep it as airy as possible, as for before. It meant I had to trust my neighbors, as their design would directly affect my own. I quickly doubled the plot, buying the adjacent land.

Everything would be close to the water. I began by taking a standard pier and repeating it over and over. Then I bought a diving board and a floatation device. It was the beginning.

I thought you acquired something in SL by either building or buying it. I had yet to understand Second Life's third way.

I met BigRick and Enchtris, my neighbors. They had a home next door and a new mall not far from that. Sure, they were concerned that their neighbors consider some basic uniform zoning guidelines, to maintain our region, but they sincerely wanted to help me out.

They gave me free piers I could play with and a modifiable teleportation device. They were always free with their time when I had a technical question. Their boundless generosity was striking, and these two would turn out to be the norm. People in SL love to share - their objects, their advice, and their skills.

I divided the space into a Cartesian grid. Once cell was for the diving board. You click to dive. It was cool. The walkway is submerged; your feet are in water. Later I would build an underground cave complex, requiring you to dive in to enter.

The other walkway contained floatation devices, which I really enjoyed at first. Very relaxing. Your just float around.

I planned to build some form of a water ride. But once I had to start learning code, I hit a wall. I liked making things from scratch, or modifying existing code (like the teleport balls), but I drew the line at working with complex code. Either I would have to pay for it or inspire people to donate their time. Social networking would be essential.

Here I am mid-dive.

Note that my shirt and shoes are off - I did not yet have the Global Kids' bathing suite, my first customized SL-wear. Once I got that I felt I was really in style. To have it made I went to a bathing suite store I found in the Find --> Places tool, found a suite I liked, then IM'd the creator and asked what he would charge to make a custom version with the GK logo on it.

Also, at first, all I had was a water property, surrounded by other water property. I could not tell where one began and the other ended. I solved that by buying fish and putting them in the corner. Then I got in the bumper inner tubes and paddled around the surrounding regions.

Now, with the basic build out of the way, I am in full social mode. To organize them I created a group, Global Kids Allies, and encouraged anyone interested in our work to join.

As I met people I learn about what they liked to do in SL then tell them about Global Kids, the projects leading us into SL, and my interest in finding help with our work.

I could only go to SL at night, so all of my social network was from the evening. Because my property was visible, as BigRick and Enchtris would visit, others would drop by. In this picture, it felt like an impromptu party had begun. Throwing a party with no effort. It was a bit wild. But it's past midnight and I had to get to sleep. Is it rude in SL to leave my own party?

Posted by joyce at 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When I first arrived in Second Life, I decided I needed to buy some land and build.

I randomly chose a spot that did not cost more than $20US, taught myself to "terraform" the land to create this tower of earth, and learned how to make those brown platforms, then bought furniture and the waterfalls.

I liked all the air. I pad no attention to the land around me. It was a small accomplishment, but I was proud.

Little did I know what a mistake I had made.

I set up the platforms so that when you walked he edge you landed on the one below it. I also arranged a couch so two could view the water portal.

However, I had a surprise when I flew around looking for neighbors to show my new land. The first couple I found was having sex. The second was in the midst of a domination scene.

Once I found some avatars clothed somewhat like myself, they taught me my first SL lesson: most areas in Second Life are rated "me" for mature. I needed property in a "PG" region. But first before I sold it, I wanted to show off my work...

Meanwhile, I learned another important lesson: neighbors are everything. The tall tower behind my property obnoxiously destroyed my tranquil scene by randomly flashing textures. This also caused a glitch making the textures in my own property go haywire.

Funny incident: I gave an intern at my office access to my account. He played around for a half hour, just to see how the space worked. That night, within Second Life, a fellow tracked me down. He looked mad. He approached and said, "Please remove your box from my roof." I had no idea what he meant until I saw it. My intern had created one and left it there! Lesson Learned: don't loan out your avatar!

As I prepared to sell my home, I saw an avatar next door on the map. A neighbor? No, a customer, looking to buy shoes. Her name was Abigail. I was actually nervous when she agreed to stop shopping and take a look

I walked her through the space, showing off my favorite touches. It was fun. I was surprised to learn how awkward I felt, spending time with a "beautiful" avatar, making conversation, as if I was on a date or something.

Before she left I felt even more awkward - in person I would kiss a check, hug or shake hands. In SL, not only did I not know how to make physical contact, I was afraid it might be interpreted as an invitation for some "M"-rated activity!

Before I left her sitting on a platform watching the water, we traded cards. That way I would know when she was online. She did not own property like me, only staying at places friends would loan.

I promised to give her a tour of my next home once it was complete. I had found a "PG" -rated region that could be what this region could not. The region was all water-based, no land to form, and I could make it open-aired as I liked. Plus, I bought four times the space. I knew I needed more room for Global Kids to grow.

Within a few days my old property sold for twice the amount I had originally paid.

Posted by joyce at 4:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)