"Cucumber time"...

[Guest]

.

[Ramón]

... or "komkommertijd" in Dutch. That's what they call the period when there is no news over in the Netherlands. It's the time when newspapers don't have anything else to report than the status of the cucumber harvest.

And that's what it looks like around Kiva as well. The number of loans is down to about 70. The number of posts is down to a few per day here on Kivafriends, and any new posts are from forum regulars like Joe and Julia. And there hasn't been any mail on the Kivaloans Yahoogroup for a few days.

What's up? Is everybody too busy doing other things?

--Ramón

[Julia]

I've been busy planning the Agent of Change-LA event, and taking pictures for my next Kiva YouTube video. 

I've been watching the Kiva loans over the days, they are getting funded fast. 

There are currently NO loans to Africa. wow.

[Ari]

I have a solo recital in four weeks that I'm preparing for... even told my Kiva translator liaison to put me on hold until May 23d.  I still check back here about once a day, but like you say it's pretty calm so I don't have that much to say

[Wood Fairy Glenda]

I'm spending many hours every fairly decent day eradicating invasive plants, planting native plants, monitoring insects and birds, re-mulching paths, moving log piles, and working with "service learning" university students (not to mention 7-yr-old Cub Scout volunteers).  Check once or twice a day, but am outside a whole lot more than I'm inside with my computers.  Cheers, Wood Fairy Glenda

[optimistic.bob]

I wish!  I have two AGM's to chair in the the next week, a coalition action team on 'living wage' to coordinate, an annual report and financial audit to complete, and $75K to raise. But, it appears that spring has finally arrived in Calgary and I can cycle every day which is great for clearing my head and listening to podcasts. If this is cucumber time - we could use about 200 kg for next week's lunches 

[Julia]

Glad to hear spring has arrived.  My father keeps sending me updates of the weather in Calgary since he left here (California) last month.  Makes me not complain about our lower-than-average 65 degree weather.

I have to get back to my grant proposal writing. I'm trying to raise a few million for my science... Sigh, I actually tell people sometimes that I am a science fiction writer.  I do spend a lot of time writing about science that hasn't happened yet.

[multimutts]

Ramon,

I just wanted to say thank you for giving me this new phrase .... "cucumber time" ..... I love it! 

patti

[Kevin]

I'd spent so much time reading Kiva pages that I got way behind in my work. Some of the book projects I've got in my office right now include a new translation of War & Peace, a biography of Picasso, and a book about Mexican immigration and the future of race in America, by a columnist for the LA Times. No cucumber time here!

[Marley]

I've been in another state, making my monthly visit to a chronically ill family member, for whom I act as conservator. I've been catching up on reading the postings today. Thanks for naming the lull, Ramon, and giving us the chance for a group check-in. Spring is finally beginning to make itself felt here. Now I'm heading out to put my hands into  dirt and do some transplanting. Next week I get to drive to VA to bring my daughter home from college! Soon the sounds of bickering will be heard again, (sisters, three years apart,) but they do it with a sense of humor at this age, which makes all the difference. I can't wait.

[Ramón]

Well, so here's what I've been up to the last few weeks:
- Work is overwhelming. I'm only 3 weeks behind on "critical" projects/issues that all needed a resolution yesterday.
- My daughter's 4th birthday. I never knew organizing children's birthdays (daycare, family, home, ...) was this much work.
- Finally finished MVLL's "La ciudad y los perros".
- Spent too much time on this website. But not quite as much as some of the other members of this forum...
- Just made my first loan to Bolivia!
- Worked in the back yard last weekend between birthday parties and babysitting duties for other couples.
- I did so much more, but it's been so busy that I really can't remember it all... Oh yes, I've been eating cucumbers of course

[QueenOfHearts]

I am not addicted, I am not addicted, I am not addicted......well at least I didnt make the list of top 10 posters like some people I know....
I have also been working, who said summer is a down time for CPA's...all those extensions and not enough hours.  Been to several auctions (you dont want to look in the trunk of my car right now!!), worked on my booth at the Antique Center along with my required "one day a month" work time.  Did some updating on a web site I maintain for a local swim club and also visited said swim club.  Spending time with my Grandbaby (and yes Ramon I know how much work a kid's party can be!)(when do we get to see the birthday girl?)  Had a viewing yesterday along with a trip to the book store to pick up my reserved copy of Harry Potter, yard work always, hmmmm I guess that's it.  Plus I also love the term Ramon....I will be doing "cucumber time" in a few weeks when I go on vacation.
Queen

[AccountAbility]

I must have missed this thread earlier, so I went back and read it through.  Enjoyed it.

Back in April, Ramon commented that the "cucumber time" was the slow time when Kiva loan opportunities were down to 70.  What should we call the time now when the loan opportunities are down to 35? 

[vilaura]

Now we're at 26. I've never seen so few before. I guess this is a good thing as it means loans are being funded quickly?

[AccountAbility]

My perception is that the loans that are there are taking as long as normal to fund. 

If this is so, then there can't be a lot of loans getting funded.  We'd be seeing them flow through.

On another thread, I expressed the hope that Joe could put the statistics at the top of the page into a timeline.  Then we could be more sure of our perceptions.

[stubear1012]

I like the phrase "cucumber time".  I checked Matt articles on the Kiva Chronciles and in the early months, they had several dry periods of no loans.    Hopefully as long as there are some loans waiting to be funded then any new members will be able to make their first loan.  Once they make their first loan then the email updates will keep them hooked.   

[wind5001]

We've got a similar phrase in German, only that we don't take the fresh product "cucumber" but rather the pickled version: "sour pickles time"...you know how crazy we Germans are about preserving things in vinegar...just think of sauerkraut...

On the number of loans: I was quite shocked, when I saw there were only 30 on earlier today...Maybe Ben can give us a clue?

[AccountAbility]

I can't think of a worse "downer" for newbies hitting the Kiva website than to find out there are 80 something thousand lenders out there and only 34 loans to fund.   

"Gee, these guys won't miss me."

Even for a pseudo-addict, it's hardly worth looking through again. 

[Ramón]

Got a "loan emergency" email from Naomi yesterday, asking if we could chip in doing some extra translations. This is a real issue for the growth of Kiva. It doesn't make much sense to get more and more lenders, if there are no loans to fulfill. That's why expansion of MFI partners is so important for Kiva...

--Ramón