The following entry was contributed by a Global Village team member.
Another early start. Yet, despite that everyone was probably tired from the camp-like sleeping situation and definitely sore from the tons of earth and dirt we moved, everyone was in high spirits and ready to work.
We continued pointing the seams on what I determined is the 1st house. Once that was done most of us stayed at that house where we started covering the columns with more of the same mortar. I don’t think anyone realized what we were getting into.
Most of us had limited experience with a trowel and with very little instruction we dove eagerly into the task. Mortar was flying everywhere. Dripping on our feet, sliding down the walls, in big piles on the dirt floor. At the end of the day I felt like I was covered in it.
At some point in the morning, one of the site supervisors, Eleseño, inspected our work and without saying as much, indicated that we weren’t doing as good a job as we would have liked. There were two issues: some of the mortar wasn’t thick enough and the smoothing wasn’t uniform enough. Despite the language barrier, we came to a compromise: the volunteers would put up the mortar and the experts would smooth it. After lunch, the pace of progress seemed to quicken. We still have a lot of troweling to do tomorrow.
Yesterday night we were told that tonight’s cultural activity would be visiting the workshop of Pancho (the visionary who designed the amazing place that we are currently calling home). Pancho however, was finishing up an art fair about 2-3 hours away and plans were switched this morning to what we had planned to do on Thursday, ice cream and soccer. The heat of the day made everyone quite excited in the afternoon at the thought of ice cream. When we got on the bus to leave the site, Rebecca informed us that plans were switched back and we were going to Pancho’s. A riot almost ensued.
After cleaning up and resting we started the 15 minute hike to Pancho’s. In true Tico time fashion the hike took more like 30 minutes. We trekked up the mountain, climbing over treacherous logs and stones, in the heat and humidity. It was well worth it. Pancho is a very fascinating man and the view of the valley was amazing. The sunset was awe-inspiring.
While sitting with the group after dinner, chatting and joking, I was thinking about how phenomenal every person here is. Today was hot (according to my tiny wolf thermometer, the temperature reached at least 95º) and frustrating. We were thrown into a task that most were unfamiliar with. But no one gave up. No one threw their trowel down and quit. Not one out of the 20 very different people. The level of perseverance and dedication present here is like nothing I have seen before. Everyone is determined to get these three homes finished by the end of week and despite the long way we still have to go, I really feel it’s possible.
-Meagan
Becky Engen
Becky Engen : 9:29 AM on February 25, 2014
