Team #2 Costa Rica | Day 6

The following article was contributed by a Global Village trip participant.

It is Friday night.  I am filthy and exhausted and happy.  The filth and exhaustion hopefully require little explanation.  We just finished a week of hole-digging (in red clay), post-setting, mixing cement and rocks, and putting in concrete wall panels that easily weigh over 100 pounds each.  Each house has dozens of panels.  We did all of this in 90-degree heat, little shade, and high humidity. 

Today was only a half-day on site.  This afternoon was a celebration with members of the Biolley community:  cake, music, football (the real football you play with your feet), and a horrifying game involving children swinging sticks in close quarters called “piñata.” 

It’s a mixed bag on the last day.  There are a lot of emotions going on.  It feels good to be done with the week, it’s sad to go, I want to stay and keep working (and not just because it’s still snowing in Minnesota).  The food here has been fantastic, and I feel guilty wanting to go home and eat a donut.  But I still want a donut. 

This week has been a pure joy.  We are leaving something permanent behind – two new homes with walls up and ready to get roofs.  Those houses are part of a larger neighborhood of dozens of Habitat homes that will change this area permanently.  Relationships have also been built.  I have over 20 new friends who joined me for the week, and this experience creates bonds that will hopefully last a lifetime.  We’ve also built relationships with members of the Biolley community, and that is priceless. 

This is my third Global Village trip.  I certainly see more Costa Rica trips in my future.  I love this stuff so much I’m leading a Global Village trip to India in November (shameless plug!).  So, for me, this is more than just a week.  It’s a part of what is suddenly turning into a lifelong process of building homes and hope around the world.

This week may be over, but the memories will live on for years to come.  I hope to see you on the build site (in MSP or overseas) in the near future!

 Peace,

Jon Slock