This is the part of the trip when things get a little tricky. People feel as though they've mastered the various construction techniques and are ready to do them on their own or start giving directions to others. The endpoint of the trip is nearing, so people start to want to do everything, pack in everything, in the shrinking time remaining. Cumulative fatigue is setting in for everyone, making tempers a little shorter, annoyances a little larger. And yet, the basic team spirit builds and overcomes most if not all of this.
Had a good day building today. Mixed and poured floors for both houses, put roofs on both houses, mixed and poured the porch for the duplex (larger) house. Interior (and in some cases, exterior) plastering is all that remains. Weather permitting, that should be easily accomplished before we leave.
As construction nears an end, the tasks become more concentrated, and it becomes harder for all people to be fully engaged all the time. In my other trips, this always frustrated me--I always wanted to be busy, didn't want to have to "share" work. In my new role, as team leader, I'm more willing to lay back, let others be involved, step in only when and as needed. Probably makes me look lazy, but so be it.
Concrete is a mix of cement, sand, and gravel/stone. The precise mixture depends on the purpose, the mason, and money. Here, they have to buy the cement and sand. They can gather the gravel/stone and a sand substitute along the roadside. So the proportion of bought material vs. gathered material will vary depending on your budget and willingness to gather.
One family spends less, meaning we gather sand-like stuff from the side of the road and the mixture is rougher (read: "exposed aggregate", which in the states we pay extra for.) The other family bought sand, meaning the mixture is smoother. Money always affects the finished product.
Also learned that it's the family's responsibility to get the necessary materials there when we need them. First house: irresponsible male (apparently, the village drunk) so he doesn't always provide the things we need when we need them. Second house (two sisters): strong father around who makes sure they transport the sand delivered some ways away and get it there on time for us to use.
How do you make Rice Krispies? Take rice you've grown, bake it over an open fire. ( Not sure whether it goes snap, krackle and pop if you add milk though.)
Nabin is a young man who rides with us on the bus. He's 14 and I assumed he was the driver's son. Turns out he isn't--his father is a drunk who has two wives (not uncommon, and legal in Nepal). Nabin decided he didn't want to be like that, quit school, asked the driver if he could work for him for free. He comes with us, has now begun working on the build site, learned how to mix concrete, put up walls, etc. Not sure he made the best choice. Regret that he even had to make a choice.
I love roofing, so I was looking forward to doing it here. Turns out roofing here involves lifting up sheets of corrugated tin, overlapping them, then lifting up concrete block to weigh them down in the monsoon winds. Takes perhaps an hour. So much for roofing expertise!
Weather has turned--was hot and dry last week, cooling down some. Recently, clear in the morning, hot until after lunch, clouds roll in, maybe rain at night. Prelude to the rainy season.
Experienced the Nepali medical system today. One of our team members stepped off a path on the way to the toilet and hurt her foot. Just in case, we took her to the hospital to get it checked out. Chose the "expensive", private hospital to get better service and better quality care. Immediately treated upon arrival, x-rayed, seen by an orthopedic doctor, given a prescription, filled at the hospital pharmacy. Torn ligament in her foot, doesn't require surgery, just rest for a few weeks. Being a foreigner, Habitat had to pay the whole bill upon discharge. $28. Total time at hospital: 1 hour. Same care as in the states, same treatment, same diagnosis, different cost, different time.
I am always interested in group dynamics. I enjoy observing and trying to analyze what's going on. I enjoy in a different way trying to manage them in my team leader role.
On to plastering!
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