Lazy days catching up with the business of living…e-mails, groceries, laundry…and a bit of fun…a welcome “time out” between teams for all.
Levi went riding into the northern hills, Gabi captured time on the river with her family, and I did some bicycling…
13jul07
We visited the Slovakian Land House in Szarvas this morning, a holdover from days past, an example of the Slovak lifestyle and a study in economy/efficiency of space and resources. The “kitchen” area is more a small open space with an oven on each end and a high open ceiling with racks for drying/smoking meats. The ovens are actually contained within beehive structures in the adjoining room(s), so as heat was generated for cooking, the home itself was heated as well.
There is a “clean room” where the best of the family’s belongings were kept and guests were housed. A second room, similar in layout was where the family lived and slept day to day. Space was maximized; for example, a baby’s cradle hung from the ceiling when not in use, and over the parents’ bed at night. If the baby fussed, one could simply reach up and gently rock the cradle without getting out of bed…see pix of this and the past two weeks at http://smarie.phanfare.com/.
Lunch, ice cream, and farewells followed, as the Ireland GV team made its way to Budapest en route to home. They leave behind an impact and legacy beyond the norm, unique simply in their sharing as a family, enhanced by the work accomplished on site.
12jul07
Steady rain has fallen through the night, waiting for 0745 to roll around to determine what the day will bring. If the rain stops we may be able to continue, if not, the “game” may be called on this the last working day for the Ireland GV team, as most of what we seek to accomplish requires electricity and drier ground. Disappointing, as we’ve hit a groove and rhythm working the concrete and feel we could layout one and perhaps two more of the three remaining unit floors with good weather…
Eureka!!! Prayers for a clear day prevailed, and armed with determination, mud-caked shoes, and smiles all but one floor section were completed by day’s end. (not enough materials, or we would’ve finished that one as well…cool!)
The team left the site spotless, and rounded out the day with a riverside dinner with the families who will receive these homes. Beautiful evening, cool, and clear.
11jul07
Back on site with a cool and breezy day switching to warm and sunny by midday. Fencing to separate the current project from the one just dedicated was completed (all three Szarvas projects are on the same land space), trenches for water covered, soil leveled and dispersed, and sand packing/leveling/tamping continued as the concrete floor progressed.
Today I felt my intended role as site supervisor to Levi’s construction manager on site begin to come to life, left in the afternoon to teach and direct the concrete pouring and leveling process. The team split into the concrete mixing/delivering group and those learning and doing the concrete finishing work: lay-up/screed/leveling/floating. All hard and intense work and 100% satisfying for all. For the first time I feel what I have to offer here being implemented; I pray that it will continue to hold in this way, knowing that it takes time for those here to be certain that I bring not only knowledge of the building process but the ability to learn their specifics, do them, and teach them; this is the best of Habitat life and that which continually draw/calls me to it. It is this process that builds not just homes but community, in this setting on a truly global scale as those who live here interact with and share themselves with foreign GV teams who come to do the same here and in nearly 100 countries around the world.
We toured the Old Lutheran Church this evening, learning more about the church under and beyond communist rule, as well as the many outreach programs this church offers to the community today, among them an elder care home, school, and rehab/class program for recovering addicts, alcoholics and the like. The latter program has a 60-65% success rate in returning folks to the work force (as compared to the projected 35% hoped for at the programs inception).
Following the tour Pastor Zsolt Lazar and one of his associate pastors hosted us for pizza and Hungarian wine in the church’s wine cellar. Though not with us this evening, Gabi made the experience still more special with a gift of plum liquor made by her father, vegan salad ordered especially for me, and linens and table settings laid out for our arrival. Her expansive nature and attention to detail in work and towards the team continues to capture all; she is an amazing woman.
The team came to my apartment for ice cream to cap the night (fitting repast in what was once an ice cream parlor, yes?
10jul07
Should be an easier day if the breeze keeps coming; yesterday was hot, still, and presented real challenges in working the concrete before it set up.
Such a breeze that thunder, lightning and rain came in and concrete and other work was suspended : (as we broke for an early lunch in hopes of continuing. Though all would’ve stayed through the afternoon’s showers and rain (sans the thunder and lightning), it became a “guy’s afternoon out”, working and digging, and joining Levi for a pint afterwards. The full group came together for another traditional Hungarian repast at Regimodi’s, this time hosted by Gabi. Great food, great conversation, and enlightenment as the connection with Lissy and her Habitat work as Ireland ‘s GV coordinator became clear to Gabi; amazing how much simpler things become and how perception(s) shift as we step into another’s shoes, even for a moment. For her to interact directly with a sending coordinator was a gift and an opportunity to converse one on one and see the process from the other side…very cool.
We are pouring the first layer of concrete floor, or rather, laying it in wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow. I'm not sure how many square meters of floor there are, but can tell you it is a lengthy, hot, and intense project, requiring far more care than the initial foundation walls, as we are now really pushing to make certain everything is level and square. Levi is fairly tense in this stage, as it determines the ease with which the remainder of the house will go up. He prefers to do the more exacting work himself, though I convinced him to teach and let me try yesterday, and will see if we can get more of the team involved today.
No comments:
Post a Comment