19-22nov07
Quiet office days, working on things administrative and spending rare whole days with Gabi (as I am most often on the worksite). Possibilities for growth lay in expanding volunteerism and family education/commitment/connectedness, and I am brainstorming possible strategies to bring these to life here. While I will be on to other responsibilities, the international volunteers who follow may be in a position to expand on and develop programs in this area… global teamwork in action.
Friday, November 23, 2007
A Hungarian wedding...
Sat17nov07
Attended the wedding ceremony of Project 3 family members Aniko and Zsolt at the mayor’s office. The bride and groom arrive in separate cars via a specified route. Upon completion of the ceremony they take a different route than the way in which they arrived, a “good luck” tradition.
Before the days of printed invitations, when a couple began preparing for their wedding, it was the responsibility of the best man (the godfather of the bride and groom) to make personal verbal invitations to the guests, often in a rhyme. He was often also responsible for arranging up to three days of festivities and amusements. Today, couples are still expected (as much as possible) to invite their close relatives, friends and neighbors in person together as a couple. For us, Aniko hand delivered invitations in the company of her mother and children, with a specially printed English insert for yours truly.
Traditional bride's attire included a marvelously embroidered dresses with floral patterns and a bold variation of three bright colors, often with many underskirts and an elaborate head-dress often with wheat woven into it. The fancy beaded and embroidered dolls popular as tourist items in Hungary are modeled after traditional wedding attire. Modern brides usually wear white gowns; Aniko was beautiful in a simple pale ivory satin bodice and skirt with a scattering of ivory embroidery.
In olden times Hungary, large groups of people, often the whole village, would form a Wedding Procession marching to the bride's home and escorting her and all her trousseau in a painted and decorated cart to the groom's house or the church. (I have seen variations of this in summer weddings here, with the wedding parties in horse drawn open carriages.) Celebrations along the way would take place as people would come out of their homes and often toast the couple and offer their best wishes. Arriving at the groom's home, the bride would be greeted by his parents - sometimes with a candle or a glass of wine - the glass she would toss behind her - or with an egg on the floor that she would break to assure healthy children. Or sometimes they would offer her honey and braided cake to assure sweetness. Sometimes a handful of small coins ("little money") would be tossed on the floor and a broom would be left in the home's doorway for her to grab and start sweeping to show her industriousness. A couple would be given a couple of dishes to smash loudly for her to sweep up as well - carefully separating the coins from the pottery. The more shards the better - "Many pieces makes for a successful marriage." These are often done at family parties after the wedding and reception is over.
In general, today, Hungarian weddings are less formal and rehearsed than in the US, and follow a similar, but simpler, format. Today, a required civil wedding will take place one month after all paperwork is completed, with the bride and groom entering the Courthouse hand in hand together followed by their witnesses, the four of them sitting at the front of the room, the couple signing their names in a book. This brief "State" ceremony is secular, so a religious ceremony will often follow at a church.
While I’ve no idea what preceded their arrival at the “mayor’s house”, Aniko and Zsolt were accompanied by a “procession” of relatives and friends bearing cakes and wine for guests waiting there to share before the ceremony. All then preceded them into the room where the ceremony took place. Their names were entered in the city book of records; vows and rings were exchanged, followed by the lighting of a unity candle. Each parent was presented with a red rose. At the completion of the ceremony, the person performing the ceremony and parents, bride, groom and witnesses shared a symbolic toast with wine… then all had the opportunity to congratulate them in a receiving line before they headed off to their reception.
Very cool.
Given the festivities, Aniko and Zsolt were “excused” from construction today and tomorrow, though the remaining families will brave the cold and keep on working. I opted for a warm (inside) weekend off, though I did walk for a while in the light snow that began falling as the wedding processional of cars sped on to their next destination. Wet and quite lovely, cold enough for flakes to dust the village briefly in white [smile]
Attended the wedding ceremony of Project 3 family members Aniko and Zsolt at the mayor’s office. The bride and groom arrive in separate cars via a specified route. Upon completion of the ceremony they take a different route than the way in which they arrived, a “good luck” tradition.
Before the days of printed invitations, when a couple began preparing for their wedding, it was the responsibility of the best man (the godfather of the bride and groom) to make personal verbal invitations to the guests, often in a rhyme. He was often also responsible for arranging up to three days of festivities and amusements. Today, couples are still expected (as much as possible) to invite their close relatives, friends and neighbors in person together as a couple. For us, Aniko hand delivered invitations in the company of her mother and children, with a specially printed English insert for yours truly.
Traditional bride's attire included a marvelously embroidered dresses with floral patterns and a bold variation of three bright colors, often with many underskirts and an elaborate head-dress often with wheat woven into it. The fancy beaded and embroidered dolls popular as tourist items in Hungary are modeled after traditional wedding attire. Modern brides usually wear white gowns; Aniko was beautiful in a simple pale ivory satin bodice and skirt with a scattering of ivory embroidery.
In olden times Hungary, large groups of people, often the whole village, would form a Wedding Procession marching to the bride's home and escorting her and all her trousseau in a painted and decorated cart to the groom's house or the church. (I have seen variations of this in summer weddings here, with the wedding parties in horse drawn open carriages.) Celebrations along the way would take place as people would come out of their homes and often toast the couple and offer their best wishes. Arriving at the groom's home, the bride would be greeted by his parents - sometimes with a candle or a glass of wine - the glass she would toss behind her - or with an egg on the floor that she would break to assure healthy children. Or sometimes they would offer her honey and braided cake to assure sweetness. Sometimes a handful of small coins ("little money") would be tossed on the floor and a broom would be left in the home's doorway for her to grab and start sweeping to show her industriousness. A couple would be given a couple of dishes to smash loudly for her to sweep up as well - carefully separating the coins from the pottery. The more shards the better - "Many pieces makes for a successful marriage." These are often done at family parties after the wedding and reception is over.
In general, today, Hungarian weddings are less formal and rehearsed than in the US, and follow a similar, but simpler, format. Today, a required civil wedding will take place one month after all paperwork is completed, with the bride and groom entering the Courthouse hand in hand together followed by their witnesses, the four of them sitting at the front of the room, the couple signing their names in a book. This brief "State" ceremony is secular, so a religious ceremony will often follow at a church.
While I’ve no idea what preceded their arrival at the “mayor’s house”, Aniko and Zsolt were accompanied by a “procession” of relatives and friends bearing cakes and wine for guests waiting there to share before the ceremony. All then preceded them into the room where the ceremony took place. Their names were entered in the city book of records; vows and rings were exchanged, followed by the lighting of a unity candle. Each parent was presented with a red rose. At the completion of the ceremony, the person performing the ceremony and parents, bride, groom and witnesses shared a symbolic toast with wine… then all had the opportunity to congratulate them in a receiving line before they headed off to their reception.
Very cool.
Given the festivities, Aniko and Zsolt were “excused” from construction today and tomorrow, though the remaining families will brave the cold and keep on working. I opted for a warm (inside) weekend off, though I did walk for a while in the light snow that began falling as the wedding processional of cars sped on to their next destination. Wet and quite lovely, cold enough for flakes to dust the village briefly in white [smile]
SNOW!
Fri16nov07
Levi and I were back on site installing meter box shells, with window and door folks here as well. Though no snow, it was definitely a COLD day and muddy, me dressed a bit like Charlie Brown, though wearing my on boots for stability and warmth, mud caked or no [smile]
The task was a first for me, and fairly straightforward, with the "measure several times cut once" idea at full forward; the boxes are inserted flush with the outside wall, so we’re cutting through exterior plaster/insulation, the OSB sheathing, and occasionally into interior studs to set them in proper alignment relative to exterior electric feed (and the yet-to0be-installed front porch/steps of each unit). Four of the five completed in the morning (the fifth is a bit different, serving as a hub for all five in addition to the box for the unit itself); Levi returned to work with ground wires in the afternoon.
Door and window installation begun yesterday continued today as well, done by guys from the company we purchased them from. About 30% are now in, with the rest to be done sometime next week. Installation is being provided free of charge by these professionals, so completion will be on their timetable.
Thu15nov07
SNOW! Slushy snow and freezing temps, with enough sticking through the morning hours to toss a snowball and form a miniature snowman or two on the lumber stacks! Pretty to watch, muddy as all get out to work in, and my boots seem to be mud magnets! Or rather, clay, the consistency of what potters throw… would that the shapes and general mobility of that process be so in today’s tasks [laughing] Imagine continual mud build-up 'til your boot soles look like 1 inch thick clay plates, and you begin to get the idea... the earth here is hard and heavy on a dry day, literally like stiff modeling clay when wet... bonus weight resistance walking, perhaps, as there must be a pound or more of it on each boot that reattaches itself as fast as I can get it off! As for the rest of me, a decidedly Charlie Brown fashion statement... lots of clothes on to stay warm!
With that backdrop (or would that be a “top” drop?) Levi and I began installing electric meter boxes while our window/door supplier began installation of the same. The windows they use are tall single pane combination units… depending on which way you maneuver the handles to open/close them, they can be opened inward swinging from side hinges, or inward from a bottom hinge… each window does both. No screens on windows here, or if so, I’ve not seen any.
The installation process is similar to our process, using shims to level and square them within the rough frames. No taping on the exterior, though, as these windows are set in about 3 inches from the finished outside wall. They fill gaps with spray foam insulation as soon as each is set in…
Wed 14nov07
We contracted for the digging of exterior water and electric trenches, effectively converting a week or more of digging by hand to less than a day’s work with a backhoe… the Martha Stewart phrase “It’s a good thing” comes to mind [whew] That set us up to lay the clean water pipe and main electrical lines… very muddy, me in borrowed rubber boots four sizes too large with gloves stuffed in the toes in a creative effort to keep them more on my feet than off… slugging through piles of mud from the trench, there was more than one moment of tell-tale “slurping” sounds as my boots attempted to release themselves prematurely!
Separate pipe is laid for each unit and connected to the rough plumbing inside a heating tool that melts the interior plastic of the connecting joint and the exterior plastic of the pipe enough to push the two together and fuse them as the plastic cools. It seems a fragile connection given the force and fluid that will travel through it for its lifetime! The cold temps gave the pipe a life of its own… it is stiff as is, and coiled like an oversized garden hose, though the make of the pipe itself is less flexible than that.
Once rolled out and connected, each was pressure tested for leaks, and partially buried to make sure they stayed where placed; there is a 4” wide thick yellow plastic strip that is buried on top of them as well indicating that something is buried there… kind of a physical version of calling the utility companies for line placement as we do in many areas of the US.
The same procedure applied for laying the main electrical cable, again so stiff (and considerably heavier!) due to temps that we walked it out along the field adjacent to the build to straighten it before feeding it in to each unit via the pre-dug trenches.
Levi and I were back on site installing meter box shells, with window and door folks here as well. Though no snow, it was definitely a COLD day and muddy, me dressed a bit like Charlie Brown, though wearing my on boots for stability and warmth, mud caked or no [smile]
The task was a first for me, and fairly straightforward, with the "measure several times cut once" idea at full forward; the boxes are inserted flush with the outside wall, so we’re cutting through exterior plaster/insulation, the OSB sheathing, and occasionally into interior studs to set them in proper alignment relative to exterior electric feed (and the yet-to0be-installed front porch/steps of each unit). Four of the five completed in the morning (the fifth is a bit different, serving as a hub for all five in addition to the box for the unit itself); Levi returned to work with ground wires in the afternoon.
Door and window installation begun yesterday continued today as well, done by guys from the company we purchased them from. About 30% are now in, with the rest to be done sometime next week. Installation is being provided free of charge by these professionals, so completion will be on their timetable.
Thu15nov07
SNOW! Slushy snow and freezing temps, with enough sticking through the morning hours to toss a snowball and form a miniature snowman or two on the lumber stacks! Pretty to watch, muddy as all get out to work in, and my boots seem to be mud magnets! Or rather, clay, the consistency of what potters throw… would that the shapes and general mobility of that process be so in today’s tasks [laughing] Imagine continual mud build-up 'til your boot soles look like 1 inch thick clay plates, and you begin to get the idea... the earth here is hard and heavy on a dry day, literally like stiff modeling clay when wet... bonus weight resistance walking, perhaps, as there must be a pound or more of it on each boot that reattaches itself as fast as I can get it off! As for the rest of me, a decidedly Charlie Brown fashion statement... lots of clothes on to stay warm!
With that backdrop (or would that be a “top” drop?) Levi and I began installing electric meter boxes while our window/door supplier began installation of the same. The windows they use are tall single pane combination units… depending on which way you maneuver the handles to open/close them, they can be opened inward swinging from side hinges, or inward from a bottom hinge… each window does both. No screens on windows here, or if so, I’ve not seen any.
The installation process is similar to our process, using shims to level and square them within the rough frames. No taping on the exterior, though, as these windows are set in about 3 inches from the finished outside wall. They fill gaps with spray foam insulation as soon as each is set in…
Wed 14nov07
We contracted for the digging of exterior water and electric trenches, effectively converting a week or more of digging by hand to less than a day’s work with a backhoe… the Martha Stewart phrase “It’s a good thing” comes to mind [whew] That set us up to lay the clean water pipe and main electrical lines… very muddy, me in borrowed rubber boots four sizes too large with gloves stuffed in the toes in a creative effort to keep them more on my feet than off… slugging through piles of mud from the trench, there was more than one moment of tell-tale “slurping” sounds as my boots attempted to release themselves prematurely!
Separate pipe is laid for each unit and connected to the rough plumbing inside a heating tool that melts the interior plastic of the connecting joint and the exterior plastic of the pipe enough to push the two together and fuse them as the plastic cools. It seems a fragile connection given the force and fluid that will travel through it for its lifetime! The cold temps gave the pipe a life of its own… it is stiff as is, and coiled like an oversized garden hose, though the make of the pipe itself is less flexible than that.
Once rolled out and connected, each was pressure tested for leaks, and partially buried to make sure they stayed where placed; there is a 4” wide thick yellow plastic strip that is buried on top of them as well indicating that something is buried there… kind of a physical version of calling the utility companies for line placement as we do in many areas of the US.
The same procedure applied for laying the main electrical cable, again so stiff (and considerably heavier!) due to temps that we walked it out along the field adjacent to the build to straighten it before feeding it in to each unit via the pre-dug trenches.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Exploring and "awarding"!
Mon12nov07
The affiliate received unexpected news this morning in the form of two awards from the European/Central Asia (ECA) office: for the Szarvas affiliate, The 2007 Best Global Village Award in Europe Central Asia, and to me, one of the 2007 Linda Fuller Awards for Distinguished Volunteer Service in Europe Central Asia. (Linda and husband Millard Fuller founded HFH; the latter award is a relatively new one from what I understand). Feedback from teams determine the recipient of the GV Award. Though I’ve no idea how recipients for the latter are chosen, am honored nonetheless
The GV Award is based on evaluations and reviews from teams working at individual affiliates under the ECA umbrella. Each award has an associated grant, the first to Szarvas, mine to be used for the Habitat mission in a Habitat program of my choice …. who knew?
Fri-Sun 9-11nov07
Time off, enjoying the fall leaves, exploring Szeged, a river city near the southern border of Hungary about 100 km from Szarvas, and spending a bit of offsite time with Levi and family.
Szeged is a university town of roughly 175,000 people, laid out in “rings” very much like Vienna. The ring nearest the river is accessible via “gates” reminiscent of the Transylvanian gates of the historic walk here (though considerably larger), with a wide central arch for vehicles and smaller side arches for pedestrians. It has a peaceful feel and was a lovely setting for kicking up leaves, breathing the crisp clear fall air, and enjoying a beautiful morning.
I was there at Levi’s invitation; he and a friend collect postcards of Szarvas and other Hungarian cities, and I explored while they “shopped” at a collectors market. It was interesting to look through Levi’s cards on the way back. They represent a visual history of the town from 1889 to the present, punctuated by bits of story on the cards themselves as they make their way back to Szarvas in this unique way, and after months here, fun to capture a broader sense of then and now in this place that has become so familiar!
The affiliate received unexpected news this morning in the form of two awards from the European/Central Asia (ECA) office: for the Szarvas affiliate, The 2007 Best Global Village Award in Europe Central Asia, and to me, one of the 2007 Linda Fuller Awards for Distinguished Volunteer Service in Europe Central Asia. (Linda and husband Millard Fuller founded HFH; the latter award is a relatively new one from what I understand). Feedback from teams determine the recipient of the GV Award. Though I’ve no idea how recipients for the latter are chosen, am honored nonetheless
The GV Award is based on evaluations and reviews from teams working at individual affiliates under the ECA umbrella. Each award has an associated grant, the first to Szarvas, mine to be used for the Habitat mission in a Habitat program of my choice …. who knew?
Fri-Sun 9-11nov07
Time off, enjoying the fall leaves, exploring Szeged, a river city near the southern border of Hungary about 100 km from Szarvas, and spending a bit of offsite time with Levi and family.
Szeged is a university town of roughly 175,000 people, laid out in “rings” very much like Vienna. The ring nearest the river is accessible via “gates” reminiscent of the Transylvanian gates of the historic walk here (though considerably larger), with a wide central arch for vehicles and smaller side arches for pedestrians. It has a peaceful feel and was a lovely setting for kicking up leaves, breathing the crisp clear fall air, and enjoying a beautiful morning.
I was there at Levi’s invitation; he and a friend collect postcards of Szarvas and other Hungarian cities, and I explored while they “shopped” at a collectors market. It was interesting to look through Levi’s cards on the way back. They represent a visual history of the town from 1889 to the present, punctuated by bits of story on the cards themselves as they make their way back to Szarvas in this unique way, and after months here, fun to capture a broader sense of then and now in this place that has become so familiar!
Snippets: Retirement, cost of living, recycling...
Retirement:
I am often asked if I am retired, among other things. The answer? I am living outside the box re employment/retirement as traditionally defined, following my heart/faith in the choices I make. The details are of importance only to me, except as they may serve as an example for others looking to do the same. Even then, the real "detail" is in understanding we can and do have the opportunity to choose at any/every moment, and acting on those choices shape who we are, what we do, how we think, where we land in life.
From a friend: “Retirement is not a word in my vocabulary and I do not ever intend to be retired like most of the generation before me. I do intend to have money flow easily towards me so that I can operate on a larger scale.” (personally, and in support of a wider dream to live and give abundantly, I think; this would be a way of stating my goal as well.)
Cost of living:
Levi recently asked if the cost of living in Szarvas was as I had thought it would be.... answer, yes. My monthly cost of living specific to here is approximately $400-500 US: $200 in rent which includes heat, electric, water, and use of the washing machine (as compared to $675 just for rent/water in WA). The balance covers food and incidentals.
Little things….
I have become quite accustomed to and spoiled by my mini washing machine Though one must remain at home to “supervise” while it’s running, it does the job a little bit at a time (read small loads here), and the exceedingly hot temperature setting choices pretty much guarantee things come out clean, or at least “sterilized” [laughing]. With the heat on in the flat effective October first (at least in the bedroom and bathroom), I now have a bonus “dryer” of sorts… Closing the door with clothes hung out dry in the bathroom, effectively makes the room a “dryer”, with most things ready for wear within 24 hours, versus 48-72 hours in Ireland (remember, Regis?)… nice! It’s a spoiler of a combo… in WA, it’s coin operated laundry facilities in another area of the apartment complex. Both work, but it’s wonderfully convenient to step out of the shower into warm dry clothes…saves the folding and putting away sometimes too [laughing] It’s the little things…
Recycling and sustainability…
Much to be said for not leaving a footprint where we step, yet we have in fact been doing just that for centuries… en route to sustainability, recycling as slow waste management, with kudos to those who are making use of “footprints” that otherwise lie wasting in literal time… better slow than no management while we humans contemplate how to engineer a healthier future for ourselves and our planet …. have been reading novels set in the 1700-1800’s lately, and pondering how we evolved from creatures of practicality to our current “enlightened” way of life: “If I can buy new, why not? If it’s not working, replace (rather than fix) it”… so often we operate from a place that presumes there will always be more when we need it… we have tremendous opportunities before us to live and give responsibly, creatively, joyously… and celebrate those places/cultures/contributors who lead the way, e.g., the creative efforts of those around Szarvas that use what’s at hand, that step up and apply conservationist techniques whether of financial necessity, planetary health and awareness, or simply because that’s the way it is are stepping up to the plate in ways many have set aside out of habit or convenience. From simple to complex applications, sustainable/renewable inspiration and learning/mentoring opportunities abound [smile]
Hungarians, at least those in small towns and rural areas, are remarkably creative at contriving or creating what they need from things close at hand. Smashed tiles and old asphalt pieces are used as fillers and surface in driveway versus hauling gravel at some expense re both the rock itself and its delivery. Given the “dear” cost of owning and maintaining vehicles, horse drawn wagons are in use here and there, and there are a myriad of human powered trailers, carts, and the like, an amalgam of bicycle parts, old machinery, wheels, wagons, carts, you name it. Reactions to this enterprising spirit are variable depending on the background of the observer; to these eyes, it’s fascinating to see the outcome(s) born of creativity and necessity. Definitely practical, straightforward in approach, pragmatic… great role models/mentors/examples in our primarily throw away/replacement-oriented world in the states.
Saw a “primitive” (Levi’s descriptor) car that a Project 1 family bought… a very small Trabant (this one is 20 plus years old)… very simple air-cooled engine, 20-liter gas tank under the hood with a gauged dipstick to measure level. Works like a two-stroke lawn mower or similar engine (as I understand them), with oil and gas mixed in this little tank. Heat for the vehicle literally comes straight off the motor and into the car, cool air from outside also literally straight through the front grid into the vehicle. Starter, small combustion engine, battery, small fan and fuel tank under the hood, plus a small vessel with brake fluid, and the “extra”, wind shield wiper fluid! So simple even this somewhat mechanically challenged mind can see its workings clearly [smile]. Big windows all around so better visibility than the old VW Bugs, though the vehicle is very low to the ground. Seats 4 comfortably, plastic body with metal around the windows only, the entire vehicle weighs a diminutive 800 kg. Why tell you all this? The engine make up is both simple and clever, and looks something the Hungarians might have contrived of spare parts… though not so, the question has apparently been asked. For my money, very cute, clearly durable, though less range than my Suzuki Savage 650 with its 2.8-gallon tank! Gauging refueling stops is the same though… note where the odometer is when you start, and refuel in 100-120 miles (for the Suzuki), 100 kilometers for this little vehicle. More info at Trabant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant
I am often asked if I am retired, among other things. The answer? I am living outside the box re employment/retirement as traditionally defined, following my heart/faith in the choices I make. The details are of importance only to me, except as they may serve as an example for others looking to do the same. Even then, the real "detail" is in understanding we can and do have the opportunity to choose at any/every moment, and acting on those choices shape who we are, what we do, how we think, where we land in life.
From a friend: “Retirement is not a word in my vocabulary and I do not ever intend to be retired like most of the generation before me. I do intend to have money flow easily towards me so that I can operate on a larger scale.” (personally, and in support of a wider dream to live and give abundantly, I think; this would be a way of stating my goal as well.)
Cost of living:
Levi recently asked if the cost of living in Szarvas was as I had thought it would be.... answer, yes. My monthly cost of living specific to here is approximately $400-500 US: $200 in rent which includes heat, electric, water, and use of the washing machine (as compared to $675 just for rent/water in WA). The balance covers food and incidentals.
Little things….
I have become quite accustomed to and spoiled by my mini washing machine Though one must remain at home to “supervise” while it’s running, it does the job a little bit at a time (read small loads here), and the exceedingly hot temperature setting choices pretty much guarantee things come out clean, or at least “sterilized” [laughing]. With the heat on in the flat effective October first (at least in the bedroom and bathroom), I now have a bonus “dryer” of sorts… Closing the door with clothes hung out dry in the bathroom, effectively makes the room a “dryer”, with most things ready for wear within 24 hours, versus 48-72 hours in Ireland (remember, Regis?)… nice! It’s a spoiler of a combo… in WA, it’s coin operated laundry facilities in another area of the apartment complex. Both work, but it’s wonderfully convenient to step out of the shower into warm dry clothes…saves the folding and putting away sometimes too [laughing] It’s the little things…
Recycling and sustainability…
Much to be said for not leaving a footprint where we step, yet we have in fact been doing just that for centuries… en route to sustainability, recycling as slow waste management, with kudos to those who are making use of “footprints” that otherwise lie wasting in literal time… better slow than no management while we humans contemplate how to engineer a healthier future for ourselves and our planet …. have been reading novels set in the 1700-1800’s lately, and pondering how we evolved from creatures of practicality to our current “enlightened” way of life: “If I can buy new, why not? If it’s not working, replace (rather than fix) it”… so often we operate from a place that presumes there will always be more when we need it… we have tremendous opportunities before us to live and give responsibly, creatively, joyously… and celebrate those places/cultures/contributors who lead the way, e.g., the creative efforts of those around Szarvas that use what’s at hand, that step up and apply conservationist techniques whether of financial necessity, planetary health and awareness, or simply because that’s the way it is are stepping up to the plate in ways many have set aside out of habit or convenience. From simple to complex applications, sustainable/renewable inspiration and learning/mentoring opportunities abound [smile]
Hungarians, at least those in small towns and rural areas, are remarkably creative at contriving or creating what they need from things close at hand. Smashed tiles and old asphalt pieces are used as fillers and surface in driveway versus hauling gravel at some expense re both the rock itself and its delivery. Given the “dear” cost of owning and maintaining vehicles, horse drawn wagons are in use here and there, and there are a myriad of human powered trailers, carts, and the like, an amalgam of bicycle parts, old machinery, wheels, wagons, carts, you name it. Reactions to this enterprising spirit are variable depending on the background of the observer; to these eyes, it’s fascinating to see the outcome(s) born of creativity and necessity. Definitely practical, straightforward in approach, pragmatic… great role models/mentors/examples in our primarily throw away/replacement-oriented world in the states.
Saw a “primitive” (Levi’s descriptor) car that a Project 1 family bought… a very small Trabant (this one is 20 plus years old)… very simple air-cooled engine, 20-liter gas tank under the hood with a gauged dipstick to measure level. Works like a two-stroke lawn mower or similar engine (as I understand them), with oil and gas mixed in this little tank. Heat for the vehicle literally comes straight off the motor and into the car, cool air from outside also literally straight through the front grid into the vehicle. Starter, small combustion engine, battery, small fan and fuel tank under the hood, plus a small vessel with brake fluid, and the “extra”, wind shield wiper fluid! So simple even this somewhat mechanically challenged mind can see its workings clearly [smile]. Big windows all around so better visibility than the old VW Bugs, though the vehicle is very low to the ground. Seats 4 comfortably, plastic body with metal around the windows only, the entire vehicle weighs a diminutive 800 kg. Why tell you all this? The engine make up is both simple and clever, and looks something the Hungarians might have contrived of spare parts… though not so, the question has apparently been asked. For my money, very cute, clearly durable, though less range than my Suzuki Savage 650 with its 2.8-gallon tank! Gauging refueling stops is the same though… note where the odometer is when you start, and refuel in 100-120 miles (for the Suzuki), 100 kilometers for this little vehicle. More info at Trabant http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trabant
"Memorial Day", and the beat goes on...
Mon-Thu 5-8nov07
A wee bit of office time and 2 full days on site working with Levi to finish shingling the roof and gable while the weather holds (done!) with intermittent help from Bondi and a homeowner from Project 1. Temperatures are dropping into the 40’s and lower these days, and winds are picking up, so it will be great to have the roof complete; only tabs remain (covering the seams at peak and ends where sections of shingle meet).
Per Levi, we are about 30% complete. Roof/shingling is almost complete, and doors and windows will be installed in roughly two weeks. At that point we're dry enough to work freely inside provided the outside temps stay above freezing.
Interior ceiling and wall insulation was started last week with a student group, electric wiring has been pulled through the first three units, and rough plumbing is installed in all 5 units.
The on-site game plan for the next 2-3 weeks: (1) Prep for pouring final level of floor: seal spaces between bottom plates with concrete, lay insulation, plastic, radiant heat piping and sand; (2) finish pulling/securing electric/cable/phone wires; (3) door window installation; (4) roof tabs; (5) pour final concrete floor; (6) complete wall and ceiling insulation; (7) exterior trenches for electric and water. Trenches will be done by outside help; door/window installation is being donated by the supplier of same. Nice.
In Thursday afternoon at the request of the national director... while concerned that without GV teams there will not be enough for me to do here, actually, there is, and the final two months will be productive and well spent on site and off. I am slated to present a half-day "training" with the Budapest staff re how things are done in the states sometime before leaving January 8th and looking forward to the idea exchange inherent in that process.
Family selection for next year's project is scheduled for completion by mid-November; there is concern about having enough qualified applicants for Szarvas, and the national office is looking at alternatives to draw more applicants. A first deadline for Project 4 applicants has come and gone with nominal response, so we’ll be advertising again in the next week, and there are conversations with the local government re possibilities as well. It’s an ongoing process and opportunity for creativity and faith at work, yes?
Sun4nov07
A family workday, stringing electric and finishing the gable sheathing.
Fri2nov07
Levi, myself, and four family members today, working to complete the gable and to prep the first two units for insulation work by a student team tomorrow.
The gable was challenging enough in angle cuts that Levi opted to call a carpenter friend for coaching. By nightfall (now 1700 with DST already in force here) the gable skeleton was complete and most of the sheathing on.
Unit prep meant drilling two10mm vent holes through top plates between every exterior stud pair, along with two vent holes into top plates for the demising walls and through each piece of blocking in the stud walls. Vent holes are also drilled in pairs between each header pair through top plates above windows and doors. I understand the notion for the exterior walls to wick moisture up to the attic space; in those walls the blocking sits 5 cm back from the interior edge, with insulation to be stuffed in between each block, leaving that 5 cm space leading up to the vent holes and attic space open for wicking to happen. Between window frames and top plates there is less than 5 cm of space which will be stuffed with insulation, so the logic of venting there is a bit more obscure, as is the treatment of the demising walls. This is one of those places where asking why begets the somewhat parental response “because (I said so) it’s Hungary”. I’ve yet to see exactly how the insulation is set here, so perhaps all will become clear tomorrow when Levi teaches the kids (and me!) how it’s done here!
The other unit prep work is to make certain the ceiling headers are level and smooth… this involves “persuading” blocking into alignment with a 2 kg mini-sledge, and/or planing/chiseling headers to level where they cross over the center beam… no small task given the rough nature of the wood used here, and more time-consuming than drilling vent holes. Neither of these tasks is a particular favorite… the drill bit is 10mm in diameter (about ½”) and about 10 inches long, the planer is a weighty tool used upside-down while holding on with both hands and simultaneously depressing the safety so it will run. Both tools are engaged while perched on the top rungs of an aluminum ladder 6-7 feet off the floor to get enough purchase to accomplish the task(s) at hand, all the while gauging forces so as the drill pops through to its intended destination the operator (yours truly) stays put versus flying off the ladder into space (so much for the three point ladder method, Blair! [laughing])… and staying in balance with planer pressure so the task is accomplished smoothly (no pun intended). Have I mentioned that ladder work is more challenge than skill for me, even after all this time on job sites? That said, I have become very adept at leveraging against ceiling headers and blocks to achieve my end goal(s) at least for these two tasks. Practice in this genre births both confidence, and respect for the guys who are masters at “walking” the wooden ladders from point to point versus climbing up and down to reposition themselves… still approaching that particular skill with a healthy respect for current “limits” [laughing]
Okay, so why all this work re the ceiling headers? To create a level playing field for hanging dry wall, preceded by stapling up breathable plastic and ceiling insulation, our student project for tomorrow. This is another area where I’m waiting for visual aids to get clear on how they do things here. What IS clear is that we’ll have a lot of students on ladders… synapses are already snapping and crackling with safety tips [smile]
Thu1nov
Hungarian national holiday today, “All Saints Day”, the equivalent of Memorial Day in the states. Gravesites are decorated with flowers, wreaths and candles, and the cemeteries at night are genuinely beautiful to see…
Holiday oddities…. unlike holidays in the US or Ireland (my primary frames of reference thus far [smile]), the holiday is a day in and of itself, though not granted as an extra day off for many… if there is a holiday in the week, a fair share of employees must work an alternate day to make up for it, or take it as vacation time….
A wee bit of office time and 2 full days on site working with Levi to finish shingling the roof and gable while the weather holds (done!) with intermittent help from Bondi and a homeowner from Project 1. Temperatures are dropping into the 40’s and lower these days, and winds are picking up, so it will be great to have the roof complete; only tabs remain (covering the seams at peak and ends where sections of shingle meet).
Per Levi, we are about 30% complete. Roof/shingling is almost complete, and doors and windows will be installed in roughly two weeks. At that point we're dry enough to work freely inside provided the outside temps stay above freezing.
Interior ceiling and wall insulation was started last week with a student group, electric wiring has been pulled through the first three units, and rough plumbing is installed in all 5 units.
The on-site game plan for the next 2-3 weeks: (1) Prep for pouring final level of floor: seal spaces between bottom plates with concrete, lay insulation, plastic, radiant heat piping and sand; (2) finish pulling/securing electric/cable/phone wires; (3) door window installation; (4) roof tabs; (5) pour final concrete floor; (6) complete wall and ceiling insulation; (7) exterior trenches for electric and water. Trenches will be done by outside help; door/window installation is being donated by the supplier of same. Nice.
In Thursday afternoon at the request of the national director... while concerned that without GV teams there will not be enough for me to do here, actually, there is, and the final two months will be productive and well spent on site and off. I am slated to present a half-day "training" with the Budapest staff re how things are done in the states sometime before leaving January 8th and looking forward to the idea exchange inherent in that process.
Family selection for next year's project is scheduled for completion by mid-November; there is concern about having enough qualified applicants for Szarvas, and the national office is looking at alternatives to draw more applicants. A first deadline for Project 4 applicants has come and gone with nominal response, so we’ll be advertising again in the next week, and there are conversations with the local government re possibilities as well. It’s an ongoing process and opportunity for creativity and faith at work, yes?
Sun4nov07
A family workday, stringing electric and finishing the gable sheathing.
Fri2nov07
Levi, myself, and four family members today, working to complete the gable and to prep the first two units for insulation work by a student team tomorrow.
The gable was challenging enough in angle cuts that Levi opted to call a carpenter friend for coaching. By nightfall (now 1700 with DST already in force here) the gable skeleton was complete and most of the sheathing on.
Unit prep meant drilling two10mm vent holes through top plates between every exterior stud pair, along with two vent holes into top plates for the demising walls and through each piece of blocking in the stud walls. Vent holes are also drilled in pairs between each header pair through top plates above windows and doors. I understand the notion for the exterior walls to wick moisture up to the attic space; in those walls the blocking sits 5 cm back from the interior edge, with insulation to be stuffed in between each block, leaving that 5 cm space leading up to the vent holes and attic space open for wicking to happen. Between window frames and top plates there is less than 5 cm of space which will be stuffed with insulation, so the logic of venting there is a bit more obscure, as is the treatment of the demising walls. This is one of those places where asking why begets the somewhat parental response “because (I said so) it’s Hungary”. I’ve yet to see exactly how the insulation is set here, so perhaps all will become clear tomorrow when Levi teaches the kids (and me!) how it’s done here!
The other unit prep work is to make certain the ceiling headers are level and smooth… this involves “persuading” blocking into alignment with a 2 kg mini-sledge, and/or planing/chiseling headers to level where they cross over the center beam… no small task given the rough nature of the wood used here, and more time-consuming than drilling vent holes. Neither of these tasks is a particular favorite… the drill bit is 10mm in diameter (about ½”) and about 10 inches long, the planer is a weighty tool used upside-down while holding on with both hands and simultaneously depressing the safety so it will run. Both tools are engaged while perched on the top rungs of an aluminum ladder 6-7 feet off the floor to get enough purchase to accomplish the task(s) at hand, all the while gauging forces so as the drill pops through to its intended destination the operator (yours truly) stays put versus flying off the ladder into space (so much for the three point ladder method, Blair! [laughing])… and staying in balance with planer pressure so the task is accomplished smoothly (no pun intended). Have I mentioned that ladder work is more challenge than skill for me, even after all this time on job sites? That said, I have become very adept at leveraging against ceiling headers and blocks to achieve my end goal(s) at least for these two tasks. Practice in this genre births both confidence, and respect for the guys who are masters at “walking” the wooden ladders from point to point versus climbing up and down to reposition themselves… still approaching that particular skill with a healthy respect for current “limits” [laughing]
Okay, so why all this work re the ceiling headers? To create a level playing field for hanging dry wall, preceded by stapling up breathable plastic and ceiling insulation, our student project for tomorrow. This is another area where I’m waiting for visual aids to get clear on how they do things here. What IS clear is that we’ll have a lot of students on ladders… synapses are already snapping and crackling with safety tips [smile]
Thu1nov
Hungarian national holiday today, “All Saints Day”, the equivalent of Memorial Day in the states. Gravesites are decorated with flowers, wreaths and candles, and the cemeteries at night are genuinely beautiful to see…
Holiday oddities…. unlike holidays in the US or Ireland (my primary frames of reference thus far [smile]), the holiday is a day in and of itself, though not granted as an extra day off for many… if there is a holiday in the week, a fair share of employees must work an alternate day to make up for it, or take it as vacation time….
Sustainable building, traditional roofing, odds and ends...
Wed31oct
All Hallo’s Eve in the states, though unrecognized here…drizzling and cold, and we’re at it again with a goal of completing the bulk of the shingling by day’s end… all exceptions are off re using wet shingles and OSB, as we’ve no real choice with the onset of fall/winter temps and concomitant weather. Drizzle gave way to rain by afternoon... met our goal to complete the bulk of the roof, though the gable is yet to be built out, and the tabs/caps along peak and ends remain to be done.
Sopping wet, muddy to the knees, sore everywhere… and smiling [heeheehee]
Tue30oct
A second day off in a row gave way to a request to work on site… a rare weekday with a record 8 in all on deck to shingle the roof, about 65% complete by day’s end and rain on the way… we’re on a roll!
Mon29oct
“Free day”
27-28oct
Tomorrow and Sunday we'll be shingling, perhaps with Monday/Tuesday off... Thursday is another national holiday (somewhat like our Memorial Day), and next Friday and Saturday we have a student group here.
Fri26oct07
The HFH Hungary national director was here yesterday.... interesting day.
Learning electrical systems and spending lots of time on ladders today with just Levi and I; he really is a good teacher... this is the closest I've come to understanding how to string/pull electrical wires yet... had fun and did my dad proud… he has always maintained that electricity is easily learned, i.e., the path of least resistance… works great until the concept gets wrapped up in my little “resistors
Wed24oct07
Pondering “the journey” today…The Hopi have an image called "The Man In The Maze”, symbolizing the journey of life and its decisions...I am drawn to the design for many reasons, among them its labyrinth look and feel; I suspect the journey of life/decisions meanings are self explanatory within that visual representation
Mon22oct07:
A Hungarian National holiday tomorrow, so many locales are on short hours or closed today as part of a 3-day weekend of sorts.
I suspect Levi is working the site; with no call this morning, also suspect that he is enforcing a day off for me... it's quite windy and cold today, so happy to oblige, and have been chugging my way through blog updates and other "domestics".
Sun21oct07:
Another good day on site, though I confess arms, shoulders and hands are making their presence known from gripping and flinging shingles en mass Levi and his wife and family gifted me with lunch yesterday, vegan (though not raw) and very nice.
Sat20oct07
The Sustainable Building Advisory course recommended readings took 3 hours to download from various websites for Units 1 & 2 (Oct and Nov sessions)... exclusive of the required textbooks and recommended reading in book form available only in the states (or checked out from the local library)?
Methinks this class will prove important for me in several ways, one being to expand my knowledge base and challenge the strength of my confidence and conviction for these things so long in my heart... I'm liking the challenge, and working to be "whelmed" (yes, whelm is an actual verb meaning submerged, among other things) versus overwhelmed by the volumes of things to know I believe I am the only non-construction background person in this session, at east in terms of formal training... just means I'll be "running" a little faster than the others to keep pace (she says confidently). With a "worst case scenario" of "scheduled" learning and questions answered, I'm in a study-intensive win-win... very cool.
Productive day today... Levi and I worked on site from 1300-1700 with Tomas (a recipient family friend), Bondi and Sztanka, a homeowner from the previous project. Though primarily Hungarian spoken, most build work is visual, and the tone and banter are fun in any language. The day was a nice change of pace, literally working the site versus supervising/coaching... for me, sometimes as relaxing/rewarding as a "day off", though Levi has a hard time believing that to be true The roof shingling is high priority so regardless of philosophy he/we are glad for the hands to help any day we can get them. The weather is the true deciding workday factor at present and today was perfect... cool, overcast, and little wind. It’s also peaceful to occasionally work the site with just 3-4 other folks versus 10-15... sometimes faster, sometimes no. Lots of laughter today (universal language), and about 20% of our 400 sq meter roof is shingled. Slow but sure, yes?
All Hallo’s Eve in the states, though unrecognized here…drizzling and cold, and we’re at it again with a goal of completing the bulk of the shingling by day’s end… all exceptions are off re using wet shingles and OSB, as we’ve no real choice with the onset of fall/winter temps and concomitant weather. Drizzle gave way to rain by afternoon... met our goal to complete the bulk of the roof, though the gable is yet to be built out, and the tabs/caps along peak and ends remain to be done.
Sopping wet, muddy to the knees, sore everywhere… and smiling [heeheehee]
Tue30oct
A second day off in a row gave way to a request to work on site… a rare weekday with a record 8 in all on deck to shingle the roof, about 65% complete by day’s end and rain on the way… we’re on a roll!
Mon29oct
“Free day”
27-28oct
Tomorrow and Sunday we'll be shingling, perhaps with Monday/Tuesday off... Thursday is another national holiday (somewhat like our Memorial Day), and next Friday and Saturday we have a student group here.
Fri26oct07
The HFH Hungary national director was here yesterday.... interesting day.
Learning electrical systems and spending lots of time on ladders today with just Levi and I; he really is a good teacher... this is the closest I've come to understanding how to string/pull electrical wires yet... had fun and did my dad proud… he has always maintained that electricity is easily learned, i.e., the path of least resistance… works great until the concept gets wrapped up in my little “resistors
Wed24oct07
Pondering “the journey” today…The Hopi have an image called "The Man In The Maze”, symbolizing the journey of life and its decisions...I am drawn to the design for many reasons, among them its labyrinth look and feel; I suspect the journey of life/decisions meanings are self explanatory within that visual representation
Mon22oct07:
A Hungarian National holiday tomorrow, so many locales are on short hours or closed today as part of a 3-day weekend of sorts.
I suspect Levi is working the site; with no call this morning, also suspect that he is enforcing a day off for me... it's quite windy and cold today, so happy to oblige, and have been chugging my way through blog updates and other "domestics".
Sun21oct07:
Another good day on site, though I confess arms, shoulders and hands are making their presence known from gripping and flinging shingles en mass
Sat20oct07
The Sustainable Building Advisory course recommended readings took 3 hours to download from various websites for Units 1 & 2 (Oct and Nov sessions)... exclusive of the required textbooks and recommended reading in book form available only in the states (or checked out from the local library)?
Methinks this class will prove important for me in several ways, one being to expand my knowledge base and challenge the strength of my confidence and conviction for these things so long in my heart... I'm liking the challenge, and working to be "whelmed" (yes, whelm is an actual verb meaning submerged, among other things) versus overwhelmed by the volumes of things to know
Productive day today... Levi and I worked on site from 1300-1700 with Tomas (a recipient family friend), Bondi and Sztanka, a homeowner from the previous project. Though primarily Hungarian spoken, most build work is visual, and the tone and banter are fun in any language. The day was a nice change of pace, literally working the site versus supervising/coaching... for me, sometimes as relaxing/rewarding as a "day off", though Levi has a hard time believing that to be true
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