A typical day’s work
We have been working at the worksite for a few days now and are getting a bit more organized with the tasks. Today, Chris has contributed a post, let’s see what he has to say:
Most previous blogs have been about the background and surrounding activities.This is about our main activity BUILDING THE SCHOOL. Our day starts at 5.30 AM and we are on the worksite by 7.15 AM. The temperature is about 25 but by 9 it is over 30 on its way to a humid 35. That does not deter us however we go thro about 6 bottles of water by lunch. Our electrolytes are replenished by gatoraid like material plus coke and cocunuts taken from trees on site which are slashed open by machette. We work side by side with about 25 locals..male and female. Their pay ranges from 3-7 dollars/day. These wages are paid by us. Our work consists of: mixing cement, being a bricklayers assistant, carrying sand and gravel on a pole or sometimes by hand and sometimes on our shoulder.
We have become excellent paving stone makers (793 yesterday), rebar tiers and our painting is without parallel. Most has been on the walls. Plaques with the names of each of our team members are on the walls. Our next job is to level a road for paving .The original plan was to do it by container however as I write Brian Westlake has gone by tuk tuk to Siem Reap to buy some wheel barows. Everyone is in great spirits and feeling happy about our building and inspite of no knowledge of Khmer there is great camraderie and many laughs amongst all. The khmer are small people. The women in particular chuckle about the pregnant men in our group. We are also an oddity as there are few people our age here. Our generation was mostly wiped out during The Khmer Rouge regime. Our partner Ronnie Yimsut is in Phnom Penh talking to the media at the war crimes trial taking place….stay posted cheers Chris Snyder
HI everyone
Loved Chris’ blog today, and it brings back so many happy memories of “on the site”
just be careful climbing those coconut trees, and also when you slash them open with a machete- we are simply not used to this
In every other way, carry on
love from the Fishers
PS I can just picture Brian on the Tuk Tuk bringing back wheel-barrows, as we did some great Tuk Tuk weaving through traffic with him and with Joyce.
Please remind Lynn she is trying for a photo that will do for the year’s birthday cards.
xo
Phenomenal work! Congratulations to all on your achievements! The pictures exemplify the true “sweat equity” involved in your great works!
Keep up the smiles, positive attitudes and generous contributions!
All best regards
Robbi Howlett
(former member of Malawi Team 2010