The Work.

With the past first couple weeks in Cusco behind me there is plenty to like; the food, the house I am able to stay in, the historic architecture, the prices of everything, but top prize has to be the work. Its only for a few hours a day, but I really enjoy the time outside building. Not to mention, it’s incredible to see what there is before we begin a project, nothing but barren land, and then to think how the ninos will use what we put together.

I first worked on a project that was nearing completion; 2 classrooms & adjoining bathrooms. From my understanding the crew began this project with only the aforementioned land, but they were able to level out the hill, grade it, put in electricity, walls, running water, etc. I came in on the flooring & plaster portions; let’s just say I am fair with a hammer, but I don’t think the newly laid hardwood floor was supposed to be covered with plaster. My favorite thing about working on this project were the “tools” and seeing what can be done with a little imagination. To build to fully functional classrooms, literally from the ground up, we had:

2 “shovels” but I didn’t know the metal face was suppose to be flexible
1 hatchet to shape the wood
3 hammers
1 bag of rusty nails
1 hand saw that would have difficultly cutting crust from a sandwich
3 buckets, each with holes in them
Some plastering equipment

If we needed anything else we used rocks, railroad ties, or anything else we could find. The crew of volunteers (usually b/w 4-7 volunteers & then 1-2 foremen) just loved what we were asked to do, and each day we thought, “there’s no way” and almost to the minute we would finish the project as designed and it looks great.

Last week we moved to a new location, where we were starting a bathroom facility at a futbol field that would also service as a bathroom for the school. We started a ditch that was 45ft in length, 3ft in depth at the high end and 9ft+ at the deep end. Five of us dug this with a couple picks and the famous flexible shovels. It was incredible fun; I don’t think I have ever been so dirty in my life. The main portions of the crew are Marcos (the foreman), my housemate Travis who as been working for 2mns already and 2 girls from Indiana - my girls, Jenny & Jenelle. We worked our asses off last week, laid the pipe (insert joke here) and then found out the funding wasn’t in for the actual bathrooms, we were just there to get the plumbing prepped.

Everyone’s favorite part of the work day is the transportation. We all meet at the language center and have to take a “bus” about 30m to the worksite. Well, these buses are old VW buses basically (not sure the brand but you can get a visual)…how many people if you really tried to fit in there could you squeeze in? 12? 16? What’s that…18.…if there is only 18 I am happy. We are usually b/w 22-28ppl…now, the crew loves seeing me in these buses b/c they just aren’t made for people my size. The Peruvians give me the endearing ‘gordito’ typically, I have been stuck twice, had 3 old ladies on my lap once, and once laid across the top of the seats b/c there was no room for me to stand. Everyone gets the best laugh each day, twice actually (coming and going); next time I am going to Hungry where bulk is built into the culture.

Not sure what our project will be this week and I don’t care. We are outside, banging out a sweat, and leaving a very real impact here in Cusco. I’m sure it will go un-noticed the work that is completed by the crew, but we all talk about how with just a few hours a day there’s running water, shelter from the weather, and a safe environment for all these kids now. And plus we get to play in the mud.