CONSTRUCTION: DAY 2

 

The excellent project launch yesterday fueled the team's energy despite the physical demands placed on our bodies. Another day of drive and determination yield fantastic results.

 

Fortunately, today is only in the mid-80s and seems much cooler than yesterday's frying heat. Dig teams are now finishing off work on all three projects: toilet house in foreground, then septic tank pit, and lastly drain field in distance.

 

 

 

 

"Brando" buckles under the weight of four bricks. Lift with the legs, Brando!

 

 

 

We become familiar with the first of many many concrete "volcanoes". Lovingly mixed by hand.

 

 

A mix of large rock and cement are used to form the wall foundation for the toilet house.

 

 

Ryu helps "Coca" and Carlos lay brick on the bottom of the septic tank.

 

Coca and Carlos mortar over the laid brick bottom. Water tight.

 

The word gets out to the local kids that something interesting is happening at the school. Many show up to watch. Many of them can't resist helping out and become a critical part of the construction team.

 

 

Over lunch, we take some time to check out photos from Mauricio and Yaneth's recent wedding.

 

 

Back on site, the afternoon is spent assessing progress and next steps. Here, Adam, Beth and Kurt determine final needs in the drain field pipe network.

 

Gravel is laid in the drain field trenches. The drain pipes will be laid on this layer after grading.

 

 

Coca leading the charge on brickwork for the septic tank. In this photo, preliminary tie-ins for the baffle wall can be seen as can the approximate placement of the drain pipe leading to the drain field.

 

 

Pedro and Ariel set the wall foundation forms for the toilet house.

 

 

Laura leaps cultural barriers and works her magic on some local boys (l to r): Flaco, Carlos, and Camillo. Flaco and Camillo become two of the hardest workers on the site. Nice magic, Laura.

 

 

We work until sunset forces us to quit. Another excellent day of progress. Our construction crew has become truly bi-cultural, Americans and Bolivians working side by side, driven by a similar goal and equal energy. The Gringos seems a lot sorer though...