Bula! Wow, already day three. Ican say that I’ve never done this much manual labour! I have two blisters, my right leg is covered in bruises and I am so sore! This is because yesterday we actually got to do the manual labour like sawing and hammering and of course more digging. I got to say, this is when you really start to appreciate the power of manual labour. I mean at home, there has been a huge house that has been building for over two months now, and just thinking about what we’re building, it kinda just shows how much can be done with our hands. Of course, we actually have to manually saw wood and hammer it, but by the end of the day, it is really rewarding.
I think that before we came here, I sort of had the thought that they would not be as educated as us, just because of the difference in wealth and such. But while working with the locals, it really stood out to me that they actually know way more than us. Yeah maybe they have no idea what calculus is, but they common and practical knowledge is huge, it really surprised me. They can basically make anything out of anything. They know their land and what they have so well, because they have to, to get by.
Something that was great about yesterday was seeing the kids getting involved. I think at day 2 they are less shy and more familiar with us and they let their guards down. I really notice how like at home, when one kid does something, the others are influenced by it, which is something I think is universal. One of the little kids was way more outgoing and social than the others, it was really obvious. But I think because of that, the other kids started to join in and let loose with us, which was nice to see.
I was also kind of intrigued to see all these women working together in the kitchen, from so far apart in the village. I asked one of the girls if Deep’s house was where people sort of gathered all the time and came to, and she said that they were only here because we were there and that in normal time it was usually just their family there. This kind of surprised me, I guess I sort of assumed that it was always like that because they had that sense of community and working together and just knowing what they should be doing.
Yesterday was just a great day, we got so much done! We finished the 6 feet by 6 feet hole. Like everyone mentioned, it is just a hole for poop. But honestly, I don’t think I thought about that once while I was digging. I don’t think the purpose for this whole had anything to do with why we were digging it. It was just about getting the task done for the people and for the project. And although some people said that this whole wasn’t for ourselves, which it’s not, I think that we were still somewhat digging it for ourselves too, to show that we had what it took to dig it and that we could do it. I loved putting the walls up. Like actually marking the walls, cutting the extra pieces off, and then hammering it off. I think that we all kind of got protective when we had gone throught all the sawing of the piece of wood and then someone else would want to hammer it on for us. This is our piece, and we want to put it on! Anyways, it was just great to get so much done and to actually be trusted to do it ourselves. I loved that being a girl, I did as much as the guys. I’m the kind of person that hates when guys think I can’t do it just as well as they do, and it just made me feel great to show that I could do it, just as good.
Today, we’re hiking, and witnessing a sacrifice of the goat, which I’m really excited about. Back in France, I always wanted to see the slaughtering of the pigs, which is something they do anually, but I never got to see it, so I am looking forward to that, and to the hiking, the view will be breathtaking.
Time to finish breakfast!
Ha, nevermind I am back. It’s the end of day four now, we’re just starting to clean up. I guess first i’ll go back on yesterday’s day with the hike and the sacrifice of the goat. I think that the goat actually taught be a lot about myself, rather than teaching me about anything else. Before the goat was sacrificed, ever since we heard that we would be able to witness it, back at school, I never doubted wether I’d want to see the goat be sacrificed or not, I always knew. So yesterday I was so sure. When the goat was brought down, I started to feel a bit of questioning in my judgement but I kept thinking I was going to watch. But onceit actually happened I was actually caught off guard. I thought I was so ready and it would be no problem but turns out it wasn’t. I think that kind of opened my eyes about myself and the way I am. Right now Ik now that I am going to university and that I am going away. And I feel like I am so ready, and I’m so sure of what I’md doing. I know that I’ll make it through and that I’ll make it work. But when I get there, I think that I will be caught off guard a bit, just like with the goat. But I also know that I will get through that, and get over it. Just to take a deep breath, look at what’s happening and deal with it.
I gotta say that today was quite different for me. I actually interacted with the workers more and I have gained so much respect for them, it just makes me feel whole and happy. Firstly, I was getting really intense with digging the hole, just kept hacking at it. At one point it was just me in the hole, and one local man just grabbed a shovel and started hacking at the whole with me. We didn’t talk much, he asked where we were from and what time we were getting at the site tomorrow and such, but I think that manual labour, together, helping others whitout having to speak has so much more power and closeness than talking sometimes. After a while, I’m not sure whether he was saying that we should take a rest from digging, or asking me if he could take a rest, but either way, I could see the care of the respect. I have a feeling that he was asking me if he could take a rest, and it kinda took me aback, that an older man, that I have just met, was basically asking me if he could step out of the hole and take a rest. There is just so much mutual respect between us and the locals.
As well, a few times today, Choppy (I don’t know how to spell his name) was just so genuinly caring and wanting to help. I was trying to saw, and he came over and showed me the technique and said “here my daughter, this is how you do it” and it just touched me that he was so readily open to help me and just look at us, like people from his own family, sort of. And later during the day, I was hamering nails and he was showing me where to put them. It got to the point where it was really high. He told me to jump up and sit on the structure and I was wrapping my legs around the beam because I was scared to fall. I could see his hands outstretched behind me, and he said “don’t worry, sit properly, I’ll catch you if you fall”. This might sound so cheesy or maybe I’m just naïve, but I just felt safe, and like he really cared, not just oh crap, if she falls we’ll get in trouble kind of this, just genuine care. And this is something that has been seen with all the locals around I think.
Overall, since the first day, I’ve definetly noticed the change in relationship between the workers and the students. The workers are not afraid to let us step in. They point us in the way to go, and then they let us be, but with a watchful eye. Today was just a great day, I feel like I worked so hard, and I feel so great about what Kyla and I accomplished by ourselves. We finished the 6 feet hole, evened the ground out and did the corners and placed in the concrete bricks. So rewarding! Anyways, this blog is getting way too long, Matheny is going to have a lot of reading to do, so I am going to end here.
Good day! 
Justine