Sunday November 28

Hola,
Bonfire on the beach never happened last night.  After a beautiful sunset, a thunderstorm blew in.  It seemed to pour rain forever.  It didn't look good for those of us in rooms on stilts over the mangrove but all was fine!  We spent the evening singing Karaoke and the diehards played euchre until the early hour.  Up early to make the most of a beautiful sunny day.  Very peaceful here.  Everyone is going back and forth between the beach and the pools.  It is nice to relax after all the hard work.  Found the parrots, macaw, ducks, chickens, lizards and monkeys scattered throughout the property.  The monkeys are pretty funny.  The oldest is the first to check you out and he let's you know who is boss.  He actually snatched Jill's sunglasses through the wire on the cage and shredded them to pieces.  One of the younger monkeys had a piece of the glass.  He was holding it in the palm of his hand so he could look at himself!  Leaving for the airport at 4:45 am tomorrow morning!  Can't believe it has been 10 days away from home.  Think everyone is ready to head back feeling good about our hard work and what we accomplished here!
RITA

Saturday November 27

The team departed at 8am this morning for our rest trip to the coast.  We boarded our air conditioned bus.  A luxury for us after sweltering in the sun all week.  We enjoyed a scenic 3 hour drive through the countryside with a volcano or two in the distance.  Lush green palms, wide open farm fields, countless sugar cane.  The few rivers and streams passed on the road were very dry.  We arrived on route to drop off our translator, Johnny.  He is hired by Habitat to assist us during our time here but I soon understood he is much more to this team.  Johnny worked just as hard as any one of us, got up every morning with a smile on his face, always positive.  His passion for his country, people, and culture was inspiring.  He embraced all of the new members and spent time getting to know each of us.  The bond he has with last year's team was special to watch.  We will miss him.

Arrived at "Rancho Estero y Mar" in the town of San Luis Talpa on the Pacific Ocean.  We are south of San Salvador.  Beautiful property.  Lush walkways, waterfall, pool and of course the ocean.  The sand is black, water warm, waves very strong and there is no one on the beach that stretches for miles and miles.  Mojitos aren't bad either!  The whole team has booked massages on the beach.  I think we'll manage just fine here!  Everyone had burgers or club sandwiches for lunch.  Cravings of home!  Some are swimming or sunning on the beach, some at the pool, some are having siestas in the hammocks scattered throughout the property.  The team will enjoy supper, then a bonfire on the beach to watch the sunset.

RITA

Friday November 26 Part Three

Yesterday was my birthday.  Normally I would have shared this day with family and friends, perhaps gone out to dinner and enjoyed a piece of chocolate cake with a nice glass of Merlot.  This year I found myself in the developing country of El Salvador, and awoke on the 25th with no expectation, only the feeling that I was so lucky to have such a special day in such a wonderous country.  This team of people who I have shared the last five days with all wished me a happy birthday, and I left it at that.  The day began, I had a breakfast of fried egg and beans and rice, put on my bandana and Canada hat and boarded the bus to the site that has become such a big part of my life.  There were buckets of soil to move, tamping of the floors and the pouring of cement (and sweat).  The birthday girl was razzed, and tested....joked with and embraced.  I couldn´t have asked for anything more....but more DID happen, much more.  Yesterday I was too overwhelmed to talk about my experience, but today I have more clarity, and a sense of peace.

On one break I took to the streets, camera in hand hoping to catch a moment in time, an illustration that might speak volumes, might explain how I feel and what this place represents to me.  I was lucky... I found it...in the form of a little girl looking over the wall of her tin home, too shy to show her whole face, but interested enough in me to be bold enough to sneak a good look.  I just happened to see her sweet face, and that instant  began a chain reaction that will forever change my life. I asked to take her photo...and in that photo I saw a beautiful little girl, enveloped in poverty...her face, her clothes, her hands caked with dirt.  In her eyes I saw something else, and it was that moment that changed everything for me.

I am going to pause...so I can collect my thoughts...it is important I get this moment right.  I will write again in the morning.  My birthday celebration in El Salvador was something I have never experienced in my life...more tomorrow.

Be well...be peaceful...be happy.
Jill

Friday November 26th Part Two

Friday...the end of the week. The day you have been looking forward to and dreading at the same time.


For anyone who has participated in a Habitat build you know that this day will be bittersweet. For first timers it is day of emotions, for the rest it is the same. For you know that you must say goodbye to new friends. For you know by the emotion in the eyes of the families that you have participated in, what is for them, a life changing event.

It is a day that starts like the first four.
You arrive as we did. You grab your shovel, your trowel, your tamper (this is now an evil word with Team Paulie) and you get to work. You move blocks, you set them. You shovel and sweat and labor beside those whom you now call friends. And this is the crux, because some of them you will not see again. If you think about it... is really quite amazing that a group of people, who do not speak the same language can bond in the space of a week. There is something to be said for the power of working side by side towards a common goal.

For them, their reality is about money and earning for their families. But I think as they learn about us they understand that we do not have to be here...there is no reason other than we Want to be here. You can see the surprise on their faces when they learn that vacations have been taken and personal money spent for us to come and help someone we do not know.
Further to this… It seemed that the spirit of the build was contagious because as the week progressed for us we began to note additions to our build. By additions I mean the people who came to join us as we built. Shy children at the beginning of the week, brazen and joking builders by the end. Old men with knowledge in their eyes directing, lifting...teaching. As the week went on we began to to realize that this house was now a community effort.

For us, our reality is that we are here for personal reasons. I do not ask why others are here... it is not my place. I do know that whatever the reason, it becomes obsolete once you set foot on the job site. Those who have experienced a build will understand this. Those who have not...should, for understanding comes from doing.

Quote of the day....

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
                                                                                                                       Marcel Proust

As an individual you grow so much in the days spent here, but believe it or not you can grow at home. The trick is learning how. This point, the purpose of the qoute, was driven home to us as we watched people who in all probability would not have helped build this house with us. For them the story of the Gringo´s hit home and they chose to see their landscape a little differently.
Earlier in the week I spoke of the journey, paths taken, choices made, of  keeping your head up and your eyes open...
For those that choose to see... you will not be disappointed. Whether it is in El Salvador, Costa Rica, Ottawa...it does not matter.
Learn to see, understand that no matter where you go the people there have the same hopes, dreams and aspirations that you do.
See... that no matter where you live, be it a tin shack with a dirt floor or a mansion, it is love and family that make it a home.
See... the same pride you have in youselves in those around you.
See... the spirit that exists within those who have endured hardship and continue on.

We have seen in El Salvador. We have been a part of a wonderful rollercoaster of emotions, sweat, pain, joy, heat, (oh the heat) dreams...the list goes on...

Take the journey... walk the path... remember that you are the landscape... learn to see... know that your eyes are the window to your soul and it is there... by seeing that the journey begins.

Buenos noches des San Miguel

Chris

Friday November 26 Part One

Team Tony arrived on site after another breakfast of huevos, beans and plantain.  Good energy food!  Everyone worked with the masons to get a row of U-brick in place.  We helped to put up El Salvadorian scaffold...blocks and wood planks.  Stanislaw started to put in the conduit for electric.  So gratifying to see the house take shape.  Arminda fed us plantain with a yogurt dipping sauce...yum yum.  The girls went for a walk to give out candy to the neighbourhood kids.  Got some wonderful pictures!  They are so appreciative of something so small.  Young and old love candy here and they love to pose with us for pictures.  The Habitat crew arrived to start setting up for the closing party.  A tent, tables and chairs were set up on the street and soon all the neighbourhood was coming to check things out.  Right about this time the ice cream cart drove by and the team treated all to popsicles.  Arminda had dressed her daughters in clean clothes and soon after they were covered in chocolate!!  Team Paulie arrived with the masons and Julia´s family from the other site.  Despite thinking we ate all day and took afternoon siestas, all were impressed with the progress of our build.  We ate a lunch of tortillas, rice, and chicken altogether: builders, Arminda and Julia´s families, and the masons.  Extra plates of food were shared with the neighbourhood friends who had gathered.  That was nice!  After lunch, the Habitat team had some kind words of appreciation and best wishes.  Julia and Adan spoke on behalf of their families.  Stanislaw spoke to us about how much he enjoyed teaching us and how much he learned from us.  He had a special mention for Gerry´s expertise too.  Tony and Paul spoke on behalf of their respective team.  Tony summed it up well when he told them we all go home better people.  Then came the really hard part...goodbye!  These people opened their hearts and took us in.  We came to help build a home for two families.  A gift that many here can only dream of.  In return they have given us so much more!!

We are all drained.  Spending time relaxing in our usual spot...the hotel courtyard enjoying pre-dinner refreshments.  Will have supper and wander over to the fair down the street where Johnny has told us we can buy local crafts with no gringo tax.  Tomorrow night is Carnival, the biggest in Central America, and when the 350,000 population of San Miguel swells to over one million.  We are all looking forward to heading to the coast in the morning for R&R, mojitos, and getting some colour on our blanco gringo skin!!  Goodnight to all back home and see you Monday!!
RITA

Thursday November 25

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do

nothing for him.

 — Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

Thursday started with the usual greetings over eggs, beans, and toast..The team was refreshed after a great night of watching four Canadians ¨represent¨ their contigent to the best of their collective ¨abilities¨ while dancing with the El Salvadorian ¨Brittany Spears¨ Oh what a sight...You Tube will be proud.

 

Once we arrived at Casa Julia, Team Paulie got to work moving the brick that didn´t needed to be moved on the actual day they arrived, we were just learning to be flexible because that´s what the manual says to be.

The brick moving was followed by some brick re-arranging so that our mason could get ready to start laying his first course of brick.   Once the first course was laid, some of us were tasked with filling each and every space in and around each brick.  This  tasked was reserved for those of us who can actually focus on the tasks for more than a minute or two. Safe to say I stuck to lifting things.  Someone did manage to sneak in a toony for good luck...



Then we were asked to dig up the floor we already worked on  since the level had changed.... nothing like hauling and digging dirt after you already mentally checked out of that task...Did we mention the flexible thing yet...Once the minute or two of venting stopped.. the team pulled together strong and got the  floors dug out to the proper level so that we could begin moving more sand across our lot and start fillng in the rooms up to the first course of brick. Did we mention that it´s only 34 degrees with no cloud. 

 

All this and we still had time for some of us to walk the neighbourhood to check out the homes of those who are less fortunate than those we are actually building for. I will let those who made the trip around the block, explain the impact of seeing the sights in and around our build sight.

 

This brings us full circle to the quote..what can you do in your life for the person who can do absolutely nothing for you...Give it a shot, the 20 of us are having a blast getting to know each other and trying to do just that...

 
Paulie

 

Another productive day on Team Tony´s site.  You guessed it more cement, mortar and blocks.  Another day of treats from Arminda.  We have sampled something different each day.  She is quite a good cook and so happy to be part of the team.  I did think I was going to lose a few pounds on this trip.  Not looking too good now!  After picking up Team Paulie at the end of the day, we were taken to a local park for a birthday fiesta in honour of Jill (better known as ¨Hill¨to the locals).  The San Miguel Habitat office brought drinks, a delicious cake, and a pinata.  The Habitat crew organized a few team building games.  We must have been a funny site to the locals walking by because we were filthy from the build.  The director spoke to us about how happy they, the families and the community were to have us here.  It was a nice feeling to know our team is making such a difference and how much it is appreciated.  Because it is American Thanksgiving, the hotel prepared a huge turkey dinner with all the El Salvadorian fixings (best gravy with olives and capers).  It was delicious...not much left of the bird.  Spent the evening preparing for our last day.  Cannot believe how fast it has gone by.  I think we are all excited to venture on to the R&R but also sad to have to say goodbye to all the new friends we have met in San Miguel.  Good night to all the families back home.  Thinking of you, Maria.  See you all soon!!
RITA



Wednesday November 24 Part Two

Buenos noches para San Miguel.

Day three... We have become aclimatized, if one can, to the rigors of the build here in San Miguel. We know that it will be hot. We know that we will sweat, feel pain and push our bodies to the limit. We know this, we accept this and in some sick portion of out brain we enjoy this.
For the members of site #2 (Paulie´s site) I can say that we had an eventfull and busy day. We have cleared the site, dug the trenches, then re-filled them and started the re-bar. We have moved sand, then crushed stone, then rock and then moved them again. We have moved dirt, brush, sewage and bricks.
We have moved ourselves in the process. One cannot help but be moved by the joy of the children, the pride of the families, the generosity of the people, the families.
.
Today we pushed hard and completed the re-bar. In blazing sun the team, mostly Wendy and John, tied in the uprights while the rest of us cut steel and prepared for the dreaded mixing of the cement.
What a job that was!!! There was a big push to get the footings/foundation in so that we could begin laying blocks on Thursday. Much to our dismay our bus arrived and we had to leave the mason and his helpers to finish the last batch of cement without us. I must say though that the work done by the team in the making and pouring of the first three batches was an exhibition of teamwork and perserverance that is seldom seen.

After the debriefing ( you know what that means) in the hotel courtyard and the much needed showers, the team participated in a coffee roasting exhibition hosted by Don Ignacio. He is a part-time coffe seller/grower and has been a wealth of knowledge about San Miguel and El Salvador as well. I can say with truth that his coffee is much better than that served by the hotel.
After dinner  "the Don" took the majority of the team to the local corral where we were treated to an exhibiton of bullfighting / bull riding. While this was not a past-time embraced by the group it was pretty neat to see the throng of happy, excited people watching what is for them a nation past-time and celebration of the "Cowboy" life.
While it pains me to say this....four of us...both Dave´s, John and myself, Chris...participated in a pre-bullfight dance off with a lovely and well endowed El Salvadorian songstress. She had each of us follow her gyrations in the center of the arena and I can only imagine the spectacle we presented for the locals. It was all in good fun and it was capped by Dave Gervais winning by crowd approval. Each participant recieved a lovely cowboy hat and Dave G...well Dave recieved a wee kiss from the singing temptress.
All in all it was a good, productive and fun day.

What would be blog from me without a quote??

~ Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. ~
                                                                                                   Kalil Gibrand

No matter where you go people remain the same. They all strive to make their lives and the lives of those that they love better. There is no shame in this. It is in fact one of the basic drives of our species. It is no different here. It appears that you either have a job or your trying to get one. You either sell or look for things to sell. (I will admit I curse the vendor(s) who bike by our site incessantly tooting their horns)
But today, I was approached by a man on our site who told me that he had worked as a carpenter in the US and he wanted to know if I had work for him. While I said no I had to admire him for having the courage to ask. Just like I admire the bike vendors who bike from construction site to site selling their wares. I guess what struck me was that I´m not sure I could swallow my pride and ask someone for something.

One is struck by the poverty that exists here. You cannot look at it and not be affected.
One is also struck but the pride, perserverance and effort shown by the El Salvadorian people. One sees the old man sweeping his porch and his garden while raw sewage and garbage lays in the street. One sees the crisp and clean clothing worn by most every person you encounter. One sees the effects of Civil war, earthquakes, mudslides, gang violence and how these events are dealt with, accepted and overcome.
One sees the smiles and joy and yes pride,  in the faces of the families that will for Christmas recieve one of the biggest gifts ever...a new home.
I have no idea how that will feel for them, but yes I feel pride in the fact that in a small way,  I have helped them achieve their dream.

I guess what I want to say is that for those of us who have the means, the will, the desire.... to be generous, do so. Those that recieve your generosity will know...it is not from pity that you give... it is from your heart.

Chris