April 3, part 2

Sunday, April 3, 2011
Deslandes, Haiti

8pm

Today started off in a rather frustrating way, as neither Ian nor I were sure we would have any help, and we were frankly feeling a little neglected in our corner of the playground. We sat over coffee, planning out our strategy for how to leave the unfinished building in the hands of people who hadn’t really participated in the process. When we went outside, the konbit members had indeed started collecting bamboo leaves for us- they went out 2 times, and brought back enough to get us almost to the half-way point in the wall.

These guys asked me to take their photo. I wish I had thought to take a photo as they walked onto the schoolyard, each carrying the sack of leaves on their head!

 It takes a lot of material using these bamboo leaves, and without a full crew, it is rather a slow process, in that we have to go get more clay periodically, get the water from the other side of the playground, make the clay slip, then get leaves, put them on the tarp, pour enough slip on them to make them sticky, turn them over many times to coat all of the leaves, and then, finally, stuff them into the wall cavities between larson trusses and tamp them. Ideally, with a gang of 10 or 15 dedicated volunteers, you should be able to rip through a project like this, but alas, it was Ian and I, and a handful of kids who would zip in and out of the work. The main reason we both feel that light clay/straw won’t work in Haiti is that people don’t want to get dirty. In a country that is all dust, dirt and mud, that has been completely deforested, people hate getting dirty. We can’t get anyone to help mix the straw/slip, nor will anyone go get the wet slip in buckets- they’ll use the drill to mix up the slip, and they’ll go fetch wheelbarrows of dry clay, but as soon as the work gets muddy and messy, they are out. Ian pointed out that in a country that gets muddy so much during the rainy season, it might only be a reminder of that- cleanliness has such importance here, and it may very well be linked to the muddiness.

Everyone wants to work the drill!

The day ended on a more positive note, thankfully. Daniel, from the block laying crew, came down to ask us questions about how to continue on after we are gone- I was most tickled. We offered him the alternative of using earthblocks in the remaining cavities, rather than clay/straw (it would be easier, quicker, more familiar, and less messy!), but he said no, they’d continue on with clay/straw. I was most pleased- relieved, too. The kids who were so helpful to us will continue to be involved, I’m sure. We hit just over the half-way point on the wall we want to finish before running out of materials. We don’t know if the konbit folks will return today with more leaves or not- we hope so- we’d love to finish that one section of wall! So, it feels better knowing that someone will take the torch and continue on with the project.

Also, there has been constant community interest; at the end of each work day, different folks stroll on down to observe what we have done for the day. I see that, too, as positive.

Madame Alien, one of our kitchen workers, stopped by the building and sat there while we worked for awhile. It was a treat to see her there on the jobsite. Benitta came by yesterday and hung out for a bit too.