Today we plugged away, doing more work on the house. We are all nearly experts now on the fine art of putting cement in between the blocks. Despite our learned skill, I think we are all amazed at the talent of the Mason. He is respected by the community and has an incredible talent for building. While many contractors in the U.S. wouldn’t think of going near a work site without their tool belt and blueprints, the Mason comes every day with little more than a rope, a couple trowels, and one level. It’s nice to see that the technology we rely on and often think we can’t live without is really just a convenience. Lesson learned: with common sense, ingenuity, and teamwork the work can be done just the same.
At the end of the work day, some of the representatives of ADESJO come from San Jose de Ocoa to celebrate our final full day of work. They thank us for the work we have done, and are very genuine in their words of appreciation. They have brought a gigantic cake for us to share with the community. Out of the wood works come all the faces we have come to know, and a lot of faces we’ve never seen before. We serve the cake along with cups of soda to the people in the community, but to me the act seems odd and out of place. It’s hard to simply give them a slice of flour, water, and sugar and feel like it matters. Though many appreciated the treat, to me it is hollow and trivial to give an impoverished community member one slice of cake. It is a well-intentioned but uncomfortable celebration. When it is over, we break out the embroidery floss we have brought to make friendship bracelets. Thinking this would be a treat for the women, we were excited to share this with our friends. Much to our surprise, though the women and children enjoyed themselves, we were surrounded by men of all ages braiding with their friends! It was a wonderful sight to see. After everyone has made and shared bracelets, we go to play dominoes for one last night.
-Meredith
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