Blog Post Brought to you by Curtis
Travis told us a saying in the engineering industry:
Measure with a micrometer,
mark it with chalk,
cut it with an axe.
Our first day in community saw us painstakingly measure and remeasure to attempt perfectly aligned foundations for our columns. Travis arrived the following day, and we placed what were intended to be perfect quarter square meter wooden framework along the lines we had carefully measured.
Our trip to the town center yielded 24 half meter wooden planks that had to be carried 45 minutes back to our build site. Since there were seven of us, our translator decided to give us each a couple to carry. Every member was given four, except for me because it's good to be the king.
The final product of the formwork can best be described as an extended family of trapezoids, that an untrained eye could tell are related, if only distantly, to a square.
Today was our first encounter with Africa time. Before work could begin, we had to place our rebar grid that would prevent our structure from puncturing our footers. From the span of 8:30 to 12, our translator assured us the truck was right around the corner. I've been around that corner, it doesn't take three and a half hours. The footers were successfully poured despite our best efforts, and are now waiting to set.
Today was the first test of our teams ability to work together, and we passed with top marks. Every member above and beyond in terms of their share of the work and seemed to be passionate about the work being done. It makes me excited to work with such an effective group. I have utmost confidence in our ability to successfully fulfill our goals in this beautiful country.
Pictures follow:
Travis told us a saying in the engineering industry:
Measure with a micrometer,
mark it with chalk,
cut it with an axe.
Our first day in community saw us painstakingly measure and remeasure to attempt perfectly aligned foundations for our columns. Travis arrived the following day, and we placed what were intended to be perfect quarter square meter wooden framework along the lines we had carefully measured.
Our trip to the town center yielded 24 half meter wooden planks that had to be carried 45 minutes back to our build site. Since there were seven of us, our translator decided to give us each a couple to carry. Every member was given four, except for me because it's good to be the king.
The final product of the formwork can best be described as an extended family of trapezoids, that an untrained eye could tell are related, if only distantly, to a square.
Today was our first encounter with Africa time. Before work could begin, we had to place our rebar grid that would prevent our structure from puncturing our footers. From the span of 8:30 to 12, our translator assured us the truck was right around the corner. I've been around that corner, it doesn't take three and a half hours. The footers were successfully poured despite our best efforts, and are now waiting to set.
Today was the first test of our teams ability to work together, and we passed with top marks. Every member above and beyond in terms of their share of the work and seemed to be passionate about the work being done. It makes me excited to work with such an effective group. I have utmost confidence in our ability to successfully fulfill our goals in this beautiful country.
Pictures follow:
Xilal enjoying our skirmish into Lake Kivu on the border of Rwanda and Congo
First team photo after a delightful beach day
Making our way downtown
Michael getting his party on. 0.0 percent, dad
A major sponsor of our trip, Wally. Second only to the exchange rate brought on by Brexit
After a successful meeting with the community vision board
Making friends. That weird thing by my head is Ellis's phone malfunctioning, not my ridiculous hair. Though I will admit it is ridiculous
Baby Goat
Muhabura, the volcanoes that overlooks our community. 4,700 meters tall
A completed footer with rebar sticking out of the top
The cow attempting to get a better look at all the commotion. Fun fact, this cow licked me almost exactly a year ago. Made me have to go to a different customs line upon US re-entry
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