Thursday: working hard

Our work sites have expanded to three, all within blocks of each other in the La Matanza area, about one hour by bus during the morning traffic rush.

First, in answer to comments posted:

1. Weather here is considered winter, but we would call it spring as light jacket is all that is necessary. However the Argentines are wearing heavy coats for what they call "cold days". Actually it was hot today and we were down to shirt sleeves while working on the site.

2. Before we arrived, this area succumbed to the rainest August ever and evacuation of thousands of families in some areas. Where we are working, the resultant water is still standing and making nice suck your feet into it "mud". This has contributed to the conditions on our work sites: mud and more mud, muddy shoes, and more muddy shoes.

3. Hotel Hispano is a 2* facility. Wonderful fluffy towels, narrow bed, shower in bathroom with plastic curtain but no tub, just water on the floor with a drain to squegee dry after, rooms are clean and spare as expected.


4. Out in the area where we are working, lots of animals, freely moving around. It seems every family has at least one dog and cat. We have been befriending the ones on our sites.

At right: Rene with a dog 

named Kun after a 

well known Argentine 

soccer player.  >>>> 

SITE ONE (Claudia's house):

Eight of the team continued the brick wall building. this included the mixing of the mortar and for some, learning to do the bricklaying. We worked until the height of the wall would have required scaffolding (there was none) to continue. Remainder of the day was another bucket brigade of the earth fill, which we now moved for mixing into a slurry for the concrete sub-floor of the two rooms in Claudia's house.

ALEX WAS GREAT STICKING WITH THE HEAVY LIFTING OF EARTH CONTINUOUSLY UNTIL RELIEVED LATE IN THE AFTERNOON BY TWO OTHER TEAM MEMBERS.

(Lauren and Joe take note: Alex has been a great worker and solid team member of this Paterson group. Pix of him working upcoming) 

NANCY AND DONNA HAVE RELIEVED
ALEX AND PITCH IN TO SHOVEL EARTH
FOR THE BUCKET BRIGADE

DIANE HANDS BUCKET OFF TO JOSE,
WHILE DONNA TURNS TO REACH FOR NEXT ONE.



WALL AND FLOOR AT END OF DAY.

SITE TWO (Antonia's house):
Work continued with clean up from the roof removal. Antonia has been thrilled to have a team on site and helping her with a "house solution".

BARB READIES THE MALLOT OVERHEAD
FOR THE BIG CONCRETE SMASH!

AND SCOTT TRANSFERS RUBBLE FOR CARTING AWAY.

SITE THREE (Graciela's house):

She has been living in the house she built for more than fifteen years and has been plagued by moisture on the floors and even measurable accumulation. The work here is to build rooms on the back of existing house which the family will move into, demolish the existing which has been seriously comprimised by water damage, and regrade the property to prevent further occurence. A mother of 4 children, the oldest at 18, Graciela is an engaging woman and appreciative of the volunteers.

Work for the Habitat team is plastering the interior walls (built by previous volunteers).

RENEE COVERS BRICK WALL WITH PLASTER.

USING A LONG BOARD, ANDY SMOOTHS OUT THE NEW PLASTER.