… the Haven trip is turning out to be one of those really rewarding, difficult, hard volunteer trips but also a bit of an adventure, Monday night was no less, after a few hours of dodgy electrics, bringing back fond memories of pub openings, and power failures, eventually, and full credit to everyone, the show got on the road, and instead of it being a Haiti Stars in Our Eyes night we were treated to the real deal, and had the actual winner of Haiti’s Stars in their Eyes competition, a girl called Winifred, who really has the most amazing voice ever singing Ave Maria.
No electricity for the fans in the camp site, so it was a great chance to experience what Haitian families have been living with since being given tents to replace their shattered homes since January. On a lighter note I also now know what a symphony of snorers sounds like, and all my ammunition for giving out was taken away by Declan Hilary ringing my phone (which should have been on silent) at 3h30 and me being singled out as the naughty tent-ant L
Tuesday:
A rare but welcome site greeted Tuesday, clouds threatening rain, can this be? So we got a light shower to get things going but barely enough to be considered a alight shower, then the hottest morning arrived and back to siving sand. Myself, Nick (a Cork man also known as a skilled labourer but at what we’re still not sure) and Ross (a Kildare lad who has played GAA for California so is good enough for me) have been developing tactics on how to get the best results, from the least effort, a few more concrete blocks here, a few less there, the gradient too high too low. Work is tough today, the heat is a killer, watch checking isn’t allowed by us except if badly needed, the clock is literally not moving this morning, what was meant to eb a 3 hour start to the day is going to be an eternity. Work resumes again after a a breakfast break and we get cracking again.
By the time we stop for lunch we are in full flow, but the heat is taking it’s toll, I feel weak, sick and head off for the air conditioned bus to hang out for an hour, Ross is getting head aches, Nick is at his limit too.
The break does it’s trick, and we are re invigorated by the news we no longer have to sive sand. Never were 3 grown men so happy to hear they had been ‘chosen’ for the steel bending, it’s just what the doctor ordered, still out in the sun, but the sun is now aided by a nice cool breeze, the blisters on the hands don’t seem as bad. We end with a couple of beers for the boys at 6, grab some dinner, head for the showers and get ready for the quiz night ahead, each pre empting excuses on being absolutely useless at quizzes, we agree to call ourselves the Steel Benders in recognition of our improved status amongst the masonry team…
No comments:
Post a Comment