ConstruCasa

Volunteering in construction has definitely provided a unique experience here in Guatemala. Working with ConstruCasa lets me see just how much work we've accomplished since we've arrived. We've set up foundations, we've mixed cement, we've helped set cinderblocks, and we've been able to get to know the construction workers. Every day, I can see the school we're working on grow a little bit. Whenever I come back to the work site, I see a new beam set up, or a new wall standing, and it's encouraging to know that our work actually serves a purpose.

However, I've also learned that this really is a team effort. The first day that we mixed cement, I had a nice vantage point of the whole process. Mr. Cantu called it an ant line; someone would shovel gravel into buckets, someone else would shovel cement mix into buckets, other people would carry the buckets to the mixer, others would shovel the freshly poured cement into more buckets, and on and on until the cement was wheelbarrowed into place.

Everone had a part in the process, and if one person slacked off, it slowed everyone else down. It was humbling to see how dedicated the Guatemalan workers were. We started working at 8 and ended at 11:20. They started working at 4 in the morning and ended at around 2. One worker, Charlie, was in charge of taking the mixed cement and throwing to others in the ant line. He was absolutely covered in cement. His face was splattered with it and at one point I saw him spit cement out of his mouth. He didn't complain--none of them did. They just kept working and by breaktime, they bought all of us soda and were smiling and laughing and telling jokes. They weren't dead exhausted or angry.
They've been welcoming, patient and hard-working. At home, it's so common to hear how stressful everything is and to complain. If they can deal with work like that and still keep a smile, I shouldn't have to sweat the little things.