Attention Mother Nature: When I requested no rain for the rest of our stay in Sri Lanka, I wasn’t saying I wanted clear skies and a sun so hot it feels like I’m about to toss the ring into the burning fires of Mordor. I mean, if I wanted that I could have arranged a house build in Oman in August.
The normally unflappable Himesh was grumpy. We were pounding a pile of red dirt with shovels and hoes and our shirts were already soaked through. It was 9:10 and we’d been working for approximately…seventeen minutes. Last night Himesh shared with the group that one of this prime goals in coming on the trip was to work as hard as possible, to feel “complete exhaustion.” Well, by 9:11 he’d just about achieved it.
But in the (shaded) backyard, where all this dirt was destined to fill in the foundation, a new kitchen was rapidly taking shape. The mason was assembling the walls of what will one day soon virtually double the living capacity of the house. This is a really lovely family and our favorite member is undoubtedly little Chatoreka, a precocious girl of about five who doesn’t simply hang around the work site, but she jumps right into the work. She even bosses around the other children, chastising them for not helping shovel the dirt.
Meanwhile, over at the main site, Heinrich & the Demolition Boys were busy at work. Shirtless, sweaty, and carrying various tools and bags of dirt, they looked as though they were auditioning for the cover of the 2013 Habitat Hunks wall calendar. This is the same house where the crew took down a wall a few days ago and already the change is impressive. Two new rooms have been added and the inner walls have been raised to provide for a second story. The team is pretty pumped about their work, as well they should be.
There are so many brilliant moments throughout our day that I can’t capture here: the van rides to and from the work site; the dozens of hilarious comments that make the sweaty labor so much fun; Mr. Provencher’s singing; the families’ appreciation for our work; nightly ginger beers; sprints in the ocean after a long day; pride in ourselves and in each other.
Clarissa and Himesh spend some quality time with the dirt
Bryan loves his work
The walls come up around Himesh as he levels the foundation
Joe. Wiped out.