It has been an interesting experience . Many of us have been on SE teams before in various countries Each has proven to have its own rewards and its own challenges . Each of us brings some skill sets and some job related skills and we think we know what we are doing. In our own setting and environment we probably do. But when you move to another culture things change. . WE are working on projects that we did not define and which we will probably not finish. It will be our host community that not only defines the project and will use the facility but will probably have to finish the work that we start doing. Thus we work with them - beside them and must rely on them for their advice and guidance.
IN addition of course we must work with their materials and their tools. The later are often not what we would have to use at home and - perhaps we are spoiled - expect to have available for use here. This includes not only tools but materials as well.
Today we started the day with a great presentation by Dr Paul Morgan and his wife about providing health care and water sanitation to the floating villages around Lake Tonlap. Earlier in our visit we had seen one of these floating villages but apparently it was “middle class” by comparison
Then a group of us went to a school to work on various improvements to the facilities. Frank installed a new sink and tap. Jim & Brian worked with some locals from BTC to prepare the site for a floor pad for a new classroom and Al and Tom worked on constructing and installing some new bookshelves in the library. I was not expecting to see a power saw , planer and drill there but was eternally glad that it was there. It allowed us to complete the job – well almost – today. The wood was soooo wet that it oozed water with every nail. It was so hard that it split easily and was very difficult to cut by hand. We did get the shelves assembled and installed but there will have to be some doors installed when the wood dries out. On Tuesday we were asked to make a new table for the art room. The natural choice for us Canadians would be plywood – BUT – plywood is not a normal material used here. We had to search for it. We were told that it was very expensive. Well we located some ¾ in plywood good 2 sides for 18.50 per sheet – a small fraction of its cost in Canada Materials and hot weather are 2 of the challenges . Another challenge is language and communication. Fortunately a few of our working companions have a few words of English and we make out very well with sign language and smiles and laughter . It is a joy to work with them . And do they ever know how to work – oh to be 20 years younger!.
IN addition of course we must work with their materials and their tools. The later are often not what we would have to use at home and - perhaps we are spoiled - expect to have available for use here. This includes not only tools but materials as well.
Today we started the day with a great presentation by Dr Paul Morgan and his wife about providing health care and water sanitation to the floating villages around Lake Tonlap. Earlier in our visit we had seen one of these floating villages but apparently it was “middle class” by comparison
Then a group of us went to a school to work on various improvements to the facilities. Frank installed a new sink and tap. Jim & Brian worked with some locals from BTC to prepare the site for a floor pad for a new classroom and Al and Tom worked on constructing and installing some new bookshelves in the library. I was not expecting to see a power saw , planer and drill there but was eternally glad that it was there. It allowed us to complete the job – well almost – today. The wood was soooo wet that it oozed water with every nail. It was so hard that it split easily and was very difficult to cut by hand. We did get the shelves assembled and installed but there will have to be some doors installed when the wood dries out. On Tuesday we were asked to make a new table for the art room. The natural choice for us Canadians would be plywood – BUT – plywood is not a normal material used here. We had to search for it. We were told that it was very expensive. Well we located some ¾ in plywood good 2 sides for 18.50 per sheet – a small fraction of its cost in Canada Materials and hot weather are 2 of the challenges . Another challenge is language and communication. Fortunately a few of our working companions have a few words of English and we make out very well with sign language and smiles and laughter . It is a joy to work with them . And do they ever know how to work – oh to be 20 years younger!.
By; Tom Sears
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