Day One Building

Yesterday we rolled up our sleeves and got work helping to build some houses in the village. In all we are helping to build three houses, some of the projects were well under way while others we barely started.

We were split in to groups of three by our able guide Bijay and then set off to work.

House One.

House number one was barely started and unlike the other houses is being built from stone. This means that progress is a little slower as the right rocks have to be found and then worked in to place. We spent a great deal of the moving rocks from a stock pile above the house to various areas surrounding the build. This was pretty heavy work but we soon formed a chain and with that we were able to move the rock far more efficiently.

We did also spend some time learning how to make the rock walls and transporting the "mato" (Nepali for mud) on to the walls. We didn't really feel comfortable building the rock walls as the builders seem to have a process and we found it was faster if we provided the labour, getting rocks and mud to them. By the end of the day we had started to build a friendship with the people we were working with, even though we can't understand each other, though we did at least learn one new word to day "ramro" which means "good" in Nepali. Hopefully we hear that a lot more over the next few days.

When we were finished for the day we were greeted at the bus with a cup of hot chia. This is a spicy sweet tea which was quite refreshing after a head day working in the 30+ temperatures. It was back on the bus for the trip back up the hill, where everyone was a little quieter after a hard days work.

House Two

It seemed right from the get go that today was going to be a tough labour filled day. It turned out my assumption was correct.

Our group (Andy, Anne, David and myself Jeremy) were working in one of the cluster of houses close to where the bus was being parked. So we were straight into it, or should I say straight in to a rest.
"first we rest" - Laxman

After some nagging from me and a touch of observing we were ready to start, again.

Constructing the simple brick house didn't involve too much. Carrying bricks, making mortar (mud) and laying the bricks was as technical as it got. The locals preferred to do the corners, checking with plumb lines to make sure they were straight.

So we fitted in wherever they needed help, and the day progressed, rest work, rest, work, rest, walk to get bamboo for scaffolding and of course anther rest. In saying that, after all the resting the house still progressed and we went home knackered at the end of the day.

Points of interest
- Carrying bricks with the back strap around your neck. I carried 16 -18, a young wirey girl carried 18 - 20. The young man (also wirey) carried 26.

- The locals had an understanding of sustainable harvesting as we walked 10 - 15 minutes to get bamboo rather than use that which was right next door.

- The Nepali people are amazing hosts (and cooks) we felt welcomed this whole time and ate beautiful meals.

- Maina's relish is better than anything we had at restaurants do far.