Although the church job site is technically a commercial construction site, this job feels more like a residential construction project. Today we installed the only waste pipe into the only sewer-box we needed to access. Unlike working at a project at the University of Washington or Shoreline Community College, this jobsite offers little or no opportunity for repetition, which makes getting into a rhythm very difficult. We are finding our stride, however. Sajmir and I and four other workers made up and placed 6 cubic meters of concrete today.
An interesting feature of the construction we have unearthed during our excavation for the footings and columns is the presence of an excess of empty plastic bottles in the ground. It seems that these 1-liter containers were placed for the purpose of saving money on legitimate structural fill, in the same way that rocks and other excavation debris are often used as filler in concrete. Sometimes it is alright to laugh at the idiosyncrasies of another culture; this is one of those times.
And so, this is the work. Before today, Ledi had never been on a jobsite for the mixing and placement of concrete. I explained to him that everywhere in the world, be it the United States, El Salvador, or Albania, concrete work is the most physically demanding work there is. I think that made him feel a little better about being so wiped-out by the end of the day. We were all ready for some calories and rest by the time we ran out of materials. Praise God.
albaniacalling 