Day Three

Jenny-
Man O’ man is it hot outside! Day two of construction is upon us, and with that is….OUR FIRST BUILDING DAY! We got up early, and I must add that the group is really easy to wake up in the morning- there has been no cold water or dragging needed. I guess we all know why we are here and how important that is. Sleep can come later. When we got to the worksite, we saw the three houses that we would be working on. It was incredible. What made it so surreal is that all around us, all day long, we look out into the neighborhood and see the houses where people can’t rebuild, most barely standing in a sea of weeds and shrubs, the X’s still bright and visible.
I know I keep bringing up those X’s, but it is the one thing that stand in my mind the most. It is the single most solitary way to understand the chaos, the destruction and the hopelessness of Katrina. Each house has its own story, and you get so much of it from just seeing it. You can’t help but wonder, how did those people survive? Did they survive? Will they ever be able to rebuild?
Anyway- back to the worksite. Habitat is a hardcore thing, I will say that. We worked our tails off, and the best part is that every time I looked around the group had smiles. No compliments. We all love what we are doing and why.. That makes the work bearable. I shoveled piles of sand into a wheelbarrow, I unloaded sand and evened the terrain so that the house wouldn’t experience pooling and more flooding, and I carried piles of wood and pushed the wheelbarrow. Basically- things I didn’t think I could do before.
At the end of they day, we are all tired. Our skin is stinging from the sun, our eyes are glazed with exhaustion, and our muscles ache and burn, yet still- no compliments. We are ALL looking forward to tomorrow, we are ALL looking forward to finishing the houses for these three families.


Drew-
Today, humm today was pretty intense. The temperature was in the 90s and all day we worked from 7:30 until 3:15. It was a crazy day. I shoveled sand and wheel barreled it back in forth, I also moved wood which happened to be covered in fire ants. Yes I got bit but whats a little ant bite when people down here in Louisiania had to endure so much more than you or I will ever imagine. We definitely busted are asses to get here and this is what we wanted, it feels so great to get our hands dirty and help the people of N’Orleans out. Im excited to wake up in the morning and do it all over again. Today was so great in that we not only accomplished being beasts and killing almost two piles of sand, but we also came together as a team. The comrodary is in the air, and I love the smell of success!!!!

Nick -
Today was hot. We got up around 6, ate some breakfast, and drove to the worksite. We got there and learned that the three house we were going to be working on this site were worked on by some NBA celebrities. Being the sports fan that I am, I thought that was pretty cool. We learned what we had to do then. There was two HUGE piles of sand. I think it was something like 16 cubic feet for one pile. Drew and I busted our asses and shoveled a ton of it and wheel barreled a lot of it too. I got a pretty good sunburn today, but it feels good because I know I got it doing something worth my time, not just lounging on the beach somewhere. Before the sand, everyone went around checking for big rocks and throwing them out of the yards. The we had to move some piles of siding, and some of wood. The siding was really heavy, but Drew and I worked pretty fast, and then helped some other people move the rest of theirs. As for the wood, haha, we all started moving it, and Amber, Drew, and I all got bit by some fire ants. But again, its all worth it. We all came together again, which was nice. We’ve been bonding quite nicely too. Humor has definitely played a big part in keeping us together. It felt great building a house for a total stranger. I was talking to Ben and Stevie, the two people in charge of the worksite, and they said we might be lucky enough to meet the people that will be moving into the houses. I also can’t believe they let me use a nail gun, hah. I got to tear up a door frame, and then I had to put it back together so it would fit perfectly for a folding door. I guess I get to smash the wall the door frame goes into because it isn’t flush. I actually pulled another frame out of one of the other houses, and will be lengthening that one, and finishing them both tomorrow. Its gonna be a long day.

Brandy-
So our first work day. Its really hot in New Orleans in the summer. Quality does matter to the habitat for Humanity builders. Taping around windows is a good idea when painting. There aren’t really any quick jobs. Its doesn’t matter what you have, you will eat lunch. Moving sand from a pile to the yard is back breaking. Its amazing what you can push your body to do with the right motivation. Sunscreen is a must. The prospect of getting sod is really exciting. Helping build this house is so rewarding, especially after seeing what the people have gone through. Oh and 6am is still way to early for breakfast.

Natasha-
Today was amazing. There was a very conscious effort towards teamwork and we are getting to know each other very well. We have been making the best of it all and having a very fun time doing so. I love our group, and I never knew we could be so great together. Building was great. Although I will be honest- I was very disappointed that our specific site pretty much had three houses already built as far as the structure goes and we wouldn’t be doing any base work. But, no worries here- we do what we need to do and that’s the vital part. There is a lot of work to be done down here and it is important that HABITAT is giving us the opportunity to help them down here.
The sun- is scorching and inevitably eating us alive but it still feels great for some reason. Water turns out to be sacred and not taken for granted as does lunch. It’s about time, right?
Nothing lasts and we are learning that.

Jessica-
Ridiculously hot but amazingly intense. I think there was an overwhelming drive among everyone, including the new people we met. I think we all felt very open and welcomed to New Orleans at this point and we had such a high, even if we did get up at 6 a.m. Even though most of us had never worked so hard, especially in such grueling heat, I think we all felt the exhaustion was worth it. The projects in the house are slow but I do think every bit counts. The humidity is insane and you definitely need sunscreen if you’re going to work outside, which consisted mostly of cleaning up the yard and leveling sand in order to create a better flow for the water so it doesn’t flood the house. All in all, I thought it was a great first day and everybody really pushed themselves for the underlying cause.


Jessi-
Today was fun! BUUTTTTT hard ! In the beginning of the day me and Amber cleand out the bin where we keep all are tools. It kind of reminds me of a big dumpster that you can walk into. Then after we organized the entire thing we moved on to weeding. For the record I want to say that weeding is the hardest thing I have done so far! You are constantly bent over and your hands start to hurt from the blisters forming on your hands from the shovel and the giant weeds we had to pull up! I would also like to add that today was hotter than the hubs of hell and I am burnt l a little bit (but not as bad as the others haha Nick looks like a lobster!)
After work we went to the pool! I was wishing for it to be frezzing cold but I guess in reality when the weather is always in the 90’s it would be hard to keep cool….. O well! I loved it
This place is amazing!

Amber :
This might seem cliché although I look around, I listen, and I feel…I don’t think have quite grasped what I’m about to say. Change without preparation. Change without expecting it. I feel a lot of times we as people lose it over the most minuet things. And things being like a car getting towed, not “liking” a teacher, or your hair not going the way you WANT it. Do you think the people of New Orleans had time to think about what they wanted or how they wanted it when Katrina hit? The answer is no. The people of New Orleans Louisianna had to accept the change that was just created by the natural disaster. They had to roll with it, they had and have had to improvise and relocate their families lives and hearts. Just next time you think you can’t handle whatever is going on in your life rather its here in Pittsburgh or across the world remember that change doesn’t wait for you, it just happens and you gotta keep it together while everything might be ascue.