Journal Entry # 49 - Habitat Esmeraldas

02 October 2002 - Laurie

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On the Worksite

The homeowners were a nice family- a mom, dad and two handsome, energetic young sons. The mother was studying to be a teacher and when not in class worked onsite. Everyday, she kindly provided hot lunches, which usually consisted of funky tasting broth/vegetable soups and rice with lentils or beef, but they were filling and good.
 

Our primary building projects in Esmeraldas were digging a 6 ft. hole for the septic tank and pouring concrete for floors in one home.

We obviously stood out in the neighborhood and attracted quite a bit of attention. I was especially an object of curiosity as a woman doing manual labor. I felt a moment of victory, however, when one man who had been observing us stopped by to say that he was impressed with what I was doing because “women didn’t do that kind of work” there. Changing perspectives. Right on!