Hello all,
It's Sarah again. Today we worked in another neighborhood, pouring a floor again. The floor was much smaller today and the ground was flat so the work was a bit easier. We all seemed to get the hang of it today. One challenge of today was that it was very hot and sunny so a few of us were burnt despite efforts to prevent so. The food today was also delicious. The family made us chicken tacos and tamales. A former Wooster student and long term volunteer who lives in San Diego came down to work with us, which is always fun. It was nice working with the other group from Boston and getting to know them better. We also got to work with a group from Los Angeles for the first time. Tomorrow we are pouring a roof and visiting a girls' orphanage.
Sarah
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Tuesday - Day #4
Hello people,
My name is Sachi and this is my first time on the Esperanza trip. My experience here so far has been really great. This trip has been exactly what I expected and so much more. Despite not knowing any Spanish, I still feel as if I'm immersed into the culture as everyone else. Meeting the families we are serving makes the work that we are doing really meaningful and the meals they make for us are so delicious. In addition, it has been a pleasure working with the other groups from different colleges too. Although the work we are doing is hard, the accomplishments and bonding that happens make it all worth it.
Today, we worked creating a concrete floor. All the groups were present and everyone had a basic idea of the process making the job today easier. Last time while creating the concrete floor I was in a line passing down buckets, but today I helped shovel gravel into buckets to create the cement. Today we managed to finish the concrete floor earlier than last time, so we also helped transfer a bunch of sand dirt out of the owners property. My favorite part of today was taking down some of the dirt on the property using a pick. I never used a pick before, so I thought that was pretty neat. Overall, it was a great day and I look forward to the next, unfortunately it will be hotter tomorrow. But I'm sure the day will be just as good.
My name is Sachi and this is my first time on the Esperanza trip. My experience here so far has been really great. This trip has been exactly what I expected and so much more. Despite not knowing any Spanish, I still feel as if I'm immersed into the culture as everyone else. Meeting the families we are serving makes the work that we are doing really meaningful and the meals they make for us are so delicious. In addition, it has been a pleasure working with the other groups from different colleges too. Although the work we are doing is hard, the accomplishments and bonding that happens make it all worth it.
Today, we worked creating a concrete floor. All the groups were present and everyone had a basic idea of the process making the job today easier. Last time while creating the concrete floor I was in a line passing down buckets, but today I helped shovel gravel into buckets to create the cement. Today we managed to finish the concrete floor earlier than last time, so we also helped transfer a bunch of sand dirt out of the owners property. My favorite part of today was taking down some of the dirt on the property using a pick. I never used a pick before, so I thought that was pretty neat. Overall, it was a great day and I look forward to the next, unfortunately it will be hotter tomorrow. But I'm sure the day will be just as good.
Tuesday pictures
Today we worked in Cumbras Colonia where we poured another floor and moved dirt. Here are today's pictures:
Tuesday Pictures
Tuesday Pictures
Monday, March 14, 2016
First Day
Hello all!
My name is Sarah and I am a junior Econ major at COW. This is my third time on the Tijuana trip. I've come back twice since my first trip because this is such a unique opportunity. The best part of this trip to me is working with the families and sharing this experience with them. It is so beneficial to work with others of different backgrounds so we can learn from each other and improve our relationships and perceptions with others. A student from another group said that the families really give us more than we give them. I believe this statement reflects what everyone who returns year after year feels about this organization.
Today we worked on pouring a concrete floor and creating blocks. I had never created blocks on previous trips so I volunteered to try it out. I was surprised at how heavy and difficult they were to carry and thus became frustrated. Everyone worked together to complete the blocks and we returned to help pour the floor. This task, while difficult in its own way, was physically less demanding. It is always nice to see at the end of the day the tangible products of our work, whether those are blocks, a floor, or a roof. While today's work was challenging, it was rewarding as always.
Best,
Sarah
My name is Sarah and I am a junior Econ major at COW. This is my third time on the Tijuana trip. I've come back twice since my first trip because this is such a unique opportunity. The best part of this trip to me is working with the families and sharing this experience with them. It is so beneficial to work with others of different backgrounds so we can learn from each other and improve our relationships and perceptions with others. A student from another group said that the families really give us more than we give them. I believe this statement reflects what everyone who returns year after year feels about this organization.
Today we worked on pouring a concrete floor and creating blocks. I had never created blocks on previous trips so I volunteered to try it out. I was surprised at how heavy and difficult they were to carry and thus became frustrated. Everyone worked together to complete the blocks and we returned to help pour the floor. This task, while difficult in its own way, was physically less demanding. It is always nice to see at the end of the day the tangible products of our work, whether those are blocks, a floor, or a roof. While today's work was challenging, it was rewarding as always.
Best,
Sarah
From Depths to Roofs
Hola todos! Mi nombre es Hannah. It is my third year on the trip and I couldn't be happier to be back! Today was our first day of work. I've noticed as the years go on, the work gets harder, I think because I know what's coming now a days when I step onto the worksite, or maybe because I'm getting older, (haha you now 21 is super old now a days). Anyway. Today we started out tough by pouring a floor in the colonia of San Antonio. It was a beautiful colonia, very much in the boondocks, which is different than any other place I've worked before in Mexico. After many hours, we finally got the floor poured and saw our finished product, which is always worth all of the hard work.
One thing I've noticed is that service trips in Tijuana are very different than those I've been on in the US. In the US, at least for the trips I've been on, we start with a house that is already there and either restore it or just help it be what it used to be. In Tijuana, I've gotten to see everything from the bottom of a 6ft trench for the foundation to floors to roofs. It's such a process and it amazes me that ordinary everyday people have accomplished this work from the very depths to the top with pretty much just our hands. It amazes me every year how much we as people are able to do by just being determined and getting out there and doing it. We don't need cement trucks and excavators, we just need people willing to work together and willing to change lives, and the fact that all people, no matter how young or old, how weak or strong, are able to do that.
Hasta Luego Amigos!
-Hannah
PS.. Is it roofs or rooves? This is an ongoing debate at the Posada right now.
One thing I've noticed is that service trips in Tijuana are very different than those I've been on in the US. In the US, at least for the trips I've been on, we start with a house that is already there and either restore it or just help it be what it used to be. In Tijuana, I've gotten to see everything from the bottom of a 6ft trench for the foundation to floors to roofs. It's such a process and it amazes me that ordinary everyday people have accomplished this work from the very depths to the top with pretty much just our hands. It amazes me every year how much we as people are able to do by just being determined and getting out there and doing it. We don't need cement trucks and excavators, we just need people willing to work together and willing to change lives, and the fact that all people, no matter how young or old, how weak or strong, are able to do that.
Hasta Luego Amigos!
-Hannah
PS.. Is it roofs or rooves? This is an ongoing debate at the Posada right now.
Monday - working day one
This is Phil Starr from Trinity - and this is probably my 14th Esperanza mission trip!!!
This morning most of the group walked to the flea market which moves around to different colonials each day. We didn't buy anything except doughnuts from the bakery.
There are a total of three groups sharing the Posada this week. Seven from USC, 11 from Boston Mass and our group. We had our opening circle with Eduardo to start the day - we sit in a circle and we introduce ourselves to him.
Today was our first workday. We went to the colonial - San Antinio (I'm probably butchering the spelling) and we poured a floor for Esperanza. We have been in this colonial in previous years. We saw one of our previous places - and for those who were on the trip - in maybe 2006 or 2007 when we worked on a place that was going to be a garage. It was never used as a garage it is a store. On that trip we had a number of Sr High youth.
Myself and six students (three from Boston and three from our group) went over to another house and made cement block for a few hours. This is something that I've never done before. It takes 5 buckets of sand, 50 lbs of concrete and probably one bucket of water. It goes into a smaller cement mixer.
Then the machine that makes the block is electric - you put the cement mix in the mold and it tampers it down. Two blocks come out and two people carry them on their wooden platform.
We came back over to Esperanza's house to help with the floor cement poor which was 30 bags of cement. I took my usual post working back of the mixer working with the sand and gravel.
We had a few neighbors helping us with the cement pour today. It went pretty quick and I'm sure our entire group will be sore and tired tonight.
This Esperanza Mission Trip is such a good trip. I will take some time to reflect later in the week. I'll close for now - I'm very impressed with the students - we all put in a full days work.
Phil
This morning most of the group walked to the flea market which moves around to different colonials each day. We didn't buy anything except doughnuts from the bakery.
There are a total of three groups sharing the Posada this week. Seven from USC, 11 from Boston Mass and our group. We had our opening circle with Eduardo to start the day - we sit in a circle and we introduce ourselves to him.
Today was our first workday. We went to the colonial - San Antinio (I'm probably butchering the spelling) and we poured a floor for Esperanza. We have been in this colonial in previous years. We saw one of our previous places - and for those who were on the trip - in maybe 2006 or 2007 when we worked on a place that was going to be a garage. It was never used as a garage it is a store. On that trip we had a number of Sr High youth.
Myself and six students (three from Boston and three from our group) went over to another house and made cement block for a few hours. This is something that I've never done before. It takes 5 buckets of sand, 50 lbs of concrete and probably one bucket of water. It goes into a smaller cement mixer.
Then the machine that makes the block is electric - you put the cement mix in the mold and it tampers it down. Two blocks come out and two people carry them on their wooden platform.
We came back over to Esperanza's house to help with the floor cement poor which was 30 bags of cement. I took my usual post working back of the mixer working with the sand and gravel.
We had a few neighbors helping us with the cement pour today. It went pretty quick and I'm sure our entire group will be sore and tired tonight.
This Esperanza Mission Trip is such a good trip. I will take some time to reflect later in the week. I'll close for now - I'm very impressed with the students - we all put in a full days work.
Phil
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