Phoenixes and farewells

We did it.

We build a 10,000 litre water reservoir.

And its beautiful.

Week 3 of tanking is physically less challenging, but for me, it was the most emotionally challenging yet.

Monday arrived after a relaxing weekend. I walked to work and turned the corner, expecting the roaring laughter of Monkey, silence. I expected the banter from John, silence. On the bus John, Maria and I sat in silence. And I shed a tear.

And as we turned the corner into our community I set my sadness aside. I had a reservoir to finish. On Monday we celebrated one of the mason's smurfday's. We brought him a cake which we shared in the afternoon dusk, exchanging jokes that breached our language barrier. Tuesday consisted of the finishing touches, moving bricks from here to there, readying the metal frame that supports the ceiling. Wednesday almost killed me. John, Maria and I mixed 48 buckets of gravel with 5 bags of cement and carried it up to make the ceiling.

Thursday and Friday we painted. John used to be an apprentice painter and pulled out all the stops. I was the artist, I drew the phoenixes that now stand guard over our masterpiece. John painted with delicate, quick hands, making light of my complex design.

On Friday afternoon, in the midday heat we stepped back. There it stood. Three weeks of labour. To make a water reservoir one needs: cement, water, gravel, sand, bricks, steel reinforcing, blood, sweat, laughter and love.

At the time I was proud, but now, as I write this my heart swells, and tears flow. I am so glad for this experience, to work in a community that I otherwise would never have visited, with people I would have never met, and to do something that hopefully will benefit those people. So, a huge congratulations to Monkey, John, Jeff and Maria. Thank you all for making these last 3 weeks magical, and indeed they were magical.

So on Friday, as Jeff and I bid farewell to the little Hunter community we looked as the bus drove on till we could not see our water reservoir anymore. Cuidate. Take care.

This weekend, after a smashing Thanksgiving BBQ with the other volunteers, I had to bid farewell to Jeff, who returns to his wife, daughters and grandchildren in England. And this morning I had to bid farewell again to Monkey who came back to Arequipa for one last hot chocolate, one last joke, one last hug. We spent the weekend eating, joking and sharing stories and basically solving the world's problems (for those of you that care, we concluded that everyone needs to laugh more).

So this morning as I said a second farewell to him I cried.

But it was Monday, and the start of my 4 weeks of teaching. No time to be sad. Within an hour, the tears were replaced with the hugs of children. First, we took a class of 10 year olds swimming, and by swimming I mean, dunking oneself into the water and thrashing about in an attempt to float. Its great. The smiles spread across their wet faces. The pride in their eyes as you offer a well deserved high five. The squeeze of their hand as you hold on encouraging them to kick.

Then I met my inicial class. Upon arriving at the school I was swarmed. How does one walk with 15 kids hugging one's legs? I'll tell you, you don't. You just soak it up.

For a couple of hours I tried to match sweet faces to their 30 names. I offered help drawing out numbers, colouring in ducks, and cutting out trains. Its hard work. They range from 3 to 5 years old. They range from curious to shy. They range from being able to count to being able to colour in. But one thing is constant; they are all innocent, full of energy and unconditionally loving.

Its tough, slow going. I point to a number (11) and ask a girl what it was- yellow, by the way is not a number.

If I'm ever going to learn patients its now.

So tomorrow, we'll teach an hour of English- fruit. And I'll continue to learn their names and patience (in that order).

Before Monkey left he bestowed another quote to me:

"A man who can laugh at himself, will always be amused."

This is true, and made me think back to last week when I sat on a bee, in a convent, and proceeded to laugh out loud for a good 5 minutes. Alone.

On that note. Hugs, peace and love from Peru.

Phoenixes and farewells