Tuesday, July 28th - Build Day 1

Build day one is finished! It was a great day. We had all sorts of jobs on the go: I got to lay insulation (styrofoam so no worries) on the ground floor and then we even got a chance to start putting up the walls on the second floor. It's really neat to be working here cause the materials are very different (cinder blocks and mortar and plaster etc). The language barrier hasn't been much of a problem until now when you've got people telling you what to do and you can't understand what they are saying. We're learning to quicky holler for someone who can translate. It's funny that I've built builds in the states and come to Poland and still end up working with American southerners: there's a young guy here working with the Gliwice Affliate from Atlanta Georgia for a few months. He's quite nice and a help for translating though he often gets confused too.

Breakfast was tasty (though different - sliced meats and veggies!) and we made our own bagged "second breakfast" (or lunch as we know it). My team quickly learned I'm a bit clumsy when I cut myself at breakfast, tripped down some stairs and hit my head coming off our bus. I got alot of glances during this morning's safety talk and I think someone else hit their head this afternoon and claimed to have pulled a "Melody". Glad they're learning to mock me already, haha. I had no workplace mishaps however and don't plan on any either. I had a really good time though. It's really nice to not be in the leader position; it's a nice break.

This evening we wandered a bit after dinner (pork and delicious dumplings!). Picked up some more water and some snackfoods. We had the opportunity to go to a music thing at an old church but I was exhausted and figured I'd probably fall asleep so I'm back home now where I can rest up this evening: I think the jet lag, heat and building is already getting to me. (oh no, I know haha).

Things are going great already, we've been starting to plan a bit what we want to do when we arrive back in Krakow but there's so much I want to see and do and I'm realizing I will not get to see it all (Sorry Mom - no Shrine of Divine Mercy). Anyways, it's incredibly hot up here so I'm gonna scoot. :)

*Picture of the building we are working on; building 8 to house 12 families.