Day 7- Sorry....we blocked you!

Another beautiful sunny morning greeted everyone today!  It was hot and humid and you could tell it was going to be a steamer.

Coffee and scrambled eggs with fresh soft tortillas and fresh fruit helped us get going.  Then we were back to school today when everyone else back home has school off this week.

What we were greeted with when we got to the school was 500 cement blocks needing to be moved out of the school to the fenceline (they lock up all the tools and supplies inside each night).  Most of us started moving blocks while others starting mixing the mortar........either job is as tough as it comes. 

Things moved a little slower today as it was crucial to get the first row started perfectly and there was not as many qualified local experts around as there had been last week.  It didn't matter though as Stephen and Billy stepped up and made nice fill ins and will now be pleased to offer mortar and cement work to their list of services available back home.  Meanwhile, Treena and the girls hung out in the classrooms for most of the morning and helped with lessons.  Lexi and Corey were even able to get some help with their math back home from some of the kids.  Kate and Zoey backed Treena up on helping with lessons.  Treena and Zoey were also wandering photographers documenting the work being done today outside and inside.

We now have a new favourite lunch......empaneda's.  These things were amazing.  The leads changed hands many times with who was going to eat the most, but in the end Stephen came out ahead as leader with 11!  All the boys demanded a recount but it would be too gross to attempt that.

After lunch the heat was hitting an all time high with everyone sweating in places they didn't know they had.  It was a tough one for sure.  Even the double hump backed camels were struggling with the heat.  So to help with an energy boost, the school went and got 12 fresh coconuts and cut them and put straws in and everyone had a round of fresh coconut water.

We stuck around a little late today to set us up for a better last day tomorrow.  While we were doing that the relationships between us and the local men really blossomed and flourished today and much more was learned about their families, their views, and what they think of their own country.  Nacho who is the leader of the men was telling us today that he's had lots of practice putting up similar fences at his home.....except this fence at home rather than security like here at the school was built because a crocodile during the rainy season grabbed a chicken while his wife and mom were sitting on the back patio.  That would likely be enough to convince any of us to put a fence up as well! 

We headed back to the Hotel Maya where the ladies served us a chicken type stew with potatoes, carrots, potatoes, and squash.....another big hit with everyone.  We had a quick review of the day followed by our game plan for tomorrow and then half of us went off to "ball" it up while the other half pursued the perfect end to an eventful day......a Fanta and a Snickers bar.