Day one was spent mastering the machete! Much harder than you would imagine with a definite knack, we helped to hack down areas of the forest so that the bamboo plants can grow well. It's really important to have good bamboo for furniture and gifts making business, and the community are trying to grow their own rather than buy it in. The guys from the bamboo workshop have made some awesome things from kitchen utensils (Jay made us some neat chop sticks) to complex toy planes. Pete quickly gained the nickname 'Rambo' for his machete abilities and has since been quite the driving force behind the jungle labour!
Day two we found ourselves in the construction line in the Agua Pura plant, scrubbing the 5 gallon drums until blistered formed, chlorinating them with a vigorous cleaning process, filling with spring water and sealing them ready for distribution in local towns and cities. Guatemalans are petite people but at only 5ft and 12-16 years, these girls are seriously strong and full of giggles and cheek. I really enjoyed helping them out.
Day two we found ourselves in the construction line in the Agua Pura plant, scrubbing the 5 gallon drums until blistered formed, chlorinating them with a vigorous cleaning process, filling with spring water and sealing them ready for distribution in local towns and cities. Guatemalans are petite people but at only 5ft and 12-16 years, these girls are seriously strong and full of giggles and cheek. I really enjoyed helping them out.
Day three we found ourselves machetying down 30ft bamboo trees, carrying them though the jungle to build neat looking steps on the trails through the plantation, kilometers of which we have now cleared, repaired or dug out. This was good fun with some good team work. By day four we ached a lot but had worked out the routines and felt settled in.
Since then, we've worked on the trails a lot, which is important not only for the coffee and macadamia pickers, but should be good for when the tours kick off. It's a treat to walk them in the evenings and morning with the guys, the forest is so alive. It's interesting to greet families bathing and washing in the streams, out picking nuts or collecting fire wood to heat the stove.
We have got to know Kevin very well, he's patient with our Spanish and always energetic and smiling, even at the crack of dawn. He's great at showing us things on the forest trails. We've got to know quite a few of the community through the projects and just being stopped to chat as you walk to the shop. There aren't many gringo's up here.
We have got to know Kevin very well, he's patient with our Spanish and always energetic and smiling, even at the crack of dawn. He's great at showing us things on the forest trails. We've got to know quite a few of the community through the projects and just being stopped to chat as you walk to the shop. There aren't many gringo's up here.
My favourite people are the women in the kitchen. With a great sense of humour, warmth and just being happy to have us there. It's been lovely hanging out in the kitchen, especially with Sara who always has her gorgeous baby strapped to her back, I was so sad to say goodbye to her. I've learnt to make tortilla's, enjoy beans for brekkie, lunch and dinner and brew a good coffee...
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