Friday - Last Day at Yagay

Friday morning started out with our usual breakfast at the Plaza. We asked Abraham to pick us up at 8:30 so we would get done a little earlier (that did not happen). Both teams set to work after moving a concrete latrine lid into place.

When we were done we met at the schoolhouse for lunch. The community women made the tacos from soy protein, rice and seasoning. The food was great and we had a good time visiting with Yagay community after our last day of work.

Before we left Abraham asked us to help set the concrete lid on the school latrine. This latrine is designed to be a double unit. While we didn't have to move it very far it required lifting an awkward object weighing about 600 kilos (1 kilo = 2.2 pounds) up a 2 ft step and onto the brick foundation. We did not know how much a kilo weighed until some time later.

Darwin and I didn't think it could be done. Every woman and man available tried to lift it but no luck. Spanish and English deliberations were conducted with a lot of pointing and sign language. We finally used 4x4 posts as rails and steel bars as levers to push it into place. It sounded and looked like a Chinese fire drill but with prayers from Goni turned out to be a well coordinated team accomplishment.

We headed back to Oaxaca to clean up and do some final shopping before dinner on the Plaza. Adam and his lovely wife, Dolce (sp?) joined us. It was a great evening to cap a week of hard work, service to the Yagay community and new friendships.