Recap from Day 3 at the CFS

Today was a work day. We spent the better part of 8:15am to 2:30pm working, with a couple of breaks in between - snack and lunch. It was mostly about cement, with a couple other jobs as well.

The day began with us breaking into two groups. Lara and Chris Doyle joined Mauricio to make wooden structures to go into the concrete around the metal, wire-tied cages. They were off until about 10:45am doing that job. The rest of us joined Eduardo for cement work, and we did that until about 1:30pm. We filled all six holes with cement and wood and have them ready for the next step.

Meeting the new head of school first thing in the morning

Chris Doyle and Lara on the wood project

Eduardo pouring water on the cement

Eduardo measuring for the wood shell

We had coffee with the staff during the midmorning break

Felix playing soccer with the CFS students at snack time

The snake that was found at our site - in the hands of Emma (!)

Gwen and Ella leveling out the cement

Emma working to cover the cement with dirt

Felix and Ethan with Eduardo and Mauricio

Go team!

The final hour of work today was simple but tough. We had to move all of the unused rocks and sand that was brought up to our site to make cement. We moved them, one wheelbarrow at a time, to the front of the campus. There were four wheelbarrows in motion at one time, constantly going back and forth. We found a way to enjoy it, though, and Ethan's decision to race all the way up and down the path fueled the rest of the group to work as hard as possible.

Felix carrying a wheelbarrow full of rocks

We also enjoyed an interlude of "kinder" kids who not only talked about how we could do our best to preserve the rainforest, but also sang to us in both Spanish and English. Adorable.

One girl talked to the group about how to help the environment

The entire group singing, with Eduardo helping

We left on the school bus. We took it downtown where Trini got the kids some ice cream and I started writing this post. Perhaps there will be a post-dinner post as well as a reflection or two from our students later tonight. Now we are about to dine as a group at a restaurant in town. Pura vida!

The view of the bus platform - three buses take all the kids to and from school

Our students waiting with the CFS students for the bus