First half of work day
We began the day at 9:30 am at Villa del Rio with an introduction on how to do construction from both William and Angel. We were constructing a house for Angel’s daughter, Anna (Maria) and he started by thanking us for the work we were about to do. We began by learning how to fasten the wires and rods together to create sturdy columns that would be used for the concrete. After a few sessions of watching we quickly got the hang of it and were eager to finish. After two hours of working we were ready for lunch prepared by William’s wife, Maria. Just a few houses away, we climbed to a feast of food. She served us rice and beans, fried chicken, bean salad, regular salad, macaroni salad, and tostones. We all enjoyed this amazing lunch, and it revived us for another two hours of work.
Second half of work day
We split into two groups. One group continued to build two more columns. The other group walked up the hill to another house. They moved cinder blocks up a ramp for the construction of another house. Once the work day ended, all of us went to the grocery store to pick up snacks, including some Puerto Rican food!
Beach time
After the long day of hard work at the work site, we went back to the Big Yellow House to change. From there, we walked as a group to the beach. The sun was beaming over our heads and the sand was soothing. Today was a great day to bond. Some of us threw a football, while others swam in the ocean. Everyone was having fun. Before we had to leave , everyone rushed to the water to take a photo.
Salsa Dancing
After dinner, Jay, the salsa dancing teacher, came to the Big Yellow House. He introduced himself and told us that we had to be focused. Jay taught us three different steps, one turn, and a step called a cross step. At first it seemed easy, but when we partnered up to try the steps it got more difficult. Some people got the hang of things quickly, while others were a bit more confused. Jay then put on some music and we danced with our partners. It was really nice to see people getting into the dancing. At the end of our lesson, Jay and Ari showed off their impressive moves to the group!
– Shriya, Annika, Cassie, and Christian