Garrett (aka Gary to Dominicans) and Miguel and some of the jobsite guys have been hard at work improving the school. First they cut down 3 very tall coconut trees to make room for the wall we’re putting around the school. We are making a wall for a few reasons: people are stealing our fruit, people party in the ranchito over the weekends, kids are pooping in our yard….I mean, really, how disgusting! So hopefully beginning early next year, the guys can get started on the wall.

There were tons of coconuts that fell to the ground. All the kids in the neighborhood wanted some and the workers were keeping some for themselves (or to sell) and we still have about 20 in the school! I personally don’t like coconut unless it’s dry. I don’t like the taste of the milk and the inside is a little too something (gooshy, or mushy, or something to do with texture). But everyone else seemed to enjoy the feast of coconuts.

Jonathan, Kalino (we call him Viejo), Eddy and Samuel are hard at work cutting up the 3 coconut trees.

Garrett also had the great idea of using the coconut trees to make benches around our play area! They are great benches and the perfect size for all of our students!

The guys are moving the coconut tree to make the benches. Apparently it’s very heavy! And they made 5 benches! Lots of hard work.

Garrett’s showing of his genius idea

Garrett and Miguel have also begun working on a counter top that is Doña-sized! It will be a little lower than the first one we make, which is perfect for Doña Cristina, who is 74, weights 95lbs, and comes up to my shoulders!

It’s hard work breaking a concrete wall!

Miguel also did us the huge favor of removing the 5 puppies who had made our back porch their home. He placed them in a cardboard box and took them to where the owner of the mama dog lives. It’s not that we’re puppies-haters at Colegio Makarios, but the puppies had been there for about a month and the back porch reeked of poo and pee and the pups had flies, etc. It’s just better this way. Cara and the Doña both cleaned the porch numerous times with lots of Mistolin.

More pictures to come as these various projects are finished!