Construction Zone

Careful across the street; no hazard pay

I'm trying not to read too much into it, but I am fascinated by the remodel happening within view of the apartment. Almost transfixed, actually. I gave up trying to find the perfect metaphor or simile for what I am experiencing with my global daily life and how I see it mirrored on the small plot of land across the street. I wanted to get more pictures of it under it's stages of growth, but it seems to be a never-ending flow of tasks completed. The building began only one story tall until the hand cut and hand shaped re-bar supported new cement beams 8' up and the roof and stairs were propped by planks and poles. Hollow blocks replaced boards, more gridwork held more cement and then bricks, and then another layer of cement. Scaffolding steadied the project from the ground up in the signature hemp-and-stick style and also hung across chasms- above still running shops and cars and walkways and off of nearby second-story railings. Barred windows were set in fresh walls just as the bricklayers arrive to finish the facade; each skilled crew required and received. The water tank sits atop a new still drying platform, it's tubing cut to size and set alongside the new wall. More work is to be done, for sure, but it goes at a calm pace, through the heat and dust to it's accomplishment.

And that's how it is sometimes, I remind myself.
Sometimes it takes a while to see that you're getting somewhere, sometimes something is happening when it feels otherwise. Progress is seen by the footprints left down the path of the past. There is so much happening here and yet it seems unreportable, hard to wrap up and express what we do all day without mentioning the lunch and nap, and not feel like slackers for it. But things are happening. Rumors are spinning around town that we can't talk about, we've had trips switched and canceled, our practice has changed and plateaued, electrical power remains an elusive element. Our meter here ticks on just the same and we savor the world around us with every moment. It seems that there is still so much we want to do and yet the heat conspires against us. Even getting household supplies can become an arduous 95-degree hour long walk. Our studies have been solo lately; reading at home is cooler and cheaper than a class across town. Last night's brief rain spell was a welcome diversion to what will likely be a hot and dry five weeks, and a reminder of the weather of home, and seeing a baby goat today reminded me that spring will be waiting for me in April!
There is so much beauty here, so many goats and houses and flowers and people- it's hard to carry the camera everywhere and be in that mindset, to actively be a tourist and not live the experience, but I will try to capture more of the sights, like that baby goat.

Any requests? 

What intriguing things or scenes would you like to see?

aeryk