What a change in scenery! The last two days we spent working in the Roma community just outside of Skopje. Apparently the area we were in was a “better” side of the neighborhood too… However, coming from our previous building site in Veles, this was a whole new experience which opened our eyes to another layer and culture of Macedonia.

The home we were helping build belonged to a family that seemed to have an ongoing slew of members that kept appearing throughout our two days. From small children to teens, wives, grandmas, aunties, patriarchs and the spying neighbors, we were left to wonder exactly who the next inhabitants of this home were going to be. We still don’t know. According to our understanding there were too many women living with different male family members, and due to their religious restrictions another home needed to be built. They seemed to shout a lot at one another, and at us. Then we realized that's how they communicate with no ill will intended.

When we arrived on the job site on Thursday morning, a partial foundation had been set up and the first five layers of bricks had been laid in what appeared to be a 30 square meter area. Over the course of the next two days, in 33 and 35 degree heat respectively, we continued hauling bricks down to the build site, mixing mortar and building a wall with the guidance of a bricklayer, Vlado, who communicated with a series of grunts and gestures. Oh, and “hellos” (read: hey idiot, what are you doing?). We also leveled the dirt foundation with what seemed to be a big stump affixed by nails to handles (read: sticks). We called this the ground smasher. Shockingly, the resourceful leveler worked amazingly well!

In attempts to escape the heat and cramped working quarters, some of us found our way to the "backyard” to play with the neglected puppy that was sadly restrained to a tree with little to do. Over the course of the next two days, other than discussing the rescue of the pup, we managed to complete the outer walls of the home, begin a partition within the house and start a barrier from their nosey neighbors. We also had the opportunity to stop by a local primary and middle school to tour the grounds, speak to some of the teachers and donate twelve laptops and two projectors.

We’d like to thank all the students who made this trip so wonderful to be on. In the face of extreme heat, menial and repetitive tasks - and often, exhausting ones - early-ish rises and shifting itineraries, everyone was consistently nice to be around. In response to, “Let’s have a team discussion,” someone said, “We’re not a team, we’re a group.” No, we are a team. Team members help one another, look out and stick up for one another, and respect each other, and our team does just that. So thank you all for being the special people that you are, and for being part of this experience. Have a wonderful summer.