Home Again...

So apparently nobody posted updates Thursday or yesterday. Oops! We are officially back at Converse and I write this as I am doing laundry from the trip! I think the week was a good experience for everyone--though I know I am exhausted and I would guess everyone else is too!

I think we have posted this, but this week we did a variety of jobs helping to get 10 houses ready for the Blitz Build. Blitz is an event Habitat Miami does every year where they complete 10 houses in 10 days. The houses are built to a certain point up until the Blitz then all finished during the Blitz. Suffice it to say, this was a crazy week!

Thursday was possibly the most grueling day on the job site for the group. I say that with the caveat that I sat in a chair most of the day. However, the rest of the group hauled and moved over 3200 (yup, as in over three THOUSAND) pieces of a variety of lumber. I was able to help some when we did assembly lines, but a majority of the work was moving the lumber to various locations between the 10 houses so that it was where it needed to be for Blitz. We started the day at 7:30am and I would hazzard a guess that by about 7:45am everyone was dripping with sweat. I think it seemed like there was never ending lumber everywhere by the end of the day!

Thursday night we had some fun to make up for the grueling day. A group of us met Carlos, the volunteer coordinator for Habitat, for food from the food trucks--a true Miami experience. BEST.FOOD.EVER. Seriously, amazing. Then we all headed out for a night of Spice in Hollywood, FL. I think the ladies had fun letting loose for a bit before the week was over.

Friday was a good day on the site. We did start out with Jason's April Fools...he told everyone we didn't have to work because there wasn't anything to do so we were heading to the beach. The light in everyone's eyes was hilarious...especially when he busted up laughing! We all did a variety of jobs--and several of the women were able to help with some roofing, which was exciting for them. A couple of us (Nicole, Skate, and I) spent some quality time with the table saw. And only a few people had to haul just a few more pieces of lumber.

We met some amazing people this week...both that work for Habitat and that are homeowners. We worked hard, and we touched peoples' lives (even if it wasn't seen in the immediate). I think everyone had a good time, even if we are a little sore, sun burnt, and exhausted. I know I enjoyed myself and would do it again in a heart beat!

The week truly was "A Labor of Love!"

Best,

Molly

Una Mas!

The Converse Team spent the day exploring new heights a.k.a roofing. The majority of our team hammered in drip edge on the homes while another crew dug out a water main and leveled off the cap. Molly Dugan and Skate worked together on the ground floors preparing windows and playing with our new flea infested canine friend Ted.

The Miami Habitat www.habitatmiami.com affiliate is great. The site supervisors are well organized and keep us busy. I believe that some of them are initially skeptical about 13 women on the work site, but after a while our women show that they are capable of doing just about anything.

Tonight we had a pool party at the home of a Habitat board member and Presbyterian College Alum. His family treated us to pizza, salads, wings and a variety of desserts. They also shared their pool and hot tub to soothe our aching muscles. Jenni and Lu, Valkyrie swim team members, couldn't wait to get into the pool.

Tomorrow promises to be another day full of hard work and a night full of Spice, so I am signing off to go to bed.

Jason Loscuito

The Video!

First Day on the Job Site!

Hey All...quick post before we all head to night night land! This is Molly Dugan (on Jess Lee's log-in, I think). Today was our first day on the job site. We ended up splitting between two houses. One group hung dry wall, the other did a variety of odd jobs. Both had equally rewarding days.

The group hanging dry wall (don't worry...not me and my boot!) worked with the executive team of the Miami Bank of America. From what I have been told, it was quite the experience (and not just because the B of A people brought Cuban coffee and pastries!). It seems like a few of our students made quite the impression on the execs and have possible internships lined up! Go Converse!

The other group did odd jobs all day around a house that is in the final stages of completion. We were told we were painting...OK! I can paint (I thought to myself). Painting was a liberal description of our day. We did paint...for about 30 minutes to touch the walls up, then we graded a driveway (I was the cheerleader/videographer), scraped and swept the floors to prep them for tile, and raked rocks (yes, really). We also had a few people that planted shrubs and busted up concrete with a sledgehammer. Oh, and Jalisa and I vacuumed. Odd jobs to the max...the 65th Ave crew will be sore tomorrow!

Also, I believe there is a video posted on here (or will be soon) of Eugenio, the homeowner of the house we were working on. He was awesome! He gave us a tour of his house and showed us where each of his kids would live. He was so excited that we were there to help and build on his house. It was such an inspiration to everyone, which I think you can understand through the video.

This evening, we met Carlos (from Habitat) for Cuban food. Oh yum! I think we all ate ourselves into a food coma time a hundred but it was GOOD! If anyone travels to Miami, visit Sergios. You won't be disappointed.

Ok, it's time to pass out so we can get up and do it again tomorrow.

Still Counts,
Molly

Bathing Suits, Beaches, and Sun...Oh my!

Today was a very relaxing day at the beach to kick off the week. I am not a beach person; however, I was surprised by how nice it was! Jenny, early in the day, was cursing the "weather gods" due to the rainy, cloudy weather. They made up after a while, though, and the clouds parted. Now, some of our students are cursing Jenny for their sunburn. Either way, it was a fun day at the beach.

Although the day was fun, I found South Beach a more...um...interesting experience. It seems shoes and shirts are not required. If you get a chance, you should ask one of us about "Game Started" (Rene, this means you.). Many people also had dogs. The small ones concerned me, for they could have been stepped on at any minute. The shops were a little expensive for a college budget; however, Kelly and I did help send a little boy named Miguel to the water park by buying some chocolate bars from him :). Oh, and who could forget the man dressed as a statue of Elvis. True story.

Kelly just gave us a 15 minute warning until lights out...

Now we're all rushing to refill air mattresses and get in bed for the night. I should get going. Wish us luck on our first day of building!!

Until next time,
Lainie

Habitat Orientation and Hollywood Beach!

Hey there!

This is Jess Lee reporting on today's festivities here on Converse College's Alternative Spring Break in Miami!

Today was an early morning hustle with the group of us, 14 in total, having breakfast before heading towards our orientation with the greater Miami affiliate of Habitat for Humanity.
Once we finally arrived.. with a few GPS mishaps and some crazy Miami traffic.. we made it to our training.

I'll interject the details of the day to say that the people we have been able to meet today were incredibly kind and welcoming! Our orientation guide extradionair, Carlos, took us on a tour of their offices and made sure we met everyone of the HFH Miami team. Each person was generous with their time and genuinely wanted to know more about where we were from and grateful for our forthcoming service.

We were also treated to some deliciously energetic Cuban coffee, which I'm pretty sure all of us want to learn how to make.
After orientation, where we brushed up on site safety and the foundation of Habitat for Humanity (follow the link to see more! we took a quick drive to see one of the homes that just 2 years ago another Converse team had helped build.
Molly Dugan, our fabulous Director of Student Orientation and Activities, was with the group who worked on these homes and so we celebrate their legacy!

After that quick stop we trekked to beautiful Hollywood Beach!
Here is a group picture of all of us..

Now.. I'm going to be abrupt because we're in the middle of an Apples-to-Apples game and I really want to play!

Love to you!
Jess