Bricks are Heavy

Jimalee works hard while I take pictures

Following on from my startling discovery yesterday that solar panels work better in direct sunlight, I bring you further news:

Bricks are heavy.

Hard to believe I know.

I started today with the intention of ensuring that we have enough bricks to build the school.  Turns out we do, which is good news. As an added bonus, all the bricks are quick close to the site of the school, so we will need wheelbarrows to move the bricks, as opposed to trucks.

The locals make bricks from mud.  They have a metal mould which shapes the mud. The bricks are fired inside of a large kiln, which is also made from mud bricks.

Today, some locals and I deconstructed a kiln so we could use the mud bricks that it is constructed from.

This is when I made my discovery that bricks are heavy. For about four hours we slaved in the hot sun turning the kiln into a neat pile of bricks.

And now – ugh – I am exhausted.  Constructing this school is either going to make me the fittest man in the world, or kill me.  I’m not sure which at this stage…

Negotiating with Sore Feet

The Streets of Mbale

I’m the first to admit that I am terrible at negotiating.  I’m happy if the price hasn’t increased when the deal is sealed.

I have to make adjustments here in Uganda though.  We are trying to build a solar powered school with not-enough-money.  I just have to toughen up.

I recently walked all over Sironko and Mbale looking for good deals for the doors and windows for the school.

I started in the dusty streets of Sironko where I found a guy welding a canopy onto a truck using a sprite bottle (!) as safety goggles.  He said he could do the door for 450,000 shillings (~ $US200).  “Fine,” I thought, “I have a point of reference now”.

Then it was off the much bigger town of Mbale where I found a similar establishment.  They said they could do the door for 500,000 shillings.  I pointed out that I lived near Sironko and that there was a guy there happy to do it for 450,000.

“Fine,” they responded.  “We’ll do it for 450,000.”

I further pointed out that I still may as well get it in Sironko if they price was the same as I wouldn’t have to worry about transport.

I suggested that if they do it for 400,000, and do the windows for us as well, and transport them to Sironko for free, then we have a deal.

The agreed!  I was quite proud of myself.

My next step is to ask the guy in Sironko if he wants to do it for less than 400,000.

Maybe, maybe, I can get it for even less.