Day 5- June 19, 11:59 p.m Radauti, Romania

Today is Monday, and is our team's first work day on the worksite. The team met for breakfast as well as orientation with Amanda, our Romanian coordinator. After getting safety rules and information on Habitat in Radauti, we walked to the worksite for the first time. Habitat is creating an entire neighborhood in the north end of the city of Radauti, and several houses are already constructed. Introductions were made with both the Habitat staff as well as the recipient families.

Some of the housing in Radauti is literally, horrible, some homes nothing more than shacks with boards for sides and tin for roofs, something we might consider fit for animals. While there are also very nice homes in Radauti, the standard of living for some is very poor, indeed.

The team worked on either painting or "taping and mudding" drywall on four separate duplexes. I worked on mudding, an interesting experience given the lack of tools that we would normally use for this work. Kevin S., Kevin P. and I nearly finished the first coat on one unit today. I assume more of the same tomorrow. (maybe we will paint!)

We were joined at dinner, in the evening, with local Habitat official. The meal included pork, rice, mushroom gravy, as well as other traditional Romanian dishes like polenta, a grits-like side dish. Desert was pancakes and jam, which was delicious, indeed.

We look forward to more time with the families tomorrow. Hopefully the rain will end and we will have nice weather.

Don