Introduction to Emilio

I apologize for the lack of posts recently. Once the build starts, we are so busy that the free time we do have is usually spent trying to cool down (it has been unseasonably hot here), or resting, or waiting for internet service to come back. We are in BA, though, we have a really good team, and we have started building on Emilio's house.

The team - That's Emilio on the right

Emilio is a 57-year-old man who drives a taxi. He lives in La Matanza, a suburb of BA that is about a 45-minute drive from downtown (where we are staying). He has 16 children!!! Most are grown up, but the two youngest live with him on the weekends.

The streets in Emilio's neighbourhood are not paved, and with the recent rains, they are very rutted. Emilio lives in a shack. There is one enclosed room which is his bedroom, and two lean-to additions that house the kitchen and bathroom.

Emilio's Kitchen - doubling as a tool storage area



Bathroom

The mason for this build is Emilio's brother - Estevan. Emilio and Esteven are both really friendly and very patient with us newbies, and Emilio loves to tell stories about his formal life as a boxer, and when he was in a coma from a stroke for months. He could hear everything that was going on around him, but could not move. He is a determined man, though, and forced himself to first move a hand, then gradually other parts of his body. Now he is perfectly mobile and able to work again.

Emilio from his glory days as a boxer



The build site