Movie: Adventures in Miskolc 2011

It's been 10 days since we returned from Hungary and we have spent that time recovering from our exploits in Miskolc. It truly was a wonderful and memorable trip and we are lucky to have amassed a huge selection of photographs of our adventures. So we decided to put them to music and present them in a video. I hope you enjoy. (The first song, by the way, is from Ronan Swift - one of our team members).

Day 10 - Screwing Around on Our Last Day!

Our final day on site and the team were all keen on making one final big effort to do as much as we can in our last hours on site. Again divided between Site A & Site B, the teams got through a mountain of work. On Site A, the team were busy cutting chipboard to completely cover the outer structure of the extension, screwing said chipboard to the frame (using hundreds of screws - hence the "screwing around"!), painting doors, treating wood and even raised the roof - literally by 5 more cm after the architect decided it needed a slightly larger pitch. 

Sandoor, our regular Site Supervisor, decided to give the rest of us a chance to lead the team - rotating the role every half hour. There were varying styles of leadership from Mr. Jones's "Simon Says" policy (which included an impromptu "Hokey Cokey" - well, Simon said!), Mr. Jackson's request that everyone speak in a Scottish accent and Zac Stephenson's "just keep doing what you're doing" style of leadership! Great fun was had on site but some excellent work too. It was particularly satisfying to see the outer frame covered which gave us a sense of the future shape of the extension.

On Site B, Levi entertained the troops while guiding them to further progress on the pathway. Team B enjoyed an extended lunch with traditional paprika sausage and treats from Levi but again were hugely productive, extending the pathway by another few metres.

Both teams were reunited for a brief time on Site A and got a chance to pick up some of the wonderful gift items the residents at the Symbiosis Centre make in the workshops. In the evening the team watched some young kids rehearse some traditional Hungarian dancing before our Farewell Dinner up on Symbiosis' hillside centre. After our wonderful BBQ, Sandor and Levi each spoke about the work we had done, Mr. Jones thanked the two site supervisors for their excellent work in supporting and guiding us. He spoke about how each and every member of the team had grown and matured in the last 11 days and that this was down to the wonderful working atmosphere created by the two site supervisors. The evening drew to a close with individual pupil awards accompanied by "alternative" team photos!

Our final day on site summed up the trip wonderfully - fun, productive and emotional. Many many thanks must go to Sandor and Levi for the tremendous work that they do for Habitat for Humanity Hungary. We feel privileged to have spent the last week or so with them and hope to see them again in the future. Here are some pictures from our last day on site.

Day 9 - Hokey Cokey, Broom Cricket & Lots More Work

This morning we visited Zrinyi Ilona Gimnazium, a local co-ed secondary school with six hundred pupils. The principal Ildiko Kovacsne Szegedi welcomed us and then handed us over to teacher Istvan Berecz who paired us off with their pupils for an entertaining cultural exchange lesson. Hugo Hollis was especially enthusiastic about this and he appeared much more animated than usual.

Later on, a group of their pupils performed a quirky English language play about a bunch of useless first-time bank robbers who ended up trying to hold up a library. They also sang a variety of English and Hungarian songs for our entertainment. We were particularly impressed by a small boy who turned out to be an incredible human beatbox. We tried to match them with a Kezia-led rendition of ‘Wild Mountain Thyme’ and Zach and Mark’s take on that enduring classic ‘The Soup Song’. At the very end of the session, relations between Hungary and Ireland were cemented forever with the joint rendition of ‘Hokey Cokey’. The Hungarian pupils were sad to see us go as it meant they wouldn’t miss Maths.

In the afternoon, all twenty of us were together on the city site. Some of us sanded doors, some of us planed them, some varnished planks and some stripped paint off doorways. Mr Jones multitasked, hammering rafters into the framework of the new room we have been constructing, making fun of Jamie and Catie’s efforts in the same field and chirping his catchphrase, ‘We’re Doin’ It!’ at least fifty times. Neil was also very efficient, assisting Gaffer Jackson and providing a free life-coaching service to the sometimes beleaguered Levi.

Having the full twenty on site gave the afternoon a great sense of camaraderie and we ended the working day playing cricket/baseball with a broom and a rolled up work glove.

The Habiteers interact with Hungarian teenagers

Hugo makes some new friends 

Jamie & Catie - Hammering Machines!!!!

Jonesy & Jamo

Levi & Sandoor - our Habitat Co-ordinators

Levi ponders life (and what the hell Mr. Jones is doing up the ladder)

Hamish "The Hammer" Law

Pupils & Teachers Staining Wood

Work on the doors continues

Jamie & Jonesy Just Hangin'

Some of the girls check out the new extension frame.

Some of the kids at the end of the day.

Playing Broom Cricket

Day 7 - You're Doin' It!!!

Yesterday was another extremely busy day. On Site A, the small team there constructed the outer frame of the extension and put it in place. This was a significant moment as the once empty space finally began to look like a "room". On Site B, work continued on the astonishing wheelchair accessible pathway, foundations were dug for the wall extension (which at times resembled a muddy grave) while all day echoed through the trees the high pitched motivational wail "You're Doin' It!!!!!".

Yesterday evening the team all met to share their own personal experiences of the trip so far and to consider our high and low points. It was universally agreed that opportunities to share one's experiences in this regard help everyone focus on the task at hand and provide the team a platform for reflection on how fortunate we ourselves are. As part of the process, on Hungary's National Day of Poetry, several Haikus were written which summed up a multitude of the team's shared experiences. Tomorrow night the team will compete in a table quiz!

Levi's awesome jokes,

Fun and laughter with the blokes,

Helping Miskolc folks.

A hammer falls hard,

Driving down a lowly nail ,

Building through the pain.

Lifting the Frame in Place

God, I hope it fits!

It better fit or it's six sides of blue for you boy!

Ok, it fits!

Sandoor hammers the frame in place!

Job done!

Digging the grave (or foundation)

Nails Dalrymple takes his pick!

Smithers skimming concrete for the pathway

What's she doing with that?

I like to mix it, mix it. I like to mix it, mix it. She likes to .... mix it!

Zac's Snap

 Zac Stephenson has been taking loads of brilliant and evocative photographs throughout the first week, using only his iPhone and editing with Camera +. Here is a few samples. (Expect an album of the adventures of our 21st team member in a couple of days).

Day 6 - R&R in Eger & Szilvásvarad

Yesterday we spend a wonderful day of rest and relaxation in Eger & Szilvásvarad, two of Hungary's most beautiful towns. Eger is home to a wonderful 15th century castle while Szilvásvarad is full of gorgeous walks and historical attractions - including a fantastic cave where the remains of our Neanderthal ancestors were found. Enough said, here are some photos of the day trip.

Mr Jameson finally meets someone bigger than him!

Our tour of Eger Castle

Happy faces - it must be a day off work!

The beautiful view from Eger Castle

Enjoying the same view.

Messing on the playground!

Where to ladies?

The boys relaxing on the wall.

Robbo finally has had enough of Swifty's singing!

Sorry to alarm you Jamo, but you have a Hugo on your back!

Off on our adventure.

Relaxing by the lake in Szilvásvarad

All smiles from Kez and Aoise

Smithers & Jamo finally make it to the Neanderthal Cave.

Guess who?

The Neanderthals Return?

Another of Zac's Snaps - the team await their tour guide.