People in Tobati, Paraguay get up really early in the morning, somewhere between 3am and 5am, to go to work. The livelihood for many people in the town is brick making, and most have their own work space in the backyards of their homes. They make approximately 2,000 bricks per day. In Tobati, the clay is made from a black dirt that they buy. They put the clay in a spinning wheel barrel which smashes it. The modern wheel barrels are electronic, but we saw some older systems powered by horses and even people! Next, they grab the clay and mold it into the brick shape. The bricks pop out of the molds and, finally, the clay dries completely before it is baked in ovens.
After the demo and tour, our host brick makers gave us a chance to make bricks. It’s harder than it looks! It’s a very dirty job which made me kind of nervous, at first, but it was fun to go through the process and get dirty. Doing this job day in and day out takes a toll on your body. Brick makers suffer from back and neck problems from all of that bending. After learning how to make bricks and the life of a brick maker, I wondered how and who makes our bricks in the United States. I’ve never thought about that until today.
I’m also adjusting to the bumpy roads of Tobati and learned the hard way that eating a lot of food and a car ride don’t mix. I had a lunch of amazing smashed/mashed potatoes, chicken and bread and was so full that I felt like I couldn’t walk anymore. When I got into the car, I felt the urge to throw up and I thought that feeling would pass. But I was wrong!!
The motion of the car bouncing up and down and from side to side made me so sick that I couldn’t stand or do anything. We arrived at our destination in a few minutes and I wasn’t in the best shape to walk so I stayed in the van to drink water and rest. After an hour of relaxing, I was back to normal. I learned that I need to listen to my body and that it’s ok to take breaks when I need them to make sure I stay happy and healthy.
Jose O., Paul Public Charter School