Oyster Roast and Hurricane Straps

Monday March 5, 2012

                We arrived in Mount Pleasant, South Caroline yesterday evening after a long 8 hour journey. Although, the drive down provided some great initial bonding among our team, we were exhausted. We got to the church where we were staying, dropped off our things, and turned on our heels and headed out the door to an oyster roast sponsored by the William and Mary Charleston alumni chapter.  We had a great time mingling and socializing with local alumni. They also helped us out a great deal during the week, from reserving our lodging to providing amazing Southern cooking that rivals that of Paula Dean. After stuffing ourselves with oysters and chili, we headed back and went straight to bed, in hopes for a full night’s rest as we anticipated a hard day’s work in the morning.

 Oyster Roast with Alumni and Branch Out Team!

                The next morning (today!) we got a very early start, and arrived at the Habitat site by 8am sharp. We received an orientation to learn more about East Cooper Habitat for Humanity group. We discovered that all the homes in cul-de-sac were Habitat houses, and we would be working on the final house. By building all the houses next to each, this created a stronger community and support system for the families that moved in. We were told that the children often played together and families would help babysit for each other, essentially establishing this tight-knit network. 

                                                              Habitat house on Day 1

I was excited to start the “real” work especially after being spoiled the night before with the oyster roast.  In the morning I worked with a few team members on nailing in hurricane straps on the lower half of the framework of the house. These straps provided additional support so that the walls of the house would not tear apart and blow away during strong winds. Although these straps seemed like a minimal addition to the house, it actually took all morning. My hand was cramping up by the end and I’m fairly certain my right arm got its most intense workout ever.  By the afternoon, I was eager to start work on something that did not involve nailing. I ended up working with some guys from NC State, also on a Habitat spring break trip, on building plank “bridges” across the top of the house framework so that when we put up the trusses for the roof, workers would be able to walk around up there. This unfortunately still involved nailing and some measuring, but it wasn’t as bad as the hurricane straps,  and I had good company to make up for it!