Author Topic: asked to teach swing milling in Africa (Read 10188 times)

asy · « **Reply #20 on:** August 12, 2007, 07:14:05 am »

DanG beat me to the one piece of advice I was qualified to give!

Don't take ANYTHING you really want to bring back.

I learned that visiting relatives in Russia in '87 (still communist then, poor conditions, even worse than now, apparently).

Anyway, I got there with a Rucksack STUFFED with belongings, I left there with the clothes on my back, and some personal items they couldn't use. Everything got left. The conditions they live in make sure you are left in no misunderstandings that you're much better off than they are, and whatever you leave is STILL not enough. It CERTAINLY made me thank my lucky stars I live in Aussieland! Never have I taken what I have here for granted again.

So, I echo what others have said. GO! By all means, I would, political clime considered. But don't take anything you don't want to leave without. And take twice as much as you feel you'll need, because once you meet the people, you'll want to give them twice as much as you brought (if not more...).

Oh, and, really importantly, TAKE PHOTOS! Oh, and, if Katie's worried... TAKE HER TOO!!! (Someone'll need to hold the camera!)

asy

Part_Timer · « **Reply #21 on:** August 12, 2007, 10:12:41 am »

I mentioned to Katie about going and got "the look" SHe would like to visit a few other countries but africa is NOT on the list of places to go.

asy · « **Reply #22 on:** August 12, 2007, 01:48:43 pm »

Crikey! I'd be there in a SHOT!

I can run a swing mill, hold a camera and haul and tote. I am also pretty handy with a hammer...

Where do I apply!?

asy

Furby · « **Reply #23 on:** August 12, 2007, 01:51:22 pm »

Hey, I'm first in line Asy....... wait your turn!!!

Part_Timer · « **Reply #24 on:** August 12, 2007, 06:30:46 pm »

yah but I bet she smells better than you do so get to the back of the line

farmerdoug · « **Reply #25 on:** August 12, 2007, 08:41:49 pm »

Me thinks, Katie will be lurker around there with a frying pan. Ouch!

With the new Asy and all, she will be stopping this soon.

Part_Timer,

All I can say is if you go, Have fun. Sounds like a great experience to me.

Farmerdoug

Part_Timer · « **Reply #26 on:** August 13, 2007, 10:48:03 am »

It's ok Doug I'm scared of Katie and she knows it.

Modat22 · « **Reply #27 on:** August 13, 2007, 11:22:34 am »

I'd be scared to PT, I met katie and got the feeling that she'd sew you between two bed sheets and beat you with a skillet if she where mad enough......

My wife is just as bad except she'd superglue my arms and legs together, beat me with a pan and watch me rip my skin off getting unstuck.

Part_Timer · « **Reply #28 on:** August 13, 2007, 04:18:00 pm »

Katie said she knew she like Mandy.

asy · « **Reply #29 on:** August 15, 2007, 09:00:50 am »

It's OK Part timer, Katie's claim is ENTIRELY safe, I'm a one-Andy-woman...

I bet I do, however, smell better than Furby, and I reckon my cooking would go head-to-head with his every day, Got Andy's rotund-ness to vouch for that...

I make great company (so I'm told) and can pretty much build the inside of a house from go-to-woah.

asy

Furby · « **Reply #30 on:** August 15, 2007, 07:06:07 pm »

Well Asy, I CAN cook pretty DanG good when I want to, just don't want too!

I CAN build the inside as well as the outside of a house from the empty lot up!

As far as company, I would rather visit with company than make it, but to each our own!

As far as smell.......... you still smell like roses after building the inside of a house from go-to-woah

getoverit · « **Reply #31 on:** August 15, 2007, 07:50:18 pm »

TOM!!!
Go for it dude! I am buying african hardwoods on a daily basis. If they are interested in selling some of their wood through a direct connection, let me know. Maybe we both can help them out!

dail_h · « **Reply #32 on:** August 15, 2007, 10:18:41 pm »

I spent two weeks in Zambia a coupla years ago on a mission work team/Some of the best times of my working life. Just remember everything's different in africa. I wouldn't worry too much about the politics after you get out of the main cities,the people in the bush are so appreciative of anything that you do for them,they watch out pretty good for you.
Somewhere in southern Zambia,there's a bush pastor wearing an almost new $280.00 pair of Red Wing work boots. He'de never owned a pair of real shoes before. He also has an almost new super giant print King James VersionBible,never owned one of those either.Plan on leaving most of your stuff.

jpgreen · « **Reply #33 on:** August 16, 2007, 12:05:37 pm »

I was fortunate to work in Cambodia and Viet Nam in 1997 and was one of the greatest experiences in my life.

Buy one of these to take with you, and you will always have a source of clean safe drinking water. Been using one for over 10 years:

http://www.aquarain.com/

......

jpgreen · « **Reply #34 on:** August 16, 2007, 12:24:29 pm »

........

Enjoying an adult beverage on the Mekong River with my "Mododop" in Phenom Phenn.

Part_Timer · « **Reply #35 on:** August 17, 2007, 09:54:00 am »

JP I have one of those filters setting on the counter top here at the house. Our water out of the tap is not very inviting so we run it through that and put a jug in the fridge. I love it. I didn't think about taking one though. They tell me thay have some kind of filtration set up over there already.

Thanks for the pics. Is that a water buffalo in the 2nd pic?

jpgreen · « **Reply #36 on:** August 17, 2007, 10:36:35 am »

Yep- that is water buffalo.

If it were me, I would buy the smaller 2 element model and take it anyway, cause water can be a problem as you know and even so called "Purified" may not be that pure. Cheap inurance from getting REAL sic..

I remember when we packed to go over there, and they told us no sleeping bags cause it's so hot all you need is a sheet. No warm clothing. Well I don't go anywhere without some warm clothing and bedding of some sort and when we were in the higher eleveations in upper NE Cambodia mountains, near the Ho Chi Minn trail, it got down to near 38drgs a few nights with the wind blowing and them guys frose. I didn't..

Part_Timer · « **Reply #37 on:** August 27, 2007, 07:28:51 pm »

Well I have the go ahead from the missionaries, the bosses church and the wife. I even got some suggestions from Ga_Boy.

Lots of things to think about and figure out between now and then. I'll keep y'all posted as things progress.

JP I was told the same thing but I never travel without a sweatshirt or a wool blanket close at hand. You figure if it's 100 during the day and 65 at night that's a big drop for tee shirts. I didn't see the 2 filter versoin of the filter. I'll try and find one though.

Tom

getoverit · « **Reply #38 on:** August 28, 2007, 06:43:55 pm »

Nice Going Tom! I'm proud of ya for doing this

Part_Timer · « **Reply #39 on:** November 25, 2007, 07:42:14 pm »

Ok Time for an update. Our trip has been moved back to the end of March or so. It seems that a local fellow has posession of the mill and he is refusing to give it to the group that we're going to work with. What a pain. They are working on getting it back but you know how crooked politcs go. Time and more time.

Even if we don't get it back I've been asked to go and do some teaching on how to dry lumber and process it. All I know is that they are using the chainsaws to make 2x4's 6s 8s. I haven't found out yet if they are using an Alaskan or just free handing it but I'll know soon. I also know that they are air drying it under thatched roof huts. Perhaps the parts for a crude solar kiln could be scrounged?

Oh well that's it for now but stay tuned for more.

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Author Topic: asked to teach swing milling in Africa (Read 10188 times)