The Early Childhood Center was completely renovated over the summer, and furniture still hadn't arrived Sunday, the day before school was to start. Preschool and Kinder teachers were in setting up classrooms until late Sunday, sinks hadn't been installed yet, and there was no AC and only one functioning toilet. Somehow the Early Childhood center opened- this never would have happened in the states. Yet, miraculously, families arrived by 8am on Monday, and, for the most part we were ready to open the doors.
Watching the construction projects was also quite an experience- the safety standards, attention to details (wiring, measurements, finishing touches) are definitely remiss. Standard hard hats, lung protection, and other rudimentary safety regulations are often bypassed. I kept thinking of brother Chad- he would be completely appalled. There are no such things as building codes, inspectors visiting each step of the way or an approval process. Even now, the Early Childhood Center is finished and we had our first rainfall last week. The drainage system pours out onto the front steps where students enter. Walking to the back of the building there's still loose wiring, plastic tubing sticking out and trash left behind from the workers (needless to say the kids aren't using the playground in the back). Projects that Turks think are completed would be about half-way compared to our standards. Also, when a project is completed a mess is also left behind with sawdust, tools, and scraps.
While the differences in safety definitely stand out- what's equally noticeable is how hard the custodians work. Many worked 12 hour days and through the weekend lifting heavy furniture, scouring floors and walls and tending to all the loose ends in order to prepare for the first day. Through it all they show up with a smile. I'm continuously humbled by our Primary School custodians- Sadik, Hammide, and Iman- I'll include photos of all of them in a different posting.