well done!

after muzungu (swaheli for white people) is "well done" the phrase i heard (and also used) the most. it is just used for anything that somebody does. get up in the morning: well done! walk into the workshop: well done! work: well done! getting something for lunch: well done! clean up the workshop after work: well done! ah, and don`t forget that: fix the brick in the kitchens wall: well done (last but not least)! even if something is not well done: well done! it just shows an appreciation for all you do, and this is kinda nice, as in switzerland you rarly get any appreciation. but it is also annoying because it looses its meaning when it is used all the time.
but anyway, my first week is at its end, and i can say, i had a great time so far. as i was in school and alternativ civil service (instead of the obligatory military service in switzerland) for the last 1 1/2 years, it is nice to work again as a carpenter, and i really enjoy the fact that i have the time to do things good, so i get a "well done" afterwards!
to work here is also special because of the less tools we have, so for a lot of things we do we have to improvise. due to that there are some very funny, selfbuilded maschines (maybe this part is more juicy for carpenters, if you`re not one, check the maschines names on google :-)).
for example our benchsaw is just a upsidedown turned maschine handsaw fixed in a table.



or our "striebig" is more or less a handsaw with some arresters. (check out the orignial striebiglettering, made by caro) (from left to right on this picture it is me and caro)

the quintessence of this way of working is, you can do everything you want, essential is to have an idea how to do it!