On the field

17/07/20120 views

July 17, Lepel /Own. inf./. They are working in Gorki, on the construction of a livestock farm. Yes, it’s not easy, it’s not about flipping through textbook pages in a lecture hall to cram theory. And what is theory compared to the knowledge they, third-year students, are gaining right here, on the construction site! And the foreman praises them: “These guys are great. There were other young people here before them. Frankly speaking – they were lazy, they came to work every other day.

Dmitry Alekseevich Mazgo works as a foreman at PMK-75, he has been on construction sites for many years and has seen all sorts of young people. The dairy farm “Tselina” in Gorki has been under construction since May last year. Not only builders but also meliorators are working on it. A lot has been done during this time – two cow sheds, a milking and milk processing unit, a sanitary checkpoint, a biological treatment station, a weighbridge, and a disinfection barrier have been built, as well as wells. Currently, a maternity ward and an auxiliary premises block are being erected. The foreman says that about forty percent of the construction site workforce are young people. Among them are my interviewees Ivan Pligavka, Nikita Nikitin, Artem Patsaluenok, and Alexey Atrashkevich. They study at the state vocational lyceum and, although all of them, except perhaps Ivan, are not locals, but visitors, they are friends. Over the three years of study, they, as groupmates, have developed common interests and hobbies. And now – they also have a common practical experience on the construction site – a real test for the guys, as they are studying in the specialty “Industrial and Civil Construction”. Upon graduation, they might even become foremen themselves. However, to manage on a construction site, one must know it thoroughly oneself, and master all processes without exception independently. It’s a good exam for them in Gorki.

They are considered second-category carpenters in Viktor Misnik’s team. The work is indeed not easy. In the morning, like the entire construction crew, a bus brings them to the construction site at eight o’clock and takes them back to the city at six in the evening. One hour for lunch. They have lunch with what they bring with them. In the evening, they return to the dormitory.

The work is physically demanding – a strain on the muscles, but the head rests. The only difficulty is the thirty-degree heat, which has lingered and shows no sign of abating, as if testing the young trainees. And on the roof – that's a completely different kind of work. Because there, you constantly have to think, to rack your brains about what you're doing. You must try not to let down the whole team, because although everyone is assigned their own work contribution coefficient, the team's overall wage depends on the total output.

When we met, the young men had about a week left before the end of their practical training. They would receive their first earned kopeck and then go on holiday, each to their own destination. Ivan – to his native village in Lepel region, Artem – to Verkhnedvinsk region, Alexey – to Chashniki region, Nikita – to Borisov. What will they do next summer? It's possible they will work again. Lyoshka says that in his village, Kashchino, a dairy farm is also being reconstructed. Perhaps he will be taken on for some auxiliary work. Artem dreams of buying a laptop. It's unlikely his earned money will be enough, he'll need some extra. Perhaps he will go mushroom and berry picking, like Nikita. Ivan already had some construction experience when he worked on a building site at home. He plans to do some more. And why not? Such hardworking, capable, and resourceful young men with skilled hands would be in demand for any serious job. And I think earning money during the summer won't be a problem for them. They won't be wandering the streets or hanging around in pubs when they are eighteen and have everything they need – both hands and a head. They have another year of study, and then – to continue their education, possibly after military service. Many of them aspire to higher education, which is what they dream of.

But for now, like the youth of the past – there's romance on the virgin lands, even if it's close by. Everyone in life should have their own virgin lands...

Vladimir MIKHNO.

In the photo: students of group 224 of the college on industrial practice in Gorki.
Photo by the author.