what's it like?- new doors

We were desperately in need of screen doors. We keep our doors open most of the day to help with the temperature in the house, but we were also welcoming thousands of mosquitoes inside each day- mosquitoes that carry some pretty ugly diseases.

This process was not what I was used to. In America, I'd load up my crew and head over to this place.

I'd look through the doors that they had to offer, make a decision, purchase, and head home for the man to install it... most likely all on the same day.

But not here. First, I call my landlord- the one person in India that I've decided can do anything or at least he'll call the right person for us. And he'll send "some guys." I don't know where he finds them, but they are all over India- "guys" that possess these long lost craftsman skills that we don't see in America anymore.

When they arrive, they won't show up with your door. Rather they'll bring a pile of wood and you'll wonder how this pile could ever turn into a door.

They'll work tirelessly for a few days in the heat, only stopping to ask you for some cold water occasionally. You'll hear them chatting a little, but for the most part they are fairly quiet as they work. You'll eventually notice that something is missing- the hum of power tools. But they didn't bring any. Instead, their work is carefully carried out with these jewels:

They work tirelessly- each one doing his part like a well-oiled machine. They have this trade down so well, that they don't even stop to discuss the plans or what each person's part will be. (Please notice how they use their bare feet to hold the boards.)

And after a few days of hard, manual labor, the dust begins to settle.

Before you know it, they'll start creating a door.

They'll assemble the pieces, add some screen, and their work will begin to come to an end.

When they are finished, you'll be left with brand-spanking new screen doors.

But that's not all. Every time you open them, you'll think of those three men. Those men who don't have their own mode of transportation. Those men who wore the same clothes EVERY day for all four days. Those men that never complained or asked for anything beyond water. Those men who possess a lost art but get paid mere pennies for such an advanced skill level. And those doors will become more than just doors. They'll have someone's story attached to them forever. They'll teach you gratitude and appreciation of others and an appreciation for simple things like new screen doors.

Lowe's doesn't sell doors like these.