Ouch, I’m sore. Today was our first full day at the work site. Our primary task for the day was to shovel out 3-4 inches of dirt from a 30’ x 50’ area which was the old playground. When we arrived, there were no shovels so we sent most of the people to the home to start laying brick for the house and a few of us stayed at the playground and strategized about how to put up the sun shades after the playground is assembled. It felt like a game of Tangoes.
But I get ahead of myself, we loaded the buses at 7:30am and drove to breakfast. There was a small menu we could order from and I ordered Café Sua (black coffee with condensed milk) and rice noodles with fish and shrimp. I think my body may go in to shock as I don’t usually drink caffeine or milk, and definitely not condensed milk. Oh well, I am doing ok so far. It is nearly impossible with our menus to not each breads either as every meal has noodles, bread and/or rice. I am trying to limit the breads intake but not completely as I would starve if I did that.
We arrived at the school at about 8:30am. The “shovels” arrived an hour more later and they had to be assembled. Hum….The shovel, hoe, pick parts were made of metal but they needed to be attached to the wood handles with screws or nails. I was desperately wishing for a Home Depot or Lowe’s at this point. Mental note – great idea for opening a new business in Vietnam. The tools lasted most of the day, but as they broke (handles snapped in half or shovels fell off of handles) we sent them over to the pile and the Vietnamese just put them back together again. Not a very efficient tool. After lunch, someone showed up with better tools (large Hoes). Yes, the quote of the day was “the large Ho’s saved the day”. Funny, but so true. Those hoes made the job so much faster!
As we dug out the grass and dirt we hauled it away in wheelbarrows and dumped it in a ravine near the school. As we got areas cleared and graded, then the frames for the cement areas were built by Dave S. We were able to get 90% of the yard cleared and two sections of cement poured by 4:30, quitting time.
Dinner was at the same place as the night before. I think it is the only restaurant in the area that can fit all 80 of us. At dinner, Caroline (Executive Director of Catalyst) gives brief summaries of the day and instructions for the next day. She announced that the medical team saw over 700 patients today with the help of 25 local Vietnamese doctors. The school team which consists of 29 volunteers under the age of 15 and 8 adults and teens, sorted all the donations and prepared for camp activities with 250 local Vietnamese kids. The school team will be hosting games and crafts for the local kids as well as distributing toys, clothes and food to the local families.
Drinks at Yumi’s Café again. I had a great talk with Phan who is from Holland, born to Vietnamese parents. We talked a lot about the difference in cultures between the US and Europe. Smart guy.
But I get ahead of myself, we loaded the buses at 7:30am and drove to breakfast. There was a small menu we could order from and I ordered Café Sua (black coffee with condensed milk) and rice noodles with fish and shrimp. I think my body may go in to shock as I don’t usually drink caffeine or milk, and definitely not condensed milk. Oh well, I am doing ok so far. It is nearly impossible with our menus to not each breads either as every meal has noodles, bread and/or rice. I am trying to limit the breads intake but not completely as I would starve if I did that.
We arrived at the school at about 8:30am. The “shovels” arrived an hour more later and they had to be assembled. Hum….The shovel, hoe, pick parts were made of metal but they needed to be attached to the wood handles with screws or nails. I was desperately wishing for a Home Depot or Lowe’s at this point. Mental note – great idea for opening a new business in Vietnam. The tools lasted most of the day, but as they broke (handles snapped in half or shovels fell off of handles) we sent them over to the pile and the Vietnamese just put them back together again. Not a very efficient tool. After lunch, someone showed up with better tools (large Hoes). Yes, the quote of the day was “the large Ho’s saved the day”. Funny, but so true. Those hoes made the job so much faster!
As we dug out the grass and dirt we hauled it away in wheelbarrows and dumped it in a ravine near the school. As we got areas cleared and graded, then the frames for the cement areas were built by Dave S. We were able to get 90% of the yard cleared and two sections of cement poured by 4:30, quitting time.
Dinner was at the same place as the night before. I think it is the only restaurant in the area that can fit all 80 of us. At dinner, Caroline (Executive Director of Catalyst) gives brief summaries of the day and instructions for the next day. She announced that the medical team saw over 700 patients today with the help of 25 local Vietnamese doctors. The school team which consists of 29 volunteers under the age of 15 and 8 adults and teens, sorted all the donations and prepared for camp activities with 250 local Vietnamese kids. The school team will be hosting games and crafts for the local kids as well as distributing toys, clothes and food to the local families.
Drinks at Yumi’s Café again. I had a great talk with Phan who is from Holland, born to Vietnamese parents. We talked a lot about the difference in cultures between the US and Europe. Smart guy.
Hi Sue! I am following almost all of the blogs now, love your extensive details covering all each day, I am enjoying following along and reliving memories from AE08, no braids and beads this expedition? So much great work going on! Thanks and keep up the awesome work! Hugs and strength to you all! xoxo -Patty-Connelly-Cohen (Noah and Jesse's other Mom!) GO AE2010!! ;-)
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