Day 7
Today we originally supposed to be our last day of work however we decided to split the work days into two. On the worksite we learned how to laydown brick. This was a very hard task at first but eventually we all managed to pick up on it very fast on the task. In order to lay the bricks down we have cement station, for this station we have people wheel barrowing all the materials from one end of the road to where the house is. At the station we mixed sand, rock and cement powder and we then created a crater to add the water in order to make it thick. Then the brick layers would use this to stick the bricks together. They made about three layers high. The local villagers thought that everyone’s work was very impressive considering it was a first time for most of the people building. At another station there were people cutting, straightening, and bending wire. This task seems easy now but at the beginning it was found very difficult. By the end of the wire bending task everyone had blisters. We all had left the building site around 11:30 and said goodbye to the local villagers and telling them we will see them tomorrow.
We then got back to the hotel and had a chance to take our showers and clean up and then went to lunch at the usual local restaurant. Today’s lunch had consisted of steamed prawn, shrimp pancakes, potato soup, pork sausage rolls and of course French fries! Lunch finished at 1:30 but our afternoon activities did not start until an hour later. So we were given the option to walk to the local supermarket to buy more things. Both of us took the opportunity to walk and shop for something to do. We bought things like fresh fruit, candy and soda. After our supermarket adventure we went to learn how to row a sampan boat on the river and even race each other from flag to flag. Fortunately we had the fastest rowing team and won two races in a row! We were the overall winners of the entire race day and won ice cream and lollipops which tasted very good after a hot days of work.
After dinner we had attended a talent show in which we had to make a movie about how important Vietnam was to us. We were split into 4 groups and among those 4 groups, group 2 won. Unfortunately Ali and I were in group 3 and 4. However we all won prices which were dried fruit and Oreos. Second place which was group 4 (Ali’s group) won green tea and chocolate which were fun to try.
We are excited to return to the work site tomorrow to finish off our last day. We are sad to say goodbye to the locals that we are helping with because we have bonded with them and their children. (especially their dogs) We are also super excited to visit the candy factory tomorrow and try new things! Now were off to bed and are ready to start a new day. Night!
Ali and Lauryn
