I’ve just realised that a beautifully written reflection by Tom Madarevic & Cohan Houniet never made it up onto the blog. Please enjoy it below.
The day began once again in the early hours of the morning, as the raucous cries of roosters woke us from our slumber. Though we were extremely tired from the previous day’s work, everyone was eager to return to the building site and resume the construction of the house for the village people. After a delicious breakfast of pork-noodle soup and bread followed by local bananas, we prepared ourselves for another exhausting day of building.
As an alternative to the boat ride, our chosen mode of transport today was the village bicycles. Taking the necessary safety precautions, we donned our bike helmets and set off into the picturesque network of streams that comprise the Mekong delta. The pleasant ride through nearby villages put us in good spirits for the continuation of the build.
Today’s task consisted of mixing cement, positioning scaffolding, brick laying and moving tiles to the building site. The external walls were almost complete and construction of the internal walls commenced, which gave us an idea of the layout of the house. The local builders seemed amused as we struggled to move building materials, dancing around obstructions that we clumsily placed in their way. Despite our blatant inexperience, the builders were always willing to assist us and even make jokes at each others’ expense for our enjoyment. By helping and accepting us, the locals ensured that our building experience was both efficient and enjoyable.
Tom M & Cohen
