Roosters crowing, foggy mountain views and the scent of sweat and Aeroguard were what began our sixth day away from home. A quick breakfast at 6:45 and we were straight back to working on our building project, continuing the concrete floor which we began the previous day. We formed a chain so as to transport the buckets of concrete from the mixer to the house, while under careful watch of the giggly village children. Every once in a while, the family members we were building for would join us and lend a hand. One of the Polong men worked tirelessly inside the house to lay and smooth the concrete using a flat paddle and a long rectangular bar to level the ground. It felt quite unexpected when we finally finished the floor and everyone was able to take a much needed break.
The moment arrived to formally present the house to the family for which we were building. It was a fulfilling moment to meet eyes with the people we had been putting in so much effort for. To see their faces up close and their smiles gave us a sense of satisfaction and pride as we could tell how impactful this experience has been for them as well as us. In meeting the people we were able to truly understand how grateful they were to us and it was evident it meant a lot to them. From the house build we made a long lasting impact as the structure would be something to help for many generations longer and be used far into the future. We came to realise that in giving to others you are being rewarded just as they are through feelings like appreciation as opposed to tangible things. Being in the village also gave us a taste of how lucky we are for things like electricity and houses safe from the elements.
Time flew and before we knew it we were driving away from the village and its residents, taking with us the memories made during our three days there. It was sad to wave goodbye to the village children as some people had spent lots of time with them, and all of us were touched by their exuberant and compassionate outlook on life. Some lucky students carried handmade flower creations out of the village having been given them by the kids. After a stop for lunch we set off on a four hour bus journey to the bright, bustling city of Chiang Rai. This meant we had plenty of time to reflect on the last few days and catch up on some rest.
Despite the group being a bit tired, the daily excitement was not over yet. Everyone had the happy chance to get fresh and clean before heading out for a relaxing night in the town. It was interesting to compare the market in Chiang Rai to those in Chiang Mai, as both have many similar products as well as items unique to their city and part of Thailand. The markets in Chiang Mai seemed to have more tourist-based products and was full of noise and commotion, whilst in Chiang Rai there was an aura of calm and considerably more locals. We were also fortunate to see a visiting band from China perform and a large number of the group were able to engage in some traditional Thai dancing thanks to some instruction from some friendly locals. In the dimly-lit square of the marketplace we were also able to watch a Thai cabaret performance from local performers. We then wound our way back to the hotel for a night’s rest on some comfy (and gladly) elevated beds. It was definitely another day to remember.
Martha Sands and Bridget Valder
