The house-build – bricks and mortar
Today we started the house-build. We travelled via boat along the Mekong Delta for roughly 30 minutes, then got off the boat with our bikes and rode to the village where the building site was.
The village build started with instructions on how to make cement and how to lay bricks. Nic, Carlin, Sam and I made the cement by mixing sand with cement and water, which we found to be a very long, hard, strenuous task, although, it was also the task which was the foundation of the build. Everyone started the day with a lot of energy and sought out to help the family who were are building the house for. The parents of the family have been married for 17 years and have 2 children who they have raised and put through school on a salary of around AUD$5 a day. Because of their limited financial capability it means they have very little resources to fund a sustainable house meaning they live in a small shack which needs regular roof repairs as it is made out of leaves. Although the house build was very tiring today, it was all worth it to see the smile and constant happiness the family gave.
For lunch we rode to a nearby restaurant to put our bikes away, got on a boat which took us out into the Mekong to eat lunch while drifting and looking at the scenery. It consisted of: noodles and beef, chicken, friend squid, sweet potato chips, rice and fruit. After lunch we rode back to the village to continue our work. At around 4 o’clock we finished up and rode back to the restaurant to get on the boat to take us back to our homestay were we had a well deserved shower and ate a beautiful dinner. We also took some time to reflect on the day and to realise how much the house build means to the family and how much help is appreciated.
We both very much are looking forward to the rest of the trip and will enjoy it a lot!
To our family and friends at home we miss you and want you to know we are having a fantastic time in this lovely country.
– Spike and Nic