URBAN DOMAIN 2024

Australia – Day 3: Wonderful Warruwi

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The night before…

We had a delicious dinner of spaghetti, garlic bread and salad made by the lovely staff at Warruwi School. We then went to the Warruwi Church for the Youth Group’s Traditional Ceremony.

This was a really great experience as we became immersed in the culture of the community through dancing and continued to build relationships with the kids.

Today…

After a good nights sleep, we had breakfast with the kids from the school and this became another opportunity for us to talk to the kids as we learned their names and enjoyed breakfast. For the first part of the day we went into the classrooms and helped the kids with literacy, mathematics and drawing. It was great to see how willing the kids were to learn and the dedication of the teachers in the classroom. The time we spent with kids was very valuable and seeing how they learnt was very interesting.
After a lunch break, we saw the traditional cooking of pipi shellfish using a traditional bush oven made of paperbark, rock and sand. The pipis were delicious and it was fascinating to observe some of the ways that the locals are able to hunt and cook food. Following this, we split into two groups. One group painted t-shirts with the Warruwi students to show a real bond with the children and our appreciation for having such a strong relationship with the Warruwi School and Community.
The other group went to the Warruwi Medical Centre and learnt about the health issues that many people on the island face. Due to Warruwi’s remote location, much of the food contains high sugar levels and people to not generally have good access to healthy food, meaning that diet related health issues are prevalent in the community. When we were done with the tour of the medical centre, we joined in with the students’ final class of the day: sport. One group of students played basketball while the others played soccer. This was a lot of fun and we were able to continue building relationships with the kids at the school and marvel at their sporting talent.

Later today, we will be visiting the Warruwi Crèche to see the kids and the dance they have prepared for Christmas. This evening, we are having a barbecue dinner.

It’s been a lot of fun so far and we are really enjoying our time here but we are certainly missing everybody back home! See you soon!

Love,

Tommy and Sarah on behalf of the Australia Group. ������
Sent from my iPad

Vietnam Red – Incommunicado until Thursday 9th November

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Unfortunately Vietnam Red will be unavailable until Thursday after today’s post, as we will be doing the house build in a town near the Mekong Delta which no internet reception.So stay tuned for a number of blog posts coming your way with a lot of content on Thursday to see: How we got to the village, how we went on the house build, and area’s we visited along the way!

Vietnam Red – Day 3: Temples,

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3 – Ho Chi Minh City – Temples, RMIT, Orphanages

We started the day with a delicious buffet breakfast at the Bong Sen Hotel, we enjoyed all the different foods and especially the authentic fruits. After that we drove to the temple of the Sea Goddess and explored the displays of letters and other displays. Inside the temple we learnt about the culture and praying that occurs in the sect of Mahayana buddhism. The temples were beautiful and illuminated with all the candles and with the smoke off the incenses. As soon as we left the temples we were driving out of the bustling China Town and moved near the more quiet side of Ho Chi Minh city, where RMIT was located. We also went to learn about RMIT international opportunities. We learnt about continuing courses in different locations, so people can experience different cultures while still learning. We learnt of how teaching is international and isn’t effected by language barriers. After having watched an amazing video on how studying overseas can be life changing, we went on a small tour of the university’s campus and explored the immense sports area. Later on we moved down back near the hotel and had a delicious lunch of Pho (seriously DELICIOUS).

We then had a long drive down to the orphanage and as soon as we arrived we hopped off the bus and got right into it. We all split up into two different groups; one went upstairs which had younger babies and toddlers and the others stayed down stairs which had the older kids. On the top floor we all stopped at the door way and initially observed the little disabled orphans all lying on stretchers. We proceeded to sit down next to them in hope of interaction. The sense of touch for these little kids is vital, when we touch them and interact they feel comfortable and will look at you and some tend to smile. We can confirm that the smile of these little kids was like winning the lotto. They seemed so happy that someone was taking them out of their daily routine and giving them some attention and affection. When we went downstairs we all started to get a little more active as all the kids were running around with balls and getting pushed around in their wheelchairs. It seemed as if the second floor was the calm part of the orphanage and the ground floor was where everything was just going so fast. The kids were running around screaming and laughing as we played around with them. These kids truly looked happy.  In this experience we meet lots of different characters, today we met a kid that had a truly different personality. He had an orange Nike top and seemed a little more energised than the others. This little boy was not lightly throwing the ball but was actually piffing it at us and his fellow mates. We were all dodging his punches and throws. These exciting and different experiences amazed and overwhelmed us. We all feel as though we have benefitted greatly from these events and were defiantly sad to say goodbye to our new friends.

We ended our orphanage experience with a long bus ride back toward the hotel. On our way back we stopped at the supermarket to get snacks for the next four days in the village. We all were so excited to buy and explore all the different foods that we were being offered. As we moved down the isles we would hear one person saying “oh get this, its so good”, and then most of us would go see what the whole hype was. With all our baskets filled to the top we waited to pay our extremely inexpensive groceries.

Today we embraced our inner Gordon Ramsey in a BBQ restaurant, we got to cook dinner off sizzling gas grills. Dinner has been great everyday but there’s something special about cooking for the boys and girls. The food tasted great, especially after buying really obscure snacks from the supermarket. In the supermarket we bought doughy treats that were incomprehensible, we found Kit Kats that were flavours from another world and eating noodles as spicy as Posh Spice. The dinner was so beautiful with hanging lights and sizzling bites. Some of us ordered coconuts to drink from and sat back and enjoyed, we all took photos in hope of remembering this place after we left. As soon as we got to the hotel we had our nightly debriefing and then raced right back up to our rooms for a goodnights sleep whilst thinking how much of an amazing day this has been.

Romane R, Will S-J and Hayley C

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P.S: Mum I still have my camera- Will

P.P.S: Mum, Dad, Jet; I am okay – Romane

P.P.P.S: Still alive – Hayley S1880146 S1880141 S1880130 S1880150 S1880153 S1880107 S1880125 S1880128 S1880081 S1880074 S1880025 S1880020 S1880005 S1880023

TLC Temples – Day 2

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We started nice and early down in the lobby by 6:00am, we were going off to learn about Muay Thai boxing. The bus ride there was around 15 minutes and was intertwined among the back alleys. When we arrived we were told to take off our shoes and were introduced to some of the workers and general knowledge on Thai boxing. We were hustled onto a mat for warm ups that took around 20 minutes with various arm, leg and hand stretches that made the muscles loose so we could move with agility. Then to make us look real professional we were given boxing straps that were wrapped around our knuckles and bracing our wrists so we could punch the trainers’ equipment without injury. We formed three lines facing the trainers and performed a plethora of punching, elbowing and kicking combinations. These continually became more strenuous with added moves that required an immense amount balance and technique, none of which we had. The following tasks included kicking bags (that were filled with sand, and hurt…a tonne!) and working with the instructors on all of the techniques we previously learnt. Dynamite was really cool (he was a 60 year old instructor) and had a lot of fun with us by fighting back!

In the early afternoon we took an hour and a half bus ride to a wild river where we would go white-water rafting. This activity took a total of 40 minutes and everyone was soaked by the end of it. The water war started when the instructors splashed other rafts and the students were caught in the crossfire. However, this benign-ness of being splashed did not last long and the students quickly took part in the torment of cold water and wet clothes. With a few students finding themselves out of the boat for reasons both voluntarily or involuntarily, we overcame many challenges going down the rapids. Once we arrived at the end, half the students got changed while the other half started eating lunch, and then visa versa. On the menu were the most amazing things: pad Thai, fried chicken, vegetarian rice, noodles and various fruit. It then took us an extra 15 minutes on top of the already hour and a half trip back because of traffic.

A couple of hours later we went back out of our hotel into the world to the night market. We took a bright, red taxi into the middle of the market. Bustling people and bright lights littered the street and multiple of the same shop appeared as we walked down the street. Many people purchased presents for family members in the form of physical objects and classic gifts, clothing or accessories. Our return meeting spot was guided by the beautiful sign of the Golden Arches which led us back to the taxies. Then, we went back to the hotel and got ready for another huge day tomorrow.

Angelique P and Laura.

Vietnam Grey – Day 2: War Museum, RMIT & Great Race

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Written by Ethan and Hamish G

 

Today, our first of many in Vietnam, was filled with incredible highs and thought-provoking lows.

At our early morning breakfast, we were expecting to see cereals, toast, and other Anglo-Saxon delicacies; however, we were pleasantly surprised as this was not the case. The room was filled with all kinds of Vietnamese dishes, many of which we all dug straight in to.

 

Our tour guide, Hai, informed us that our first destination of the day would be the War Remnants Museum. This was the most insightful, confronting and transformative experience of the day. The front courtyard displayed war vehicles from the Vietnam War – known as the “American War” to the Vietnamese, to distinguish it from previous conflicts. Adjacent was a replica prison, which was identical to those used in the Vietnam War, which caused feelings of sadness and shock to the group. The main building contained 13 sections, each describing a different aspect of the war through the Vietnamese lens, from a large collection of journalistic photographs to the effects of Agent Orange, which was the most challenging room in the entire museum. We were deeply moved by the countless photos depicting the awful consequences of war, and struck by the deep resentment toward the American intervention.

 

Next, we bussed to the Vietnamese campus of RMIT. Here, we met the other group in Saigon, Vietnam Red, and were treated to a talk by the Director International who informed us of the benefits and opportunities of studying and completing our university degrees abroad. For those of us already considering studying in another country, this may have been the final push to influence our future decision. We later were taken on a tour of the world class grounds, which included sports courts, tech labs, music rooms, dorms and shops. It seemed quite a relaxed, quiet atmosphere, perfect for those completing their tertiary education abroad.

 

We ate lunch at a restaurant called Pho 2000, famed dining spot of former US President Bill Clinton. As always, and keeping with the theme of delicious food, everything was scintillating. We all left feeling very full, but excited for the next item on our itinerary: The Amazing Race.

 

The walk to the starting point was nervous yet energetic. Hai told us the rules, handed us our maps, and we were off. Our instructions took us through the central district of Ho Chi Minh City, from the tallest building, the Bitexco Tower, to the Reunification Palace. Two and a bit hours later, we all arrived back at the Blue Diamond Hotel exhausted, sweat-soaked, and thoroughly knowledgeable about the city. In our little race groups, everyone had become that little bit closer.

 

Dinner was a long walk from the hotel, but the food proved worth it. Dishes kept flying out of the kitchen, and we struggled to keep downing it all before the next meal came out. To be honest, the food has been one of the more enjoyable experiences of our trip so far.

 

Overall, it is astonishing how closely bonded we have become as a group in just two days. As Ms. Hutchinson always says, you don’t know someone until you’ve travelled with them. Today happened!

 

Ethan: Mum and Dad, it has only been a couple of days but I already miss you guys. I really hope sometime we can all travel to Vietnam together and experience the culture for ourselves.

 

Hamish G: Mum and Dad, I am having fun and I am missing the family. I miss Tom, Izzy, Moon and Shadow as well. See you guys really soon. Love you.