28/5/2017 0 Comments All in all... amazing.Yes, it wasn’t easy. But it was amazing.
I may have had a few “hardships”, yet no reason to complain. Everyday I saw the people I helped. A family who impoverished and helpless slept every night beneath a tarp... six on a small bed - if you can even call it that; the bed had no mattress, and no sheets. There was simply a bamboo woven mat placed atop for comfort and warmth. Keeping this in mind, I find it undeniably hard to say anything negative about our many nights in Vietnam. Yes, the hotel was only two stars and housed some small furry friends, but it was better than nothing. Actually I’d go as far as to say that it was pretty great. I mean, with a paint job and some new bathrooms I feel like it could get its 3rd star back. And I’m glad because this is one of the reasons that I signed up for Habitat. I’m very aware of myself and my many faults, one of them being a rare yet recurring lack of humility, and this trip was important in making me and others increasingly humble and grateful. It was uncommon to hear complaints, moans, or irritated mumbles because together we knew that what we had was a privilege and a gift; our comforts and homes to be treasured and not ignored, and our parents to be thanked not troubled. The most incredible thing about this trip was the sense of community. Truthfully, I wasn’t close with most of the people on the trip; whether we didn’t share classes, had large age gaps or simply just never started conversation, most of us didn’t really know each other - it didn't help that I’m new to the school and a day student either. But, speaking for everyone, getting to know the team was an amazing experience, and it really captures the habitat spirit. Sure, we go primarily to help others, but without the element of family and togetherness, it would be far less memorable. Here I will list a thank you to each of my teammates (In Alphabetical Order): Saria : Well, you I already knew, but you were a great compadre when it came to snack consuming, caffeine withdrawal, and your laugh really did put everyone in a good mood each morning. Thank You. Natalia : It was amazing getting to know you further at Skyline Coffee and I know our accents are different but yeah, I guess I don’t mind ‘Brazilian’, it is beautiful. Thank You. Valeria : Vale, you and I were friends before, but we became so much closer in those two weeks, and I’m really glad that we did. Wouldn’t want anyone else to bully when I’m bored. Thank You. Sakura : SAKURA. The most elegant person that I have ever met and probably one of the nicest. You and Nanako always have smiles on your faces, and are never in a bad mood, I don’t know how it’s possible. Thank You. Ms. Ho Tai : From math teacher to temporary mom, you really did a great job and I couldn’t have asked for a better parent on this trip! Thank You. Ivan : I really didn’t know you before this trip. But I discovered that beneath your satanic shirts, you have a heart. All kidding aside, I really did enjoy our many intellectual debates, our sharing of friends, and our making of friends with policemen and tourists all over Vietnam. Thank You. Mateus : It was great to get to know you more, and I truly enjoyed your nice presence. Always in a good mood, and only saying nice things about your girlfriend Luisa. Thank You. Nanako : Thank you for putting up with me, staying in Clownz for hours while we ( I mean I ) shopped, and paying for my oversized luggage. I owe you (literally I owe you 30 francs), and also thank god for the free food. Thank You. Rebeca : Our sonically dismal duets on the bus will definitely be remembered and trust me, if you keep throwing yourself off of furniture and onto the floor you’ll end up hurt someday. Thank You. Leo : Even though you snore, you make a very pleasant roommate and I’m glad that I got to know you a little bit better. Thank You. Ms. Tonge : This trip gave me the opportunity to really get to know you, and also the opportunity to regret not coming to BM sooner and having you as a teacher. Really, you made a great parent, and an even better GPS. Thank You. Thank you’s aside, this is supposed to be a summary so I shall summarize. The journey to Hanoi went by quicker than I thought, but truthfully because I put on my natural sleeping aid (an album consisting of 250 Top Hits from the 1930’s) and slept most of the way there. Now as I sit here, my pants and shirt stained with ounces of coffee from a previous flight (Coffee was spilled on the way to Bangkok from Hanoi, and as I write this I’m on a plane from Bangkok to Zurich), I realize truly how grueling 20 hours of travel can be. And I’m lucky, most of the team had to fly for much much longer. First Few Days: Our arrival in Hanoi was met with a Vietnamese man holding a sign that read “Brillantmont International School.” Safely assuming that was us, we went to the man (who by the way spoke zero words of English) and obeyed his signals and gestures until we finally reached the bus. The next two days were a haze of spring rolls, jet lag, and shopping. Whether we were cooking at the ‘Golden Rice Hotel’ with the help of our good friend Quang, or shuffling through the crowded streets of the Hanoi night market, the first few days were unforgettable. Next few days: We met the family for the first time, and were greeted by the local commune at the town center. It was all a little bit overwhelming, but we pushed through, got introduced to all of the necessary team members (such as the site manager and our host coordinator Hoang). We were then shown and taught how to exercise the many different necessary jobs on the building site - whether laying bricks, making cement, or transferring materials, every position played a vital role in the overall success of the build. We then visited our community's very own elementary school and had an amazing experience. They saw us as celebrities, asking for autographs and high fives, and their jovial character gave us a renewed sense of happiness and fulfillment. Next next few days: Grueling work, mixed with very quaint and unique R&R, but we reached the end of our build feeling happy and fulfilled. We first visited the beach... the water was brown, dangerous and cold, but STILL, it was quite fun. The next day was very different, and even more incredible - traveling through buddhist temples and cavernous grottos, it was simply unique and something we can never do anywhere else. The best part by far though was knowing we helped that family in need, and I wouldn’t have asked for any other way to spend those two weeks. Final few days: Finally back in Hanoi we ate good food, slept well, did some more shopping, and got ready for our flights... Hoang accepted two very awkward hugs from Ms. Ho Tai and Ms. Tonge, and away he went, leaving us stranded in the city. Finally, we were back in the Thien Thai Hotel - four stars and beautiful beds - finished packing our bags, and prepared ourselves for the many hours of journey ahead. All in all... amazing.
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