For the past three days we have, quite literally, been on the move. From Saigon to Danang to the Quang Ngai district… we’ve covered a lot of ground. And in the process we have created a lifetime of memories and experiences. Not bad for 72 hours!
Our second day in Ho Chi Minh City was just as adventure filled as the first. We started off our morning with breakfast at the hotel and then headed to an upscale coffee shop for our in-country orientation. We covered several topics – including health and safety, culture, rules, group expectations, etc. – while sipping on more Vietnamese iced coffee. After orientation we walked to a large market for our first group competition. We split everyone up into four groups and had them complete a mini-scavenger hunt. Each team needed to purchase at least one bracelet, a kilogram of a fruit that they’ve never eaten before, and one “choose you own” item, which could range from a funny t-shirt, to a snack, to anything that would make us laugh. The point of this activity was to try bargaining. Surprisingly, many of our students are shrewd when it comes to market haggling! We ended up with several articles of jewelry, dragonfruits, lychees, rambuton, puppets, colorful hair scrunchees, and more… and all of the items were purchased at reasonable prices!
Our next stop for the day was the War Remnants Museum. After the excitement of the market, it was a complete, but necessary, change of pace. We saw actual war craft and vehicles of destruction, accounts of Vietnamese citizens and American soldiers who were disfigured as a result of Agent Orange, and startling photographs of human rights atrocities committed during the war. As saddening as the experience was, all of us could recognize the importance of understanding recent history in Vietnam and the delicate relationship that this country has with the United States.
For dinner we decided to do something light and a bit out of the ordinary. We went for tapas! We all have been enjoying Vietnamese food immensely, but before we headed off to Tinh Hoa, the village where we’d be staying, we decided to mix things up a bit. And to end off the night with a bang (it was the 4th of July after all), we decided to go out for some ice cream!
The next day, July 5th, we had to prepare for yet another day of travel. We flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Danang, and from there we took a three hour bus ride to our project village, Tinh Hoa. Usually a long bus ride is not something to look forward too, but this particular route offered very few bumps and amazing scenery. The rice paddy fields were the brightest, most vibrant shade of green, while the nearby mountains and blue skies helped create a postcard-like image. It was hard to believe that we would be living and working here for the next three weeks. . .
Today was also another remarkable day. After having settled in our guesthouse yesterday, we were ready to go this morning. Several students decided to go for a run this morning (which is beyond commendable!) and the rest of us joined them for an early breakfast. Then we had the chance to break in our brand new bikes! We first rode off to the Tinh Hoa City Hall, where we were greeted by our university hosts and local village officials. There were several speeches and photos ops for the local media. The village officials even gave us all flowers. We spent the rest of the morning touring the worksites and meeting the families for whom we’d be building houses. We have a feeling that ,in no time, the individuals we met will be lifelong friends.
One of the highlights of the day was our time at the beach. We were incredibly hot and sweaty after riding bikes all day, and the ocean was just what we needed. Later in the evening we even got together with some of the university students to play soccer and frisbee on the sand. It is likely that we’ll be going to the beach (which is less than a 5 minute walk from our guesthouse) pretty regularly.
Tomorrow we start working! We know that building these houses will not be easy, but that is what will make this experience so rewarding. And as long as we can embrace a routine (and avoid extensive and exhausting travel for the next few days) I think we will be set.
Until soon,
Ted and Eileen
