Saturday, December 6, 2008
( 12:16 AM )
Now was OCIP Vietnam the most happening, most coolest, most... I MISS MIRANDA!
The first day that we arrived, i had no idea what to expect. Looking at the city itself with the amount of motorbikes and cars, i taught the city life was going to be tough. The motorbikes came in swarms and crossing the road was like being on fear factor. First agenda was to buy groceries to stock up for the nine days and we really did. Total of 55 thousand from each person form a 4 man group. Soon after we checked in a RESORT for the following 3 nights which i taught was a really cool place.
We got down to business and started working at the school. My group did cementing and we learned a lot from the construction workers there. Initially we used our two hands to carry the cement pail from the mixer to far far far away places like the so called renovated toilets. After carrying the cement with both hands, our backs and legs started to ache until one of the construction workers taught us how to do it. We were suppose to carry it on our shoulders. Dirty yes, but nonetheless was a great help and a ease on our backs. I taught bringing the cement to the holes was hard, evening the cement using a long metal strip and cement tools was even harder. Looking at the workers doing it looked easy, so i tried and tried and tried for 10 to 15 minutes and it could not be done! So the worker dude came to and told me to stand back and watch like i was a noob. Bang, Boom in 2 minutes one nice even surface and all i did was just to bring the cement to him to fill the holes great...
The cementing work and my futile efforts to master the art of leveling went on for 3 days. After we were done we went on the help out with the mural. However, before painting the mural on, dirt and fungus had to be scrubbed off so that fresh paint could be laid on. 5 courageous guys stepped up dressed like terrorist and started scrubbing. While scrubbing they started singing, hmm... new age pop terrorist. Painting the mural was fun cause we could splash paint all we want, but the fun part came after that were we played SOCCER WITH THE VIETNAMESE SCHOOL TEACHERS! They were good.
The following day we mingled with the students and played with them for a while before heading to the orphanage back in the city.
I adopted a daughter while in the orphanage, her name is MIRANDA. activities that we planned for the kids just went out the window as many of us just wanted to play with the kids there cause they were so cute and cuddly. At least the library, mural and Polaroids where done before leaving the orphanage to leave our mark. I believe that many true personalities and character came out of our group members while taking care of the kids. All of us saw a different side each other and started clicking with one another. The kids there were such good and loving kids. Many of us established a bond with their kid(s) that leaving them on the second day was so difficult.
Last agenda was tourism and shopping for the group. Stuff there were cheap and hopefully good quality. Many of us bought Adidas merchandise and Vietnam handy crafts.
All in all this was one heck of an awesome trip. The group was wonderful, suppourtive, encouraging, and showed great team work and determination in whatever we did, including bargaining for cheaper prices. The teachers were awesome as well, thanks for being so cool with us. Lets do this AGAIN PLEASE!
P.S I MISS MIRANDA!!!!
Joshua
(642 words)
