Dong Xa: The Build Site

While in Vietnam we were given some information on Dong Xa, the small fishing village where we built our houses:

Dong Xa village was settled by fishing families who made their living on the nearby river. As fish stocks have dwindled, they have taken up rice farming. Both occupations are seasonal and the low family incomes are supplemented by day labor and home-based businesses like poultry growing and ferrying children across the river to school.

School-age children of fishing families often live with their grandparents so that they are able to attend school while their parents are way fishing for months. Parents and grandparents who grew up on boats are likely to have little education themselves. The rapidly-growing industrial corridor between Hai Duong and Hanoi offers opportunities to work in factories or as skilled construction workers, but better jobs are available only to those who have some schooling.

Houses offer village families a stable base for children to attend school and for increased livelihood opportunities, especially in home-based businesses like tea shops or crafts. Through their partnership with Habitat for Humanity and in accumulating 100 hours of sweat equity, home partners have learned new schools, including how to make sewer covers and concrete blocks and to lay blocks.

Back in the USA

Part of our team is back in the USA after a 36 hour trip from Hanoi to Rapid City. It really was a great trip for everyone involved. We all had much to take away from the experience–from the construction to the conversations to the relationships to daily experience of working for something worthwhile.

For me, the best part of the trip was the building of relationships within the house team (5 folks from Sioux Falls, 5 from the Black Hills), the big team (400 volunteers from all over the US and 20 other countries), and the Vietnamese people. Within the team we were able to come together and build a house. Not necessarily a simple task, considering that some groups squabbled the whole week. We got to know each other, and appreciate each other for the gifts that we brought. We had lots of laugh while providing a home for a family.

Within the “big team” it was great to connect and get to know the stories from all sorts of people. We had a large (and loud) contingent from New Zealand. For example, when we put in our roof we had help from a Kiwi named Neville. In a job that would normally take all day, we banged out in 3 hours. Nothing like some inter-national cooperation.

Finally, we were able to hear the stories of our Vietnamese homeowners and translators. Despite the language barrier, we were able to laugh together and bond over the common human experience. In a manner of speaking we got to know each other. It was blessing to get to know and be known by others.

Nearly Done (Thursday)

Well, we are nearly finished with what has been a fantastic week. Today we continued building and painting and meeting new folks. For a variety of reasons we were a bit behind in installing our roof, but thankfully this morning, Neville the New Zealander, came to our rescue. And in a job that should normally take a day only took 3 hours. Up, down, up, down, bang! Job’s done. One of the (many) great things about this trip has been the relationships we’ve been able to make with folks from all over the world.

After lunch, we kept up some painting and started to work on trimming out the details. With the paint on, the Habitat houses really make this small town sparkle with color and joy. It’s been a great adventure to build a house.

Wednesday (or Jimmy Carter Day)

Well, we’ve reached the middle of the build. Evan, from Sioux Falls, twisted his knee in a freak accident at the hotel and, to quote “So I Married an Axe-Murderer,” we got a piper down. Nevertheless, our spirits are high as we are making real progress on the house. We finished mortaring the bathroom and kitchen (with Tom taking the charge) and got to some priming and painting. People are having lots of fun. Nyla is the fo-tog, while Marie is making friends with folks from all over the world.

At lunch we had a special treat with Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter coming to our building site (and the Habitat CEO). Mr. President Carter gave a warm and wonderful speech about the need for decent housing as the beginning for human rights. For once an individual has a house, she is in a position to live with dignity and seek more rights. Habitat does good things in the world, connecting others to each other, giving people possibilities.

Tuesday

Tuesday was another wonderful day. The cold weather (for Vietnam) continued–overcast and in the 50s. We couldn’t really complain when we found out that the Habitat build in Thailand was experiencing 100 degree days.

Our team is really coming together and, more importantly, not killing each other. In the morning we finished off the front and back walls and then started on the kitchen and bathroom. Because of the humidity any permanent building uses brick and mortar–no wood! Though none of us laid brick before on Tuesday we got the hang of it and were able to make some really good progress. Along with the house we are also building great relationships with each other (bridging the West/East River divide) other volunteers and the community. We have volunteers from over 28 states and numerous countries, with a large Kiwi (New Zealand) contingent. It’s great to see and hear about all the work that Habitat does all over the world. It takes a lot to build a house, but when you got lots of people building, you can build lots of houses.

On Tuesday night we had an Affiliate Appreciation dinner. Our affiliate will be getting a nice plaque of appreciation for participating in the global village that is Habitat.

Monday…

Monday has come and gone and body did it wear us out. That morning we quickly got to work, and Boss Tom (as opposed to Black Hills Tom) split us into two crews: front wall and back wall. Dave Moore was put on the front wall, while Tom, Nlya, Marie and I got the back wall. Though none of us had mortared before, we had plenty of opportunity to learn, cause we had lots and lots of bricks to slap together. We overcame challenges, like keeping a window upright while laying brick for an hour (thanks Pat!) and dealing with some mis-shapened bricks. We also had loads of fun, getting to know the folks in our house and people at the other sites. And to top it all off, we were on course after the first day. Not too bad.

That evening we headed to dinner at an hotel in town. In an example of cultural differences, our bus driver got lost, so he stopped to aske a taxi driver where to go, and instead of giving directions the taxi driver just jumped on board. The dinner was seafood all the way (no reason to take of the shrimp head or the chicken head for that matter), so Nyla and Marie went a little hungary. Nevertheless, a good experience. After dinner, bed, we were exhausted!

Made It!

Well, after a long journey, we made it to Vietnam. We began Friday morning at 5:00 AM and arrived at our hotel at 1:00 AM, Saturday. Sunday was a day of sleeping and seeing the town. That evening we had a kick-off banquet and met the five individuals from Sioux Falls HFH who joined us on the build. The food was good and the company better. It was great beginning to the week.

Flying…

Hanoi is really really really far away from the Black Hills. And the flight is really really really long. Here is a summary of flight to Hanoi:

Rapid City to Denver to San Francisco to Seoul to Hanoi.

Another way to say it:

1:13 hour flight, 1 hour layover, 2:50 hour flight, 3 hour layover, 11:10 hour flight, 1:10 hour layover, 4:00 hour flight.

Boy, we are going to be tired.

In the News

Black Hills Habitat’s trip to Vietnam made it on KOTA TV.

Veteran returns to Vietnam to build homes

Posted: // Oct 31, 2009 04:31 PM

Meredith Garofalo

Habitat for Humanity volunteers have built more than 300,000 houses across the world.  And, in November, they will take on another project, this time in Vietnam.

This house in Rapid City is one of many David Moore has helped build for families in need.

“I’ve worked on now a total of 5 Habitat houses,” Moore said.

Volunteer work that gives him a variety of responsibilities.

“They need people that can frame, they need people that can finish, they need people that can paint, people that can sweep the floors.”

And the next house Moore will work on will be miles and miles away in Vietnam.