Looking Back - How To Tell When The Build Is Done

content from Sarah (and Bryan)

Now that I am back home and slowly adjusting to the time change and cold temperatures, I find myself looking back through pictures and daydreaming of Thailand and the build. Coming into this I didn’t really know what to expect or if I could even do it. Now that I look back, I am so glad I did… and when asked, “Would you do it again”, my response has been “Absolutely”.

It’s hard to articulate the experience I had and the friends I’ve made, but I am so grateful for both. A group of people, who didn’t know each other before, came together with people from another land and together we built a home. It was amazing to me how we grew. On day one there was a little bit of uncertainty as we all jumped in full throttle. But we grew as a team. Something I thought was so cool was how in the beginning there was little interaction/communication with the skilled workers but by the end we were joking and laughing and seemed to just understand each other despite speaking a different language.

One fond memory I have as I look back is of the day we finished the house. There was such a drive to get the outside perimeter of the house done, the “deck”. It was hot (like it was everyday) but everyone was pushing to finish. When the last bucket of concrete was poured the head mason, “Det” (maybe spelled incorrectly) started double high fiving everyone and cheering. It was really amazing… The funny part was, I had set my work gloves down in a pile of sand once we finished. I looked over and one of the local dogs that we had nicknamed “Bryan” from the Family Guy, had picked up one of my gloves and was happily running away with it. How appropriate!

You know the build is done when the dog leaves with your gloves!

Looking Back - A Special Moment

content from Erin

It's 5:00 am and I am laying in bed thinking back to a special moment build site one had.

We had just finished the foundation walls and asked our home owner if we could put a Canadian coin in the foundation for good luck. Rob supplied a toonie and our team gathered with the home owner. We took a moment to think of all of the people who supported us on this journey and made being here possible. We took a moment and looked around at our build site location with the rice fields beside us and grove of trees and acknowledged how lucky we were to be here and to be working with each other and we wished for health and happiness for the home owners. It was an emotional moment and I will admit I shed a few tears.

After the home owner placed our toonie in the foundation he told us how he also placed a silver and gold coin in the adjoining post for good luck. The post is also marked with a gold symbol and tied with two ropes. All to bring good luck to the home.

I will remember this moment for years to come.

Looking Back - Back Home

content from Janice 

Snow was gently falling when I landed at Halifax airport yesterday. As I walked out of the airport it actually was very refreshing to feel the cold air. I looked around and I could see Christmas decorations and lights and I was shocked to realize we were just a month away from Christmas celebrations.

I had the day off today to sleep and relax. But at 7am It wasn't the birds and Monks chant that I was waking up to, but the sound of traffic and paving starting on my street. I laid there wondering what sounds everyone else would be waking up to.

All day today I felt a heaviness in my heart and body. No energy to do anything. I did go out for a few groceries and laundry.

I wonder what is this heaviness I'm feeling. I'm sure a little is due to lack of sleep. I woke up every two hours last night trying to figure out where I was and who I was sharing the room with. But there is also an empty feeling as if something or someone is missing. My phone has been ringing all day with family and friends excited to hear about my journey. Most calls I actually ignored since I'm not ready to share yet.

The last two weeks were amazing how 17 strangers came together to form a strong friendship. United together to help two families build a home that will be in their families for many generations. I thank each and everyone of you for being part of this journey with me. We all know this isn't our last build. When and where will our paths cross again?

I know this feeling will pass as I return to work tomorrow with the excitement of 18 three-year-olds when I tell them I rode an elephant.

Janice and Aommy - Riding an Elephant!

Day 13 - The Last Official Day

content from joanne

Friday - 24 November

The last day official day on the build.

Today we toured some of the more famous cultural sites in and around Chiang Mai, starting with ancient lost city of Wiang Kum Kam. Our tour guide Star explained to us that this was the site of the first capital city of the Lanna Kingdom in this region, but it was built too close to the Ping River and was completely lost when the Ping River flooded in the late 13th century. It lay under silt and basically unknown to the world until 1984 when some ancient tablets were found in the area. The problems they have now is getting access to the land, since it was most used for residential housing.

What's in your backyard?

The next major stop was Doi Suthep (Mount Suthep), which is the home to the Wat Phra That. After a 15 KM winding road up the mountain and a subsequent funicular ride, we reached the temple area. Built as a Buddhist monastery in 1383 it is still a working monastery today, and funds raised by the lift fee and donations (and there were lots of places to make donations) go to support the monks living there and for maintenance of the various temple buildings. The architecture, statues, murals and shrines seen here are nothing short of breathtaking. And its location has a incredible view of the city of Chiang Mai that spreads out on the plain below.  Various team members participated in a blessing ceremony by a monk, obtained their horoscopes by shaking sticks out of a can, and (or course) took advantage of some retail therapy after walking down to the bus area. 

Erin and Rob holding the bell in place

The view of Chiang Mai from Doi Suthep

Gold, Gold, and More Gold

Choose your donation - students? monks? building? other?

Returning to Chiang Mai, we had a short break before heading out to a cultural supper (sort of like a luau). We had local food to the accompaniment of Thai music and dance, and were even invited on stage to help the dancers with one song (not that they needed any help). Supper over – build over – then on to a club for some ‘spirited’ dancing!  

A Luau - Thai-style

 ... and then it was over...

Thanks for the memories!

Day 12 – Dedication Day

content from joanne

   

Thursday - 22 November

Dedication Day – the day we have all been working toward – the day we turn ownership over to the family.

We arrived at build site 2 to see everything all cleaned up, the concrete ‘patio’ fully operational, and our own private four-piece band! There were two guitars, one drum, and one bottle - and it took us a while to recognize the band members, our own skilled workers, since they were all dressed up.

Skilled Workers in More Than One Way

After some general merriment with the band, we moved on to the more formal part of the ceremony. There was the handing over of ‘the key’ the cutting of the ribbon, and the small gifts for the family and the workers. Along with a rice cooker, a fan, and some ‘Canada’ towels, perhaps the most important gift for any Thai household was the framed picture of the king. Our picture had him in full regalia along with two dogs at his feet, made even more lifelike because of the holographic view. 

Joanne hands over the key to a happy homeowner

The Last Hurrah for Site Two

There were speeches from both sides, and a few tears were shed when the homeowner acknowledged how grateful he was. They had gifts for us as well – a small embroidered purse from the homeowner, and the skilled workers gave us all a candle made out of a beer can that was cut, braided, and formed to look like a swan.

Moving on to build site 1, the party moved into high gear. We arrived to music again from our personal quartet, and the dancing started. We took a break to perform the dedication ceremony and handing out of gifts. The family in this case gave us all carvings of an elephant’s behind – although we have not yet definitely figured out the meaning of the carving, we are pretty sure it stands for good luck…

Marc with the key for house one

Rob presents the most important item in a Thai home - Long Live the King...

Cheryl present the second-most-important item in a Thai Home - a Rice Cooker

The Last Hurrah for Home One

There were a couple of amusing games played, some fireworks shot out of a gun, and then we sat down to eat a lovely meal. After the meal the music started up again, and the team made an informal conga line that snaked around the tables a couple of times and then made a larger loop around the new house. Stephanie and Sarah also taught the skilled workers some new dance moves.

In between the sets of music, Laura read her poem to the family (see previous post), we watched a hilarious skit by Marc, Rob, and Gregg (watch out for that pork!), had a Ganghan-style dance (where we followed more than half but less than all) of the steps. We also sang O Canda, Farewell to Nova Scotia, and the Thai National Anthem.

A Rousing version of the Thai National Anthem

Janice with her happy family

 The last official act was the lighting of a number of lanterns. After the first slightly off-kilter launch, our lanterns rose into the sky along with our wishes. Wishes for the families in their new homes, wishes for safe travels, and wishes for our new friends at the local affiliate.     

Make A Wish....

... and send it off !

All in all it was 'super-awesome-fantastic' dedication party.

Day 12 - The Beauty of This Land

a poem by Laura

The beauty of this land,

goes much deeper than the view.

It flourishes among the palms and rice,

providing simple clues.

It's contentment, peace and understanding,

all the while crickets sing.

The rhythmic monks soulful chanting,

Are the memories which remain.

Two homes were built by strangers,

Whom quickly became friends.

As the height of walls grew higher

There were smiles without end.

In time build sites were ringing

With laughter and funny pranks.

All the while, a dream in the making,

With many reasons to give thanks.

The houses are now completed,

And in time will become homes.

Filled with laughter and love through generations,

Which shall never stand alone.

We all had our own personal reasons,

a calling some may say,

The land "of the smile" has given me more,

Than I ever could hope to repay.

Laura with a very happy mother and child

Day 11 – One Man’s Brick Is Another Man’s Wall

Content from Marc

Wednesday - 21 November

I’ve discovered I seem to have a mindset that tends to rear its ugly head when faced with work I feel I am not good at, which is, “If something important needs to be done let the more confident/skilled/competent people at it first. Failing that, then try.”

I admit, this isn’t a very good philosophy, but it is a flexible one, just with a little pushing; as was the case this past week with the brick-laying at our work site. When I first read about this build I saw mention of Cement Interlocking Blocks (CIBs) and I really looked forward to that part of the construction because CIBs were what we used on my previous build in the Philippines. There we built rows of houses in a community project, moving and laying thousands of those bricks over 2 weeks. They were familiar, and they’re like cement LEGOs that make the work so straight-forward a (strong, big-for-their-age kind of) child could do it.

When we first arrived I noticed the bricks piled by the road weren’t of the obvious CIB variety, and I had a mixed reaction. On the one hand I was disappointed, but on the other hand I was intrigued. I do enjoy learning new things so the prospect of doing a more traditional job of brick-laying did seem cool, but I wouldn’t have minded if I had the chance to reacquaint myself with those old CIB friends either.

Anyway, that was all well and good; I still looked forward to brick laying, especially after all the hard work that went into the foundation. The only problem was that something happened during that foundation-building time, something I didn’t really experience as strongly in the Philippines because it was a different kind of build; I realized that I was building a family their home. A tangible, ever-present family, who were working with us this time, on the very home they will be living in and putting their livelihood into for the … possibly rest of their lives.

The thought of this struck me while we were making the foundation, but the weight of this struck me the day we laid bricks. On our site are 2 skilled workers, and on the day we laid our first bricks one of the skilled workers gave us a quick primer: lay the mortar here, lay the brick there, line it up with the wall like this, and make sure it’s got mortar down its sides. Simple, right? He made it look that way! When I laid my first row of bricks I didn’t think it would be perfect, but I didn’t anticipate how difficult lining up a brick to a wall sitting on some mortar would be either! By the time I got through a 2^nd row and found the wall was still looking questionable, the weight started growing. Thoughts of the family having a bad wall that would later fall apart because some silly Canadian did a shoddy job started to grow, and I started to question the wisdom of letting a group of volunteers perform such a duty. We were supervised by the skilled workers, they double-checked our work, and I was told it was all going to be plastered over anyway, but it just seemed like trouble waiting to happen that I couldn’t get out of mind. Not to mention, I was incredibly slow at it too! This is when that previously mentioned mindset started to kick in. We left that day having done a few rows of bricks around the perimeter of the house, and starting the walls on the inside. I left that day with the desire to leave the brick-laying alone unless I really had to, and find whatever other tasks around the house I could.

As fate would have it, I had one task that would let me avoid it for an afternoon. I ended up helping others lay brick a bit, but the best break was when there was a septic system that needed a hole dug. A 1 meter deep hole that normally would take 2 days of digging, but our super-motivated team of Laura, Gregg, Ping (the home owner), and I did it in 1 day. While that was awesome, and it was really cool to see how the septic gets added, it left the focus back on brick-laying once again. 

By this point the scaffolds were up, the doors and window frames were in place, and people needed to trade off being up there for a break. I was spending my time spotting the scaffolders, fetching mortar, bricks, etc. Each time I was asked if I’d like to get up on the scaffold for a go, I would decline while a little voice in my head said I should. Each time I was asked my answer would become less sure, until eventually that little voice in my head won out. It finally got through to me that there’s only one way to improve at something, and that is to do it. If you don’t you inevitably get worse, and if you’re at the bottom there’s no where to go but up, right? Once I was past the threshold where I accepted that if I screwed up, it was manageable, then I was willing to do it freely. I got up on a scaffold, I got the bricks and mortar, and I started to lay it out.

Lo and behold, my first few bricks felt awkward, but by the time I got through a few I found my ability to line up the brick to the lines was improving. Passable, even! I finished off a whole row, and moved on to the next without needing the skilled workers to set up the first block for me. They diligently came by to set up the other end and made the new lines I would need, and the fact they didn’t guffaw at my work (that I could tell) meant to me that I must not have been screwing up so badly after all. Not to leave it to chance though I did ask once or twice for a skilled worker to look at my wall and the mindset started to fade when he approved of my wall.

The best though, was when I had to shorten a brick to finish off a row. I had thought I had maybe made it too short, and when I was testing its size I saw the home owner standing nearby below. I called his name, and he looked up, where I was holding the brick. I asked him, “Is this okay?” and he gave it another looked and nodded yes to me. That was when I really felt it was okay that I, the silly Canadian, was on that scaffolding to construct that man a wall. I’m not sure I would say I am proud of my walls, but I am definitely proud of our work.

Day 11 – If These Walls Could Speak

Content from Monica

Wednesday - 21 November

As the last brick is placed and mortar set, this once pile of brick, sand, rocks, water and concrete powder now forms a stable structure that will house a loving and dedicated family. The resounding feeling is one of bitter sweetness. There is great joy in its completion, but also sadness in knowing that this experience is coming to an end, and we will soon have to say fare thee well.

If these walls could speak, they would not tell the tale of how jet lag, high temperatures and humidity, combined with hard manual labour, conspired to knock people off their feet from heat exhaustion. They would not speak of how a bout of sickness kept a team member from enjoying a day with the group as they were given a lift by elephants in exchange for bananas and sugar cane, and trekked along a jungle path to swim at the foot of a beautiful waterfall. Nor would they tell the tale of upset tummies, achy muscles, bruises, blisters and scratches. No, these walls would not speak of the lack of personal boundaries held by cement dust and mosquitoes, or how one tiny bite could swell an eye so much as to render a person blind in one eye for over a day. No, they would not speak of these things, for they are insignificant and fleeting.

If these walls could speak, they would focus on those of a timeless nature. Set against a back drop of rice paddy fields and fruit trees, and the rhythmic sounds of shovels slicing into sand and gravel, sand and gravel being dropped into buckets, buckets being  passed and emptied, cement being mixed, floors being swept with a straw broom, they would tell of the coming together of people from different backgrounds, cultures, languages, ages, skills and life experiences,  to form such a cohesive, synergystic unit that it would be far less if any one person were missing.

If these walls could speak they would tell how the spoken language is not really so important to communicate clearly.  They would tell how a laugh, a smile, or a gesture can be understood as clearly as a word, and that ``OK`` is universal. But, when shyness is overcome and an attempt is made to speak a word, a name, a phrase, or to even count buckets of sand in another’s tongue, this can draw you even closer to a new place and its people. These walls would describe the wonder of how after only a few short days these people were working together as if they always had, and how the air was filled with the sounds of laughter as they joked with, and teased each other during their toil.

If these walls could speak, they would tell of new friendships formed, and old friendships deepened. They would tell how they were touched by each and every one of these friends as they were being built. They would describe how each of  their components; sand and gravel, bricks and mortar, were passed  hand to hand, person to person until they were placed and set with such earnestness so as to ensure that they were as strong and true as possible. These walls would tell of their skilled masons as they took this motley crew from across the globe under their wings, guided and tutored them with the utmost patience and the gentlest humour. They would describe how these masons would often work side by side with their charges, but just as often, give them space to work on their own; stopping by  intermittently to lend a hand only when needed,  or to give their seal of approval, allowing at first a sense of  relief, then a feeling of proud accomplishment.

These walls would describe the midday meals prepared with such care by the families of those who will live within them, and of how they provided needed sustenance to continue their creation. They would describe how these meal times offered a moment to catch up, and connect with those who worked apart, before continuing on with the day.

These walls would tell of the stories of how all of these people came to be here, and of all those people who helped make it possible for them to be here; and so on, until a web of connection so expansive, wondrous and intricate is painted in the mind so it becomes possible to envision that these walls have been touched by the whole world.

Yes, if these walls could speak, these are the stories that they would tell. They would tell of how they were built by love.

And this is just the prologue.

Sawasdee Ka

Day 10 – Buddhism Contemplates the Hole

Content from Mike

Tuesday - 20 November

Gotcha with the title, eh? Today we learn about what it means to be four feet deep in Thailand. This is not about three sheets to the wind, or two hairs past a freckle or a partridge in a pear tree. No, four feet down was the goal, and the goal was four feet down.

Force Habitat was tasked with digging out for a side-by-side septic tank set-up for the new house. The maestros gave us the position and the rough dimensions in the dirt just by the side of the old house. It was up us to make them proud.

Mama's Pretty Happy

 There are several approaches to contemplating hole-digging.  One is the “What did I do to deserve this?” query.  Then there is the “Does it have to be finished today?” inquiry.  And of course there is the question “What else could I be doing if this hole ain’t dug?”

But these are pointless points for achieving hole-ness.  No, the best way to begin is with a song in yer heart and a shovel in yer hand.  OK, maybe no song, but…

Stephanie Wangin' Away

The right tool for the right fool is imperative.  We had shovels, hoes, rebar as a pry bar, and a few whacks from a machete.  Pretty good start.  But most important is a good set of buddies to share the load.  And to take turns.  And to stand by to help you out of the hole when it overwhelms you.

The original dimensions of about one meter by two kept on expanding as various builders came by.  Our first rectangle was almost immediately enlarged due to the detritus of the top layer: bottles, a few cracked dishes, stones, tree roots – all the things to make you feel you picked the wrong task.  Slow goin’ at first, but many hands, you know…well, let’s say it was easier to dig than it was to type this up deep into the night after supper.

Sarah and Mike Hard at Work

Sarah and Joanne Taking a Photo-Break

 After a while, though, the mind can wander: Doesn’t this look like a grave plot?  I hope the dogs don’t fall in.  Why is it so hot today?  Thoughts like these need to be nipped in the bud and a rhythm established – a little loosening up, a few strokes of the hoe (technically know as ‘wanging with the hoe’ – loosely translated from the Thai - and then shovelling it all out.

Mai Supervising the Dig

Now you learn something about yer buddies by the way they shovel dirt.  There’s a plodding stroke, a dainty stroke, and the ever popular flinging stroke.  Different strokes, for, well, you know.  Hey, whatever gets you deeper.

After a while the hole takes shape.  It begins to get admirable.  Corners neat and square, different layers of soil exposed, a noticeable pile of dirt more out than in the hole.  The breaks become more frequent, the initial intensity gives way to a standard rotation of wangers, then flingers, then resters. 

People begin to notice – “right some good hole”; “I can’t believe how deep you’re getting”; “You got a little dirt on you”.

After lunch it’s a serious affair.  A tarp is erected to shield us from the sun.  It takes time to spell yer buddy because yer buddy has to find an undignified way out of the hole.  But it satisfies, it’s tangible, it makes the sore shoulders take a back seat.  And then comes the moment of dirt-digging ecstasy.

 

Rats - Struck Water, Not Oil

The shovel goes in and water bubbles up – we’ve reached the water table, bringing on a flurry of maestros with tape measures in hand, debating in rapid Thai about the depth of the hole compared to the height of the cement septic tubes.  The effort is judged good, and from the bottom of the hole, joy reigns – OK, we’re pretty happy, if a little delirious – and with a little levelling off, the hole is finished.

The Happy Dance

Several liters of drinks later, the task of shifting the cement hoops into the hole begins and a fair portion of the neighbourhood is on hand to watch.  Dogs, grandmas, chickens, passers-by: all have a fascination for the event if only to figure out who might slip on the lip and into the hole first.  But in expert fashion the structure is assembled in their places and the philosophical conundrum of the day takes place – we fill in the hole around the tubes!  Why?  It was such a proper hole, deeper than wide, corners neat and square, why?

Don't Drop It!

Placement of the Cement Cones

Buddhism as I have dabbled in does not specifically mention digging holes, but then again it may.  Perhaps this is the lesson:  no hole goes unfilled in life when many hands come together.

Or not.  If you were expecting some insight into Major Philosophy, let me assure you: sometimes a hole is just a hole.  Good night.

One Happy Couple....

... and One Big Happy Family

Day 9 – Back to Work

Content from joanne

Monday - 19 November

Arriving back at the build  site after our three-day-weekend, we were all keen to get back to work. Since the previous rows of bricks were now ‘set’ and the new levels of re-bar were installed by the skilled workers, we were ‘onwards and upwards’ to the rafters. 

Sarah and Her Buddy

 Since we were now ‘seasoned workers’ in brick-laying, people migrated to working on their own sections of walls, and by the end of the day we saw great progress.

Lunch Special - Rice Cooked in Bamboo!

The Great Wall of China (by Ron)

Louise With a Woman's Touch....

... and Gregg With a Man's Touch.

Site One also started dug the hole for the latrine/septic field. The hole is 2 Meters by 1 Meter by 1 meter deep, and made short work of Rob’s hands when it came to blisters in this humid climate.

Barbie Working the Scaffold

 

Peek-A-Boo Rob

Diana and Her Team-Mate Det

A clean work-site for tomorrow!

At the end of they day, the walls are almost complete!

Day 8 – Thai Cooking

Content from joanne

Sunday - 18 November

Today was our second R&R Day, which actually did start off with some rest and relaxation for most – time out to do wash, swim in the pool, sleep in, read a book, or walk around the city. In the mid-afternoon we all went to get our ‘Thai Cooking Badge’, which included a short tour of a local market (where Michael learned the difference between ginger and galangal), and a ‘make your own supper’ session.

Each person had their own prep station and their own stove area, and we would follow the teachers example and directions to create (and eat) 4 dishes. Our menu for the evening was Tom Yam Soup, Pad Thai, Spring Rolls, and Green Curry. The education also included insights into the reason for various ingredients as well as some interesting and amusing cultural tidbits.

There's Nothin' Like Home Cookin'

The evening ended with the lighting of four lanterns and setting them off into the night. This is a tradition that came from the hill tribes, and although it was originally used only in the Yi Peng (Loi Krathong in the south) festival, it is now being used to celebrate birthdays, weddings, and other important events. The lanterns are about 3 feet high and roughly square. The outer skin is made of tissue paper, the frame at the bottom is made of bamboo, and the fire is made on paraffin-soaked paperboard held in place by wire. The paperboard is lit, the balloon area fills up, you make a wish, and the lantern eventually takes off into the night. It is quite an impressive sight.

Lantern Construction

Just After Take-Off

Our last official act of the evening was to take in the well-known Sunday Night Market in the Old City. This is a huge street market. Two of the largest city streets in the Old City, along with most of the side streets in between were absolutely filled with stalls for food, crafts, artwork, interspersed with local musicians. Retail therapy at its finest.     

 We returned to the resort to see the tail-end of a wedding celebration around the pool. Although we were not officially invited, we did get a glimpse of the bride in the fairy-tale setting from the balcony.