The houses are coming along well and very quickly here in Duc Lan village. The language barrier was tough at first, but we are all getting better at non-verbal communication and finding rhythm as a team with each other and with the local workers. The constructions crews are all very friendly and like to joke around, to the extent that they can without speaking our language. They are all very hard workers, of course, but still go out of their way to show us how to properly lay bricks, mix concrete, spread fill dirt, and the other various skills that we have to learn from them.

Aimee and Brandon have done a great job taking on the extra role of translating for their work crews, smoothing out communication for the whole group. Vi makes her daily rounds to talk with the families and the Youth Union, making sure everyone is coordinated.

The families for whom we are building, as well as their neighbors, have all welcomed us with open arms. The neighbors offer shady porches, restrooms, and living rooms for afternoon naps. They also provide tea, coffee, and more food than we can eat.

One of our work groups has made more friends than they can even keep track of. Spencer, Izzy, Frankie, Carson, and Aimee have a huge team of workers and supportive neighbors who all pitch in on labor and bring an endless supply of food. Their afternoon naps are shared with Grandma Sao, an angel of a woman whose 100^th birthday we will celebrate next week. Spencer is especially enthralled with her and her amazing lucidity of mind at such an age. We will get him translation help so he can hear the story of this woman who was born during the First World War.

Leah, Catherine, Hannah, Noah, Moni, and Aidan have forged great teamwork with the few workers at their site, and they were able to take over when most of the workers had to attend a funeral. Our crew is well cared for by the woman for whom they are building and her four daughters, as well as the friend next door who offers her spacious house for shade breaks.

Luke, Ava, Justin, Molly, Brandon, and Thea are building a house for one old woman whose children have moved off to the city. Despite our insistence, she refuses to not work on her own house, and shovels with the best of them all day long, as nimble in her bare feet as she’s been her entire life. Our crew has also fallen in love with the friendly old “Tea Man” neighbor who offers the shelter of his house, endless pots of delicious tea, and constant good company. Justin says “It’s like you can have a conversation with him for hours without ever speaking the same language.”

The second week of work in the village is complete, as we now board a bus for the old town of Hoi An. We will enjoy a few days’ R&R at the beach, then return for one last action-packed week in the village. As the houses are shaping up, we will take on extra projects teaching English to local students and painting their school building. We are all looking forward to this additional cultural experience and fulfilling work.

Stay tuned!

– Vi & Jesse