First work day today!!!

Hey Guys:

Today was our first work day for the school, we began our day at 8:00AM. The morning commute took about 1 1/2, to get to the school we boarded a bus, then took a ferry boat across the river since there isn't bridge to get us across, and then hopped back on the bus and continued our way. We made a stop at the People's Committee which is like a county seat back home. We met with the education director and then got cleared to be in the province we are working in.

We arrived at the school site and the kids were out in full force, at first they were very shy but after a couple minutes of starring at us they warmed up to us and became very intrigued in what we were doing. By the afternoon they were running around with us and saying "hello" every chance they got. I think i became a big hit when i started handing out suckers to all of them. I found out today that they go in shifts through elementary school. They have a morning group and an afternoon group and the day last for 4 hours for each group. each cluster has about 80 kids. As i was looking around i noticed that all the kids were in uniforms and very well kept. I learned that the average income in this specific province is equal to $600 US dollars per YEAR, Yes that's right only $600 per year. The main source of income is agriculture. As we were driving in the area it was quite clear where we were and that we were way out of the city. The kids get to school by bike, they line them up row by row inside the school Yard. The teacher hits a drum and that signals that the kids need to get to the classrooms for the school day to start. This specific school has 12 classrooms in it.

The school site we are at was originally built in 1992 by the Houston YMCA group, we are currently re-doing 6 of the 12 classrooms. Today we were tasked with paining. We painted walls, trim, windows, shutters and doors. I was one of the lucky ones that got to get on scaffolding and walk on coconut wood and painted the 12 foot walls. Cathy and I were on them together and they had to bring in reinforcements and band them together, again no OSHA here in Viet Nam. at times it was a bit rickety especially when they put the post on stones to level it out, Cathy and I had a few intense laughable moments as we caused the scaffolding to shimmy. Tomorrow we will finish painting and begin grouting floors. We had lunch at one of the teachers homes that was located within walking distance of the school. She opened up her home and prepared an amazing feast for us all. I have never been exposed to SO SO many different types of fruit, every meal we have had a different type, and wow is it fresh. All of our meals have been outstanding.

We worked until about 4:30 this evening loaded back up and came back to the hotel to shower and change and then head to dinner. We start again tomorrow at 8:00AM and will work till about 4:30pm. It was an amazing day all the way around, actually seeing people that are gracious for what we are doing and happy to see us. It's amazing to see how little they have but yet how so many of them have constant smile on there faces.

I am still trying to get my pictures to upload but having no such luck. Hopefully i will be able to figure it out tomorrow and post so you can see the sights i have been amazed with.

Talk to you all tomorrow!!