Work has been progressing along but with very little tools and no machines, everything is done by hand. I am on the house team. yesterday we laid bricks in out 18'x6'' two room "house". Today we began the floor. We first stuffed rice bags with clay that was dug out of the ground from area that will be the latreen and carried it to the floors. The clay was then pressed down with a weighted hand press. Next step was to carry sand from about 500 yards up a narrow path in pails and rice bags to cover the clay and press that down. Next was to carry rocks in same manor....we finished the back room and were told to wait for the "inspector" before we continued further. Of course in the process, the front wall accidentally got knocked over. It was a labor intensive day to say the least. The heat is unbearable, I have never sweat and been so dirty at the end of a day as I have been the past two.

The other half of the building tram has 1/2 of the concrete poured for the playground, as well as two of the four pole cemented in for the shade covers. The means of measurements over here are quite something, we are told...about like this for everything, leveling is measure with string. Somehow it all gets pulled together.

The kids have been sorting clothing and playing with the Kids we are sponsoring. They set up a large market for the families to come purchase with "ticket money" that the have earned for various skills. The kids set up a market and everybody came and bought stuff....

We are working a remote space by the river and getting amazing connections to local life and culture, but to mention laughed at frequently. They are amazed to see woman doing physical work. This is Tuan, my oldest son and I working side by side. Have I mentioned how proud of him I am?

This woman was doing laundry in the river at the end of the path that leads to our house site.

We were invited to sit in the neighbors home to have our lunch. This house is owned by the sister of the woman we are building the house for.

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Bucket brigade....we needed buckets of water from the river to soften the clay. I passed on reaching into the river, worked inside pouring the buckets.

The young men walker by me with freshly killed chickens, went to a little platform in the river and began plucking and gutting. I came close to adding my own flavor to the river. So happy I am at the vegetarian table.

The work has begun.........

Were all here....note from our fearless leader, Caroline.

All 80 volunteers have arrived from all across the U.S and Canada over the last few days. We have enough luggage (donations) to fill up 3 trucks the size of a small UHaul. And we've just held our one and only press conference in Saigon. We leave bright and early tomorrow morning and we'll go directly to the school to start the massive sorting task.



Our work sites this year are only a few minutes a part from each other so I suspect that we'll all be able to help each other out when needed. The community is ready and I know we're ready to start the 2010 AE! Stay tuned for more info soon!

Internet access at last.....

There is so much to catch up on in the past few days. I may ramble as gathering my thoughts in an organized fashion is just not happening for me. We have been in Phu Quoc from Thursday afternoon until this morning. We stayed in a thatched roof hut on the beach, what a view. We were able to tour the north and south sides of the Island. Museums, pearl factory (yes, Jesse will be sporting a lovely strand for her Bat Mitzvah), a pepper farm, forest, and snorkeling. The food has been amazing, much to my stomachs dismay, I have been eating everything, buying fish from road side vendors where the live fish flop out of buckets and onto the street. Great veggies and fruits as well......nothing that can not be fixed with some western medications if need be!

The kids are having a ball, they swam and snorkeled, are eating wonderfully, and playing and laughing all day. We left the Island by ferry this morning for Kien Giang, where we will be working the next week on the expedition. The bus with most of the others will be arriving in an hour or so and then the work begins...

Will write more, but want to get some pictures posted now.

Some fruits we picked up at the market.

This is our guide "Edwin". He picked up some squid from the "fish market" for us to have grilled on the beach.

Woman at the fishing village selling goods to the fisherman.....

Fun at the beach above.

Below is our lunch being prepared, beach and table side ....we picked up and elephant fish at the market, bought it live and the kids were delighted to watch it flop around in the van for quite some time in the plastic bag.

New career?? I can grill squid!

Eric and Noah enjoying a refreshing coconut milk drink.

Nothing beats a nap in a hammock after a great meal.

Dinner at the Ocean side bar and Grill - #1 rated restaurant by Trip Advisor on Phu Quoc, we now know why, went for dinner two nights in a row - the best. Dinner for 8 with wine and drinks and tip.....$80.00

Hanging around at the beach.

This is our beach side Bunglaow that we stayed in.

Night view from our porch

Sunset by the beach.....

Poor Jesse......

Thursday, we toured the South side of Phu Quoc Island. We were at the Pearl Farm, when Jesse turned green, ran to the garden, and began puking! Our tour guide ran over, lifted the back of her shirt and began accu-pressure. Jesse screamed in pain, I yelled at him to stop. Jesse suddenly relaxed and immediately felt better....he rubbed some oil on her back and face, one more good puke and she was all better......

Glad I am not posting the picture?

Poor Noah.....

While on the bus taking us out to our plane going to Phu Quoc, the bus jolted to a stop. A woman's bag loaded with book slid into Noah's ankle. The scream was ugly......although deserved. A few layers of skin was removed, some blood, and instant bruising and swelling. I lifted him up, ran up the stairs in front of everybody onto the plane to get water and ice.......well, who knew we had to wait for help until the entire plane borded. The screams and crying continued, I was certain the ankle was broken. Finally the ice arrived when everybody had borded and was seated. The big bandage was a hit, the ankle not broken, and all is well in Noah's world again, here at the beach in Phu Quoc. Did I mention we are on the beach in a thatched hurt? Mosquito netting around our beds.......of course!

This is an elephant fish. Fish is removed and wrapped as a spring roll with rice noodles and herbs ...one of my favorite foods here.

Arriving at the Mekong Delta, facing photo from left is: Eric, who we met here and is going on expedition with his Mom, Maya (Martha's daughter), Jesse, Noah, and Phat (Noah's brother who spent the night with us and then joined us on the tour for the day). How handsome is Phat???

Eric, Noah and Phat in our canal row boat

Noah and Tuan (the young man I met 11 years ago, adored, became his "American mom" and love to see when I am here.

The jungle canals of the Mekong Delta we visited by row boats

Noah and Phat crossing the Mekong Delta

The woman who paddled the boatToward the back is Martha, maya, and Jesse

The girls...