Hong
Kong Students Rebuild Lao School
North by North East provides responsible travel options
for schools wishing to take part in community involvement projects
that meet International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum requirements.
This year we were very fortunate to partner with Maekok
River Village Resort to create a project for three schools
from Hong Kong (Chinese International, Island and West Island).
In October and November the schools traveled to a beautiful
island in southern Laos to assist a community rebuild a dilapitated
elementary school.
Below is a poem/report that brings the experience all together!
Apart From The Centipede
We went to Laos with a sense of keen anticipation,
and sadly, only a few pillows, thanks to the eagle eyed airline
crew, but in the days to come, we were to learn a lot, heaps,
in fact, we were to reassess most of the things that we knew.
But I think I should start our story with a greeting, so ‘Saibadee’
to you all and to our expert guides.
Our first test was surviving mad Bangkok taxi
drivers, and those long jolting songtaew rides.
Ban Hua, on the island of Don Daeng, even the
words conjure up a magical time, bathed in golden sunshine,
slow relaxed living, a happy people with so much, yet without
a dime. Buddhist values and happy attitudes are a good mix,
unless you happen to be a centipede in one of the dorms.
I'll never forget our arrival in darkness, the
muddy shallows, at least we didn’t arrive in one of those
tropical storms.
As we drifted quite gently towards a single light, the beacon
guided our Lao catamarans to the unseen shore, to our simple
lodge, with no electricity, nor hot water, and plenty of interesting
insects scuttling across the floor.
But you happily taught and played with the children,
and you know, I think they taught us things as well. They’d
almost nothing, but were so carefree, so content, and they have
given us many an exciting tale to tell.
Who could forget you constructing that school house, arduous
work in the heat, but you proudly built it by hand, and if I
said the walls weren't the only thing cemented, well, I think
you will all clearly understand.
Because by working together, you bonded together, as you riotously
played and gave pressies and painted faces, and the village
leaders apologized for having no gifts, not needed, we were
in one of the world's gifted places.
They gave us their gentle dignity with their warm hearts,
and their genuine smiles were etched into every line,
as they taught you the BBQ Chicken dance around the bonfire,
and I had to be proud of those bamboo dancers of mine.
You played charades, you imitated flashlights, and yes, around
the bonfire, you crucified those songs. Girls, I'm sorry you
had to cover your teeny bikinis, but you did look stunning
in your colourful sarongs.
The nights were filled with panicky 'bug' screams,
although two did enjoy eating those that were caught, And then
there was the girl's room's vomiting cat, but let's not give
that poor centipede another thought.
As a Buddhist principle is not to kill needlessly, so sorry
Buddha, I guess boys will be boys after all, and despite their
best, back-breaking efforts when harvesting rice, only two boys
got the call!
It was great when one of you scored a football goal, and you
all enjoyed being chased on the beach, and the children's screams
as they were thrown into the Mekong, were some lessons that
you could teach!
But as in life, the monks’ drums kept a
steady beat, and it was a new way to awake each morning, we
were impressed with 8th Century Vat Phou but then it was time
to go, seemingly without warning.
But the villagers wished us good health and success, symbolized
by the Baci wrist tying of many strings, lots of tears and laughter,
followed by some wild dancing, with village chiefs fancying
one girl (one of those universal things).
But the barriers of language and culture were trashed, Lying
in broken heaps as we danced under the stars so a big 'khawp
jai lai lai’ must go to Graham and Bounmy, for the care
and good times they gave this group of ours.
Because you were, are, a fantastic team of young
people, and you've seen that when you give, you get far more
returned, and I just wanted to say thank you, we’re proud
of you, and for all of us, apart from the centipede, it's been
a lesson well learned.
(West Island School, HK)
(November 2007)
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