RSIS Big Build Vietnam: A very busy weekend

Posted: 18 December 2017

Student blog update 16th December – highlights from the team

Why were we so quick and efficient today?

• It made it easier to work harder after the break and working to our strengths – Saskia
• Lots of help from the locals to help with the process – working with us rather than two separate groups – Aakash
• Teamwork and everyone doing a job to get things done faster.  Little groups within the group worked well – Abby
• Used to the routine and we have a chance of finishing this dam and want to feel proud of ourselves – Gemma
• More trust with each other, belief in ourselves, much shorter distance to walk – Lisa
• Moved to a different site and a new challenge and everyone wants to get to the best start – working smarter – Molly
• Motivated people everywhere – Eshaan
• Having a rest day to refresh and ready to work again – Caitlin
• We were left to our own devices to sort ourselves out and sorted things out and worked who we felt comfortable with – Dylan
• Materials are closer and we are more used to what to do and how to form a chain and how to organise everything – Arsh
• We know now what our strongest point is and some of us knew what we weren’t good at and stuck to them –  Anastasia
• No hills! – Harry
• Great leadership and people willing to work.  Everyone on the line was helping out – good leaders and workers – Adam
• Know the techniques for each of the squads and can concentrate – Asa
• So easy for us to communicate and work together – Alice
• More determined to finish this dam and see the finished product – Casey
• Working together – Cassey
• Altogether as a large group like a large machine – Viv
• Tested out different ways of getting the materials and we know which ones work best, less energy but higher output; we just know and can apply it – Nina
• Group dynamic is really good and we’ve had the time to get to know each other.  Helped that the staff stepped back and could prove our worth – Caroline
• Experience with how to move everything from rice paddies and fields and now we know we can see the materials and it’s not too far – Zara
• Distances are smaller to carry the rocks so it doesn’t take long and because we are one big group now not separate – Nik
• So much closer as a team than at the beginning and know what to do – Chris
• Know exactly what we are doing – no confusion about what to do and being faster – Kim

 

 

Who do you admire on the worksite today and why?

• Viv and Kim; constant team work, singing and constant smiles – Saskia
• Ben was great on cement – really happy and helpful – Abby
• Adam was motivating everyone and he was always there to motivate us – Aarkash
• Paul did a lot of heavy rocks and was always there to help me – Gemma
• Twaan and Clifford because I fell and they really helped me – Lisa
• Everybody putting full effort in – Molly
• Philip was encouraging and working so hard – Eeshan
• Hannah! – Caitlin
• Caroline; so supportive to everyone – Dylan
• Philip was making sure everyone was cared for – Arsh
• Adam was lifting heavy rocks – Raghev
• Saskia; always finding ways to help.  Adam and Arsh; for giving the village kids piggy backs, lots of fun – Staz
• Paul; never complained and working behind the scenes – Harry
• Casey; lugging wheelbarrows up and down – Adam
• Molly in the rock chain was always saving time for later – Alice
• Staz; smile on her face all day and moving rocks – Casey
• Casey just a champion – Cassey
• Grace; so versatile does everything well – Viv
• Cassey getting down in the water and really dirty, smiling the whole time – Nina
• All the Vietnamese women; carrying heavy rocks with their heads – very admirable – Caroline
• Ziggy was keen to move rocks and automatically working hard – Zara
• Asa; so positive and encouraging – Nik
• Raghev because he was putting in good energy and kept things light hearted – Chris
• Owen, Asa and Staz energetic and quick when lifting heavy rocks, and Asa gives off a happy vibe – Arsh
• Phil and Asa; so encouraging and doing everything well – Kim

Written by: Saskia, Abby, Gemma, Lisa, Molly, Eeshan, Caitlin, Dylan, Arsh, Raghev, Staz, Harry, Adam, Asa, Alice, Casey, Cassey, Viv, Nina, Caroline, Zara, Nik, Chris, Arsh, Kim

 

 

Birthday celebrations

A very happy birthday to Grace, Natasha and Caroline who all celebrated their birthdays during the week. The team celebrated with a joint birthday party with lots of cake, snacks and games. The girls each received a special birthday present to mark the occasion; a hand woven scarf made by one of the women from the village.

We hope it’s been a birthday to remember!

 

 

Corn fields

The team took a break from working on the project site and shook up their day with helping on the local corn fields. These are the fields and crops being protected by the new dam and an extremely valuable crop to the village.

Embroidery class

Students tried their crafty hands at the fine art of embroidery in a special workshop. Vietnamese hand embroidery is a 700-year-old tradition. Usually, tiny threads are used to create brightly coloured pictures on cloth. It is a part of Vietnamese culture; traditionally, girls are expected to know how to decorate pillowcases, curtains and tablecloths with hand embroidery.

Master chief!

Students brushed up on their culinary skills with a Vietnamese cooking class. Students broke into smaller groups and each group made traditional sticky rice, BBQ pork and mixed vegetables – delicious!