RSIS Big Build Vietnam: project completed
Posted: 20 December 2017
Project work has been completed
After 10 amazing days on the project site, in the village of Na Mon, students were able to complete their work on the dam. Due to the number of students involved in the project, many hands made light work and the team were able to achieve something that would have taken considerably longer if the village did not have their help.
Everyone at Round Square is extremely proud of the teams hard work and dedication.
Fun and games at the school visit
We just wanted to share some more video footage from the fun school visit earlier in the week. Students split into two groups. One group visited the school in the morning and the second group visited in the afternoon.
It’s safe to say, the local children had a wonderful day with so many new friends to play with!
Student blog update 17th December – highlights from the team
What is your favourite Vietnamese food?
- Rice crackers, One-Ones and mango! – Keren
- Rice crackers and pork and cabbage rolls – Ali
- Spring rolls and fried peanuts – Isabella T
- Rice crackers and spring rolls – Josie B
- Choco-pies and cabbage dumplings – Klara
- Pork wrapped in cabbage and the fruit – Leilani
- Bananas and spring rolls – Sophie
- Starfruit and chicken legs – Philip
- Dragon fruit and star fruit and the different candies – Olivia
- Springrolls and dragonfruit – Ziggy
- Pineapple and springrolls – Hannah
- Sticky rice, beans and pineapple – Ellie
- Dragon fruit and taro wafers and milk coffee chews – Sophie
- Sticky rice with a whole bunch of chilli sauce and fried peanuts – Grace
- Sticky rice and sugar cane – Oscar
- Pho and springrolls – Chelsea
- Noodles and springrolls and starfruit – Isabelle
- Sticky rice and chicken wings – Ben
- Pork wrapped in cabbage and all the fruits (except dragonfruit!) – Natasha
- Peanuts and mango – Will
- Fried chicken and chupa-chups – Owen
- Mango, watermelon and pineapple – Tracey
- Rice – James
- Pineapple, mango and pork and cabbage rolls – Kate
- Pineapple, dragon fruit and pho – Clifford
- Spring Rolls – Josie
- Sticky Rice Sticks and Mango – Paul
- Fruit and spring rolls – Vedansh
What do you miss most from home?
- warm showers, my bed, dogs and a toilet – Keren
- warm showers and my piano – Alli
- friends from home and my kitchen – Izzy
- my bed and my dog – Josie
- my bed and a quiet night sleep – Klara
- the company of my little sister – Leilani
- a good chiro appointment and my pets and my boyfriend – Sophie
- school life and playing football with my boys – Philip
- getting a good night sleep – Olivia
- my dog and my bed – Ziggy
- my house and my family – Hannah
- my dogs and my bathtub – Ellie
- my bed, my bathroom and my animals – Sophie
- talking with my friends and cups of tea with my mum in the morning – Grace
- my dog and my brothers and the girl – Oscar
- my grandma (hi mom!) – Chelsea
- my dad and hanging out with my friends in the common room – Isabelle
- my mom giving me a good kick up the ass and my dad buying me a pint down at the pub – Ben
- watching hallmark movies with my mom and sister and my 3 dogs – Natasha
- a bed and the weather – Will
- the sesh – Owen
- my husband and my family! – Tracey
- I missed the release for starwars ep. 8 – James
- I miss Jones – Kate
- I miss my girls – Clifford
- Paul – Warm and clean water
- Vedansh – Hot weather
- Joise – My family
Scarf dance
Earlier in the week, students took part in a traditional Vietnamese dance class. A small group of the students, dedicated time to learning a full routine which they performed at the final celebration.
Traditional Vietnamese dance comprises several different forms including dance as performed in Vietnamese theatre and opera, dances performed at festivals, and royal dances of the imperial court. Dance is thought to have been an integral part of Vietnamese culture since ancient times, as depicted by engravings found on Dong Son drums.
12 days of Christmas
As part of the teams final celebration on the project site, the adult leadership team composed and performed their own special rendition of the 12 days of Christmas to entertain the students:
“On the first day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; a map of Hanoi City
On the second day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; two dirty gloves
On the third day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; three spring rolls
On the fourth day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; four bits of mango
On the fifth day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; where is Paul’s bag?
On the sixth day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; six spades a-shovelling
On the seventh day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; seven heavy stones
On the eighth day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; eight basket weavers
On the ninth day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; nine students dancing
On the tenth day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; ten chocco pies
On the eleventh day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; even bowls of pho
On the twelfth day in Vietnam, my leader gave to me; twelve roosters crowing!”
Back in Hanoi
After saying goodbye to everyone in the village, the team traveled back to Hanoi this morning.
Students are currently browsing the markets and doing a little last minute Christmas shopping, and updating their wardrobes!
Tomorrow is the teams last full day in Vietnam and they will be making the most of it, with a special boat trip to visit the iconic limestone caves.