Yes, volunteers really do work!

Monday worksite photos from Bill. The group below includes homeowners Wirat and Tatiya Sapithak who operate a small noodle cart. With their two daughters ages 10 and 5, they live in a small temporary house they built out of wood and metal sheets. The roof leaks and the wooden supports have been eaten hollow by termites. DDT was sprayed to control the termites, making it a toxic environment.

In the past months they have worked on site, hauling everything from blocks, roof tiles and roof trusses to doors and window frames. Tatiya says "We're so excited to live with new friends in our new neighborhood."

This morning on site there's the beginning of their new house: foundation, slab, and partial walls.

And so, the work week begins.

Worksite Monday -- first day

Breakfast at 5:30 a.m. Bus to work site at 6:30 a.m. Arrive site parking lot (room for all of the 70 buses) at 7:15 a.m. Ten minute walk to build area and our house #75. House leader gives instruction and what he expects we will complete today. Work begins at 8:00 a.m. Very hot day: 100+.

Cinderblock, interleaving constuction, with mortar, rebar and more mortar. Bill was doing some official photographs for Habitat as well as many pix of our work on this house #75 of the 82 being built. His pix will be posted separately. In the meantime:

1. Handsome entrance sign.

2. Pam at the site map pointing to our house.

3. Craig and Peter begin moving block.

Sunday in Chiang Mai

The first thing we noticed on our arrival last evening just before midnight, was the friendliness and welcome offered us. The airport was decorated with banners and signs for the Carter Work Project and volunteer greeters were on hand, even at that late hour.

By now, we have met many new friends, every one of whom has been grand, nice folks. Our hotel, the Lotus, is one of several housing the 2500+ volunteers from 42 countries, here for the week. Construction begins on site at 8 every morning and ends at 5 ... so a long day. The temps here are in the 90s and we can expect it to be very hot. We'll definitely keep drinking water throughout the day.

Sunday evening there was a opening ceremony with many celebs, Thai performers and Jimmy Carter, who arrived to a standing ovation and then bowed in the traditional Thai manner to the volunteers present. He welcomed the 2500+ volunteers present from 42 countries.

PS...thanks for all the comments. It is nice to know that someone is actually reading this stuff!

Hongkong from the Peak

This was a last look at the city. Although it was a gray day, we headed out to Hongkong Island and the tram station where we boarded the cog tram for a ride up to the famous Peak. At approx 392m, it is the island's tallest hill, and from the rooftop viewing deck there is 360o breathtaking views. It was a chance to say goodbye to this treasure city with hopes from all of us of returning some day.

Hello Hongkong

Photographer Bill was busy today as we were treated to an interesting view of this city. Our host for the afternoon was Father Bill Galvin, a long-time friend of Peter's, and a Maryknoll priest who has served in Asia for many years.

He took us by train to a local parish in Lok Fu "outside the original English Boundary line" where we met his colleague Father John Cioppa and then to visit a local parishioner. Mrs. Wong, the homeowner lives in a neat, small 2-bedroom apartment on the 17th floor of Hongkong public housing. Mrs. Wong's son is a photographer living and working in Washington D.C. Her daughter still lives at home.

Tomorrow we plan some touristy cool things before we head off to the airport and our flights to Thailand (2 legs: Hongkong to Bangkok and then to Chiang Mai). Stay tuned!

A great send off!

With the company of family, spouses, and Habitat folks, we were treated to well wishes for the upcoming work in Thailoand. Barbara Dunn and Cate Leonard said that we cleared the first hurdle by having the correct passports. Great!
The van picks up four and heads off to get Bill. Continental Airlines does the rest by sending us on our way.

Eighty-two houses in one week?

The concept is incredible. While we had 20 plus volunteers on the Gulf Coast building a single home in one week, here in Chiang Mai, there will be 100x that number. That's right ... 2000 volunteers from many countries, building 82 houses in a single week. Months ago, the selected site, a former fruit orchard, was prepared for building. Only trees that directly interferred with construction were cut down. In some cases, road location was adjusted to reduce tree removal. In addition, Habitat has planted 2,532 new trees in the surrounding community. Photo at left, taken June 2nd, shows the early days of the project preparation.
Since June, Habitat's work in Chiang Mai continued ... and the site is ready with foundations and low walls. Volunteers will finish building the homes. For our time there, we will pack:
    * work gloves
    * sturdy work shoes
    * bug spray
    * sun screen and more.......