HFH Mekong Delta Build, Chiang Mai, Thailand

How nice to be in Thailand again. I thought when I left work over four years ago, Thailand would be one of the first areas I'd visit. Well, I'm finally here and it feels right. My niece Laura and I came to Chiang Mai with Habitat for Humanity (HFH), along with about 2,000 other volunteers to build 82 homes northeast of Chiang Mai. The number coincides with the King's 82nd birthday on 5 December. This is called the international Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Build that occurs every other year. The alternating years are in the States, with one of those locations next year being in Minnesota. Guess I have an idea of what I might be doing 3-8 October 2010, this time with the Twin Cities Habitat affiliate rather than the LA Habitat affiliate.

Habitat for Humanity was very well organized in Chiang Mai from the moment we got off the bus to the time we left. Laura and I arrived on a Saturday morning and took off right away on a bike tour of Old Chiang Mai, seeing a wat, a local market, enjoyed some Thai ice tea in a bag, some home made candy and pastry. Coincidentally, we met our house leader for the week long build. Eight of the ten of us on the bike tour were here for Habitat for Humanity (HFH). The six we just met were experienced international volunteers from the big contingent from Florida.

Sunday was the opening ceremony, but before that we sought out the lions and tigers at the Tiger Kingdom. I petted cheetahs in Africa and wasn't going to miss the opportunity to pet tigers. They are just big, strong cats who purr, though their fur is not as soft as the domestic cats. The four month olds laid on our chests as relaxed as could be. The older ones, a mere 230 pounds, were pretty docile and friendly. The lions were not as nice. They like to have some pressure when being petted, and are likely to snap at you, but luckily I was faster at yanking my arm than they were at reaching me. Laura screamed every time they snapped.

On the spur of the moment we visited the Winter Palace and Wat Ogra Thad Doi instead of returning to our hotel. Rose and I had visited the mountain top wat before and I was happy to return. It's busy in the afternoon with lots of tribal people dancing or playing musical instruments. The Pudang Palace was a nice relaxing place to wander around and enjoy the orchids and water "reservoir", a water fountain gifted to the Queen about five years ago for her 72nd birthday. The ride up and down the mountain was exciting for me given all the switchbacks and Thais driving all over the road, but not so for a motion sensitive Laura.

The elaborate opening ceremonies were held at the Royal Flora Ratchaphruck, an outdoor groomed area that could handle to throngs of HFH volunteers and the secret service for former president Jimmy Carter and his wife Roslyn. There were fireworks and Thai entertainment. We met Jay, an LA HFH board member, who was to be our crew lead, and LA HFH employees--Erin, Isabel, Nicki, Veronica and JoAnn. The next day another board member, Ken, and his daughter, Deana, and donor, Matt, joined in on the build.

House 25 was the LA designated 450 square foot house we were to construct. The concrete slab had already been poured and 6 rows of blocks had been erected and mudded in. We completed the exterior walls, grouted them inside and out, put up the tresses and roof, built the kitchen sink in the back, installed the louvered windows, and laid the cement blocks for the front walk. The doors, two inside walls, the bathroom sink and toilet still needed to be installed, the inside painted, and the electricity run. I wish we had been able to finish what we started. Hearing that the "demo" house took longer than five days to complete by professionals make me feel better. The houses are to be completed in the next few weeks and the families are to move in by 19 December. What a nice way to start the new year, which for Buddhists starts in April, the year 2553.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter came around on Friday for pictures, disrupting the construction, but what an honor to be beside such on humanitarian. I don't think there's a more well-known contributor to any non-profit in the world. The Carter's didn't start HFH, but they certainly have put it in the lime light. These homes are very basic but an upgrade from where the families are currently living--a one-room hovel, They are so appreciative, smiling, wanting to make sure everything is constructed properly, being on site before we arrived and the last to leave in the afternoon. There were long days--so those Thai massages in the evenings, some 2 hours, were not necessarily long enough. It was a good kind of tired. It's so rewarding and motivating when your work.