By Susie Youn, Korea International School
Early in the morning on the second day of the week, we woke up to go visit a few places before heading out to the building site. As we went down the wobbly road in the mini vehicle, I looked out the window to see a two-square-foot store, homes without roofs and doorways, people sitting on the asphalt ground chatting with each other. And then I saw a scooter with six feet dangling on its sides. When I looked up to see the feet’s owners, I was startled. There were three girls who appeared to be around my age, dressed in school uniforms and holding onto each other’s backs. They were on their way to school. Back at my school, most students either rode the school bus or got a ride from their parents -- some even had their own drivers. Although I knew that the people of Bang Na, Thailand, lived in poverty, it was strange to directly witness the immense difference between the lives of the Thai people and of mine. This was merely the start of my Habitat for Humanity (HFH) trip.
My history with HFH started when I joined the club as a sophomore. HFH, founded by Jimmy Carter, is a nonprofit organization aimed at eliminating poverty and homelessness all around the world. In my school, Korea International School (KIS), about 30 students go on this annual trip as a group to build houses for the needy. That particular year, our school traveled to Bang Na, Thailand, a place where a tsunami had hit and destroyed the homes of many families. It was my first and most memorable HFH experience.
I thought the HFH trip was only going to involve building houses. However, we also had the chance to become unified with the community. One afternoon, after making bricks, we visited a local elementary school. The children all came out to greet us, waving their hands high in the air. Seeing their bright smiles, I assumed that their school was one in good condition with sufficient school supplies and books. In reality, it was quite the contrary - the school was in an utterly poor condition. It was a one-floor building that was not painted, decorated, nor polished at all. The interior of the classrooms was even worse. A chalkboard with some desks was all that sat there and the children had one or two books, if any. I was baffled at how the children could be so happy and grateful when they had almost nothing. We could barely communicate with each other because of the language barrier, but we still gradually became closer as we participated together in activities such as soccer and Frisbee. After spending a few hours with them, I felt as if all of them were my little brothers and sisters. Before we left, they got our signature as “souvenirs” and bid us farewell with their sweet, unforgettable smiles.
The more I thought about the children we met, the more eager I was to build the houses. The process - making liquid cement, building the bricks from scratch, and stacking the brick walls - was difficult. But even in the hot and sticky weather, we all worked hard because we knew that we were making a difference. The owner-to-be of the house came with his family to the working site to help us. Men, women and children all helped us physically, but most importantly, mentally. While working, they talked, laughed and smiled at us. Even though we did not understand each other, we could still “communicate” through gestures and visual signs. They acted as our energy sources. The work was arduous and difficult, but its value far exceeded its trials. We were rewarded for the work not only with the happiness of the people, but also with the night off in the city.
We went to the Phuket market beside the beach and ate an amazing festive Thai dinner. The adventure at the market was another memorable experience. I was able to see such a variety of products that represented Thai tradition. Although I had fun in the city, I could not help but think of the young students and Bang Na people.
It is still that way today. Whenever I think of them, a smile crawls onto my face. The emotion, the fruitfulness that one gets from a HFH experience is indescribable. Even though senior year is quite busy, I still chose to join and lead the group as the club president this year because I know that the time spent on HFH would be nothing compared to what we will ultimately earn from it. Not only did I gain unforgettable and touching memories, but at the same time I was able to give aid and hope to the deserving people. I recommend that everyone participate in Habitat for Humanity at least once in his or her lifetime, though once was not enough for me.
Early in the morning on the second day of the week, we woke up to go visit a few places before heading out to the building site. As we went down the wobbly road in the mini vehicle, I looked out the window to see a two-square-foot store, homes without roofs and doorways, people sitting on the asphalt ground chatting with each other. And then I saw a scooter with six feet dangling on its sides. When I looked up to see the feet’s owners, I was startled. There were three girls who appeared to be around my age, dressed in school uniforms and holding onto each other’s backs. They were on their way to school. Back at my school, most students either rode the school bus or got a ride from their parents -- some even had their own drivers. Although I knew that the people of Bang Na, Thailand, lived in poverty, it was strange to directly witness the immense difference between the lives of the Thai people and of mine. This was merely the start of my Habitat for Humanity (HFH) trip.
My history with HFH started when I joined the club as a sophomore. HFH, founded by Jimmy Carter, is a nonprofit organization aimed at eliminating poverty and homelessness all around the world. In my school, Korea International School (KIS), about 30 students go on this annual trip as a group to build houses for the needy. That particular year, our school traveled to Bang Na, Thailand, a place where a tsunami had hit and destroyed the homes of many families. It was my first and most memorable HFH experience.
I thought the HFH trip was only going to involve building houses. However, we also had the chance to become unified with the community. One afternoon, after making bricks, we visited a local elementary school. The children all came out to greet us, waving their hands high in the air. Seeing their bright smiles, I assumed that their school was one in good condition with sufficient school supplies and books. In reality, it was quite the contrary - the school was in an utterly poor condition. It was a one-floor building that was not painted, decorated, nor polished at all. The interior of the classrooms was even worse. A chalkboard with some desks was all that sat there and the children had one or two books, if any. I was baffled at how the children could be so happy and grateful when they had almost nothing. We could barely communicate with each other because of the language barrier, but we still gradually became closer as we participated together in activities such as soccer and Frisbee. After spending a few hours with them, I felt as if all of them were my little brothers and sisters. Before we left, they got our signature as “souvenirs” and bid us farewell with their sweet, unforgettable smiles.
The more I thought about the children we met, the more eager I was to build the houses. The process - making liquid cement, building the bricks from scratch, and stacking the brick walls - was difficult. But even in the hot and sticky weather, we all worked hard because we knew that we were making a difference. The owner-to-be of the house came with his family to the working site to help us. Men, women and children all helped us physically, but most importantly, mentally. While working, they talked, laughed and smiled at us. Even though we did not understand each other, we could still “communicate” through gestures and visual signs. They acted as our energy sources. The work was arduous and difficult, but its value far exceeded its trials. We were rewarded for the work not only with the happiness of the people, but also with the night off in the city.
We went to the Phuket market beside the beach and ate an amazing festive Thai dinner. The adventure at the market was another memorable experience. I was able to see such a variety of products that represented Thai tradition. Although I had fun in the city, I could not help but think of the young students and Bang Na people.
It is still that way today. Whenever I think of them, a smile crawls onto my face. The emotion, the fruitfulness that one gets from a HFH experience is indescribable. Even though senior year is quite busy, I still chose to join and lead the group as the club president this year because I know that the time spent on HFH would be nothing compared to what we will ultimately earn from it. Not only did I gain unforgettable and touching memories, but at the same time I was able to give aid and hope to the deserving people. I recommend that everyone participate in Habitat for Humanity at least once in his or her lifetime, though once was not enough for me.
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