This post features student writing.
Today, the group took a well deserved break from our first week of working on the houses. After a short bus ride north of our village Pho Chau, we got to visit a small village on the waterfront known for its murals on their buildings. It was thought-provoking to see how many of the same themes in art appear both in America and Vietnam and just the simple beauty of each painting. After the village, a tasty lunch, and a quick stop at a local café, we got the opportunity to visit the site of the My Lai Massacre that occurred 50 years ago.
By beginning with a 30 minute video detailing the horrors of the massacre told both by a survivor and American GI, our visit to the museum was set with a premise of solemnity, consideration of both sides, and an understanding of the events. We spent over an hour walking through the museum and memorial taking in and, trying to understand the severity of the massacre. Following such a meaningful visit, our group arrived at our hotel, spent a relaxing day at be beach, and shared another meal together by the seaside before going to bed early.
We started the next day by waking up at 5 for the sunrise. Our Sunday afternoon was a relaxed but full schedule. After having an authentic Vietnamese breakfast, we visited a Buddhist temple full of statues and tributes to Buddha detailing his life in art. We then headed to lunch at a Korean fast food restaurant where we enjoyed the familiarity of burgers and fries. Finally, we returned to the guest house and spent a mellow evening at the beach or napping before our nightly dinner across he street.
This weekend’s excursion was the perfect way to unwind from a hard week of working. Our activities built on the research project we did last Thursday night; researching either Buddhism or the My Lai Massacre. Having the ability to learn about the history behind our itinerary for the weekend gave us a deeper understanding of each site as we visited it. This weekend gave us a change of scenery, taught us more about the history of Vietnam, and let us hang out with people we don’t usually see at our work sites during the week.
– Reilly L.
