Thailand: Nikom

Team up bright and early, ready for our first day at the job site. Hop in unique wildly colored open-air Thai vehicles, drive out to the outer edge of the city (land's always cheaper there), down a lane, and stop. Brief welcoming ceremony, primarily introductions of Habitat staff, ourselves, and Nikom, the owner of the house we'll be building.

Nikom is a 41-year old Thai, married with three children. He was there with his wife and youngest child, the other two being already in school. He is a junkman--finding valuable (i.e. marketable) waste around his immediate neighborhood and selling it. Recycling before it became big business. The family lives in a small house, shared with another family. The "house" is shelter, but only that--impermanent walls, corrugated metal roof, dirt floor.

Like most parents, Nikom hopes his children will have a better life. So some of his income goes to school fees for them. The government pays the basic costs of education, but parents have to pay for books, supplies, school uniforms, etc. His father has given him some land on which he can build a better house. But with his modest income, the costs of children, etc. he can't get far. And so he applied to Habitat Udonthani, qualified, and was selected. And today, a team of 16 arrived from America, Bermuda, Canada and Hong Kong to help him build his house.

The house already was started--the support columns were in place, the metal roof already forming a welcome canopy from the sun and any rain. This is a first for me--it has always been the opposite. The roof has always gone on last. (And I was just a little disappointed, since I especially love to do roofing.)

The house is the typical Habitat Global Village house. About 18 x 18 (a little smaller than a typical 2-car garage), divided into four equal rooms, with metal-frame windows and doors. It also has an appendage for the toilet (a first in my experience!) which will connect to a small septic tank we have to dig and line with concrete block.

Lunch each day is prepared by local women, brought to the build site, and eagerly consumed by all. Real Thai food, cooked by real Thai women, in their simple homes. No stainless steel appliances, Viking stoves, island kitchens, etc. Cooking pots, fires, and skill.

Our task for Days 1 and 2 was to tie together the re-bar, put the forms in place for the ground beam, mix and pour the concrete for the beam, dig the hole for the septic tank, and leave. We did all of that, and finished ahead of schedule on the 1st day. Impressive. Even they were impressed. Neighbors watch. Nikom comes home from work. And smiles.

Day 2 came, put soil back in the rooms to prepare for the eventual poured concrete floor, carry block and brick, mix concrete, and lay the first five courses (rows) of the walls. Again, accomplished this in one day, scheduled to take three. Nikom's oldest son (11) joins us after school, pleased to learn a new skill, proud to be able to help build his house.

Day 3 came, more concrete-mixing and block-laying, this time on some scaffolding (not OSHA-approved, but better than many I've seen elsewhere. And climbed.) Two walls completely finished. Window and door frames installed. Not supposed to happen until Day 6. Our scheduled Saturday half-day of work is cancelled, for obvious reasons. A full-day trip to Laos is substituted. Nikom's wife, all smiles, joins in on the work as well.

Day 4 came, continue to build walls, leaving little left to complete the walls. Ahead, after the weekend, we'll level the dirt floor in all four rooms, then (with the merciful aid of a rented cement mixer) have a marathon of concrete making/pouring/leveling of the floors. And the house will be finished, we will have a dedication ceremony, and we will leave.

And Nikom and his family, and especially his children, will have a safe, solid secure home to live in--and to do their homework.