Laughter, sweat and tears

Day 5 and we have a half day to finish up the house. Unfortunately, I'm sitting in the back of the bus clutching a plastic bag and hoping not to throw up. Michelle tells me that it wouldn't be the first time on a build. I know I'll be less nauseous in the front of the bus, but more visible. I opt to hide. Fortunately, I make it to the build site and back to the doctors office for more anti-nausea tablets.

I start on the house about an hour later. We are painting window frames, filling gaps and generally cleaning up the build site and house. I'm on painting duty. The windows and shutters are being painted green and the locals gesture to indicate that I have green paint all over my face.

Word has gone out that no presents are to be given to homeowners since it creates jealousy in the community so Kangie is to be abandoned at the community centre. The kiwi bird has long flown the coop (or hopped, since it's a kiwi). I tuck away the clip on koalas, exercise books, pens and pencils I brought until they can be dropped off at an orphanage. Every house got a picture painted by school kids in the US and a first aid kit put together by the nurses. We also all pitch in a couple of dollars each which will provide lino for all the houses. These are our gifts.

Nevertheless, I overhear an American woman who commented that she had read her homeowner's story that she had to sell her wedding ring to make the house deposit so she'd asked her son, the jeweler, to replace it. Hello? I swear, there is always one.

Finally, it's house dedication time. A red ribbon is held in front of the house and everyone of us, including translators and local builders, makes tiny cuts in the ribbon. The homeowner, Mony, makes the final cut. Photos are taken. We are invited into Mony and Neary's house.

We each say a little something. Both Michelle and I have written something down in Khmer that I try hard not to butcher too much. Our translator Hannah helps me stumble through it. Apparently, Mony and Neary understood it. Then it is Mony's turn to speak. He has worked every day side by side with us on his new house, putting in his 200 hours of sweat equity. He is now overcome with emotion. He cannot speak for several minutes. His speech is heartfelt and beautiful.

We are then each given little tiny bricks with house 12 written on it and "thank you" in Khmer. Additionally, we are each given a silk scarf. After so many days of sweat and laughter, the tears come (and they help get the green paint off my face).

We head over to the dining area. Soon, the celebrations begin. First come the politicians, who remind me of pollies everywhere. Then there are more pertinent speeches, accounts, and thanks. A number of folk from the US team don western wear and do a line dance to Cotton-eyed Joe.

Kiwis Blokes do the Haka. The introduction to the Haka states that it is traditionally done to intimidate the opposition, but today it is being done in a spirit of goodwill.  Michelle comments to me that if 150 Kiwi blokes want to take off their shirts and do the Haka, she doesn't care what the reason is.

The Khmer translators do something that looks suspiciously like the Electric Slide to a Cambodian pop tune and the local staff start a dance that is a mix of traditional Aspara and popular dancing. When they invite others to join them, we have people from a dozen nations doing a spontaneous flash mob dance. It's awesome.

We are tired and happy, sad and exhilarated all at once. I think this is the nature of a Habitat build. Will I do it again? I don't know. I hear there are builds coming up in Mongolia and John does have a thing for yurts...