George School delegation and local builders dig a canal.

Under the 34℃ heat of Vietnam's Northwest region, the delegation lined up, quickly transferred piles of bricks and buckets of cement mix down a low field. While covered in sweat and dust, they constantly check up on each other and remind their teammates to drink enough water and stay hydrated.

"This is my first time doing manual labor and also my first time in Vietnam, so it is really refreshing. I have done service activities before but mostly teaching children," said Melanie Shao, a member of George School's delegation.

Another member, Valerie Cheng, said: "This is definitely a new experience for me because I have never done manual labor like that before. I was tired but it feels good because I could contribute so much to the community. Also, it was like the gym!"

For the girls, passing the cement mix was the hardest part. "The buckets were so heavy. My muscles were worn out after that. It was so hot that after a while my sunscreen started coming out and my face started burning. It was harsh but fortunately, we get a good amount of time to rest," said Valerie.

According to Le Kha, the hostess of homestay No. 2 in Pom Coong, where the delegation stays, in recent years, the village lacks water for irrigation. The local authority has built the main canal system, yet many smaller parts are not completed. With the assistance from George School delegation, about 10 meters of the canal will be built, helping the village's farmers to reduce water loss.

Le's family has hosted delegations from George School since 2005-2006. Over the years, many meaningful projects have been carried out, contributing to the local community. "We choose projects that match the people's actual needs and the students' abilities. Little by little, year after year, we have completed many constructions. For example, Pom Coong's community center is the result of many years of work. Thanks to the contributions and support from George School and the local people, now Pom Coong villagers have a broad community center for our collective events," said the hostess.

For the students, the trip is somewhat of a step out of their comfort zone. Ace Snyder said the trip of course made her resume for college look better, but above all, it gives her a better understanding of herself and her culture. "It is my first time traveling outside of the US by plane, so it is very different from what I have been seeing. I think it helps me be more aware of my surrounding, my own culture, and the diversity of cultures around the world."

Ace's most interesting part of the trip was getting around the village to see the local culture. "A lot of us have got very used to the consistent way that we live back home, so it is refreshing to see a new culture," she explained. Meanwhile, the biggest challenge is the heat. "When we left, it was colder and I was wearing long pants. Also, it is not usually this hot in my hometown. Only a few days in July that it gets crazily hot, but not all day every day like here. If I could change one thing about the trip, I would pack more light clothes."

The delegation prepares gift for students in Mai Chau.

To join the trip, the students fill out applications, have an interview, and take a class with Ben Croucher, their history teacher. According to Ben, only students who are willing to learn, willing to do service, and not afraid of putting themselves in situations where they have never been in could be selected for the trip. "At George School, we teach the kids about the importance of service work. We told them clearly that this is not a vacation."

"Most parents find the trip appealing. We have kids from China in this delegation. Their parents already sent them halfway around the earth to study, so they are okay with them going to another country," said the teacher.

The students help to cook local dishes.

George School is the first educational institution in the USA to work with the Vietnam-US Society (VUS) to hold friendship trips to Vietnam after the US-Vietnam reconciliation. From 1995 to 2019, it sent 19 delegations of students and teachers to do service work in Vietnam. 2023 sees the first delegation coming to Vietnam after a long hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

With that history, besides conducting volunteer activities, the trips bring the young generations of Vietnam and the USA closer. "Considering the history between the US and Vietnam and how we are trying to build a better relation, I think there is no way to make a better relation than to have American teenagers meet Vietnamese teenagers. I think our students are getting a lot out of this trip, seeing a lot of new things that are so different from American cities. I think they are grateful to be able to experience all of those things," said Ben Croucher.

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