Today has been quite a day!
In the morning, I was able to meet with Mr. Buckner, Ms. Bracewell and Mr. Rees, staff members at the local UNIS (United Nations International School) who have been crucial in helping me move my project along , particularly while I was making preparations thousands of miles away in the United States. During our meeting, we were able to discuss the specifics of what the director of the orphanage had in mind for expanding the irrigation system, and what would need to be done to achieve that; this would include laying some pipe across roughly 300 meters to connect to a current pipeline and passing beneath a road and then installing the irrigation system itself. Mr. Buckner identified a drip irrigation system and a local provider for this equipment, and we were able to call the provider and identify a price well within our budget. I am in the process of preparing an email to confirm the price.
In addition to discussing the irrigation system, we discussed particular items of which the orphanage was in need and which I
could proceed to purchase and bring on Saturday. Ms. Bracewell pointed out that the orphanage was in desperate need of diapers and clothes, and further suggested bringing small inflatable balls for the children. She also suggested that I communicate with the orphanage’s nurse and discuss what medicine was in need. We also determined that some of the restoration of the facilities, as specified in my initial plan, would include tiling of the walls, as it seemed that director was hesitant to confirm a complete cleaning and repainting.
In the afternoon, I drove to downtown Hanoi with Mrs. Harrison, hoping to address some of the needs brought to my attention
earlier in the day. I was able to easily procure several of the inflatable balls for the children; however, the clothing proved more difficult as most local retailers sold them for fairly high prices despite the apparently low quality. As the day wore on, we headed toward Ciputra, a neighborhood in Hanoi where many foreigners live and UNIS is located, and stopped by Donkey Donuts, where I ran into the mother of one of my good friends (who is also the owner of the bakery). I mentioned my search for clothes to her, and she suggested that she make them for me, as she owns a business that produces clothing and various other
cloth items. She seemed anxious to help, and so were able to agree on an excellent price.
By the time I had returned to the Harrison’s home (where I am staying), I was pretty exhausted and ready for a good night’s
sleep!
In the morning, I was able to meet with Mr. Buckner, Ms. Bracewell and Mr. Rees, staff members at the local UNIS (United Nations International School) who have been crucial in helping me move my project along , particularly while I was making preparations thousands of miles away in the United States. During our meeting, we were able to discuss the specifics of what the director of the orphanage had in mind for expanding the irrigation system, and what would need to be done to achieve that; this would include laying some pipe across roughly 300 meters to connect to a current pipeline and passing beneath a road and then installing the irrigation system itself. Mr. Buckner identified a drip irrigation system and a local provider for this equipment, and we were able to call the provider and identify a price well within our budget. I am in the process of preparing an email to confirm the price.
In addition to discussing the irrigation system, we discussed particular items of which the orphanage was in need and which I
could proceed to purchase and bring on Saturday. Ms. Bracewell pointed out that the orphanage was in desperate need of diapers and clothes, and further suggested bringing small inflatable balls for the children. She also suggested that I communicate with the orphanage’s nurse and discuss what medicine was in need. We also determined that some of the restoration of the facilities, as specified in my initial plan, would include tiling of the walls, as it seemed that director was hesitant to confirm a complete cleaning and repainting.
In the afternoon, I drove to downtown Hanoi with Mrs. Harrison, hoping to address some of the needs brought to my attention
earlier in the day. I was able to easily procure several of the inflatable balls for the children; however, the clothing proved more difficult as most local retailers sold them for fairly high prices despite the apparently low quality. As the day wore on, we headed toward Ciputra, a neighborhood in Hanoi where many foreigners live and UNIS is located, and stopped by Donkey Donuts, where I ran into the mother of one of my good friends (who is also the owner of the bakery). I mentioned my search for clothes to her, and she suggested that she make them for me, as she owns a business that produces clothing and various other
cloth items. She seemed anxious to help, and so were able to agree on an excellent price.
By the time I had returned to the Harrison’s home (where I am staying), I was pretty exhausted and ready for a good night’s
sleep!