Working finally!

Well we've finally got what we came for. After a frustrating start in Phi Phi we're now in to some consistent work. Considering we have no real skills to offer and have quickly learned to lay brick we should now be on our way to improving our resumes. It's been 5 days on the island and the weather is humid and rainy (off and on) and the work is hard and exciting. We began in the tool shed where we think some Thai locals gave us pity work but after bending too many of their nails trying to hammer in post they occupied us with a craft project putting up siding for what seemed to be the wall of a room. We were proud of ourselves but slipped off quitely after the break so not to be more of a hinderance to their well working project. We now find ourselves daily at the memorial garden shoveling sand, toting coconuts and bricks, mixing cement, constructing walls, designing mosaics and doing whatever is necessary to get the park up and running. It will be a long project that we won't be here to see finished but the work were putting in is well worth it. The organizers of the project lost their 3 year old daugther in the tsunami. They are cool to be around and Toi the husband works hard alongside everyone while splitting time trying to rebuild his house. Eveyday we drag ourselves back to the bungalow for a shower with just enough time to sit before breaking our fast for the day.

Ramadan began right before we arrived in Phi Phi and the island is mostly Muslim. We'll have to go back and share with you our journey to the island but since we've been here the Thai have been nothing but hospitable. We've broken fast family style daily with traditional thai food. If you know anything about the cuisine then you know we've encountered some spice. Overall a great experience. Recently we discovered a second masjid and more friends. Not knowing the language is a challenge but they know how to say "eat" and we know how to say "yes" so things have been working out just fine.
Joronda