Beach Clean-Up

Jerome Ramirez

The late-afternoon glare bore down upon the beach of a hidden cove. Directly beside the silhouette of the newly built dorms lies a secretive paradise. Recent construction efforts have cleared out the vast majority of obstructions that litter the surroundings.

Searching for a source of entertainment in the sleepy dorm campus, Gavin Zimmer (9), Min Guk Kong (10), and Uncle Scott gathered at the white tables. Pooling up all their rations, the “premium” crew began their journey down to the beach to get their hands—and presumably—their feet dirty.

After many decades of “non-existence” and a tad bit of neglect, the cove now lies in tatters. Old wooden beams were found here and there, cement slabs peeked from under the cover of sand, and rusty rebar poked out of coarse dirt—ready to ensnare the next unknowing victim.

The danger was evident as Min Guk slid precariously down a steep slope of yellow mud. Having rained the night before, rocks were more than willing to give way from their resting places when stepped on.

Tossing down rocks of all sizes to the fore, Uncle Scott hid from the intense heat that forced its way through the limited cover provided by the over-arching canopy above. Constant attacks from thirsty mosquitoes or the occasional sightings of decently-sized spiders made sure that the members of the clean-up crew were always on their toes.

The sun began releasing its grips on their necks. Upon unearthing the massive log of ancient wood, there was no questioning it--the bulky piece of wood would make a spectacular centerpiece. Sealing its fate, the three ambitious individuals brainstormed ways to drag it across the slippery slope. A slow process of lifting it inch-by-inch through the jungle floor was accompanied by loud grunts and deep moans. In the end, however, the suffering was worth the trouble; in knowing that the community benefited from a cleaner beach and that the dorm’s decor went up a notch, the group of three returned to their respective dorms satisfied.

“It’s important that Dalat stewards the incredible location we’ve been given and cleaning up the beach provides students this opportunity. We want the beach and the ocean outside Dalat’s seawall to become safe, accessible places for students and locals to enjoy,” mentioned Uncle Scott in retrospect of their service.