My house: I live with 3 other AYAD's (Australian youth Ambassadors for Development) - 2 Agricultural Scientists and 1 Finance consultant.... and it's awesome. We found a lovely place in inner city that is private a quiet and clean! aswell as being well situated to a plethora of street food and fun. They are a great mix and I feel a bit lucky to have fallen in with such an
inspired crowd.
My job: I work about 10kms south of the centre in a small company that rents from a really big factory. Our company 'Blue Sphere' is a social enterprise. That means they operate for the prime goal of improving the financial and social status of their employes which in our case are deaf people.
I have been learning both Vietnamese sign and vietnamese...sign being the most easy and fun. For me this job is a bit of a dream - I am designing for the organisation to improve their offerings but also training and capacity building with their staff. The team (7 in all) is so fun and interested to learn anything at all. They are super loyal and I was craving for so long to work more within a team.. now I am part of of one and I am stoked.
My life: It's a bit expat-ty... So far I am yet to make a firm Vietnamese friend - the language barrier makes them quite shy to attempt or return communication... so I end up hanging with whiteys alot... which is awesome too - Hanoi is the hub for all the International NGO's and Arts councils so there is a pretty unique group of people here. A very concentrated bunch of interesting inspired people living in one city. Lots of arts and music - too much to see actually - and partys... the alcohol here is ridiculously cheap... but what strikes me most is that everyone has really cool jobs, or are working on great projects, for great organisations, making a real difference. Apart from the Embassy workers we are all here in an aid capacity, on a volunteers living allowance so in a way everyone is kinda equal. Its strange and fantastic all at once.
I have been riding a motorbike - getting pretty fluid in the crazy traffic. It took a while and a lot of adrenaline to get there but I am finally feeling pretty comfortable. In a way I can't imagine going back to straight laced traffic conditions, or living conditions, or eating conditions.
Living on the edge is making me smile alot.
2 comments:
Chao Chi. Am com chua? (Have you eaten yet - the in greeting and easier to say than "chi co khoe khong?, or how are you?).
Snap. I was a Youth Ambo in 2000. A seven-month assignment working for the Vietnam Economic News and The Guide, also in Hanoi. I was intake four, which at the time was still a pilot program intake, so I can safely say we were the last intake to lay the groundwork for the rest of the program. Yay.
Enjoy. Say hi to Jimmy at KOTO and give me a oi if you need anything. I know what you'll start missing almost on a month by month basis. I lived in two places, out near the Daewoo and embassy and also near Lake ba mau, near the French quarter.
It's vastly different to when I was there. I had a pushbike rather than a honda and used a xe om for longer trips. I know there are heaps more hondas there now but when I was there westerners were often blamed for crashes and the payouts were ridiculous so I chose to ride my pushy. I have the scars to prove it. I was knocked off mine by a honda and have a nice little hole in my ankle for the effort.
I had great Vietnamese mates so you'll make them and if you're stuck I have friends from Brisbane living in Hoi An and working at STREETS restaurant. Also a friend of mine, an author, trips between Hoi An and Hanoi and she's lived there long time so can give you a hand if you need it. You'll have plenty of support from the YAMBOS though.
Kate.
Yah to see some photos of your adventures.
Been missing you. Studio all packed up (sitting in my downstairs room, waiting for my new studio to be built).
Hope you have a lovely New Year (at Woodford).
Wishes, love & laughs, E xxx
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