Job Discussion Forums

[Prof.Gringo]

Leaving out in a few days for HCMC Vietnam!!!

Any tips, hints or pointers?

Thanks!!!

[just noel]

Just pound the pavement and visit the schools in person with your teaching clothes on.

At the language schools it's mostly about the student reports. If the students are happy your school will be happy.

Some schools do require a degree and ask for a tefl/celta.

Lots of more teachers in Saigon now but also lots of work available.

Good luck.

[inhanoi]

Be careful, a number of people find the term "Nam" to be offensive. Using it can also mark you as a naive fool.

[Mattingly]

[Prof.Gringo]

[kurtz]

[LettersAthruZ]

Before you head off, check previous threads on here for a list of things that you really need to bring and absolutely CANNOT GET here (i.e. - shoes bigger than 43 Europa / 10 U.S.A. - shaving GEL if that is what you use [I've only seen foam in Ha Noi and Hai Phong], lots of underwear, and a ton of other things on the lists)!

Have a safe trip and welcome to Viet Nam....

[Prof.Gringo]

[Mattingly]

Again, welcome Gringo.

As for being uptight, I hope he/she was not referring to me.

In general, I'm not political correct nor sensitive, but many locals consider "Nam" to be from what Americans use to refer to Vietnam as.

A historical note.

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong.

The same goes for "di di mau." A friend of mine said that word and he was told politely by locals that this term was a bad reminder because if involved a bad thing going to happen back during the conflict.

When someone said "di di mau," you run and you get shot in the back.

That's just what I"m told by locals and by some of the foreigners that were involved decades ago.

As I said, welcome.

[inhanoi]

yes, mattingly is exactly right. And my comment was a cautionary note, I did say "some people." Although I do smirk when I hear some clown use the word "Nam," since it clearly indicates that the person wants to be included in some special club, the Namsters, the in-crowd. It's been debated before, and it will again. Just remember, OP, you might seriously offend a vet, and you might seriously look like a fool if you say it.

Anyway, if you really want to get upset about uptight people, consider the fact that some people MUST have shaving GEL, not CREAM. Ten years ago there was no decent internet and no decent wine. That was the REAL Nam!

[1st Sgt Welsh]

[kurtz]

Hope you Saigon people don't spend all your time in the backpacker/Pham Ngu Lao area - quite lame indeed, it's like a crappy Kho San Road, it really lacks the atmosphere of Hanoi's Old Quarter but I do like the hookers asking for a massage in a naughty but nice way. The English teachers stand out like a sore rectum, what a sorry looking bunch indeed (the bald headed guys with rough looking local girls is a dead giveaway, as is the bevy of overweight Western girls using a smattering of Vietnamese)

Just be careful expressing your thoughts on Vietnam in front of silent Vietnamese. I was a little drunk and talking about some of the stuff I don't like here with a Dutch couple. This guy who hadn't spoken a word in over an hour decided to correct my grammar when I said will instead of going to, quite a humbling experience indeed.

Sorry about the anecdote but hopefully this will put the Nam debate to rest.

[spanglish]

Congrats on the big move. I'm about to leave the Americas for the first time as well.

[EFLeducator]

[Prof.Gringo]