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Porlestone · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 95 Location: Asia

But of course tet vacation is over and we're back.

I had forgotten about this place.

The insolence.
The disregard for personal body space.
The need to be noisy when doing anything.
The retardation of Vietamese males.
The stingy and prude females.
The cowardly group stares.
The countless effects of Communism on everyday life.
The rip off attempts in nearly every monetary, social transaction.
The nosiness.

Right now at this PC cafe, the guy at the next computer is standing with his elbow constantly in my face, yelling at his computer because he's losing the video game. If I tell him to (please) settle down I've offended his heritage and personal feelings. And this is an employee! Amazing how they are completely unaware of the discomfort they cause to others, don't like having it done to them, and if you react by moving away or asking them to stop they suddenly 'notice' how rude you are.

I went to Cambodia. Let's compare:

free flowing.
free society.
free speech.
not even a fifth of the population.
calm people.
generally respectful men. kind-enough women.
respectful of space, gracious for what they have before them.
nearly NO automobile horns.
normal human rights, like asking and then telling someone to stop bothering you.
practically not one worry about you and 'big brother.'
ability to freely meet and sometimes court women. etc.

ESL_Professional · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 7

I totally agree with you.

khmerhit · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:42 am Post subject:

drop everything and move to phnom penh, thats my advice. whats keepin you in nam???????????? Rolling Eyes

chipy66 · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Posts: 26 Location: HO- Town

there is just as much free speech in vietnam as there is in cambodia!

Porlestone · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 95 Location: Asia

Just finishing out commitments, showing employers that I can stick to something for a while. Also a big one, trying to put away the extra few dollars. Have found that to be so important when overseas and no one is immune to it. In fact the only guys who aren't low on cash anywhere you go are the ones working like crazy and budgeting. Have seen what it's like you get to a new country and a month and a half in you really could do with an extra $500. A good piece of advice to anyone not yet in Asia but planning to come over, my advice is delay by 3 more months and work whatever it is you're doing now, you might need it... Otherwise for me getting away is being planned. Just not doing like previously where you just grab your stuff and go. Have to be cautious too.

flyingmonkey · Joined: 13 Sep 2009 Posts: 24

LOL, sounds like some things never change.

LettersAthruZ · Joined: 25 Apr 2010 Posts: 466 Location: North Viet Nam

Porlestone, your original post pretty much truthfully sums it up!

Jbhughes · Joined: 01 Jul 2010 Posts: 254

I went to Cambodia for a couple of days this Tet too, it's kind of an annual trip for me. And yeh, damn it, I hate to type it but there's far too much truth in what the OP says than I would like to think about during the course of the year.

Vietnam does have its pros and the OP hasn't mentioned any of Cambodia's cons either of course.

Slig · Joined: 03 Aug 2010 Posts: 11

I just went to Thailand for 2 weeks, it was like night and day compared. You hit the nail on the head for what Vietnam is.

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

Don't be silly, folks. A couple weeks in Phnom Penh (or Thailand) on holiday is COMPLETELY different from being a teacher there.

As nice as the Khmer are, GOOD opportunities for teachers are very limited in PP.

A fifth of the population as you mention means a fifth of the schools, most of which are on the level with the worst schools in HCMC. The rate of pay is even lower.

And yet, there are plenty of other people with the same idea competing for these crappy jobs. And most of them are willing to put up with more crap and work for less than you.

Also, Cambodia has one of the highest amounts of public holidays in the world, which are unpaid at most schools.

And most of those schools are "international" schools for rich kids who have little respect for teachers, whether local or foreign.

So, think twice, thrice even, about leaving VN for Cambodia. As annoying as it is, you're at least putting money in the bank.

Slanted & Enchanted · Joined: 02 Oct 2010 Posts: 18

Can I ask how long you boys have worked in Vietnam that you have become so jaded?

1st Sgt Welsh · Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 11:11 am Post subject:

Sudz · Joined: 09 Aug 2004 Posts: 438

^

Get out when you can. This is essential for a long term stay - well at least if you want to enjoy your time (or at least most of it) while here.

This is coming from a veteran.

TimkinMS · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 86

LettersAthruZ · Joined: 25 Apr 2010 Posts: 466 Location: North Viet Nam