Job Discussion Forums

[sigmoid]

[toiyeuthitmeo]

When people stare at you: Smile at them. Make a funny face at them. Say hello. Play air guitar. Speak ridiculous English that they can't understand. Stare back at them. Ignore them. Ask them "Muon gi? What do you want?" It can be fun! Sometimes, you might even be invited for a drink or some snails. At best, it's great to embarrass them by showing you're not intimidated in the slightest. Oh and by the way, you ARE an oddity, a strange, rich, massive white and hairy creature, with green eyes and, egad, brown or blond hair! You SHOULD be stared at. It's their zoo, man.

When someone is taking forever at an ATM: Relax. Reflect on the day's activities. Play a game on your mobile. In a massive rush? Go to a different ATM, they're everywhere and despite what you may have been told, Vietnamese bank cards work in pretty much all banks' ATMs, perhaps for a 2-3000 d fee. Feeling particularly confrontational? Tap on the glass and say "Lau qua!" Basically means "Hurry up!" They know they're being an @$$, and will usually respond. Keep a smile on your face.

Someone try to cut in front of you in a queue? This one used to vex me. Now I just refuse to let it happen. Throw your body in there, again with a big friendly smile, say "No no no" or "Khong phai (roughly- "Unacceptable") and shake your head or do the Vietnamese "tsk tsk tsk" sound. Once more, the reaction is entertaining. They know they've been called out for being an @$$ and the look of shame or defeat is priceless. Also, try to be sensitive. In the not too distant past of food rationing and famine, people had to queue up for hours for a few basic necessities. Hence, by some speculations, the rampant disregard for civil queue decorum.

Ah, yes, getting ripped off in all transactions. IMO and experience, it doesn't happen nearly as frequently as do complaints about it. And anyways, dude, you're wealthy. You come to their country, earn more than the average Viet physician, eat your lunch for $2.00, and complain when someone tries to make some extra dong off of you? It's a two way street brother. And step up and be assertive. Learn some Vietnamese. Research the better retailers and shops. Bargain. Walk away. Pay the few extra dong and save yourself the drama. Make friends with some locals and have them accompany you on shopping trips. It's all part of the adventure.

Retardation of the males? Quite a sweeping generalization, but I guess I'm kinda with you. The hair styles, the long fingernails, the shouting etc. But man, it's FUNNY. Don't let it ruin your day.

Noise, pollution, traffic? Oh yeah, and they sky is blue and water is wet. It's Vietnam kid, that's kind of the deal with this place.

Smile. Have fun. Go home.

[mickeyrex]

^ That was a well thought-out response and I applaud you for it.

[Slanted & Enchanted]

Sounds like fun, bring it on.

I won't tell you where I am now, MOD EDIT it's the same place I've been for the past 4 years and pretty much what you describe about VN is how I'm feeling now, over it.

I welcome these new challenges, I've saved enough cash not to have to worry about saving my butt off for a while, and I'm sure I can take whatever VN throws at me, at least for a few months.

I welcome the new food, challenges and expat scene, as well as being a short flight away from some pretty cool places, something I can't say I can do where I am now.

Keep the stories of the frazzled, over it expats coming; it brings a smile to my face.

[vabeckele]

[Andy123]

toiyeuthitmeo, what a great and true post. It is the best I have read in many years. Great insight!

[The Mad Hatter]

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[The Mad Hatter]

Toiyeutitmeo writes a good post, true, btw the name means "I love cat meat" which is an interesting name. True its the best approach to being 'jaded' here is seeing it as beyond any reasonable measure of anything to compare with. I would add to the list -speak in audible, slow and clear English, say about classroom volume when you have a transaction problem, or whenever you feel the need to blow off steam. Because people have such a look of indifference and look as if they are not paying attention- but that is a deliberate face to the world. To act. unimpressed by you and all others.
But English is well known in the subconscious by now and lots of people will turn your way if you give a free streetside English lesson. Anything thats free here deserves attention. But you have to be loud.
However, I implore you do not , repeat please do not come here. ! We are suffering now. Teachers are practically homeless and Im not joking. Others will deny this on the board but they either are heavily invested-married etc or , have just started and dont want to see the error of their recent decision. The situation is dire. Inflation 12% year after year, no pay increases in last five years, traffic is unpassable at three rush hours a day, pollution, etc. but mainly the teaching schedules have been ruined. Thats right I said ruined. In comparison to even two years ago its gone dude.They are working on keeping people employed but they cant . If you give employers even more choice by coming here and adding to the willing, then they will take you up on it and staff more just like there are too many standing around at every company. Youll have to put together a schedule of driving to far apart areas, for only a couple classes. This year its worse, especially at this time. Just wait until july if you want to come here. But it may be worse for teaching then too.

[t_crane]

The teaching has definitely slowed down for the past several months. As for the devaluation again, people are jumping off of the Dong ship, and buying gold and us dollars.

With the Dong I've been saving in my account from teaching, I am now thinking of going to the gold shops and buying U$D at the black market rate.

[Oh My God]

[haller_79]

[The Mad Hatter]

So the theme is 'adventure".

[Oh My God]

[Slanted & Enchanted]

Seems I've riled up a teacher who's on his/her knees.

Sorry that you've jumped to such conclusions that I'm a backpacker just out for kicks and "adventure". I won't tell you my exact qualifications as I really hate online pissing contests, but I'm quite a step up from a backpacker.

Perhaps you should be improving yourself, gaining better qualifications and applying for jobs that are above entry level, hence you won't be so scared of fresh faced backpackers arriving in Vietnam and providing such stiff competition that you're telling people not to come. I have secured employment already, it's not entry level, and I also have a plan B if things don't work out.

You're always going to have competition, just be on top of your game or try another country, if you're in too deep, you've got no one but yourself to blame.

[deadlift]