Job Discussion Forums

[TimkinMS]

[ExpatLuke]

Who can't afford to live alone in Vietnam if they want to? Housing here ranges from $200 a month up to $2000. There's a place for everyone. Just because someone shares a large house does not mean they cannot afford to live alone. Where is that rational thinking when you need?

I know I definitely have enjoyed a much higher standard of living in Vietnam than I did in America. For the first 5 months, I was living alone in a spacious apartment about 100 meters from one of the top 5 rated beaches in the world. I had maids come clean my house and do my laundry every week. They'd even cook for me if I asked. The apartment also had all the amenities I could hope for.

After that I decided to move into a house with some of my friends. Not because of lack of money, but because of a better location, and I was getting a bit lonely living by myself. I still have maids do my cleaning. And food is so cheap here I've not cooked for myself in months.

I regularly enjoy eating at the finest restaurants in town (the cheapest ones too ), getting massages in Hoi An, going to the beach that is 2 minutes away daily, going out at night, movies whenever something new shows up, day trips to Hue, Cham Islands, Hoi An, Ba Na Hills several times a month, traveling around the rest of SE Asia when school is out (my current goal is to visit every country in SE Asia in the next few years, 3 down so far, with Indonesia trip coming up during Tet), easy transportation with my motorbike, hmm I feel I could keep going.

On top of all that, I'm only working about 20 hours a week. To enjoy this level of comfort in America, I'd have to work more than double the amount I do now.

I just don't understand how some people can't enjoy themselves in this country.

Of course its not all roses. The driving here is my biggest annoyance. I doubt I'll ever get used to that. Being so far away from family is another difficulty. But any "rationally" thinking person can see this place is lovely.

[Durian Tango]

Nice ExpatLuke. From my years abroad teaching, you represent the majority of teachers out there. We are living and teaching abroad because life is what we make of it, and you know what, life in Asia is good (though I might not want to be in Beijing at the moment!).

[VietCanada]

I was much more comfortable in my home country. I bought my own nice furniture and electronics, owned a car, 500 TV channels. My electricity wasn't turned off once or twice a month for no reason I know of. Buses, street cars and subways. Going out for a steak dinner with a baked potato or BBQing it myself. Roast beef dinners. Movie theatres, fast food, convenience stores, shopping for clothes that fit and just about anything else that caught my attention. Pension plans. Skinless boneless chicken bleasts and frozen lasagnas etc.

This is not home. It's like going on vacation for an extended period of time in any undeveloped country with hot weather and cheap beer except you work. If this is what you want then by all means come on down but don't say it's like home or better. That is an absurd, disingenuous thing to say. This is not Kansas.

I love the extended vacation and simple lifestyle. Sometimes I pine for a king cut roast beef with mashed potatoes and veggies with garlic but not enough to actually do anything about it. I read when the power goes out. I cook at home and dl movies and TV shows I want to see. I made something of my stay here that suits me. Just like I did at home. But at home there is more stuff to make a life with. Much, much more.

[Mr. Kalgukshi]

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[ExpatLuke]

[VietCanada]