So I finally left Vietnam on August 9th, 2010. After 7 weeks of some traveling (2 weeks bike trip in New Brunswick with family, White Mountains in New Hampshire with dad) and job hunting, I've got a new job as consultant, hiring solutions for an HR firm in Montreal. I'll get to do both business development and recruitment/placement which were the two functions I was debating between. Hopefully this will eventually lead me to a position in career management.
I will start on Monday. Now to find an apartment with Nicolas!
Even though I was fully expecting reverse culture shock, it doesn't seem to have happened. I guess I was well prepared and I'm pretty adaptable. But mostly I think it's because I left at the right time for the right reasons.
My time in Vietnam was an amazing time in my life. I feel it has given me a stronger sense of self and purpose, and now I feel capable of facing any challenges that come my way. I'm sure I'll go back to Vietnam eventually but now is the time to gain some professional experience in Canada and further my studies.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Like a dog wearing a sweater
I read something on Nicolas's blog the other day that really got me thinking. He was saying that in Vietnam he feels like a dog wearing a sweater, meaning that whenever we try acting like the locals or fitting in, they see us the same way we look at dogs wearing sweaters: cute, trying to be like us, but not like us.
I guess that's how I've been feeling lately. If I try to fit in, sure I can make friends but I'm always their "foreign friend", not like any other friend. Or if I try to hang out with foreigners instead, well you either have the ones who are here temporarily and we all get tired of making friends who leave after a few months, or the ones who married a local and already have their family life here. Sure there are a few exceptions, but in general that's pretty much how it is, and it's hard to fit in.
I really wonder how long I can stay here, if I'll really ever fit in. But then again I wonder if I'll be happy if I go back home. Sweet Home Alabama was on TV today, and it got me thinking about home and if it's possible to replace it. I'm going home in a month for 2 weeks. I'm looking forward to it, but at the same time I'm afraid it will make me so confused...
I guess that's how I've been feeling lately. If I try to fit in, sure I can make friends but I'm always their "foreign friend", not like any other friend. Or if I try to hang out with foreigners instead, well you either have the ones who are here temporarily and we all get tired of making friends who leave after a few months, or the ones who married a local and already have their family life here. Sure there are a few exceptions, but in general that's pretty much how it is, and it's hard to fit in.
I really wonder how long I can stay here, if I'll really ever fit in. But then again I wonder if I'll be happy if I go back home. Sweet Home Alabama was on TV today, and it got me thinking about home and if it's possible to replace it. I'm going home in a month for 2 weeks. I'm looking forward to it, but at the same time I'm afraid it will make me so confused...
Saturday, January 3, 2009
Another year over
So this is Xmas
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Xmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
John Lennon originally wrote this song as a protest against the Vietnam war (or American war as it's called in Vietnam). Fortunately things have changed a lot since 1971, but I thought it was appropriate to start a post about my reflections on my year which was mostly spent in Vietnam.
Here's my 2008 in a few lines.
January: Beijing, Shanghai with Fudan, time at Sinky's and meimei's, seeing old friends again, crazy China NatCo but so inspiring, deciding to run for MC in Vietnam
February: spring festival in Guangzhou with Julien, arriving in Vietnam lost and confused, Huy's house and the great AIESECers from Vietnam, being selected for MC
March: reuniting with Nicole in Hanoi, off to Guangzhou by bus again and then Tokyo for APXPROS, meeting my team which reinforced my decision, new friends
April: fly back to Shanghai to see my friends again, reunite with Nicole again and off to RIC in Hangzhou, great AIESECers in Wuhan, Chengdu and pandas, Emeishan and monkeys, random huge buddha in Leshan, Xi'an, Beijing again with David and Virginie and off to Canada
May: hi home, goodbye home forever, visiting friends at NLDC in Toronto, Montreal then flying to Toronto, Vancouver, Shanghai, one week break to see friends, Guangzhou, amazing APMCTC, bus to Hanoi with Laura, reuniting with Hanoi friends
June: finally arriving in HCMC for the first time, homestay with Minh, finding a house, settling down, starting as a team, welcoming our first CEEDer
July: camping with Scouts, amazing NatCo in Long Hai, great trip to the Highlands
August: IC and seeing old friends in Brazil, demotivating conference, shock in Amsterdam
September: Japan Study Tour, inspiration and reflection, work, work and work
October: Phu Quoc island, first BoA meeting
November: frustration kicking in as expected, sharing and readjusting
December: confusion, remotivation, too many new people in our house, Christmas in Vung Tau, interesting new year eve
It seems that every year keeps getting better. At this time last year I couldn't see further than flying back from China in April. My choices have led me to living a great experience here. When I decided to run for MC of Vietnam, I didn't know I'd get as much out of it as I am getting now. Living and working in another country in a multicultural team is giving me much more than what I could have expected. I constantly have to challenge myself and adjust. Some changes I see in myself:
Learning to trust others more: it's always been hard for me to open up to new people, but by being surrounded by people who have all known me for less than a year, I have to be more trusting and accept their feedback and criticism.
Increased adaptability: living in another culture where interpersonal communication is different, I am always analysing the way I act and talk in order to adjust it to fit with Vietnam. This is not an easy task, but a great learning one. It's helping me develop self-awareness and awareness of others. I have to deal with humility, saving face, non confrontation, etc. I also have to adapt in terms of living conditions. I wasn't expecting to be spending a year in a one bedroom 'house', having to share a bed with different people through the year. After 7 months it seems like it's possible.
Realization of what matters: having considerably low standards of living here, I realize I do not need a big house and all the latest gadgets, although I would enjoy a little bit more privacy and comfort. Being away from home, and in a country that values family a lot, I also value my family and my old friends more.
I feel I am immensely lucky to be working with such amazing individuals as the members of AIESEC Vietnam. Smart and ambitious people, people willing to sacrifice a lot for their personal development and the impact on their peers. They are constantly challenging me, and I am growing a lot from it. I feel that what I am doing here is extremely meaningful and that motivates me to do better. I am living an experience that will be determining for my future, in terms of the professional experience, personal development and contacts I am gaining. Sometimes in AIESEC we forget how special what we are doing is, because we are surrounded by people who do the same. But when I think about it, I don't know many people my age from Quebec City who have such a wide Asian network and have the same level of responsibility in their job as I do.
What I can say to others who are graduating soon and aren't sure what they want to do is follow your gut feelings, take the plunge, do whatever it is that you're still hesitating about. In the end you won't regret it. It will all be worth it and will make sense, even though maybe right now it's unclear.
To all of you, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for being in my life, for being part of 2008 even though we might not even have seen each other in person this past year. I have learned a lot from you.
2009 shall be even better: Tet Holiday in Binh Dinh, Hoi An and Da Nang, parents visiting in March, Hanoi and maybe Hong Kong, and then who knows! I am not totally sure what is coming after July, but it should be interesting. The future is looking bright!
And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Xmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young
John Lennon originally wrote this song as a protest against the Vietnam war (or American war as it's called in Vietnam). Fortunately things have changed a lot since 1971, but I thought it was appropriate to start a post about my reflections on my year which was mostly spent in Vietnam.
Here's my 2008 in a few lines.
January: Beijing, Shanghai with Fudan, time at Sinky's and meimei's, seeing old friends again, crazy China NatCo but so inspiring, deciding to run for MC in Vietnam
February: spring festival in Guangzhou with Julien, arriving in Vietnam lost and confused, Huy's house and the great AIESECers from Vietnam, being selected for MC
March: reuniting with Nicole in Hanoi, off to Guangzhou by bus again and then Tokyo for APXPROS, meeting my team which reinforced my decision, new friends
April: fly back to Shanghai to see my friends again, reunite with Nicole again and off to RIC in Hangzhou, great AIESECers in Wuhan, Chengdu and pandas, Emeishan and monkeys, random huge buddha in Leshan, Xi'an, Beijing again with David and Virginie and off to Canada
May: hi home, goodbye home forever, visiting friends at NLDC in Toronto, Montreal then flying to Toronto, Vancouver, Shanghai, one week break to see friends, Guangzhou, amazing APMCTC, bus to Hanoi with Laura, reuniting with Hanoi friends
June: finally arriving in HCMC for the first time, homestay with Minh, finding a house, settling down, starting as a team, welcoming our first CEEDer
July: camping with Scouts, amazing NatCo in Long Hai, great trip to the Highlands
August: IC and seeing old friends in Brazil, demotivating conference, shock in Amsterdam
September: Japan Study Tour, inspiration and reflection, work, work and work
October: Phu Quoc island, first BoA meeting
November: frustration kicking in as expected, sharing and readjusting
December: confusion, remotivation, too many new people in our house, Christmas in Vung Tau, interesting new year eve
It seems that every year keeps getting better. At this time last year I couldn't see further than flying back from China in April. My choices have led me to living a great experience here. When I decided to run for MC of Vietnam, I didn't know I'd get as much out of it as I am getting now. Living and working in another country in a multicultural team is giving me much more than what I could have expected. I constantly have to challenge myself and adjust. Some changes I see in myself:
Learning to trust others more: it's always been hard for me to open up to new people, but by being surrounded by people who have all known me for less than a year, I have to be more trusting and accept their feedback and criticism.
Increased adaptability: living in another culture where interpersonal communication is different, I am always analysing the way I act and talk in order to adjust it to fit with Vietnam. This is not an easy task, but a great learning one. It's helping me develop self-awareness and awareness of others. I have to deal with humility, saving face, non confrontation, etc. I also have to adapt in terms of living conditions. I wasn't expecting to be spending a year in a one bedroom 'house', having to share a bed with different people through the year. After 7 months it seems like it's possible.
Realization of what matters: having considerably low standards of living here, I realize I do not need a big house and all the latest gadgets, although I would enjoy a little bit more privacy and comfort. Being away from home, and in a country that values family a lot, I also value my family and my old friends more.
I feel I am immensely lucky to be working with such amazing individuals as the members of AIESEC Vietnam. Smart and ambitious people, people willing to sacrifice a lot for their personal development and the impact on their peers. They are constantly challenging me, and I am growing a lot from it. I feel that what I am doing here is extremely meaningful and that motivates me to do better. I am living an experience that will be determining for my future, in terms of the professional experience, personal development and contacts I am gaining. Sometimes in AIESEC we forget how special what we are doing is, because we are surrounded by people who do the same. But when I think about it, I don't know many people my age from Quebec City who have such a wide Asian network and have the same level of responsibility in their job as I do.
What I can say to others who are graduating soon and aren't sure what they want to do is follow your gut feelings, take the plunge, do whatever it is that you're still hesitating about. In the end you won't regret it. It will all be worth it and will make sense, even though maybe right now it's unclear.
To all of you, I would like to say thank you. Thank you for being in my life, for being part of 2008 even though we might not even have seen each other in person this past year. I have learned a lot from you.
2009 shall be even better: Tet Holiday in Binh Dinh, Hoi An and Da Nang, parents visiting in March, Hanoi and maybe Hong Kong, and then who knows! I am not totally sure what is coming after July, but it should be interesting. The future is looking bright!
Friday, November 7, 2008
Freedom
Last month I had a conversation with Abby which really got me thinking. She was telling me about how she's reluctant to go to Korea (she got a scholarship to do masters there next year) because there are so many rules there and that she won't feel free.
She was saying that she feels so free in Vietnam. She can do whatever she wants and people won't bother her. In developed countries, there are so many rules: stand in line, keep quiet, dress like this, don't spit, etc.
I found it quite interesting to see how from a Western perspective, developed democratic countries are the most free and that people in socialist countries lack freedom because they can't say whatever they want if it would upset the government. On the other hand, she lives in a country with a one party government and she feels more free because she doesn't need to abide by so many rules all the time. It shows that everything is relative, even concepts one would think universal such as freedom.
She was saying that she feels so free in Vietnam. She can do whatever she wants and people won't bother her. In developed countries, there are so many rules: stand in line, keep quiet, dress like this, don't spit, etc.
I found it quite interesting to see how from a Western perspective, developed democratic countries are the most free and that people in socialist countries lack freedom because they can't say whatever they want if it would upset the government. On the other hand, she lives in a country with a one party government and she feels more free because she doesn't need to abide by so many rules all the time. It shows that everything is relative, even concepts one would think universal such as freedom.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Random Facts
I bought a pink bicycle
I live a double agent life: pretend to be a business woman while living on poor student standards. I go to company meetings riding a pink bicycle and wearing business clothes. Makes the locals laugh
Apparently in Finland, they have business meetings both men and women all naked together in a sauna (information coming from our UK CEEDer who did a CEED in Finland last summer)
There's a bottled drink that is the colour of piss, and is appropriately named "Number 1" (never tried it)
Our MC has the nicest office for an expansion country. And it's so close to home. Yay for in-kind!
I live in a "2 bedroom" apartment: a bed in the kitchen is the first room, then the attic is the 2nd one (finally we decided to put all beds in the attic, which is now a big dorm that will host 3-5 people at a time)
I spent St-Jean-Baptiste at a British networking event
I drink beer almost every day
We're hosting our national conference at the beach
I live a double agent life: pretend to be a business woman while living on poor student standards. I go to company meetings riding a pink bicycle and wearing business clothes. Makes the locals laugh
Apparently in Finland, they have business meetings both men and women all naked together in a sauna (information coming from our UK CEEDer who did a CEED in Finland last summer)
There's a bottled drink that is the colour of piss, and is appropriately named "Number 1" (never tried it)
Our MC has the nicest office for an expansion country. And it's so close to home. Yay for in-kind!
I live in a "2 bedroom" apartment: a bed in the kitchen is the first room, then the attic is the 2nd one (finally we decided to put all beds in the attic, which is now a big dorm that will host 3-5 people at a time)
I spent St-Jean-Baptiste at a British networking event
I drink beer almost every day
We're hosting our national conference at the beach
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Vietnam for a year
I guess most people know this by now, but I arrived in Vietnam for a year last week. I'm gonna be working as MCVPX for AIESEC Vietnam's first ever national team! Right now I'm in Hanoi coaching the LC. Me and Laura (the Australian girl who's gonna work with me) took a bus here from Guangzhou, China where we attended the Asia Pacific MC Transition Camp. It was an awesome conference with about 50 people from Japan, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia, as well as the other internationals like me and Laura. Good times.
Yesterday I raised my first internship in Vietnam! Woohoo! So if anyone is looking for a job in social marketing, let me know. Me and Laura also attended the first day of the Global Summit of Women because there was a Doing Business in Vietnam forum. The event was quite boring, a bunch of feminist speeches hehe, but there were some very high profile people there such as the prime minister and many CEOs. We also got a bunch of free goodies: 1GB memory stick, Vietnamese hangbag and silk scarf, Miss Saigon Elegance perfume and a conical hat. I love going to events for free and getting free stuff. We went there so randomly: when we arrived in Hanoi we saw all those banners across the city and looked it up on the Internet.
Tomorrow we're taking a plane to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) where we're gonna live for a year. I haven't been there yet. I'm excited about seeing the rest of my team again (Hanh and Phoebe, both Vietnamese) and starting to work with the full team!
Yesterday I raised my first internship in Vietnam! Woohoo! So if anyone is looking for a job in social marketing, let me know. Me and Laura also attended the first day of the Global Summit of Women because there was a Doing Business in Vietnam forum. The event was quite boring, a bunch of feminist speeches hehe, but there were some very high profile people there such as the prime minister and many CEOs. We also got a bunch of free goodies: 1GB memory stick, Vietnamese hangbag and silk scarf, Miss Saigon Elegance perfume and a conical hat. I love going to events for free and getting free stuff. We went there so randomly: when we arrived in Hanoi we saw all those banners across the city and looked it up on the Internet.
Tomorrow we're taking a plane to Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) where we're gonna live for a year. I haven't been there yet. I'm excited about seeing the rest of my team again (Hanh and Phoebe, both Vietnamese) and starting to work with the full team!
Friday, January 25, 2008
Back in Asia!
When I told people I was going back to China, I don't know why but so many assumed it was because I met a man there. It's not! I'll explain the decision making process so your curious minds can be satisfied.
Before I went to China the first time, I told myself after China and Toronto I would probably know what I want to do with my life. But then in November I was having post graduation anxiety and didn't know what to do in January. The Tuesday right after CEED debrief weekend, I called my sister and she was telling me about her trip to Mongolia with our friend Virginie and how they were flying through Beijing because it was cheaper (1000$ round trip!) and that Virginie was staying longer because Plo (her boyfriend and my good friend) was joining her and they would tour China together. So I told her why don't you do the same and I'll join you and we tour China together. So we talked about it and decided to do that, but she was buying the plane tickets the next day. So she bought the ticket with the later date we had said so I had no choice to go too! That's how I bought a plane ticket for Beijing less than 24 hours before deciding to go. Most spontaneous decision of my life! Before arriving I was thinking 'what the hell am I doing going back to Asia' and thinking maybe if I were to buy the ticket now I wouldn't. But when I got out of the airport in Beijing I felt so good! I'm glad to be here. At NC Tova told me 'don't come back, if you come back you'll leave again'. We'll see what happens.
So I spent the first few days in Beijing at Antoine and Michel's apartment. I witnessed Virginie's and Nicole's first Chinese experiences. We went 'ice chairing' on Hohai lake with Charles and his friend and also made dumplings with his parents. I took a train to Shanghai last Sunday and arrived Monday morning. I spent the week doing nothing, just chilling with AIESEC friends, that's all I wanted to do hehe. Shanghai in the winter is so cold! Damn warm countries where they don't insulate. I stayed at Susan's place Tuesday and Wednesday and now I'm at Sinky's. Wednesday I went to Shanghai Science and Technology museum with Susan and her meimei. I think we're a bit too old for it. Then there was an alumni gathering so I saw some old friends like Stefano but many trainees are now gone. This weekend is NatCo until the 30th. Then on the 31st I fly to Guangzhou and I'm gonna stay at Fish's the first few days then at Julien's (a friend of Verona, I don't know him yet). Then after Chinese New Year I shall head to Vietnam! I contacted AIESEC there and I'll do a mini CEED in Hanoi. I'll have a homestay with some member's family. So cool! It's exciting because AIESEC Vietnam started in October 2006 and LC Hanoi in April 2007. It's so young. As for the rest, it's not planned yet. Maybe I will go to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. I plan on getting back in China through Yunnan and Sichuan. Visit Xi'an maybe and drop by Shanghai again and go to Hangzhou. We'll see then. Hopefully I'll see Simon from NYC in Guangzhou because he is studying in Hong Kong this semester. And Jingle too as she left Shanghai the day I arrived. Her hometown is close to Guangzhou.
Before I went to China the first time, I told myself after China and Toronto I would probably know what I want to do with my life. But then in November I was having post graduation anxiety and didn't know what to do in January. The Tuesday right after CEED debrief weekend, I called my sister and she was telling me about her trip to Mongolia with our friend Virginie and how they were flying through Beijing because it was cheaper (1000$ round trip!) and that Virginie was staying longer because Plo (her boyfriend and my good friend) was joining her and they would tour China together. So I told her why don't you do the same and I'll join you and we tour China together. So we talked about it and decided to do that, but she was buying the plane tickets the next day. So she bought the ticket with the later date we had said so I had no choice to go too! That's how I bought a plane ticket for Beijing less than 24 hours before deciding to go. Most spontaneous decision of my life! Before arriving I was thinking 'what the hell am I doing going back to Asia' and thinking maybe if I were to buy the ticket now I wouldn't. But when I got out of the airport in Beijing I felt so good! I'm glad to be here. At NC Tova told me 'don't come back, if you come back you'll leave again'. We'll see what happens.
So I spent the first few days in Beijing at Antoine and Michel's apartment. I witnessed Virginie's and Nicole's first Chinese experiences. We went 'ice chairing' on Hohai lake with Charles and his friend and also made dumplings with his parents. I took a train to Shanghai last Sunday and arrived Monday morning. I spent the week doing nothing, just chilling with AIESEC friends, that's all I wanted to do hehe. Shanghai in the winter is so cold! Damn warm countries where they don't insulate. I stayed at Susan's place Tuesday and Wednesday and now I'm at Sinky's. Wednesday I went to Shanghai Science and Technology museum with Susan and her meimei. I think we're a bit too old for it. Then there was an alumni gathering so I saw some old friends like Stefano but many trainees are now gone. This weekend is NatCo until the 30th. Then on the 31st I fly to Guangzhou and I'm gonna stay at Fish's the first few days then at Julien's (a friend of Verona, I don't know him yet). Then after Chinese New Year I shall head to Vietnam! I contacted AIESEC there and I'll do a mini CEED in Hanoi. I'll have a homestay with some member's family. So cool! It's exciting because AIESEC Vietnam started in October 2006 and LC Hanoi in April 2007. It's so young. As for the rest, it's not planned yet. Maybe I will go to Laos, Cambodia and Thailand. I plan on getting back in China through Yunnan and Sichuan. Visit Xi'an maybe and drop by Shanghai again and go to Hangzhou. We'll see then. Hopefully I'll see Simon from NYC in Guangzhou because he is studying in Hong Kong this semester. And Jingle too as she left Shanghai the day I arrived. Her hometown is close to Guangzhou.
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