Comments on: You wanna get personal, I’ll show you personal

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:25:31 +0000

Great blog. I’m looking to move to HCMC from Seoul within a few months. Keep up the good work! It takes a strong person to do what your doing.

By: Michael

Michael — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 21:16:40 +0000

Girl! you really got guts and I admire you for it. I’ll be heading your way in August. Got a gig at the HCMC International school. Hope to bump into you.

Chow for now

By: Sherry

Sherry — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 22:48:30 +0000

Hmm – I’m not sure if there is any nice website with all of that information laid out. I do know a lot of expats who have their pets there though. I had a job when I arrived teaching ESL – but my best advice is to get there, get the lay of the land and then go apply at a few places. Do you teach esl or at international schools. I know the international schools are always looking for substitute teachers. After I was there for a bit I networked a lot by joining various happy hour meetups and started to get to know the expat community – from there it was really easy to make connections and find potential work. At least that’s how it was 3 years ago when I arrived there. As for doctors – they have good expat clinics all over. I just got emergency insurance through LIberty and that was it. If I had to go to a doctor – then I just paid when I went – it wasn’t too expensive. Dentists area also pretty cheap there. There is a google groups called An Phu Neighbors that is a great discussion group of expats…that was also key to me figuring out a lot of things. That may get you started!

By: cboulton72

cboulton72 — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 05:48:39 +0000

I am considering a move to Vietnam in March of 2012. I want to get more info on bringing my pets, going to doctors, getting a job, etc. Any suggestions? (P.S. I have lived and worked in South Korea as an English teacher for 12 years.)

By: Tom

Tom — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 13:15:46 +0000

Why so many questions about the French in the comments? (ok … 2)

Vietnam was once colonised by the French. Voila, that simple. That’s why you will see French collonial mustard yellow buildings all around Vietnam.

As I’ve been to Vietnam myself and will go back in May, I like reading your posts =)

By: Odyssesus

Odyssesus — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 07:54:24 +0000

Good post! At first, I started I identified simply because I’m also an expat in Asia (Korea), but then you really won me over with the swing dancing! The swing dancing in Seoul is the best in the world, and I’ve been doing it for over 10 years, though I’ve only been in Korea for over 1 year. I think I even know (or, at least, met) some of the Vietnamese swing dancers when they went to the swing camp at Korea’s Jeju Island.

By: John in Houston

John in Houston — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 19:00:12 +0000

I stumbled across your blog a few days ago… I’m getting laid off January 7th, and am planning a few-month wander from India to Vietnam… actually it started as one month in India, but I keep adding on places as I find them interesting. Your comments on couch surfing (couchsurfing.org) sent me off on a new tangent and I’m excited to try staying with some locals if possible on my trip (always so much better than boring cheap hotels!)

You keep listing interesting links and great ideas. Very exciting stuff!

I’ll keep reading, so please keep writing!

I’ll start clicking…

By: Sherry Ott

Sherry Ott — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:04:28 +0000

John, I tried to do some checking – but I believe the photography group may not be meeting very regularly any longer! However – I would encourage you to check this out and put some feelers out there and see what you can find out!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6315572820&ref=ts
My friend Michelle runs a photography class and she’s well connected in Saigon when it comes to photography! Let me know if it works out!
Sherry

By: John Nguyen

John Nguyen — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:24:24 +0000

Hi Sherry, I stumbled upon your blog and really enjoyed your post! I’m currently on Month 2 of my time in HCMC and going through what you went through One thing that piqued my interest was your mention of the photography club here. Would you happen to have a contact or website for that? Photography is currently a hobby for me but I would definitely like to get more serious about it while I’m here. Any info you have to share would be fantastic! Thanks!

By: Bren

Bren — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:53:25 +0000

oh oh, I am sorry to hear that ): I really can’t do humid. I put up with it for a few years in Shanghai but at least the Shanghainese like air-cons unlike the Koreans who use them as ornaments. I will have to re-think HCM I’m afraid. It sounds like a happening place though

By: Sherry

Sherry — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:04:56 +0000

Sorry to tell you – but I found it VERY humid in HCMC…but you do adapt – a bit.

By: Sherry

Sherry — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:03:59 +0000

Thanks for the pat on the back Jenn! Yup – absolutely on twitter – always tweeting on travel! I”m @ottsworld

By: Bren

Bren — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:50:36 +0000

“I lied the weather in Thailand” No really I didn’t lie about the weather in Thailand! I meant to type “liked”

By: Bren

Bren — Tue, 25 May 2010 03:48:55 +0000

I’ll have start saving a little to cover myself for my first few weeks in HCM. Does it get humid there. The humidity wrecks me here in S. Korea. I don’t mind the heat though. I lied the weather in Thailand, it wasn’t hunmid

By: Jenn Pedde

Jenn Pedde — Thu, 20 May 2010 13:58:41 +0000

Great post about moving and being an expat!! I did it a few years ago when I moved from NYC to South Korea and I loved your line that said, “…is something that any strong person would struggle with and any sane person would not do.” because that is 100% true! Though the benefits for the crazy one to move far outweigh the ones who never went at all. Would love to follow your journey through twitter if you’re on it – follow me at @relocationally

By: admin

admin — Wed, 19 May 2010 20:58:08 +0000

I’m not a huge fan of working for private language schools…but it’s normally the easiest to find work at. If you can get into a university (RMIT) it’s better pay. It’s even better when you can find a corporate gig like mine…yet I kind of lucked into that through networking with some expat friends. I honestly wanted to start my own business where I would have set up small onsite classes for businesses serving expats. The people working at the expat businesses often had horrible English and even worse customer service skills. So I thought I could set up little 8 week classes that would cover English specific to their business/industry. You’d simply have to hit the pavement and sell the idea to a few small businesses in Phu Mi Hung or An Phu (expat communities).

By: Bren

Bren — Wed, 19 May 2010 05:00:04 +0000

Thanks again for the info. I’m looking forward to getting there. It won’t be until September as I still have a few months left in my present contract here in S. Korea where I work for a government school. What’s a better deal in HCM, government school or a private language place? I always like working in universities but they are usually pretty tricky to get into

By: Sherry

Sherry — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:13:12 +0000

Yes – all schools and places I taught had AC. Also I always had aptments that had AC. If you really, really want to go and live cheaply, you can do it without AC…but no real need to do that. Sounds like you won’t have a problem adapting!

By: Bren

Bren — Wed, 19 May 2010 04:07:27 +0000

Thanx for the advice Sherry. Yes I am planning to get an ESL teaching job ih HCM. It sounds like an interesting place. I lived in Shanghai for five years have met many teachers who got burned by signing contracts from overseas. Employers seem to be much more obliging and adaptable when one is actually on location in Shanghai and from what you’ve told me it looks like it’s the same in HCM too. One thing that is of vital importance to me is air conditioners
…do most schools have them? and apartments also?

By: admin

admin — Tue, 18 May 2010 14:40:41 +0000

Hi Bren! HCMC was very rewarding…however it’s certainly not easy in the beginning! Are you thinking of teaching ESL? If so, then I think you can do just as well showing up there, and finding a job once you get there. English teachers are in demand! That way you can get a better feel for locations of schools and who you will work with. You may even be able to work out a shorter contract than the standard year long one most schools make you sign prior to arriving. When you are there in person…all the ‘rules’ go out the window. Plus, you may even find that you can pick up private tutoring and make more money than at a school. It’s really cheap to live there for a few weeks for next to nothing while you look for the right job…so if I could do it over again – I think that’s what I’d do.
Shoot any more questions my way – I’m happy to help!

By: Bren

Bren — Tue, 18 May 2010 07:25:40 +0000

Cool site Sherry. I have been planning to move to Ho Chi Mihn City for some time now. Is it better to get a job before going or wait and search on spec? Thanx (:

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 08:09:17 +0000

Hey thanks for the reply, I requested to join that group on facebook . BTW love your helmet, looks really cool better than the one I had when I was there.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:34:50 +0000

Hi Ann! Good luck on your move! I hope my blog can be of some help in that regard!
The photography club website is http://www.saigonamateurs.com/ – however it’s under construction at the moment and we are trying to change our name. We used to be called Saigon Amateurs – but that will be changing soon. Regardless – the facebook group is also called Saigon Amateurs and you can contact the leader through that and learn about how often we meet, exhibitions, etc! It’s a great group!

By: Ann

Ann — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 08:13:18 +0000

Hi there! I m planning to move to Vietnam soon and was wondering does the photography club have a website? Can anyone join the club? I can’t wait to have some good shots of Vietnam

By: Aimee

Aimee — Fri, 22 May 2009 00:04:13 +0000

I know this is an older blog but gave me a sense of how you are doing. I’m glad that you have re-discovered the holy trinity! You were very good at all 3 in New York as I recall…

By: kim

kim — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:17:13 +0000

I came, I read, I clicked. Thanks!

By: Iris

Iris — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:03:03 +0000

I love your blog! So inspiring. I REALLY wish that I discovered it before I became a Corporate American Runaway last February (traded NYC for Beijing). Keep up the great posts.

By: admin

admin — Fri, 01 May 2009 04:24:53 +0000

Got the helmet in Dalat – a local helped me pick it out! A little warm here – but saving my brain is worth a little sweat!
Yes – just checked out her blog…love it!

By: livinginSGVN

livinginSGVN — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:12:09 +0000

Very spiffy helmet- where’dya get that? I noticed your remark about being a nuoc ngoai phu nu here in Vietnam- have you seen Lisa/alfpaspider’s blog: alfaspider.livejournal.com/ She talks about that a bit, too.

By: admin

admin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:22:14 +0000

Colin – OMG – I love the fact that someone actually looked at that ridiculous picture of me and thought the helmet was cool! I actually got the helmet up in Dalat. I told myself that I wouldn’t ride here without a proper helmet. I’m sure they have them here though somewhere. A local took me to buy mine at the market in Dalat.
I live in District 1 – great location, but not so nice apt. I’m planning on moving out to Dist. 2 for the summer to do some housesitting. You sound like you have a sweet deal in Dist. 4 though!

By: Colin

Colin — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 10:13:41 +0000

hey, where did you get your helmet, I love it, I want a more full head helmet like that!

where do you live? what district, I have a super nice spacious one bedroom, kitchen, washing machine, clean bathroom with huge balcony place in D4 for $400, it is only about 7 minutes to get downtown. i love it.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 05:01:10 +0000

Cherie – just sent you a note, I’ll be in Singapore next week – May 7th! Hope to catch up with you and Philip!

By: admin

admin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:59:55 +0000

Re: am I back in corporate…well, not really. Granted – I go to a corporate environment to teach – but I’m my own boss! Actually I find it quite interesting to teach in a corporate environment in a foriegn company – it’s like a little cultural adventure that you normally can’t experience if you are simply traveling!

By: Brian and Amy

Brian and Amy — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:03:20 +0000

Glad to see things are tuning around for you!

The rice terraces looked incredible, I’ve just added them to my ‘places to see before I die’ list.

Off to click on your ad banners, keep the posts coming

Brian

By: Troy

Troy — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:40:47 +0000

You might have ann easier time breathing if you remove the pair of polka dot underware from over your face before you put on your helmet.