Journey to Peace Village

My biggest difficulty in Viet Nam is the language barrier. Together with the cultural differences, it makes me feel like I'm running around in a huge maze.

Here is an ongoing saga that illustrates this:

I have been teaching a few weeks at an outfit called American International College. It is Vietnamese managed. I was working at a center in Kim Ma, the diplomatic area of Ha Noi. They also had a Tuesday night opening at a brand new center.

When I asked the Vietnamese secretaries where it was, they didn't know the address. However, they gave a map with directions and the street on which the school was located. They also gave me their phone number.

I took the information back to the guesthouse and Thom, the receptionist, called and took down the address. So I went to the school and started teaching.

The week after Easter I received a call from the school that I was laid off from the Kim Ma school due to low enrollments. But, I would continue working at the new center.

Last week I brought my timesheets and other information to the school. I have to have the timesheets signed by the director of the center to get paid. Then, towards the end of class, there was a power failure and everything went pitch black.

I picked up my bag and we all managed to get out by using the light from our cell phones. Unfortunately, I had left the timesheet and directions plus address in the room during the commotion.

I didn't realize my oversight until the next day. I had no address and no phone number for the school. We called the other school and got a phone number. Then, checking the center, we took down an address.

It didn't match what I remembered. I thought maybe they misunderstood. Luckily, I had taken the bus part way home on several visits to the school. So, I had to take a motobike to the bus station and then try to retrace my route to the school. I boarded a bus I thought went to the school.

Because I read Vietnamese very poorly, I was on the wrong route. When I realized this, I had to disembark an extremely crowded bus. This took me a few stops.

I made my way back to the original bus stop and this time took another bus I was sure would go to the right location. This time I was fortunate and made it to the school.

At the school, I explained to the secretary that I had lost my timesheets (I tried to do this on the phone but it didn't work.) She told me I would have to talk to the person I dealt with on Tuesday nights. I took down the address so I could get back there this Tuesday.

So now I have to talk to the director about this tomorrow. The timesheets are the only way I can get paid (about $130). And since I am moving on to a better job, they may very well not be very cooperative about this. I will keep everyone informed about this ongoing trial!

Labels: education, Viet Nam, Viet Nam and the West