by Donna May Lyons, Communications and Fundraising Assistant

Two of REI’s newest workers, Sarah and Samantha, began their [Orient]ation into Vietnamese life and culture just eight weeks ago. The two graduates of Northwestern College, Minneapolis, Minnesota are Resident English Specialists at Hanoi University in Vietnam. During the past eight weeks, Sarah and Samantha have made many adjustments to their way of living and thinking as they have experienced the vast differences between life in Vietnam and the United States.

According to Sarah, “When we experience differences, they often seem categorically wrong. It’s easy to make unwarranted, premature judgments on aspects of a new culture and situation simply based on this negative feeling. And many of these judgments eventually prove to be inaccurate, or at least not as cut-and-dry as you initially made them out to be.” Sarah and Samantha departed Minneapolis September 6th, and spent thirty hours together traveling to Vietnam. In the first 24 hours after their arrival, the duo participated in and/or mastered the following events:

- Hailing a taxi.

- Getting cell phones.

- Exchanging currency and buying groceries.

- Moving into the university guest teacher housing and meeting some of the staff.

- Surviving their first motor bike rides.

- Observing a gecko running along their bathroom wall.

- Eating frog, squid, flowers, and moon cake with green been and taro root filling.

The two were looking also forward to learning how to properly cross the street without dying!

In the weeks that followed, Sarah and Samantha took part in some sightseeing, familiarized themselves with the bus system, got to know their REI community, became more oriented to Vietnamese timing and planning, began teaching classes and adjusted to that process, and learned the “necessary phrases for survival,” such as the Vietnamese words for coffee, chocolate, and ice cream. They’ve also had the opportunity to share meals with and receive wisdom, advice, and encouragement from fellow team members.

The following are some interesting (and even comical) observations made by Sarah and Samantha that reminded them, “They are not in the U.S. anymore…”

- When you see commercials and billboards for skin-whitening lotion, rather than tanning lotion, and people carrying umbrellas just as much (if not more) for the sun as the rain.

- When bathrooms have doors with windows, showers that consist of, well, a shower head, toilets with half and full-flush options, and bidets

- When people giggle and take your picture as you’re eating at a restaurant, or they just randomly walk up and ask to take a picture with you. Staring at foreigners is commonplace.

- When no one says “excuse me” when they bump into someone because there are always so many people.

- When lines don’t exist; if you’re not physically close enough to the person in front of you, someone else will jump in.

- When Backstreet Boys, N’Sync, West Life, Britney Speakers, and Michael Jackson are the most popular artists among college students, and you hear the Titanic songs played frequently in public locations.

- When traffic laws are “mere suggestions”.

- When things just aren’t as reliable, steady, streamlined, and efficient as you’re used to – both relationally/professionally, and with amenities like water, electricity, and the Internet.

- When the appearance of something is often more important than the actual content (gifts, meetings, etc).

- When napping on a park bench with your leg slung over the back rest or sleeping on a parked motorbike beside a crowded road is perfectly normal.

- When people think you have an Australian accent.

- When bed mattresses are hard enough to double as both exercise mats and ironing boards.

- When random people come up to you and start talking to you because they want to practice their English.

- When “personal bubbles” are much smaller…if they even exist.

- When washing machines beep children’s’ songs to alert you they’ve finished running the cycle.

- When typical seating at street food shops consists of mini-tables and stools.

Sarah summarized her cultural and educational learning experiences thus far in the following way:
“I have a strong feeling this is just the beginning of a lesson I’m going to continue being taught here in Vietnam. Not that we are not to work hard. But that the world doesn’t depend on me. The ultimate success of my endeavors can’t be controlled by me, no matter how much time and work I put into them. And my worth doesn’t depend on their success. It’s not based on my performance or others’ opinions.” Additionally, Sarah is “continually reminded that destination is not actually the goal of life.” “Even the achievements that result from effort don’t equal success. Rather, it’s the journey. It’s the process of life.”

Sarah and Samantha will continue that “life process” over the next year as they build friendships with their new colleagues and teach English to college students in Vietnam. They’ll also eventually acclimate to the many buildings, people, motorbikes, honking horns, and geckos chirping/barking outside their window.

Please consider supporting REI’s staff and volunteers in their very significant and valuable work. To do so, you can donate online or send your tax-deductible gift to Resource Exchange International, 5446 North Academy Blvd. Ste. 202, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.