So I have returned to my little island off the Swedish west coast. What started as a nervous trip with plenty of apprehension turned out to be the most rewarding and memorable month of my life. I checked into the hotel in Saigon first and flew out last (technically Carianne will fly out last as she is still holidaying in Vietnam).
I promised a list of highlights ‘Thru My Eyes’. In no particular order these are my 10 (+1) highlights.
1. My entry to social media (blogging and Facebook)
Social media was something I had little experience with prior to Vietnam. Never before have I blogged so I took this opportunity to enter the world of blogging. You can judge how I have gone. I think I have done ok for a first timer!
Facebook is something I have not been interested in opening up except as a tool to communicate with my relatives back in Australia. On the last weekend (after many requests) I took the plunge and started to accept friend requests. Unfortunately it looks like I have been hacked!
I must say thanks to Carianne and Krista here as they are social media gurus!
What can I say about the Vietnamese food that has not already been blogged. I ate a lot of vegetarian (a whole new experience) but also experimented with fish, duck, beef, clams, oyster soup, and much more. The tastes were just unbelievable. Special mention must be given to Vietnamese pancakes (who knew that leaves could taste so different and be so healthy) and the vegetarian spring rolls (made from scratch as we waited).
I got hooked on Vietnamese ice coffee (brewed coffee + condensed milk + ice) and Saigon beer. Did drink plenty of water as well.
In our teams final presentation we discussed ‘Building Relationships via Food’.
Whether it was the hotel staff; people we walked past; kids on the street; staff in cafes and restaurants or attendees at the community event everyone was smiling, friendly, helpful and talkative.
For a country that has suffered through so many wars and disasters the people are still very happy and always positive.
The young educated Vietnamese will no doubt continue the development of their country in the years to come.
People are the most important ingredient in making a successful company. Based on this TRUSTpay are going to be very successful. The farewell party on the last Tuesday night will live long in my memory as will the wonderful gifts.
Not often can you build relationships and friendships so quickly that you are made to feel like family.
The poster that you created and I acquired will take up a special place in my house.
5. TRUSTpay Collaboration
No project can be successful without commitment and drive from all parties. We achieved an enormous amount during such a short time period. This was only possible through the wonderful collaboration and teaming between TRUSTpay and IBM teams.
Here I want to make special mention of the input from Mr Eric (CEO) and Miss Lily (Market Manager). I am not sure how you were able to devote so much time to us and still drive the company. You 2 are great leaders and managers. Your staff have complete faith and respect for you.
Mr Henry, you are chairman of a very special group of people!
A great bunch of people (IBMers, translators, ABV) drawn together from several countries; with widely different backgrounds; varying ages and experience. For 1 month we were family. We lived in each other’s shoes; we celebrated together; dined together; toured and even shopped as a team.
I hope we will keep in contact. I hope you don’t mind me calling you my friends.
As for the 4 (Krista, Phuong, Sahana, + me) in the IBM TRUSTpay team, I have blogged and thanked you so much that everyone knows who you are and how much I have treasured our time together. We will keep in touch.
Since the day of the workshop I have not stopped raving on about the results. It was 1 of the top 10 career highlights for me. To hear that TRUSTpay has already implemented a couple of agile practices and seeing value is the icing on the cake.
This room had its own blog entry. Whether it was the Kick Off meeting; researching; SME community meeting; cultural presentations; socializing; white-boarding or just chilling out this room played a huge part in the success.
This room was the core to our success as a CSC team.
I will never forget the final presentation. We decided as a team to make the presentation a celebration of what we had achieved with TRUSTpay during the 4 weeks. Sahana started by describing TRUSTpay and the project; Krista followed with the accomplishments; and I finished with a selection of photos, conclusions and recommendations. TRUSTpay agreed to it all which was for the IBM Team (all 4 of us) more than we could ever had wished for!
The emotion during the presentation was mind blowing. We were all holding back the tears. Since the meeting there have been many email discussions about it.
After the presentation was completed both Krista and I gave interviews for CSC and TRUSTpay. This was no small matter as we were already completed drained physically and emotionally.
The presentation will be posted on iRAM later but if you want an early look just ping me.
From entering the function room as rock stars to finishing dressed as Vietnamese farmers this party had it all. There was great food; wonderful singing; fun games; lots of photos and unrestrained laughter. MC extraordinaire. Driven back to the hotel by the Chairman!
Turned out that the organizing team had taken advantage of some of the agile practices they had learnt a few days previously! There was a plan; executed; success and no waste – good work.
I still have not opened my Message bottle as I need to recover from the trip first.
I have to include me as a highlight. I have simply regained my enthusiasm for work and life. I have made many new friends; learnt new skills; began to understand a new culture; and practiced my smile. If this is what joining the CSC program is meant to deliver than I have graduated.
Due to the nature of such an assignment I got to know some team members more than others. Here are my quick observations / memories of all 14 people (12 IBMers + Phuong + Phuc).
Ananya – Indian in Singapore. Snapping photos with his ipad and his laughter on the bus.
Carianne – USA (Missouri). Hair! Social media guru. Walking the plank.
Carol – Brazil (Sao Paulo). Three words that will remind me of her are Selfie; Fantastic and of course Hugs.
Elma – India (Bangalore). Friendly, smiling and I will always remember Business Culture in India presentation and India night. I am more than happy to help you with your certification package.
Paula – Brazil (Rio). The first IBMer I met in Saigon. Adventurer. Funny. Joking with Carol about best city in Brazil.
Krista – Canada (Ottawa). Friend for life; chilling out in Saigon on last Saturday; Her family.
Rafael – Peru via USA (Miami). Our food expert. Pottery. Eye for the scene (looking thru his photos).
Rick – USA (Nashville). Guitar; Vegetarian; ’Huge’ celebrity in Vietnam; Prezi (https://prezi.com/)
Keshav – India (Bangalore). Camera. India night. My snake photos.
Martin – Canada (Montreal). Fellow Rational and Cloud member. Traveler extraordinary. His wonderful motto.
Sahana – India (Bangalore). Shopping. Cooking. Stretching her comfort zone daily.
Phuc and Phuong – Vietnam (Da Nang). Our fulltime Vietnamese team members. Translating. Sharing Vietnamese culture. Laughter. Smiles. Great advertisements for Vietnam.
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