My whole 6 weeks experience in Vietnam has been amazing. Vietnam was initially not my first choice. I applied for Vietnam as my application from Taiwan didn’t give me any response. As a consequent, my manager encouraged me to choose Vietnam due to their quick response. I had a pleasant interview session with the Opportunity Manager for the project I applied, hence having a great impression on Vietnamese. It’s more like a casual conversation to achieve understanding and expectation in Vietnam whether I’m able to adapt the local life, we also chatted about my country, the convo held around 1 hour. I got accepted for the interview on the same day (I think everyone who applies will get accepted though)
I have never intended to go Vietnam, it was never in my bucket list. I know completely nothing about Vietnam except hectic traffic, Vietnamese cuisine, conical hats and history. My head was full with doubts and uncertainties when I made my decision for it. Besides that, I had to pay for Aiesec Fee to the local chapter in my uni which I don’t really know what was it for, they say it’s for facilitation fee but the ones who facilitates are volunteers too, they aren’t even paid for their job. I was anxious the few days before arriving to Vietnam. We had to pay IPS-incoming preparation seminar (a seminar where pay the local AIESEC facilitators in Vietnam) fee too when we reach Vietnam.
VISA
I had to apply for a visa too as I will be in Vietnam for more than 30 days. It’s my very first time applying visa, actually a visa is not necessary if I’m doing border run where the money spent on visa is equivalent/cheaper for a trip to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It came to my realization that most of the interns didn’t apply for visa too, they did a border run to Cambodia. I was so dumb that I thought that the payment to apply visa online is just enough. The online payment is just for the visa form. I had to pay $25 again when I arrive Vietnam. Lmaoooo the online payment for a form of 3 papers is such a scam. :P
But of course, there will be risk of not applying visa as well. Sometimes things can happen unexpectedly like you are not allowed to leave your volunteering place or such.
OPS(Outgoing Preparation Seminar) & IPS(Incoming Preparation Seminar)
There were lots of talks on becoming world citizen?- kinda pointless sometimes but I think it helps manages fear for people who are afraid of the unknown.
We had lots of bonding activities in my campus for the OPS.
IPS was great! I really enjoyed the bonding session with the local Vietnamese and people all around the world coming Vietnam for volunteering.
Blind spots
Initially, I only wanted to volunteer locally. I didn’t know I signed up for the Global Volunteer where I get to volunteer abroad. I did ask my local chapter whether I’m capable enough to teach children even when I don’t have a teaching qualification. They say they will facilitate me.
I didn’t really get a teaching training during my internship, but I did ask for suggestions on how to teach. (It’s actually volunteering but everyone say as internship I don’t even know why either). I guess not everyone comes with the same aim, I personally think interns in my place including me didn’t do a great job to empower the kids to learn English. Most of them were reluctant to learn English even till the last day I talked with them, they rely too much on Google translate during our conversation. I tried my best to learn Vietnamese, hence they only want me to speak Vietnamese not English :( Yeeks.
I enjoyed my stay in the province, although it’s isolated from the city where everyone gets to hang out together quite often. I didn’t get my cert and departure support wasn’t that pleasant. heh
Experience & Vietnam
It’s literally amazing, it was truly an eye-opening experience for me. The only barrier was the language as it’s really hard to communicate in English in non-touristy area. I was well fed, I’m obese right now, it’s really wrong because Vietnamese are all so skinny, probably they are really hardworking?
Vietnamese, especially women, are the most diligent persons ever. The sisters in my workplace just keeps working, I really wished that let me help them more.
Everyone here is friendly, despite the language barrier, they will just hold your hands and guide you along.
I talked with the kids about their big dreams and future. Every country is beautiful in its own way, I think politics are what making people’s life worse. On the other hand, I can’t believe that education is not free in Vietnam, some kids are illiterate because they are special kids?? Those kids were not dumb at all to me. They can’t even read their own mother tongue. I wish someone out there can help them to achieve their dreams because everyone deserves education, it’s freakin 21st century y’all.
