Can-do Attitude

May 9, 2009
One of the reasons why I love Vietnam is because everyone has a can-do attitude...except when they don't. I know that doesn't seem to make much sense, so I'll explain. I would have to say that most people make magic happen. If you want something done, people respond with an enthusiastic "OK! OK!" It could be the most bizarre request imaginable and they will help you get it done. Like:

"Hey! We're stuck in a traffic jam! Can you bring us a beverage?"
"Sure! What do you want?"

I have to run 3 errands. Can you take me here, wait 5 minutes, take me there, wait another minute, then drop me off here?"
"Yeah."

"Do you know where a market is?"
"Um, yes. But it is too difficult to explain. I will take you there, and then drop you off wherever you need to go."
"Really? That is too much. I cannot ask you to do that."
"No problem. I have free time now."

When people are not like that, it is the polar opposite...
"Um, I..am..looking for Ms. Mai...I rent the apartment there (pointing downstairs)..and I want..to give..her.. money.."
"No." (with the ubiquitous hand-wave that means "no" or "not possible" or "I don't understand")

Relationships
Another thing I love, and find very interesting, are relationships. Not like couple-relationships, but business ones. I realize that I am not a business, but I do help provide an income for motorbike drivers. Right now I am living in District one and commuting every morning to school...in District 7. This takes about 30 minutes (even though it's only about 3 miles as the crow flies).

I have a couple of motorbike drivers that I use regularly: Mr. Cai and Mr. Hiep. Mr. Cai has taken me to the nearby market, which is near the gym. He also took me to run my errands (mentioned above). Mr. Hiep has been my commuting buddy. One day I asked Mr. Cai if he could meet me the next day to take me to school for an afternoon meeting. He said that I should ask Mr. Hiep, since he was the one that always takes me. Typically, when a relationship hasn't been established, motorbike drivers will do whatever possible to get your business.

Bargaining
Bargaining is still one of my favorite things, and I have enjoyed it even more as I learn more of the language. I was looking at belts today. Here's how our conversation went:
"How much for this one?"
"200,000"
"Really?! That's too much! How about this one?"
"Same price."
"And this one?"
"That's 150,000."
"So expensive! Hmm. How much for these 2?"
"For those 2? 250,000."
"Would you take 200,000?"
"I can't. 250,00."
"Are you sure you can't take 200,000?"
"No. 250,000 is a good price. You are my friend. You speak Vietnamese."
"No special price for your friend?" (wink. nudge)
"OK. 200,000."

It's always so playful and fun. I probably pay too much for stuff and don't bargain hard enough, but it's all good fun, and I don't want to insult anyone by offering too little.

Market Day
The 5th grade students with whom I work just had their market day, the culmination of an Economics unit. It was so funny watching the kids decide whether to go shopping or to stay and man their "shop". It was also really funny to see how the kids marketed things. Some kids gave away free candy with the purchase of their items. Others made colorful signs or pamphlets to tell people about how cool their items were. And still others yelled. I was standing in one classroom when the first "shopper" came it. All the students began to yell the child's name. "Hey BOB!! Come over HERE! You want to buy this!" When a shopper went near one "shop" all the nearby "shop owners" would yell and try to encourage the shopper to buy from them as well. Frequently, kids would bargain on their prices. I did see some kids lowering their prices as a strategy to sell more- like a sale, but more often than not bargaining was the strategy they used to get someone to buy their item.

I have to say that I am absolutely LOVING being back in the classroom. The transition from public to private school presents interesting challenges and ways of thinking..it's new and eye-opening, and a part of my learning process.