So I'm at the Tex Mex joint and have an interesting problem. I need some hot sauce but I am 12,000 kilometres from home, I speak close to no Vietnamese and the staff less English. My initial forage into hot sauce explanation land goes terribly. I ask for a pen and try to draw a chili pepper. I did not know they looked like 2 lines and a tail. Better idea, I remember slices of red chilies sitting in dishes from time-to-time when I am at lunch. Yah ... let's draw one of those. I make a few concentric circles and try to draw the seeds. That goes well too. I text Trangslator and the return is "tuong ot". By the time that text arrives I am done my meal and ready for the humid-a-walk back to the hotel. I have visions of asking for tuong ot and someone running out of the kitchen and pouring a vat of monkey brains over my table 'cause I've just asked for monkey entrails :).
The check out at the shirt store today was an event in itself. It took about 15 minutes and involved no less than 3 clerks. There were many high-level discussions about who knows what and I had to meticulously sign the visa slip twice. Amidst a huge amount of fanfare and speeches, a fly-over, and a 22-gun salute, I was finally presented with a reward ... a bag of 3 shirts. Let's say the net profit of these shorts for the store was $60 ... the person time involved delivering the check out process and procedure probably cost twice that, for a net profit of -60 USD.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Erev shabbat
I left work about 4:45 after a very very very busy week. I had meetings a lot but not as much as last week. The Trangslator took me to a very nice, large, and new shopping centre to shop for short-sleeved shirts. I bought 3 very nice ones, probably more than I wanted to pay, but hey ... I have some cooler shirts now. I cabbed back to the Horison and cooled off then headed out for challah and borscht. I stopped and picked up a new SIM card hoping my receiving of SMS was related to Vinaphone. Low and behold, with VMN and Viettel I can now receive text from the outside world. I will now have to either buy an alarm clock or rely on my hotel's wake-up service. I am just glad I am not staying with Jerry, who pissed off the wakeup guy and I bet I'll miss the start of my marathon :).
The Tex Mex joint I went to was lovely. The staff were very friendly and I know they were giggling about stupid ferenge. The enchiladas were OK, they did look like enchiladas which was a good start. I would go back there. There is a little strip of food emporiums a few hundred metres after doing a right then quick left heading out of the Horison.
I looked at the bills for the shirts I bought and it looks like I paid for 4 shirts but only got 3. I will ask someone at work to decipher the Vietnamese on the bill when I get to work Monday. It was very hot and humid tonight and somewhat unpleasant still to be outside. I delivered my "MoF should have me on a full-time contract" letter today to Mr. Tri and it should be interesting to see if they want some arrangement. I would commit to being here 8-12 weeks a year if they bite. If they wanted me full-time on the TABMIS project that would get me out of the contract game again in Ottawa and I would be back to working from home. Interestingly enough I have already pointed out to Mr. Tran Anh that I am 11 or 12 hours behind Vietnam depending on the season, which is such a bonus for DBA personnel. They are working when you are in bed and vice versa.
So we are all cheering for South Korea still I hope so I can be in Seoul for the final and they can be in it. Canada was eliminated from the group of 16, to be expected in the World Cup.
The Tex Mex joint I went to was lovely. The staff were very friendly and I know they were giggling about stupid ferenge. The enchiladas were OK, they did look like enchiladas which was a good start. I would go back there. There is a little strip of food emporiums a few hundred metres after doing a right then quick left heading out of the Horison.
I looked at the bills for the shirts I bought and it looks like I paid for 4 shirts but only got 3. I will ask someone at work to decipher the Vietnamese on the bill when I get to work Monday. It was very hot and humid tonight and somewhat unpleasant still to be outside. I delivered my "MoF should have me on a full-time contract" letter today to Mr. Tri and it should be interesting to see if they want some arrangement. I would commit to being here 8-12 weeks a year if they bite. If they wanted me full-time on the TABMIS project that would get me out of the contract game again in Ottawa and I would be back to working from home. Interestingly enough I have already pointed out to Mr. Tran Anh that I am 11 or 12 hours behind Vietnam depending on the season, which is such a bonus for DBA personnel. They are working when you are in bed and vice versa.
So we are all cheering for South Korea still I hope so I can be in Seoul for the final and they can be in it. Canada was eliminated from the group of 16, to be expected in the World Cup.
Further induction into Vietnam
So I am at a meeting today with a handful of people from MoF. At the start of the meeting there were 4 of us and one-by-one two other women trickled in. As the meeting broke, one of them pointed out to me that I had once addressed her as "Sir" in an email. Naturally, I am having difficulty figuring out which names are male and which are female. I apologized to her.
So later in the day, I check with the world's best translator, my buddy Trangslator, asking her for the name of that lady. Her response ... "I do not know". Now I do not feel so bad.
Claude from PA called and we met for lunch after I went to the World Bank to drop off some paperwork for my contract. We went to a nice multi-cultural Vietnamese restaurant near the "O" building. Claude has been living here for 12 years with his family. His command of the language here is astounding. I asked him if the locals just get used to the heat and was told they complain bitterly about it as well. I thought, after growing up here, they would be used to it and somewhat immune.
By the way the "O" building I keep seeing when cabbing around the town. It has one very large converging and the same diverging letter "O" etched in the marble facade. Of all things I am going to a jazz club Saturday at 8PM. Who would'a thunk?
So later in the day, I check with the world's best translator, my buddy Trangslator, asking her for the name of that lady. Her response ... "I do not know". Now I do not feel so bad.
Claude from PA called and we met for lunch after I went to the World Bank to drop off some paperwork for my contract. We went to a nice multi-cultural Vietnamese restaurant near the "O" building. Claude has been living here for 12 years with his family. His command of the language here is astounding. I asked him if the locals just get used to the heat and was told they complain bitterly about it as well. I thought, after growing up here, they would be used to it and somewhat immune.
By the way the "O" building I keep seeing when cabbing around the town. It has one very large converging and the same diverging letter "O" etched in the marble facade. Of all things I am going to a jazz club Saturday at 8PM. Who would'a thunk?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Vrooom vrooom
Out of curiosity I stopped at a dealer and priced the scooters that I spend time dodging all over town. They start at 11,900,000 dong which is a mere 610 USD. If I were here for longer I would so get one used.
Rock and roll
Heard from my Sweet Thing as well as Lindsay about the earthquake in Ottawa. I would love to get my cell set up to receive text messages from outside Vietnam so I could find out this sort of stuff rather than when I happen to check my email. I am not sure what the fix is yet if there is one.
I am starting to figure out what if anything special I may do this weekend. I know I must keep in mind my tolerance, however low it may be, for the sweltering humid heat that is on almost all the time during these months in Hanoi. I have sampled some new fruits at the office during the work day. The mangosteen as well as the lychee are my two favourites so far. They have a pear-like fruit here whose name I cannot remember plus something that is a bit dryer than but reminiscent of our grapefruits.
I am starting to figure out what if anything special I may do this weekend. I know I must keep in mind my tolerance, however low it may be, for the sweltering humid heat that is on almost all the time during these months in Hanoi. I have sampled some new fruits at the office during the work day. The mangosteen as well as the lychee are my two favourites so far. They have a pear-like fruit here whose name I cannot remember plus something that is a bit dryer than but reminiscent of our grapefruits.
2 steps forward and 3 back :)
Oy yoy yoy. I have prided myself on being able to figure out what to call people based on their business cards. Just like we do in Canada, it seems the 3 names on the card are first/middle/last. Just when I believe I have that mastered. I encounter a gentleman who needs to be called Mr. {2 last names not just the last!!}. I am sure I will figure out out eventually.
I returned to the hotel as mentioned about 6:15 last night and embarked on a walk, one of many to remember. I headed out of the hotel, did a right then a quick left onto the side street that runs by the hotel. I sauntered through the normal sea of parked motorcycles and was still in what appeared to be the bathroom/tile/flooring sector of Hanoi. It was the same in Addis ... if one wanted a screwdriver, the first place to find was the "screw driver" sector. Stainless steel is very popular here as well as just about any plastic pipe from 2 cm up to 6 cm in diameter. I will have to remember where to go when I am laying some drainage system in my hacienda.
I expected a call from the IBM guys from work which I got about 7. I cabbed it back to the hotel and we chatted in the lobby for a while. We then headed out to an Indian restaurant which as it turns out is close to the World Bank and Hilton. Food was lovely and very spicy which ferenge loves. I was back at the Horison by 9:30 and watched part of he South Africa/France football game which FRA lost.
I noticed when I get in a cab and say "Horizon Hotel" nobody knows what I am talking about. When I get in and say "Hoareesun" they nod and we start the journey. This is something I already know ... pronunciation is most of the game. It reminds me of Dudley from the UK who heard me once use the word "no-men-cla-ture" and commented that the proper pronunciation is "no-men-clature" where the last "a" is soft and the last 2 syllables run together.
I met with the DBA staff most of the morning and will do so again at 2PM. A word on my buddy the translator ... her name is Trang so I call her "Trangslator". She does not know, but some friends of ours know that when Mikowaby refers to you with a nickname it is a sign of his fondness and liking you. She attends most of the meetings I have with MoF personnel. I have to remind myself to pause after every 10-12 seconds to give her the time to catch up. She is very knowledgeable in the IT jargon though needs some alternate wording for something from time-to-time so she ensures the translation is correct. I told her as well that when I return to Canada I will find myself pausing to allow someone to translate :). Tonight ... nada planned though will probably end up watching World Cup at 9PM. I contacted another ferenge from PA and if I hear back from him, we may get together since the USA is playing.
I walked for 10 minutes for lunch then quaffed a nice noddle, vegetable, and tomato soup. I am not sure what was floating in the broth; it could have been monkey testicles for all I know (and do not want to know thank-you!!).
I returned to the hotel as mentioned about 6:15 last night and embarked on a walk, one of many to remember. I headed out of the hotel, did a right then a quick left onto the side street that runs by the hotel. I sauntered through the normal sea of parked motorcycles and was still in what appeared to be the bathroom/tile/flooring sector of Hanoi. It was the same in Addis ... if one wanted a screwdriver, the first place to find was the "screw driver" sector. Stainless steel is very popular here as well as just about any plastic pipe from 2 cm up to 6 cm in diameter. I will have to remember where to go when I am laying some drainage system in my hacienda.
I expected a call from the IBM guys from work which I got about 7. I cabbed it back to the hotel and we chatted in the lobby for a while. We then headed out to an Indian restaurant which as it turns out is close to the World Bank and Hilton. Food was lovely and very spicy which ferenge loves. I was back at the Horison by 9:30 and watched part of he South Africa/France football game which FRA lost.
I noticed when I get in a cab and say "Horizon Hotel" nobody knows what I am talking about. When I get in and say "Hoareesun" they nod and we start the journey. This is something I already know ... pronunciation is most of the game. It reminds me of Dudley from the UK who heard me once use the word "no-men-cla-ture" and commented that the proper pronunciation is "no-men-clature" where the last "a" is soft and the last 2 syllables run together.
I met with the DBA staff most of the morning and will do so again at 2PM. A word on my buddy the translator ... her name is Trang so I call her "Trangslator". She does not know, but some friends of ours know that when Mikowaby refers to you with a nickname it is a sign of his fondness and liking you. She attends most of the meetings I have with MoF personnel. I have to remind myself to pause after every 10-12 seconds to give her the time to catch up. She is very knowledgeable in the IT jargon though needs some alternate wording for something from time-to-time so she ensures the translation is correct. I told her as well that when I return to Canada I will find myself pausing to allow someone to translate :). Tonight ... nada planned though will probably end up watching World Cup at 9PM. I contacted another ferenge from PA and if I hear back from him, we may get together since the USA is playing.
I walked for 10 minutes for lunch then quaffed a nice noddle, vegetable, and tomato soup. I am not sure what was floating in the broth; it could have been monkey testicles for all I know (and do not want to know thank-you!!).
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
And on the second day he worked
... and worked and worked and worked. Lots to do today at work. I was getting ready to leave about 4:45 and Mr. Hanh mentioned something about a meeting that we were going to have with someone regarding the interface that the TABMIS system (I am working on) has with other systems. This sharing of data is very common and to be expected in large corporate financial management system. I understood that someone was coming down to see us and should stick around.
About 20 minutes later when nobody had shown up yet, I asked Trang to check with Mr. Hanh to see if the wait would be much longer. As it turned out Mr. Hanh was simply asking me if I would be able to meet with someone, and did not need me to delay my departure to have a late meeting today. I am glad I checked with Trang or I could have been there until midnight (my bad not his :)). I am off for a stroll around bustling Hanoi, dodging the organized chaos, and will probably watch the late World Cup match at 9PM.
About 20 minutes later when nobody had shown up yet, I asked Trang to check with Mr. Hanh to see if the wait would be much longer. As it turned out Mr. Hanh was simply asking me if I would be able to meet with someone, and did not need me to delay my departure to have a late meeting today. I am glad I checked with Trang or I could have been there until midnight (my bad not his :)). I am off for a stroll around bustling Hanoi, dodging the organized chaos, and will probably watch the late World Cup match at 9PM.
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