- How did you decide to come to Vietnam?

 

I came here last September for a 1 year position financed by my government. They needed a native German teacher. But I made some extras money as a journalist for some magazines. To tell you the truth, It wasn't a choice for me to be here but I needed experience teaching. I also wanted to be in a country where I could write about travel stories...The good thing is that I can save some money here for my big trip.

 
 - What do you think about life here?

Exhausting! I am not really comfortable with the way I am stared at or yelled at in the streets. It's very noisy and you cannot find a quiet place easily. It took me months to get used to it...
 

 - How did you make life more comfortable here?

I went out on weekend trips at the beginning. I went out of the city very often, to National Parks, the Mekong Delta, Mui Ne... In town I spent a lot of time on the roof of the Majestic Hotel, my favorite spot in Saigon. They have a tower at the top where you can sit and you can enjoy the sky all around you. It's called the Breeze Bar. I sat there reading my favorite newspapers.
 

- What are your favorite bars?

I like Enigma, I-Box (the "romantic place"). I also like to go to Highland Coffee on Dong Khoi. I go there so often, people there know what I want when I in through the door.
 

- What do you like about Vietnam?

The weather and the colors. I love the colors when the sun is shining.

 

- Social life?

For me it wasn't easy to socialize. I didn't meet a lot of people. When I do met some, they were just the wrong people ("girly" girls and boring business men). Maybe I am too picky! I don't like to hang around with everybody. So I read a lot of books this year...(laughs)

I also did some "researches" about electronic music and went to all the clubs in town. Rainforest, Liquid,... All the same... Music is so bad!!! You have there more security guards than people dancing and you have to leave at midnight so... I also heard about illegal parties here but people told me that there are less and less just because there is no young Expat here.

 
- What are your plans?

I have been successful in my career but I didn't have a life. So I will soon go to Hanoi for another two months and then start my big trip to Indonesia.

 

Ho Chi Minh City, June 21st 2004