A young Canadian in Vietnam

Joe, a famous person in Vietnam

Many people call Mr. Tay (Mr. Foreigner), born in 1973 Joe or Dau informally. Joe shared:" I come here to learn, in fact, learning while earning a living. I work, earn money to have a happier and comfortable life".

Joe's comfortable life can be understood that he affords a cup of tea, a bowl of Pho or rice at some street restaurants but ensure him enough time to write his blog in Vietnamese.

Shared house, "street" rice and ice tea

- Street rice: Rice served at street restaurants.
- Ice tea: Simple local tea with ice.

Joe graduated two departments from Acadia University (Canada): performing arts and Telecommunication. While his classmates choose to work in USA, England or Australia, Joe decided to work in Vietnam for a small project of Canada Government.

"No skyscraper, no big cities but friendly people" are his first impression of Hanoi in particular and Vietnam in general. Joe said in standard Vietnamese: "This is the first time I have visited Vietnam but I think I will stay here for a long time".

Some days later, Joe found a job as English teacher at an English training center at Cat Linh street (Hanoi) with a very small salary. Joe shared "those days are my hardest time of my life, money earned is enough for house rental, street rice and ice tea only".

Walking along streets to find cheap but delicious restaurants helps Joe familiar with almost streets in Hanoi. "At that time, my Vietnamese is so poor, price of anything I bought is much higher than normal. Vietnamese people have a proverb "Ban Cung - extremely poor", unfortunately, I am in the same situation. Despite that fact, I have never thought that I will give up" he recalled.

In order to live in Vietnam for a long time, in early 2004, Joe registered for a Vietnamese course at Hanoi university of Social Science and Humans. Now, Joe can use Vietnamese very fluently, his writing skill is unbelievable.

Joe improves his Vietnamese while doing various jobs to earn a living: Doing as a seasonal editor at Vietnam Investment Review, in charge of communication for a UNDP in Vietnam.

Joe has to make suitable arrangement: Studying at university in the morning, working at UNDP office, printing documents for UNICEF at a publisher in the afternoon, editing at Vietnam Investment Review in the evening. illness does not mean resting. "While my classmates have a picnic on Saturday and Sunday, I have to work."

Finally, chance has come to Joe, in a play illustrated for a game show called "Cultural Journey" of VTV3 - Vietnam Television 3, Joe played a foreign student bargaining when shopping. Joe's funny and witty performance attracted attention of directors of VTV3.

With a fluent Vietnamese, Joe was invited to play MC at a live music program during APEC time in Vietnam in 2006. Very confident in MC role, Joe has win support of audience. In early 2006, VTV6 officially opened, and Joe has signed a contract with VTV.

No matter what to do, no matter what to eat

On these days, Joe are very busy preparing for clips, shows for VTV 6.

Having ice tea with students

Joe joked: "I am busy from 5am to 11pm, and free at 00:00 am" but in fact, he has worked more.

Joe comes back home at Kim Lien apartment from studio too late, the plat is close to Railway, it is often noisy and uncomfortable. Joe said: " This plat is suitable for a person who is always away from home like me.

No matter how it is, it is fine to have a place to stay". Joe invited two friends to live with, Joe explained " Campuchia (sharing) is cheaper!". After a short bath, Joe rushed down the street and took back a dinner with "pate bread". Around 2 am, Hanoi streets are empty, Joe starts to online and write his blog.

At 7a.m, seeing Joe at a Café laughing and joking in Vietnamese before starting a new play for VTV.

"Joe looks very humorous but he is very serious about the work. Joe does any jobs perfectly", workmates at VTV6 revealed.

Joe said:" Having a stable job is too good to me, no matter what to do, no matter what to eat, my desire is to stay here".

By Mr. Phuc Thinh