Ooh this is exciting.
Some time ago I was asked to write about my experiences at KOTO for an upcoming book.
Now it seems that it is not so far from publication and, in the meantime they have produced my piece in full. I remember writing it while sweating profusely in Nicaragua and, truth be told, I was missing Hanoi a great deal.
It’s the first time I’ve read it since I pressed the send button. I’m actually rather proud of it.
At the very least, hopefully it proves that there was a time when I wasn’t quite the cynical grump I am today.
Pics below are from the KOTO Sapa trip as mentioned in the piece. More on the Sapa trip at Our Man in Hanoi.
11 comments
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April 17, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Mosh
I am sooooo looking forward to going back in July. I almost don’t mind that it’ll be monsoon season.
April 17, 2008 at 4:28 pm
ourmanwhere
I love the Monsoon personally. I remember walking to a work do up to my waist in water. After a while all you can do is giggle.
April 18, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Brian Haworth
Some of the most wonderful moments and memories of our own modest visit to Viet Nam involve the `rain’ we encountered.
Real rain. Grown up rain. Hairs on your chest rain.
Wonderful to watch, smell, taste, feel and hear rain. Gosh that’s what I call rain rain.
Have we got rain for you rain!
(Your article affects this reader now just as much as it did when I first read it. Quite right to be excited!)
April 18, 2008 at 2:58 pm
minxlj
Love the article; a great read! And lovely photographs there, as always. Bet you can’t wait to see the article in print!
April 18, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Diehard Geordie
I am curious - why did you come home? Unless I am reading you incorrectly, you have unfinished business out there and you were not ready to resume your life in the UK.
I have read nearly all of the blogs, but wonder if I missed out somewhere.
You do not say why in your home slot.
April 19, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Brian Haworth
It is not meant intrusively. It is not meant unkindly.
I second Diehard’s question / comment above.
Viet Nam is more than KOTO.
And there is another experience for you in Vie Nam.
I’ve read all your blogs - memo2self: getoutmore - and the love you gave and felt there ain’t over.
Unfinished business.
But…
`us readers’ don’t have to pay your bills or whatever…
It’s just a feeling - you should be there not here.
Like really, really.
But, lardass, I for one am so glad you blogged your heart out!
End of digression.
(Back to beating up Brown, the bastard, for the 10% tax theft from the poor.
Which bit did I miss?).
Bravo on the article Steve - but a much bigger bravo for the heart and the work and the love that led you to write it.
btw: You may be a sad NUFC supporter… but you aren’t all bad.
( As I type, my Rovers are still 1-0 up against MUFC… and if it stays that way, I am rich beyond my wildest dreams of SkyBet avarice)
April 22, 2008 at 12:28 pm
ourmanwhere
Less of the lardo - there’s a stone gone and counting.
Vietnam? Unfinished business? Etc.
As far as Vietnam/KOTO/Hanoi goes it’s not unfinished business I am absolutely clear about that - talking both with my head and my heart.
The job was there to do. I did it. Saw it out. Got out. It was very hard work and very very pressured. If we had failed then there would be kids put back out on the streets. Imagine that pressure.
But…you have to know when to walk. Who knows where KOTO will go to now but it needs new people with fresh enthusiasm and fresh ideas. I took the pressure that comes with fundraising and saw it out. You can’t do that forever.
As regards Hanoi - they just opened a KFC next to the beautiful Hoan Kiem lake. I think that says just about everything. I believe I saw the best of it - enough at least to not want to hang around and be nostalgic about what it was (I can do that from here).
As regards unfinished business in general. Yes. There is another job out there overseas for me and there is a different life to live too.
It may well be, in the short term, following the missus to Aus before another adventure. Or it may be another developing world post.
My current job, that suits me well for now, is a short term contract. I will see that out before weighing up my options. I miss Asia a great deal but don’t want to cloud the memories of Vietnam by returning there. I think you could have a great life in Bangkok, that is an option.
I must admit though that Africa calls. That seems scary enough to be exciting. I have a hankering for Argentina too.
So yeah - my life is unfinished business. The office job isn’t me forever.
I just want to keep taking the road less traveled and reminding myself that there is nothing stopping me doing whatever it is that most makes me happy.
The other branch of “why did I come home”. Nicaragua wasn’t working (see last post on http://www.ourmaningranada.com) and I had to go somewhere to make money. Also Nicaragua was tough on us both. I needed a shot of normal life to regroup and make new plans. Developing world living is exciting and loud and your senses work overtime but it tires you out too.
After Nica, having a toilet that always flushes is wonderful. Always having water in the taps is pretty good too. The cinema, gigs, theatre etc are being enjoyed.
And there will be more adventures.
April 23, 2008 at 9:43 am
Brian Haworth
Steve,
Thanks for that. Reassuring and positive stuff. Lots of positive choices ahead.
(Grats on the weight loss; well done. Am heading in the wrong direction personally.)
I must say, reading your comments above, how free you sound, uncluttered by `stuff’. Its odd; we’ve got a great home, no mortgage, loads of `stuff’, money stashed etc., and it can all feel like a trap just `having it’. But, that’s another blog.
The KFC on the lake. Ouch.
April 23, 2008 at 11:49 am
ourmanwhere
Brian,
It’s true that I did seem freer over there. It seemed like there was more time for life. Work and social life - so much less organising and fretting and whatever. Things happened or they didn’t.
I’ve tried to carry that on with life back here and most of all I am trying to enjoy the things that go with being back here. Walks in the countryside, the ease of weekends away, festivals, arts etc.
And I do enjoy the peace and quiet - almost as much as I miss Hanoi’s din.
April 29, 2008 at 1:40 am
Sapa » Hanoi, Halong Bay And Sapa, Vietnam
[...] My Vietnam Memories in PrintPics below are from the KOTO Sapa trip as mentioned in the piece. More on the Sapa trip at Our Man in Hanoi. KOTO Field Trip to Sapa 2006. Brollies in rainy Sapa. Walking in Sapa with KOTO. Kids from KOTO in Sapa, Vietnam. [...]
April 29, 2008 at 11:27 am
Sapa » Life At The Other Side - Sapa, Vietnam
[...] My Vietnam Memories in PrintPics below are from the KOTO Sapa trip as mentioned in the piece. More on the Sapa trip at Our Man in Hanoi. KOTO Field Trip to Sapa 2006. Brollies in rainy Sapa. Walking in Sapa with KOTO. Kids from KOTO in Sapa, Vietnam. [...]