Baggage not turning up at Saigon airport was a bit of a disappointment but the airline did provide USD40 to buy jocks, socks and toiletries. Funds also stretched to a couple of shirts - one of which impressed the receptionist at the hotel although it only cost $5.
The first major event during of the week-long stay in Ho Chi Minh City was the National Barista Competition at the International Exhibition Centre in Saigon South, not far from KOTO Saigon's training centre. Three KOTO graduates competed (plus one trainee who wasn't allowed to compete because he was still a trainee). Mr Quyen made it to the finals but was under a lot of pressure because he actually won the event two years ago. Competition this year was keen and last year's winner also won again this year.
KOTO Saigon trainees at the Barista Competition - KOTO assisted in managing the event.
Mr Quyen, KOTO Hanoi class 14, in action at the Barista Competition
Next major event on the social calendar was the official opening of KOTO Saigon restaurant at 151a, Hai Ba Trung street, Saigon. HBT street is a prestigious address so location couldn't be better. It's been a long hard battle to get the restaurant up and running in Saigon but it all came to fruition on 4 October when the Australian Consul-General did the honours.
Jimmy Pham receives a glass from Australian Consul-General, Graeme Swift at the opening
The trainees sang their hearts out
Those of us who can't sing were content just to drink champagne
Verdant outlook from my balcony
Work at KOTO started straight away but not before an invitation to yet another social event arrived. The Australian ambassador officially launched Tracey Lister and Andreas Pohl's new book, "Vietnamese Street Food" at Tracey's Hanoi Cooking Centre on 7 October. With the venue only 20 minutes walk from home, there was no need to ride the motorbike and limit the uptake of hospitality!
Ambassador Cox with Tracey, Cynthia and Andreas
At KOTO I've been teaching classes 17, 18 and 19. Everyone said class 18 was a model class and class 19 would be a problem as they are relatively young (many are just 16 years of age), new to KOTO (only been here six weeks) and "exuberant" (read hyperactive and talk a lot). Well, I'm no stranger to loquacity but in the event I found class 19 to be fun to teach. And there are some characters, as with all KOTO classes...
With class 19
Social life has quietened down since arrival Hanoi but there is always KOTO restaurant about 20 minus walk away from home whenever I feel the need for company and my foster son, Lam, drops in on the weekend for a visit and help with improving his english. My grand-daughter is 12 months old now and just beautiful. One Sunday recently Lam invited me to visit his house out near the airport and have lunch. Only having been to the airport by taxi before I made the mistake of trying to ride my motorbike on the upper level of the huge Thanh Long bridge which crosses the Red River. The Police stopped me and relieved me of 200,000 dong (about $10) before turning me around an pointing me in the direction of the lower (railway) level that motorcycles are supposed to use. From my observations, they were raking in about $100 an hour as they stopped at least five people in the fifteen minutes I was "negotiating" with them. Anyway, lunch at Lam's was delicious and it's only the first time in eight years that I've had to deal with the "Yellow Dogs" as the traffic police are know here.
My grand-daughter, Dieu Linh, and her Dad, Lam
Have also been teaching at Blue Dragon Children's Charity again and they always find something interesting for me to do. Blue Dragon helps two teenagers with mobility problems (in that they are paraplegic) and asked me to help with their English at their home (which is about the size of our bathroom at Curtin).
Despite their problems, the pair are cheerful and already speak quite good English - the elder brother especially.
Speaking a little Vietnamese means I can also help with English for KOTO staff who have never learnt the language - typically the cooks, cleaners, drivers, security guards and house mothers. Like most mature-age people who have never had the opportunity to study, they're keen to learn and make the most of it. It's all about basic communication for their jobs so there's no need to delve into the past perfect continuous tense....
I'll leave you with this photo of Mr Van Vu, KOTO Saigon class 1, who asked me to take a photo of him with a KOTO publicity brochure that used his picture for the cover. I love this photo.
Mr Van Vu, KOTO Saigon class 1, with himself.
