Mr. Gary Robert Towers, 31 years old – sports teacher at an international school in Hanoi, said that life in Vietnam is very different from that in the UK but is full of excitement and happiness because he was lucky enough to meet him. beautiful, talented and skillful life partner as soon as he arrived in the S-shaped country.
A conversation with a young British teacher about his experiences living in Vietnam.
Hello teacher Gary, how long have you lived in Vietnam, how is life in Vietnam different from your home country? How did you overcome the initial surprise to adapt to life in the new land?
– I have lived in Vietnam for 3 years. Life in Vietnam is relative to that in England. At first, I felt a bit confused and unfamiliar with my new life in Vietnam. But after that, thanks to friends, colleagues, especially my wife, sharing and helping, I gradually got used to my new life.
First, the weather in Vietnam is very different from the weather in England. Summer in Vietnam is very hot, much hotter than in England. In the UK, in the summer, most people and offices do not need to turn on the air conditioning, but in Vietnam, it will be really stuffy and hot without air conditioning.
In addition, winter in Vietnam is also colder than in England! Don’t be surprised when I say that. In the UK, houses are designed and built to keep warm better. Walking on the street doesn’t feel as cold as in Vietnam.
In particular, in Vietnam I travel by motorbike, before that in the UK I only drove a car. Traveling by motorbike is quite interesting, but I think traffic in Vietnam is more dangerous than in England.
It took me some time and experience to get used to this.
Furthermore, Vietnamese is also very different from English. I have a talent for learning languages, but I had to work very hard to learn to speak Vietnamese well. Many foods in Vietnam are also different from those in the UK. For example, in England, people don’t like to eat chicken feet, but here, it’s a delicious drink!
What fate brought you to live and work in Vietnam? How did you feel in the first days when you arrived in Vietnam?
– I moved to Vietnam to live and work after meeting my wife. When we first met and fell in love, I thought I had to marry this girl. Vietnam has a very good environment for foreigners to live and work because they will have many opportunities to develop themselves.
When I came to Vietnam for the first time, I was so excited, but also overwhelmed by how different life is here!
How is your teaching in Vietnam different from in the UK?
– Teaching at an international school in Vietnam is quite similar to teaching in the UK. The biggest difference is that for the students in Vietnam that I am teaching, English is not their native language. Therefore, I have to prepare for this and make sure that, when teaching, I use language that the children can understand or explain further in Vietnamese if necessary.
However, I have also taught in Vietnamese public schools and this was a very different and interesting experience for me. Public school facilities are quite old and each class often has up to 40 students or more. Meanwhile, in the UK, the highest class size is only about 30 students, but is usually 20-25 students. The way of learning and teaching in public schools in Vietnam is also very different from that in the UK.
November 20 – Vietnamese Teachers’ Day is coming, an opportunity for students to appreciate and express gratitude to teachers. Do you have any experiences about this holiday?
– Yes, I have only experienced the November 20 holiday in Vietnam. Vietnamese Teachers’ Day is a wonderful celebration! I received many wishes and small gifts from students and their parents. Vietnamese students love and respect their teachers very much.
In the UK, we don’t have Teachers’ Day, but it’s common for students to express their gratitude and affection for their teachers at Christmas, Easter and the last day of school.
Having been in Vietnam for a while and even married a Vietnamese wife, for you, what is special about the country/people of Vietnam that makes you want to stick with it?
– Vietnam is very beautiful, I really like living here and love life here. I love traveling in Vietnam, the beaches are amazing, the mountains are majestic and amazing, and the cities are beautiful, full of interesting historical stories. In Vietnam, my favorite is the coastal city of Quy Nhon.
Vietnamese people are very friendly and open. They love talking to foreigners. Vietnamese people are also often very happy when they discover that I can speak Vietnamese! I think Vietnam has beautiful scenery, rich culture and people can have a wonderful life here.
Living in Vietnam, what is your deepest sad/happy memory?
– I think my saddest memory is when the Covid-19 epidemic hit. At that time, there were times when people had to quarantine and stay at home.
Staying indoors for so long is difficult for me. My mental health has been significantly affected. But it’s been a difficult time for everyone and I’m glad things are getting back to something close to normal.
My happiest and most profound memory is my wedding.
On my wedding day, my wife was absolutely beautiful, and we had a wonderful, memorable day with family and friends. It was a perfect day – a day I wish I could experience again! It can be said that the thing I “benefited” the most from coming to Vietnam was getting a beautiful and talented wife!
Marrying a Vietnamese wife, do you have to help your wife with housework?
Yes of course, I always share housework with my wife. We took turns washing dishes, drying clothes, cleaning the house as well as cooking.
Speaking of cooking, have you ever gone to the market in Vietnam? Can you cook Vietnamese food and what dish does your wife like to treat you the most?
I usually don’t go to the local market, but only go to the supermarket to buy food. My wife often goes to the toad market. Even though I can speak Vietnamese, it’s easier for me to buy things at the supermarket because I don’t have to bargain.
I don’t know how to cook Vietnamese dishes, but my wife cooks very well. I really like fried spring rolls, roasted pork, bun cha…
What kind of country do you hope to see Vietnam in the future?
– I hope Vietnam will continue to warmly welcome tourists because I want to bring many friends and relatives from the UK to the beautiful country I live in!
I hope that we can resume normal life and travel freely after the pandemic and hope that pollution in big cities like Hanoi can be reduced in the future.
