Hello Everyone

[SogniSaigon]

Hello,

I just joined VDict. First up, I'd like to say what a great site this is. It has helped me on many occasions when I've stumbled blindly for the right Vietnamese word or phrase - and I should like to thank my college, Linh Vo for putting me onto it a few months ago.

For the rest of 2007 until around March of 2008, I'll be living and working in Perth, Western Australia.

I am an Italian/Australian male working this last decade or so as an IT Consultant. My jobs have taken me to many countries around the world - Italy, France, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Malaysia, Singapore, China and, most recently, Vietnam. My birthplace is Italy, and my adopted home-away-from-home is Australia.

In early 2006 I was posted to Vietnam by my company. I ended up spending about 18 months in Ho Chi Minh City over four stints until around mid 2007. As I mentioned, I've spent time in various countries, and when my firm presented me with the option of going to Vietnam, I shrugged and thought nothing much of it - I simply thought, "just another assignment". Little did I realise that I was destined to be so (pleasantly) surprised, and that my life would be changed forever!

I won't bore you all with my impressions of Vietnam, its peoples, its culture or its natural wonders. Like many westerners, I had been seriously misinformed about Vietnam. I could fill volumes on this fascinating topic (and maybe one day I will). But suffice to say that, unlike all the other places I have travelled to, Vietnam struck a chord somewhere deep within me. Add to this, the wonderful encounter, three months into my first trip, between me and Tuyen. My Vietnamese princess. Now, I am no stranger to the wiles of foreign beauties, but Tuyen was something all together different - not just an ordinary girl. I fell for her completely (and she for me, I might add).

The details of our courtship make for some of my fondest life-memories (and again, I won't recount them here) - but unfortunately, that's where our happy story starts to unravel. My firm was all geared up to have me take charge of a new division in TpHCM for the foreseeable future. But, as often happens with big business, the deal fell through and I was required to return to our head office in Melbourne, Australia.

This didn't seem like such a setback for Tuyen and I at the time since I was sure that I'd be back within a few weeks to continue with my firm's other expansion initiatives in Vietnam. But these plans also hit a brick wall and it started to become painfully obvious that I would not be able to return to Vietnam as early as planned (or hoped).

We have since been apart now for five months. Tuyen has been trying to apply for a tourist VISA to enter Australia so she can spend a few months with me in Perth. The VISA application has proven to be anything but easy. There has been one delay after another. There's always one more document to submit, one more fee to pay. Our fingers are crossed in the hope that the last round of documents will finally satisfy the consular general in TpHCM and that her VISA will be approved in the next couple of weeks.

In the mean time, we've kept in contact via daily sms, weekly telephone calls, email & web cam sessions. We are still very much committed to being together again. I have resolved that should her VISA not be approved, I will make my own way back to Vietnam as soon as my contractual obligations with my Perth client are fulfilled in early 2008. In fact, I can see my future in Vietnam. It is ironic I know, while so many young Vietnamese professionals are striving to make a life for themselves beyond their native shores, that I, on the other hand, can see myself growing old(er) in that very same land. Sometimes, in the quiet places of my mind's eye, this notion defies all logic and reason - but the heart wants what the heart wants.

Well, this introduction has dragged on longer than I'd ever intended. I though about editing it, but decided against it. What you read here is pretty much as it flowed from my thoughts to the keyboard. It is difficult to stop a heart dump once it gets fired up.

My username on VDict, SogniSaigon means, Saigon Dreams in Italian - for lately, that is all I've been dreaming about. My real name is, Marco. Please feel free to comment, criticise or ask me about anything - regarding anything.

A good night to you all.

I hope to hear from you soon,
Cheers,
Marco.

[anhyeu582]

Hi Saigon Dreams,

Just out of curiosity, how did you meet your dep con gai? Through the course of your work?

I too, have been smitten by the charms, gracefulness and warmth that is Vietnamese women.

4 months now into my relationship with her; I speak English and Mandarin, write English well and mandarin not so. My vietnamese is simple and learnt primarily through her, and through her SMS'es.

She speaks Vietnamese mainly, but knows Mandarin as well. Mandarin is how we meet each other halfway, as my Tieng Viet is as good as her English (which is terrible, lol).

Hopefully, with 2008 coming around the corner, you will soon be able to see your em yeu in your arms soon enough, if not already so!

best of luck,
Glenn

[ncchinh]

Hi Macro,
First of all, welcome to Vdict. I am a Vietnamese and it's great to here you like Vietnam that much. I've met many people from around the world and I understand how misinformed people are about Vietnam.
In the mean time, enjoy Perth. I lived there for 5 years as a student and it is an amazing place. It's summer now, so take a drive to Cottesloe or Scarborough beach in the weekend, go fishing at Fishing Habour in Fremantle in the evening with a couple of six packs. If you can, take a trip to Rottnest Island, Mandurah or even down south to Albany. But remember not to spend too much (time) in Burswood

[Andrew3]

[QUOTE=SogniSaigon;4031]Hello,

hi Marco

Well it was a pleasure to read your experience and nice you enjoy the vietnamese culture and other things too !!! My name is Andrew Ive been learning the language now for about 10 years of and on, I just recently moved from Perth about 9 months ago to work in sydney

I work for Page Data Sydney which is a Fibre Optic cable Distrubutor, ive recently registered through this website just to freshen up my colloquial Vietnaemse. I have been to Vietnam from the South to the North. One day I would like to live and work in Vietnam. But my company does not work out from Vietnam only China

It was nice to read your experience, mong sao trong tuong lai se gap nhau hoac la trau doi kinh nghiem cung nhau

take care there in Perth
Regards Andrew

Oh Bye the Way there is a nice Restraunt in Honeywell Rd Mirrabooka called Que Huong, say hello to the owner from Andrew in Sydney.

Bye for now
Andrew

[SogniSaigon]

Hi folks,

As an update to my initial introductory post, I'm happy to report, that I'm over the moon, to be able to bring you all the fantastic news that my dearest Tuyen has finally secured her tourist visa and has been with me here in Perth since early December. It turned out to be *fairly* easy after all to get her over here. It just took two months and three batches of eleven pieces of supporting documentation along with a signed and certified commonwealth statutory declaration form signed by me where I promised all sorts of things to the AU and VN governments. If she does anything to cross the line, attract attention or break the law whilst she's here, I may be put away for a long, long time... ;-)

Glenn,
I met Tuyen while she was working as a waitress in a restaurant in Saigon. Good luck with your nguoi yeu and thanks for your well wishes.

ncchinh,
Perth is a blast - even more so now that Tuyen is with me. We go to the beach nearly every weekend and we are in the process of planning a trip to Rottnest Island. We probably won't get as far south as Albany, or even Mandurah - but you never know. Burswood is very tempting. We've driven past it twice and it's easy to daydream about the kind of money that could be made there with a bit of luck (for those who haven't guessed yet, we're talking about Perth's casino here) ;-)

Andrew,
Tuyen and I have been sampling various VNese restaurants around town, but we haven't come across the Que Huong yet. I looked it up and it's not exactly within walking distance from where we live in the CBD. But it's quite close to Whiteman Park that encloses the Caversham Wildlife Park where we intend to get up-close and personal with some cute kangaroos in the next couple of weeks. When we head to the 'roos, we'll stop in at the Que Huong and pass on your regards to the owner.

Cheers all,
Marco.

[fishfool]

I'm interested in becoming an ESL teacher and would like to learn a bit of Vietnamese.. the only word I know is dinkydau thanks very much and looking forward to seeing more of this website- -Fishfool @ The Reef Tank

[ncchinh]

the only word I know is dinkydau

It's "định đi đâu" = where are you going?

[fishfool]

I'm debating what country to go to and am considering Vietnam, wherever the need is, if I choose there.

[Paddy]

It's "định đi đâu" = where are you going?

Dinkidau: Khùng, điên, mát. Chữ này thường nghe từ những người Mỹ đã tham chiến ở Việt Nam. Nó bắt nguồn từ chữ "điên cái đầu". Dink - dùng để ám chỉ người Việt, nghĩa xấu. TD: you are dinkidau! Mày khùng!.

from http://community.vdict.com/showpost....75&postcount=1

Trong phim Casualties of War, Sean Penn kêu Michael J. Fox là dinkidau lúc họ đang cãi nhau.

[ncchinh]

Thank you Paddy, I didn't know about that word.
But it's not Vietnamese then