A Rookie’s Journal (part 1): Getting there
Doing anything for the first time can be nerve-wracking. In this three-part series, Scott McBride describes his experiences while conducting his first-ever CESO assignment, almost halfway around the world.
Saturday November 28th
It’s Saturday in Vancouver. I leave for Vietnam on my first CESO assignment later tonight – actually tomorrow morning at 1:30 am. I’ve gotten great guidance from my LVA, Joan Hamilton and from a CESO veteran VA, Roy, who will also be in Danang on a project at the same time. But, I am apprehensive! I’ve travelled internationally, but will my strategic planning methods be easily portable to Vietnamese business culture? Add the fact that I will be totally reliant on translation…. Yeah, I’ve got a reason to be nervous.
Monday November 30th
A real swarm outside the HCM City airport at my arrival, but found my name on a sign. Good job CESO! Nine time zones contribute to jet-lagged sightseeing and a bad sleep before flying to Danang the next day. First observation: Every motor-scooter on the planet seems to be here in Vietnam. The accident insurance policy I was provided with might come in handy.
Tuesday December 1st
Greeted at the Danang airport by CESO’s Project Manager and provided an orientation at the downtown hotel where three of us VAs will end up for the next few weeks. Mobile phones issued to us, and we are ready to meet my client tomorrow. This hotel’s great virtue is its central location, decent wi-fi. Period. I guess you don’t sign up with CESO for the 5-star experience!
Wednesday – Friday, December 2nd – 4th
Wednesday’s breakfast confirms my earlier impression of this hotel (emoji). I meet my translator, Phuong, and CESO Country Representative, Phuc in the lobby; then straight-away to the client. I am new to this, so the adrenaline is pumping for the first meeting. Has Phuc got a score-sheet with her? (No) Is Phuong actually saying what I say? (Yes). We’re off to a good start.
Thursday and Friday pass in a bit of a blur, as interviews follow one after the other. Business aside, I am lucky to get a great introduction to Vietnam’s culture and recent history – from the ‘American War’ right through to their conversion to a market economy. Fascinating stuff. And Phuong, besides being a great translator, also knows the local lunch scene. So, something different – and really inexpensive – every day. Yummy! The days are really stimulating, and ultimately tiring. I sleep like the dead in air-conditioned heaven.
Find out how Scott’s journey as a first-time VA in the field progresses, on the next installation of “A Rookie’s Journal”
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