About mateen

Status:

Expatriate  

Gender:

Male

Currently Lives:

aka-Saigon, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Citizen Of:

United States

Past Expat Posts:

Germany

Italy

United States

About mateen

Passionate about advertising and photography. I'd do it even if I didn't get paid. Fortunately, I'm good so people pay me...lol.

Advice for New Expats

Don't try to make others conform to you...you must conform to others customs/culture. Be slow to judge others...you're probably wrong. Be grateful for any help you get from strangers and be kind in return.

Education:

Cal Poly Pomona
  1974 to 1975

Art Center College of Design
  1975 to 1978

Some Forum Posts:

Vietnam: Find a wife before moving.:

I'm a retired American age 61. I've been living in Vietnam now 3yrs and have been living with a Viet woman most of that time. First, don't worry about finding a woman...she will find you..many. Vietnamese women are very poor and uneducated for the most part. They are VERY interested in finding a man who can provide them with financial security plus extras like nice home motorbike, jewelry, clothes, etc. The 2 big problems I've encounter are lack of education=little to talk about and few who speak English. Forget about learning Vietnamese. I speak Korean, German so I thought I could learn Vietnamese, went to college to learn and finally gave up. Not speaking has been frustrating in getting things done. You have to trust that those who help you and not taking advantage of you. Stealing and lying is common place here and accepted as normal. Also, card playing and the Mafia is also rampant. Most women owe money to the Mafia from borrowing to feed their habit.

Vietnam: Should I learn Vietnamese?:

Good Luck learning Vietnamese. It was impossible for me. I went to a college in Dist.1 and attended 1hr classes every morning at 8am Mon through Fri. After 3 months I gave up. Perhaps speaking Japanese will help you. I speak Korean. That was very easy for me even though I'm a native American. In fact I could read Korean in 2 days. But Vietnamese...forget it. On the other hand if you can speak Vietnamese it will make your life much, much easier. You won't have to rely on (trust) others. Lying and cheating seem to be quite acceptable here.

Vietnam: I Wish I had Known... Before Moving to Vietnam:

That it was next to impossible to learn enough Vietnamese to communicate with people. I can speak German & Korean so I thought I could learn Vietnamese. I even took a 2hr/day University class in Saigon. None of the 5 adults (3korean,1russian,1italian) were able, by the end of the 3 month class, to speak anything more than a phrase or two. The entire year I was in VN I NEVER met a foreigner who could speak Vietnamese. It's really crazy to live in a country if you can't communicate in the native language. If you're content only associating with other English speakers you'll be fine, otherwise you will, like me, be frustrated. You will most likely also feel isolated. That's why I finally left.

Vietnam: The Key to BIG SUCCESS in Vietnam:

You and I both know that it's impossible for a foreigner to learn Vietnamese other than a little phrase or to count money. The tonal inflections are so difficult that it would take years and years to master. In my 1yr living all over Vietnam I never met a foreigner who spoke fluent Vietnamese....not in Saigon, Dalat, Vung Tao...and I met many who had been living here for a decade or more with VN wives/kids and couldn't speak it.

Vietnam: Expats in Dalat ?:

I'm American but here's my 2cents worth... Stay at Nice Dream Hotel. Big 2bed in room will cost 150,000vnd with breakfast and wifi-cable TV. I stayed there a month. 34B Hai Ba Trung Tel: 0919198998 cell Bring rain gear (although the rainy season is over now) as it always rains a little. Bring sweaters, socks, shoes, pants, long sleeve shirts. The weather is kind of like San Francisco. Hair dryer is useful. Heaters are in short supply. I found a used one with a fan for 500,000vnd but the new radiant ones will cost 7-900,000vnd. Of course there will be times you will wear a T-shirt and shorts with flip-flops but those are cheap to buy. It's the warm clothing that costs in Dalat.

Vietnam: Apartments in Dalat:

Like anywhere in VN you need to find a local person(s) who can ask around. There are never "for rent" signs and the internet is useless. I found several 2-3 br homes for 2-3 million dong. by offering a small "finder's fee". Don't ask the manager of the hotel you are staying at as they will tell you they will look for you but really they want you to stay in the hotel...of course...why wouldn't they? I used university students, waitresses and taxi drivers to do my scouting. They all need money.

Vietnam: Thanksgiving in Vietnam:

I'm in Da Lat with no American friends to share a meal with. If there is anyone here who would like to share Thanksgiving with me let me know. Martin cell 01693752833

Vietnam: Are you a women expat living in Vietnam:

I've spoken to many a female at the University of Dalat. They are kind, soft spoken, happy and love their families very much. The only complaints have been about rude, aggressive American and European men who have pawed at them. The Vietnamese are very peaceful people. You never see a fight even in heavy traffic. I was once hit on my motorbike and not a single angry word was spoken. I'd be worried about Austrailian, American or European men around your daughters before I'd worry about Vietnamese men. VN men would be intimidated and shy to approach a foreign girl. Especially in a conservative town like Dalat.

Vietnam: Please help family of 5:

You might want to check out Dalat. I am looking to move from Saigon to Dalat. It is high in the mountains and so the temp. is max.27C low19C year round. The roads are mostly newly paved and not so much traffic. Very clean and the people are friendly to foreigners. Many foreigners live here as it is like living in Europe without the high cost. Was originally built by the French and so European architecture is everywhere.

Vietnam: moving to Vietnam:

This year I first lived in Saigon. Both in District 5 and District 1. In each case I rented a furnished room with AC in a house for $200 usd or 4 million vnd. Now I live in Dong Nai 65km (40miles) outside Saigon. I have a 3 story new furnished building. Bottom is large open space with kitchen bath, 2nd fl 2bedroom, bath,livingroom, 3rd fl same as 2nd fl. Each bedroom has an AC. I'm paying $200 or 4,000,000vnd. Much better value for my money if you don't need to be in Saigon proper or you're willing to commute the 1hr drive.

Date Joined:

2/26/2010

Total Posts:

16

Posts/Day:

0.01