Tomorrow will be my 6th Tet (Vietnamese New Year) in Vietnam. It is hard to believe I have lived in Vietnam for nearly 6 years (May 24, 2004, I arrived into Saigon). I have a lot of goals for the Year of the Tiger. Last year I did accomplish some goals such as setting up a business but the outcomes were different than I had expected. Live and learn, you just got to move on.
For starters, I will not be making a move to Japan as I had intended. Instead, the consensus of my advisors and friends is that I would be better off in an emerging economy such as Vietnam. Thus, I will stay here for a couple more years. I am still on track to start my Phd in the next couple of years. I still haven’t decided which country; US, Singapore, Japan or even the UK. I will make that decision in the next couple of months.
In the meantime I will continue teaching IT at an international school. I really enjoy it and I know can contribute to Vietnam in that way, especially in regards to Linux and open source technology. The Saigon Linux Group will be revived as a marketing tool to help the three to four companies that promote open source in Vietnam. The new site will be launched in about a month or two (the old site is still up). Saigon Linux Group has proved to be a great marketing tool in the past.
If possible, I hope to transfer the business license from SLG Vscapeone to Hakata Consulting. My work permit and temporary resident card will be under SLGV so I want to simplify things instead of starting a new company. This may not occur until June or July of this year. If you guys do not know, I have been working on some WordPress projects for a couple NGOs and small companies through Hakata Consulting. Of course, I will continue to help Leon out at MNG JVP. I am learning a lot from Leon and have a place to refer large IT projects.
Outside of work, I hope to increase my strength at the gym. I will decide which route to follow, bodybuilding, powerlifting, or strength training. My student and I hope to launch a weightlifting portal this year for Saigon. There are many inquiries from Expats on the locations of weightlifting gyms in the city.
I will continue in my Vietnamese lessons through the Vietnamese Language Center. Ms. Thank Binh is so patient with me. She expects to get me speaking correctly in a couple of months. I got some of the pronunciations already. She is a great Vietnamese language teacher. I highly recommend her.
With SaigonNezumi.com, expect a new theme in a month or two. I will be getting my Nokia N900 at the end of the month. I want to do all my blogging from that phone if possible using the various social networking tools available. I may even monetize it a little more as well. I plan to add an eshop ecommerce component as well to sell coffee, sports supplements, and other items. Why not? 🙂
So these are some of my goals for the year. Happy Year of the Tiger 2010!!! 🙂
(Nokia N900 – My next mobile phone)
I arrived in Vietnam recently (about 3 weeks now). I have been following you on twitter (@free_thinker) and your blog for a few months. I am a s/w engineer, on a sabbatical right now, hoping to work on open source/free software. I would love to teach IT too, where do you teach?
I want to become a part of the Siagon LUG; I got in touch with Hung Anh Nguyen (www.fresco20.com) regarding the same. It would be great to meet the guys promoting open source in Saigon/Vietnam.
Open source in Vietnam is still like it is in the rest of the world. It will take time but it is a good start. We have ViPLUG which is focussed more towards Expats and professionals and the hope, time permitting, is to run it side by side with SaigonLUG. Lets meet sometime after you arrive.
Hey, thanks for your reply. Well I am in HCMC right now. I arrived 3 weeks ago. So lets meetup whenever you have time. We stay in D1 near Bui Vien right now.
ok, possibly tomorrow then. I cannot visit people’s homes until Day 3. I will send you my mobile by email.
Happy New Year to you Kevin! Glad to hear that you’re sticking around for a couple of more years. If you ever want someone else to practice your Vietnamese with give me a ring….no charge. 🙂 I’m currently trying to teach myself how to read.
🙂 Sure thing.
Good to hear you stay in VN. Hope to see u if come back VN.
I am so happy that you are going to stay in VN.. I have been reading your blog almost every week 🙂 Your blog is like an inside guide into life in VN. Very interesting.
Thanks. Looks like I may never leave Vietnam 🙂
Never leave? Seriously?
Yeah, I think for now 🙂
of more years. If you ever want someone else to practice your Vietnamese with give me a ring….no charge. 🙂 I’m currently trying to teach myself how to read.
OVER 2 YEARS AGOReplyLikeSaigonNezumi (Kevin)
🙂 Sure thing.
OVER 2 YEARS AGOReplyLikePratik Sinha
I arrived in Vietnam recently (about 3 weeks now). I have been following you on twitter (@free_thinker) and your blog for a few months. I am a s/w engineer, on a sabbatical right now, hoping to work on open source/free software. I would love to teach IT too, where do you teach?
I want to become a part of the Siagon LUG; I got in touch with Hung Anh Nguyen (www.fresco20.com) regarding the same. It would be great to meet the guys promoting open source in Saigon/Vietnam.
OVER 2 YEARS AGOReplyLikeSaigonNezumi (Kevin)
Open source in Vietnam is still like it is in the rest of the world. It will take time but it is a good start. We have ViPLUG which is focussed more towards Expats and professionals and the hope, time permitting, is to run it side by side with SaigonLUG. Lets meet sometime after you arrive.
OVER 2 YEARS AGOReplyLikePratik Sinha
Hey, thanks for your reply. Well I am in HCMC right now. I arrived 3 weeks ago. So lets meetup whenever you have time. We stay in D1 near Bui Vien right now.