Passion, Patience and Time: A travel-log of a passionate Fargreen volunteer/advisor/team member
Started first with an intention to give back at the end of his long and successful career, fueled by an innate curiosity to explore and learn new things, David Wheeler first came to Fargreen as a volunteer chosen from AFID (Accounting for International Development) - a UK-based non profit organisation dedicated to bring professional accounting and financial volunteers to support good causes around the world. After his first visit in July and August 2019, feeling a growing bond with his new family called Fargreen in his new home-place called Vietnam, David decided to make a second visit then a third visit to Vietnam to be with Fargreen, moving from being an one-time tourist/volunteer to becoming our beloved mentor and advisor and ultimately joining the core team in managing the financial side the organization and helping our young executive team to strategize its way forward. His story shows the essential “ingredients” that a mission-driven organization like Fargreen needs from a team point of view, regardless of whether he or she is a volunteer, a mentor or a full-time member: PPT - Passion, Patience and Time.
Below is the excerpt from David’s travel journal, highlighting his three visits up to now to Vietnam and Fargreen. The charm and challenges of the new country, its culture and people are portrayed through the first-encounter's delicate observation and his beautiful photo illustration. Enjoy!
First visit and first taste of the culture : 25 JULY – 26 AUGUST 2019:
25/7 – Left Paris to fly to Ho Chi Minh City “HCMC”
26/7 – Arrival in HCMC had my first taste of Vietnamese food then spent the day of 27/7 “sightseeing” in HCMC – amazed by the contrast of the modern and ancient style of life living side by side – not to mention my first experience of crossing the road confronting a “stampede” of motorbikes. Saw many sights including the Opera and Cathedral.
28/7 – Flew to Hanoi with Vietnamese airlines and was met by Duc - a friend of the Fargreen team, at the airport – unfortunately he didn’t have the car so we took buses to his home where I was to stay for the next 4 weeks. Met Duc’s Mum and Dad, who although they couldn’t speak English (and I couldn’t speak Vietnamese) managed to communicate with me through the “medium” of Duc.
29/7 – First day at Fargreen! – Duc took me to the bus stop on the back of his bike and I met Duom (Linda) at the bus stop and we travelled to the Co-Share office together on the bus – I was very surprised / impressed to see that young people gave up their seats to their elders! At the office I met Trang in person (we had spoken (met) on Skype before) and Phuong (Anna). Had a good briefing from Trang and got settled into the new environment. For lunch Trang treated us to a meal in a restaurant close to the office. At close of business, I had my first experience with “Grab” – driver got lost - but managed to call Duc, who gave the driver the directions to his home
30/7 – Managed my travels to and from the office without too much difficulty; however, although the distance was only about 12km the journeys took over an hour each way. The day at the office was spent preparing questionnaires etc. to obtain the information necessary for my mission.
31/7 – First visit to the farm – Duc dropped me off at the coach stop at around 7am where I was to meet Trang & Linda – this was accomplished without too much difficulty and after having tea whilst waiting for the bus we mounted the bus. Duc’s Mum had provided me with mooncake for the journey and I chatted with Linda most of the way (Trang slept almost all the way – obviously still jet-lagged!) and we arrived 6km from the Fargreen office after a 2½ hour journey . From there we took a cab to the office. At the Fargreen office in worked with the team for a short while beginning to gain an understanding of how Ecount was used by Fargreen and what information was available
We then went to the farm for lunch with the farmer and his wife and afterwards Linda prepared us a jackfruit. After lunch had a short exploration of the farm with Linda. Then back to the Fargreen Office and then back to continue the “exploration” of E-count and then back on the bus for a 3-hour journey back to Hanoi.
1-5/8 – Back in the office - I then had sessions with Anna and Trang to obtain answers to my questionnaires and started writing up my report of first week’s activities for Daniela – my AFID supervisor. In the evening went to travel agents to book 3-day weekend away in HaLong Bay
7/8 – To the farm again – to make further investigations and get a better understanding of the mushroom production process – some team photos – taken by “Madame Selfie” Linda – the usual lunch at the farm and some pictures Linda’s birthday celebration and also of the farm and production process
10/8 – Off to HaLong Bay for the weekend. On route to HaLong Bay stopped at a workshop “manned” by handicapped people and saw the creation of silk paintings. Spent the 1st afternoon in the harbour close to Ha Long – climbed to a view point and had a not too pleasant swim on a crowded beach – as with most of my fellow travellers not particularly impressed
17/8 - Went on “Walkabout” exploring Hanoi Centre – saw lake, St Joseph’s Cathedral, the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Botanical Gardens, and lots of Government buildings
After 5 hours of walking, a local tour guide girl named Minh asked if I’d like a tour of the Hanoi on the back of her motorbike! The 1st thing she took me to see was the wreck of a B52 Bomber shot down in the Vietnam War! We agreed that we would meet the next day.
20/8 – More work on the report in the office – went to a Buddhist pagoda with Duc and his mother in the evening and chatted to the Buddhist leader over a cup of tea
23/8 – My final day in the office – finalised my report and proposal to move forward with Trang before presenting it to the team and then Daniela. Then at lunchtime we went to the “Bia Hơi” place - a local casual beer hall and eatery for a final good bye and also took some photos including one of me handing over documentation to Anna.
25/8 - Flight back to Paris after a night in HCMC
Second visit and a growing sense of belonging: 7 – 30 November 2019
7/11 – Left Sydney to fly to Hanoi via Hong Kong – arrived in Hanoi early evening and took cab to Au Coeur de Hanoi Boutique Hotel
8/11 – Went to Fargreen to fix up Mobile Phone with Anna – otherwise nothing special
9/11 – Went “walkabout” once again in Hanoi primarily around Hoan Kiem Lake
10/11 – Once again went for an early morning “walkabout” – as always plenty of action
Then was “picked up” by Minh at the hotel and we “biked” out to the a Pagoda famous for singing
11/11 – Went to the Fargreen office – met Ryota (Volunteer from Japan) for the first time – got on really well and became regular “dining partners” over the next few weeks
Started investigations on how to obtain the data required for input into the Excel Spreadsheet Accounting System that I had developed whilst in Sydney
12/11 – 15/11 - More days in the Fargreen office explaining the newly developed system and beginning research into the costing of the production of honey as Trang was looking at expanding the current setup for distribution of honey and increasing the number of farms involved in the new proposal
21/11 – Normal day of work in the office – then took “Grab” out to Duc’s whose parents had invited me to a family celebration – after the dinner Duc took me home with the paintings of “Old Hanoi” that his father had given to me as a present
22/11 – Had a meeting with Chien in the morning to discuss my honey costings and then we went out to lunch at a pizza restaurant.
23/11 – Went out for the day with Minh and our “chauffeur” her uncle to Ninh Binh and flooded caves of Tam Coc uncle – must say more comfortable in the limo than on Minh’s bike!
24/11 – As always, an early “walkabout” as always lots to see
26/11 – Normal day of work then left in the evening with Linda to go to the farm and spent the night sleeping under a mosquito net at the farm
27/11 – Went into “town” to have breakfast with Linda then worked with Mai & Lien on the new system
28/11 – Went into Fargreen office and finalised final presentations before I left
In the evening went to Trang’s for a “leaving” dinner
29/11 – Final day in office then back to the hotel for the final night
30/11 – Left hotel in the morning in their limousine to go to airport and flew back to Sydney via Hong Kong
Third visit - home sweet home! 3 – 21 FEBRUARY 2020
3/2 – Arrived in Hanoi from Paris (where already passengers were wearing masks to protect against COVID-19) early in the morning took cab from the airport to the Au Coeur de Hanoi Boutique Hotel – went into the office and joined the team wearing masks (Trang had organised for a box of masks to be delivered to my hotel).
4/2 – In the office again – had lunch which Linda had brought to work with her
5/2 – In the office – working feverishly on the preparation of the year end accounts
6/2 & 7/2 – In the office continuing preparation of year end accounts
8/2 – Lazy day walked around Hanoi as usual – went to see Nigel’s apartment and then dined out in his “quartier” in the evening – notably we had our temperatures taken upon entering into the restaurant – waked back to the hotel and tried to take some night pictures – unsuccessful!
9/2 – Quiet day worked from hotel
10/2 – Back in the office – still working on the accounts – in the evening went with Ryota to dinner at a Japanese restaurant [Photos]
11/2 – Back in the office – still working on the accounts and preparing for tomorrow's team meeting
12/2 – Team meeting with many of the team coming up from the farm for the day – those who could not participated through their PCs – lots of fun role playing
13/2 – In the office again – unfortunately no possibility to travel to the farm – day was somewhat “grey”
14/2 –As usual in the office – one of the co-workers was sleeping on the job – however the day was brighter than yesterday
As it was Ryota’s last day we went back to “Chops” for a final hamburger together – over the period we had been there countless times before so it was so to speak “our local”
15/2 – Went out with Minh to check out some more temples on the other side of the Red River
Before embarking on checking out the temples we had barbecued duck for lunch
16/2 – Went out for the day with Minh and her uncle in his limousine to the Thay Pagoda – the journey was a little hazardous – would the motor cyclist manage to deliver his eggs in one piece
and then would we be able to pass given the mini traffic jam ahead?
17/2 - Back in the office finalising the year end accounts using the Excel System I had designed
18/2 – Meetings with Trang to review initial results of accumulated postings
19/2 – Still hard at work trying to ensure that the deadline was met trying to help Anna with Sales reconciliation.
20/2 – Still hard at work – still puzzling over some of the differences
21/2 – Final day left a little early – had a Pizza at the Japanese restaurant and then on my return the owner of the hotel invited me to dinner as there was still ½ hour to go before the limousine was ordered to take me to the airport. Arrived at airport and checked in easily and arrived in Sydney early the following day
À bientôt!