Vietnam visit brings student out of comfort zone
An International Fashion Branding student has spent four weeks embracing Vietnamese culture thanks to an international programme.
Cara Docherty spent four weeks alongside 12 other UK-based students on British University Vietnam’s (BUV) Cultural Immersion Programme after finding out about the opportunity through GCU’s International Partnerships Office.
The experience provided participants with an insight into intercultural communication and Vietnamese culture, along with the opportunity to explore one of Asia’s top tourist destinations.
Cara said: “It’s not something I thought would actually happen, I just decided to apply and thankfully it turned out that I got to go. Vietnam is somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit and I’d heard a lot of good things about BUV.
“I’ve always been open to meeting new people and travelling. I really wanted to explore the Vietnamese culture as well.”
Before getting started on the programme, Cara had to complete a gruelling journey which saw her take a train from Glasgow to London before flying on to China and Hanoi…and it certainly wasn’t all plane sailing.
“It’s definitely the longest I’ve travelled to get somewhere,” explained Cara. “I’d actually thought I’d be able to leave the airport in China but I couldn’t without a VISA. I had to stay there for 24 hours before getting on my next flight. I’m glad I had a couple of books with me!”
Cara eventually arrived at her hotel on the 9th of June and spent the next four weeks fully embracing her Asian adventure.
“BUV arranged a bus to pick us up Monday to Friday, either to take us to the University or for our other visits. There were quite a few different volunteer groups at BUV and they acted as our buddies while we were there.
“There was a lot put on for us at BUV. We had classes focusing on culture, including the Vietnamese language, but we also got involved in a lot away from BUV, including a brilliant trip to Ha Long Bay where we did some litter picking with their Green Society.
“The cooking class we did was also a real highlight. There was so much food that I’ve never come across before, like ostrich! My favourite thing was probably the spring rolls we made. It’s really basic but they were amazing. There was also catfish and monkfish, which I didn’t think I’d like, but it was really good.”
“Another brilliant experience was visiting the Children’s Village. Two different volunteer groups had organised the trip and they’d brought lots of sweets and toys for all the orphaned children. We got the chance to play games and make different things with them, which was lovely. It was just a real privilege to make their day a little bit brighter.”
Cara added: “The people of Vietnam are the most hospitable I’ve ever met in my life - I absolutely loved it. It was very vibrant and it was very community orientated, which was something I really appreciated. We actually saw a lot of people congregate on the street and have meals together – it was just very friendly.”
As well as sampling local cuisine and experiencing some of Vietnam’s tourist hotspots, Cara also got the opportunity to get involved in a Business Engagement Week.
“We went on different visits to a jewellery company, a tech company and a car company which allowed me to explore the marketing side of the business world. I also went to a fashion house called Chula Fashion. They have a real focus on sustainability and the business was originally created by a couple from Spain. I actually got the chance to speak to the wife and it was amazing to hear all about it. I was really grateful as an International Fashion Branding student to get an insight into these companies.”
“At the end of that week, we had to present about the different organisations and discuss the differences between working in Vietnam and the UK.
“My group actually won the presentation, which we were delighted with! It was in front of the head of the University and a couple of the other lecturers. We also did another presentation on our trip focusing on the positives and challenges of the programme. It was a good way for us to give our feedback on the whole experience.”
Spending four weeks in Vietnam has left a lasting impression on Cara, and she hopes other students will also consider spending their summer abroad.
“Getting the chance to be with students from different backgrounds and cultures was such a good way to learn,” explained Cara.
“I think the whole experience has pushed me to think outside the box and consider the possibility of working somewhere like Vietnam. I’m a lot more open to that idea now after stepping out my comfort zone with this trip in terms of travelling there myself and throwing myself into everything that came my way.”
She added: “I couldn’t recommend it enough. Everyone should give it a go because I don’t think anyone would regret it, and they would probably actually surprise themselves with how capable they are when it comes to embracing the culture of another country. It’s easy to stay within your own bubble but it’s so important to push yourself and gain new experiences.”
You can find out more about GCU’s international partners and exchange opportunities here
By Ross Clark
Got an SHLS or GSBS story? Email me at Ross.Clark@gcu.ac.uk or message me on Twitter