December 13/95

n December 1994, we learned that

we had each been given an Asia
Pacific Scholars’ Award through the
British Columbia Centre for
International Education. In our original
applications, we had indicated our plan
to travel to Vietnam to undertake three
activities:

1. The production of a television
documentary entitled
Ties that Bind, which
would document the
story of the
relationship between
Ho Chi Minh Open
University and
Capilano College.

2. The offering of a
series of workshops
and lectures for
faculty and staff at
Ho Chi Minh Open
University on
techniques of video production

3. The study of Vietnamese in classes at
Ho Chi Minh Open University.

When we arrived in Ho Chi Minh
City in early May, the University was in
the process of rebuilding its campus. As
a result, many of the classes and faculty
had been moved to temporary locations.
It was decided that it would be best if
we began our shooting immediately. We
were fortunate that one of our
graduating Media Resources students,
Patrick Brereton, was in Thailand on
his practicum in April. He agreed to
travel to Vietnam at his own expense to
act as a third member of the crew while
we were shooting.

In addition to interviewing Ho Chi
Minh Open University faculty Dinh
Trong Khang and Nguyen Hue Than,
who had been at Capilano College in
the fall of 1994, we also hoped to shoot
in classrooms of the University and
around the city itself. On one
outstanding occasion, we found
ourselves in a class of about 250
accounting students, every one of whom
was enthraled by an instructor who kept
them laughing and totally engaged.
Wherever we went, students were
anxious to try out their English on us.

After we had completed shooting at
and around the University, we obtained
footage of Ho Chi Minh City itself,
which will be counterpointed with

Home from
Saigon

By Beverley Reid
and Peter Kellington

footage from Vancouver. This will
underline the cultural, social and
geographical differences between
Vietnam and Canada.

Upon our arrival in Vietnam, we were
met at the airport by the deputy director
of CREDEPRO (Centre for Research,
Design and Production), To Xuan Giap.
CREDEPRO is a government agency
which undertakes video production for
training and education in Vietnam and
works closely with Ho Chi Minh Open
University. The director was most anxious
to have us conduct workshops for both his
own personnel and for the University
professors and vocational instructors with
whom he works. It was decided that we
would conduct our workshops and
lectures at the CREDEPRO facility during
the month of June and that they would be
attended by invited faculty.

We each undertook the directing of a
production. One was a drama, the other a
documentary. Both were shot and edited
during the course of the seminars and all
of the students were very much involved.
Production personnel from CREDEPRO
sat in on the editing sessions and there
was a lively exchange of ideas around
techniques and process. On the final day,
we had a special premiere screening and
all of us were very pleased with
ourselves!

Without question, learning Vietnamese
was the most challenging aspect of our

time in Ho Chi Minh City. We were
encouraged by our friends at the
University to simply speak the language
the way it looked. While this advice was
given with the best of intentions, it didn’t
always work for us. For example, in
trying to tell someone that we hoped to
travel to “Nha Trang,” we inadvertently
were saying that we hoped to travel to

Peter Kellington
(second from left)
and Beverley Reid
with their Ho Chi
Minh Open
University
colleagues on the
Saigon River.

“wise owl.”

We were fortunate to find two
women in our neighborhood, Nguyen
Then Huong, and Vu Hong Van, who
were willing to give us Vietnamese
lessons. Because the University campus
was in a state of flux, it proved better
for us to undertake this private
instruction. We began studying with
them in mid-May and continued our
lessons three times a week until the end
of June.

Late in our visit, we were invited to
attend the fifth anniversary of Ho Chi
Minh Open University. The large and
elaborate celebration was held in the
morning at the Municipal Theatre in
downtown Ho Chi Minh City. It was an
impressive occasion, with many
references to the relationship between
Capilano College and Ho Chi Minh
Open University. The occasion was
videotaped by the national television
network of Vietnam and we were
shocked to learn from our friends that
we had made the six o’clock news as
special guests from Canada.

In looking back on our two months
in Vietnam, we are struck by the
positive nature of the entire experience.
We hope to return to Vietnam next
spring to shoot another documentary —
this one about Vietnamese students.

In the meantime, we will persevere
with our language lessons! ‘i

@nformer