Staff & Training

There are about 80 staff who work at the ecolodge, most of which are young and friendly. All are from the local villages where many will remain their entire lives. They commute back and forth to work every day either by foot or motorbike. I doubt anyone has a car. The staff work 6 days a week, from 6:00-2:00 or 2:00-10:00. Uniforms are colorful and matched with their job title.



Their use of English is limited and some are better than others, but all are trying hard. I'm reliant on a translator for all my lessons which speeds up the delivery. Not saying that they understand everything I say. It is a common tendency to smile and nod your head politely when totally lost. Same way with college students back in the US. 

 

It makes me feel good to see so many young people working and enjoying their jobs. Average salary is about $150 per month. Despite the huge difference in cost-of-living expenses, it still isn't much money.  Countless Americans make more in one day than they make per month. We would call this group the working poor, but only in economic terms. They are rich in quality of life - family, food, customs, and scenery. Pollution, like crime, is virtually non-existent. Most Americans try to purchase happiness in order to find satisfaction, but not so in rural Vietnam.