Personal details: What is your name? Where are you from? Where did you study? What’s your major? What’s your job? My name Florent Chaudemanche I am from France. Born in Versailles 23 09 1967 I study in Vendome and Romorantin Lanthenay and last school Orleans A certificate from a senior technician in commerce. Opposite with my goal. I work in supermarket, manager here. and work so like a sailer. Computer, Books, toothbrushes..Etc.. and work in the bank. Poor me, i know all about money… i hate the spirit around. And always i think in myself. I am an artist i know that, and i want work work work for become better and try find the good way for that. I am a real self-taught. I work Photo with the old setting - Enlarger Revelateur - fixer with silver film. I learn with a team in a club. I take photo since 1990.
1. What brought you to Vietnam? When did you come to Vietnam for the first time? And how long have you been in Vietnam this time? What is the motivation? My wife is music teacher in french school… she find the way for coming here. all the familly follow her. it was in 2010 february just after Têt Time. first contact. street in downtown. i remember, a familly near room in hotel say me. it seems a market near, quiet famous. if you want we can go together. It was my first day with Ben Thanh market. so like everybody i discover. And i fall in love because everybody so kind. 2. What were your first thoughts about working and living in Vietnam at that time? my work photographer save me, because i am old and find a job when you can not speak vietnamese this is impossible. I unterstand. But i need to do always, so i work photo. Thanks to the French community. I would like work with Vietnamese business men but difficult.
3. What do you think at present? Today, I work around Théater. In French School Marguerite Duras. We work for a show exhibition on june 2017.
I bring my knowledge with students University Trường Đại học Sạ Phạm TP. HCM French department. We work with Scenarios that I wrote especially for them. Theater also. next show Idecaf street Le Thanh Ton. entrance free 7 p.m 21.3.2017 Please talk about you if some french are free, they are welcome. I need find another place for another exhibition too. And I work with pupils in IDECAF with 6 teachers. each class we have work for a show exhibition just before Têt. And now we work for a surprise for parents. I can not talk about, this is a surprise for end May 2017. But i work with photo to. I need to take picture the more as possible is it ! 4. There are certainly obstacles about culture and lifestyles for foreign people like you in Vietnam. What have you done to adapt with life here? Yes on the beginning, you need accept to become a strange foreigner. You don’t eat Banh mi pate so like in your country… laugh It’s always difficult, and you need friends around you for translate every time. Many time you ask something but nobody unterstand you, because your question is unuseful… But On the beggining turn around the french community is easy… everybody give some advices. After that, you find vietnamese friends and you unterstand more and more… and you have 2 solutions, follow you or go back home. Many times foreigner can not support change lifestyles. But many times some friends are here since 25 years. I need write a book for talk about this. This topic is fascinating. 5. Which are the most achievements you get during time in Vietnam? Be able to work with Vietnamese children and bring my knowledge 6. Could you tell me some ups and downs during the time working and living in Vietnam? Fall in the big black hole when you are old and you can not speak vietnamese. you are unusefull. Your profile is good but not here… These are sincere answers, but it is difficult to accept.
To meet with celebrities, to see their discretion, their humility, their knowledge to appear in the society of vietnam today. Beautiful lesson 7. What is the most impressive one? Why? I have living in several different area around the world before. But here you feel so like a foreigner immediatly. Chance. i am french and my skin is white. Everybody is so kind with me. I give one respect In return I have the power of respect multiplied by 100. i give one smile. People give me coffee, cigarette, beer, soup and i know if i would like, if i need i can eat with them. nobody know me in the street but i give one or two words in vietnamese...The doors can open with ease. In France this is not the same scenario. never. 8. Which pros and cons in Vietnam you would like to comment about? Pros to many. I need a book for that. Most important pros… disappears with modern life. An easy and unnecessary life with standards. Modern life wants to create men with a similar look… In Vietnam, In Saigon, no way… we can living so like Wildcats. If your philosophy is give good, you feel free. Always free and safety at the same time. Not easy to explain because you don’t know how is my country today. Cons - find all products from France so like in my hometown. Quality of food and typical products from France… but it’s ok, here in TP HCM we can find so many product today… i am so happy here. 9. What is your future plan in Vietnam? I want create a permanent exhibition in a shop near Ben Thanh… But actually i have not find some place. I want create a team for create an exhibition with all photographer around vietnam. Each photographer give one photo. I need find sponsors. When all is finish… find place in France for show this exhibition. In USA… and Sell photos to the profits of orphans in Vietnam. We talk with several people for create a team. Our goal. Not to pass before the beggars without doing anything. We meet us some sunday morning. We go to a supermarket. The other team spotted the beggars next to the street We ask customers in the supermarket a small gift to eat, to wash, to see the life better. The gifts are distributed to the beggars afterwards. next meeting 16 april 2017. 10. What are your tips for your friends, relatives and fellows to work and
live well in Vietnam First. To be the one that one does not find. to be open minded Be a good guy
Other information 1. What is your normal day when you are in Vietnam? What is your normal weekend? My normal day is follow my familly, and manage work with them. Normal week end, i work more. I need sun for take picture. i go around saigon with my family for discover always another places. even if we drive long time with motorbike. we need discover. 2. What are your hobbies? Be a good guy Bring my culture my knowledge Take the best by opening my mind. Men and women are not all smart, but when one finds that one. it is delicious. 3. What are your favorite foods and favorite destinations in Vietnam? sĂşp ph and Grilled meat in a typical vietnamese restaurant near my home. I like so much. 4. What is your motto at work and in life? Become better, work hard, just need share good advices.