Small stories from a big world

I already wrote about our office move. The old space was too small and got too expensive as well. So we moved to another office. It was all arranged very well. We received a detailed planning. On Friday we would pack our boxes. On Monday the removal firm would pick up the furniture and boxes and bring it to our new place. We could immediately go to the new office. Th planning mentioned a short “spiritual rite” to bless the new office. When I arrived, the colleagues were already setting up a small table in front of the office. They arranged fruit, tea, flowers and incense on it. Our managers had the honour of having to do the rites. Our local colleagues gave hm instructions what to say. He didn’t have to say it in Vietnamese, but Dutch was not allowed. Apparently the gods do speak English here in Vietnam, as that was allowed. He had to mention the date and the place and request blessings, good luck and health for the office, the staff and the projects. It is difficult to get a cl...

A few weeks ago we moved offices. The house we were renting as office was too small for our growing team. But there was another reason. The owner informed us that the monthly rent would increase at the renewal of the contract. Real estate prices in Da Nang are rising exponentially. Houses and land are on the rise, to almost being unaffordable. Our old office was located in a prime area, close to the sea and in the middle of the tourist hub, so there was no escape. We had to look for something else. We found it across the river, further away from the sea. In a new development. I cannot walk to the office anymore as I used to do before. Now I go on my scooter or bicycle. It is quite an enjoyable little trip, despite having to go via a busy road full of heavy transport to the harbour of Da Nang. I first cycle through the narrow alleys and streets of my neighbourhood. The sidewalks are vibrant with small food stalls in the morning. People eating breakfast (pho, my quang, and the ...