All that Glitters being Golden

The Glitter Ball Front of House Screen (and me – almost hidden)

How many golden memories do you get in a year? How many moments will stay with you forever?

I ask because it already seems that KOTO, Vietnam and Hanoi have already furnished me with a stack of glorious incidents I will never forget.

Yes I’m still doing the nine to five (and the rest) but it’s (for the most part) a nine to five pleasure. Not a grind. Nothing is routine, everything is exceptional.

This week there was another moment I will never forget. Our very good friends at the United Nations International School (UNIS) held their annual ball in our honour. UNIS already do so much for us. They host our kids for sports once a week, they lend us equipment, they support our events.

The deal was this – they sold the tickets, we did the catering, and we took the proceeds. A scenario to warm a fundraiser’s heart.

Called the Glitter Ball – everyone attended in full-on bling bling. They even made the kids specially spangly t-shirts.

So, after much organisation we were there. Thirty-odd of us in all – split between the kitchen and front of house. We cooked up some amazing food and the compliments were flowing. It was no easy task. The kitchen especially had a mammoth task feeding 150 people – they performed admirably.

But there was no doubt about the high spot. At one point, when the food was served, and the trainees had seen to it that everyone had a full wine glass, we were invited up on stage by the band.

That’s all of us, on a hardly expansive stage. And so there we were, in front of a cheering crowd, flash bulbs going off and a standing ovation.

So then the beat started and the guitar kicked in and the singer “La la la-ed” – and suddenly we became the KOTO choir. It was the full-on Band Aid/Live Aid moment as we Hey Jude-ed away to the adoring crowd. Kids were beaming, clapping their hands and swaying and I was grinning like an absolute idiot.

Like I said. Another moment I’ll never forget.

Glitter Ball was my baby. I thought (if you’ll permit me to indulge myself) it went off superbly and the praise has been fulsome. For my part there was a level of pride involved. It was a big event that I really wanted to prove myself dealing with. While my arse was on the block for this one – it worked because of the dedication and professionalism of the whole team.

I had a heart to heart with the boss here this week. In short it went well, very well. And in truth I needed to hear it too. In all walks of life whatever you do you need a pat on the back occasionally. When you have the job of your dreams then maybe you need to hear it all the more – because being without that job would be unthinkable.

One thing I can’t get my head around here is just how soft I have become. I go through life in Vietnam with that same feeling that you get watching a chick flick weepie. There seems to be so much emotion around that I always feel that I’m just another sad (or happy) story away from bursting in tears.

I’ve always been a bit of a softy but this place brings out the worst in me in that respect. Is it just the KOTO thing? Is it Vietnam? Is it in some way about being so far from home and family and friends in the UK?

Whatever it is, it is punctuated by a million moments of sheer euphoria. Like a lovesick fool I want to climb the one-pillar pagoda and shout “I LOVE VIETNAM” to the whole of Hanoi.

KOTO is an unbelievable organisation staffed by the most amazing people. Vietnam is just beautiful. Hanoi feels like home.

Consider this a thank-you letter for making me so welcome – and thank-you too to our special friends at UNIS.

The Kitchen Crew