What a Night, we thank you!

Well the CBT Vietnam team's event of the first screening of Kyle Sandilands' "When the Villagers Left" was a success, with over 120 in attendance! It was not without a lot of last minute calling, facebooking, tweeting, and texting though as earlier in the week we were concerned that we would not meet the goal we of 100 tickets.

I personally phoned, texted, emailed and mailed every person I could think of and invited them to the event. I felt like mission control, counting out loud every time we sold another ticket. 40 soon jumped to 50, then soared to 70. I checked the Eventbrite page more than I checked my email, Facebook and Instagram combined.

Everyone worked tirelessly on this event. Hedieh collected five amazing films to support Kyle's, Emily organized the venue rentals while Sabrina dealt with our suppliers and coordinated the liquor licence, and Maggie took on posting signs everywhere and anywhere building  awareness for the event. Working as a team was incredible which bodes well in terms of the successes we will be able to reach when we travel to Vietnam.

This entire event never would have happened without our fearless leaders. Stephanie Wells and Chris Carnovale took charge of this event and guided us through every step. The success of this event directly reflects their leadership and efforts.

When the event day finally came around everything had come together We cheered when we sold over 100 tickets, (which was our goal) and Chris promptly said "lets make it 120". Alumni of the project came through and supported us with over 15 previous team members in attendance.

We were especially honoured to have Dr. Geoffrey Bird in attendance as he was one of the original founders of this project. Dr. Chris Bottrill, Dean of the Faculty of Global and Community Studies, as well as the project's Director was our MC for the night. In addition, 12 Dao community members who not call Surrey their home, came to the event in their traditional clothes.

All in all the event was a remarkable experience. It is one that I will never forget and I will be forever grateful to our friends, family, colleagues and supporters for showing up in hoards and backing the CBT Vietnam Project.

23 Days until departure. Not that we are counting or anything. 

Spotlight: Lo May

It has been an amazing experience being connected with the Sapa villages as we all learn and grow together. One journey that we have had the opportunity watch is Lo May's. Today Lo May can be found in Hanoi, building up her resume as a tourism profesional, and preparing to make a move to Canada to continue her studies.

When we first met Lo May, she was running between her classes at the Taphin elementary school and the CBT Vietnam training sessions. Back then, she told us that she planned to become a singer when she grew up, and would often share her love for singing with traditional songs.

Lo May has had an tough adolescence. When her father passed away her responsibilities to her mother and family became so significant that she almost had to stop going to elementary school. Determined to finish school, it was double-duty for young Lo May.

Lo May has gained a reputation as a youth leader in her village. She has volunteered for NGOs such as Oxfam. She also gained a scholarship to go to highschool at the Vietnam-Laos Friendship School. Since graduation Lo May has become a local tour guide, and a key village trainer and interpreter for the CBT Vietnam project. You can catch what Lo May had to say about tourism and her village in the short film "When the tourists come."

Last year, Capilano University awarded Lo May with a scholarship to attend school in Canada. The scholarship will see that Lo May studies in Capilano University's International Student's Tourism Management Diploma Program. Her years as an undergrad will start this September.

Most recently, Lo May moved to Hanoi to try and gain experience working in Vietnam's growing tourism industry. She has secured a job working with a 3 star hotel group in Hanoi's Old Quarter as a receptionist at one, and as a concierge at another. Within her first week Lo May was making record sales!

When asked Lo May will say that she has learned a lot from the CBT project, especially when it comes to what she knows about tourism. She is excited for new opportunities, and plans to move into the kitchen as soon as she can. Not to leave her other positions, but to work all three! She currently starts at 7:00am working as a receptionist, has lunch, then moves to the second hotel to sell tours and transportation services till 10:00pm 6 days a week.

Lo May is one youth leader from Taphin village that we will be watching as she continues her exciting journey!