
Living The Dream
SO, I’VE QUIT MY JOB.
I have deliberately been hiding this news for a month now (for fear of jinxing it) but after passing the thirty day mark, I’m excited to announce my transition from the world of teaching into the world of full-time writing! On May 9th, I accepted a job at a local online magazine specializing in pop culture news and have been writing everyday since. Voicing this news out loud is still a bit surreal, like this change has yet to lose its novelty. But I’m happier than I’ve ever been and I can’t believe that for the first time in my life, I’m getting paid to to be a creative professional!

AnyArena, Vietnam’s premiere pop culture destination
When I first moved abroad to Asia in the summer of 2014, I had a clear-cut picture in my mind that I would be solely committed to teaching. In Korea, my teaching obligations actualized itself into a full-time affair. I spent almost fifty hours a week at my workplace prepping, grading, and educating my students, completely neglecting all my creative pastimes. After a year of non-stop grinding, I had to reassess the teaching gig and decided on a seven-month backpacking trip around Asia to help me reorient my goals. To commemorate the start of my backpacking trip, I launched The Next Somewhere Blog and in writing, I found my refuge.

The new workspace with my own desk!
Touching down in Vietnam four months ago, I was eager to jump back into the world of teaching. But a negative opinion towards educators of Asian descent left me with a really bad taste in my bad. After a strenuous search, I eventually found a good job with Tim which had pretty lad work hours. The low-key schedule allowed me to concentrate more on my passions. Teaching sadly became an afterthought. I was more engrossed in building a collection of stories about my adventures, and less about the children. Plus, I realized that the teaching atmosphere is way different in Vietnam compared to Korea and that working with younger kids just didn’t suit me.

My first day on the job
After an ad popped up on my feed announcing a job vacancy for an editor position at AnyArena, a popular Vietnamese pop culture and events website, I took a leap of faith and sent my resume in. It was a spontaneous decision and I didn’t put too much thought into it until a few weeks later when I received a text message from an unknown number inviting me for an interview. I couldn’t believe my luck! I went into the interview the next day nervous as hell. In the conference room, the company’s founder began his drill, asking me about my related experience. In truth, I have never done anything editorial. I love writing (independently) and I’ve always been interested in pop culture but to pursue these two things professionally was never in the plan. In the end, my interview ran over two hours long!

A peek at the new office space
I felt good about my chances trying to put my best foot forward. But when I left, I didn’t realize how badly I wanted the job. It just felt like something meant for me. They also asked me to get six pieces done in 48 hours as trial assignments. I’ve never written with as much conviction as I did in the course of those two days. The following Wednesday, in the middle of a lunch date, I received a call from Jon. I picked it up nervously, expecting an invitation for a part-time position with my lack of experience (which I was still happy to grab.) Then the words spilled through phone: “We’d like to offer you the job as editor of AnyArena.” EDITOR. An editor of a Ho Chi Minh City magazine. It just wouldn’t sink in.

Front row at Li Lam’s “Sands of East” Fashion Show
And here I am, today, celebrating a successful four weeks as an editor of a magazine where day in, and day out, I just get to do what I love doing most. As the only native English speaking editor, I head all the copywriting efforts in the office. I write 2-3 short-form articles today in the arenas of fashion, music, art, and lifestyle. We cover local, regional, and international news. The subject matter is quite niche and people may think it trivia but having studied anthropology in college, I find it really interesting to see what is relevant to the youth of Vietnam. Also, this is a communist country so to have to consider censorship and the political atmosphere, as well as the social topography, makes my day. I play a big part in our choice of content. It’s been a lot of learning so far but it invigorates me to see how much I still have to learn. I also feel my writing skills sharpening day by day.

From the ‘True Story’ photoshoot via AnyArena.com
Creative responsibilities aside, I have been given the opportunity to explore my new surroundings so intimately. From covering fashion shows to reviewing restaurants, I’m getting to sample Ho Chi Minh City in a way that I would never had the privilege to had I not gotten this job. What I’ve liked most is being able to interview all these creative personalities. I find the process of transcribing their words into something engaging so rewarding. I also love being in the presence of these talented folk and gaining a behind-the-scenes look at their work. In some way, I have joined the rank of those living out their dreams. Wish me luck!

Wrapping up the shoot with street artist and DJ, Dan Nguyen aka Demonslayer
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOB THIS MONTH
- Being treated to a staycation at Villa Song, the best hotel I’ve ever visited in my life
- Getting to “borrow” a piece from local designer Li Lam’s boutique to wear to a fashion event
- Discovering Station 3A, the coolest fix of street art and funky shops in HCMC
- The Villa Song Boutique Hotel in District 2
- Breakfast on the promenada at Bistro Sông Vie
- The Moroccan themed “Sands of the East” fashion show
- The inside of Saigon Leather Workshop where I got to interview owner Adina
- Checking out the new pizzeria, Namo with my co-editor Hoa
- Limoncello freebies from Namo’s Prosecco and Pizza now
- My invitation to the Do Manh Cuong “Countryside” Fashion show
- Trying out one of Li Lam’s dresses
MY TOP TEN FAVORITE PIECES SO FAR
- Interview: The Boys of True Story Get Candid
- Interview: Looking Back on ‘Memory and Oblivion’
- Interview: Backstage with Li Lam at VDFW ’16
- Saigon Leather Workshop: Makers Gonna Make
- Interview: Insta Elite @foxtly
- The Age of True Romantics
- London Calling: Gucci Resort 2017
- Say Goodbye to Being Lost in Translation
- Chance the Rapper Goes Gospel in ‘Coloring Book’
- Obama Just Got Served
Stay tuned for a list of my favorite magazines and a special giveaway! With love, Izzy
Megan Indoe
Wow! First, I am so happy for you! It’s incredible to see that you’ve found a job where you actually get to use your passions rather than a job just to fund your passions in your free time. Second, holy cow- EDITOR?! You are freaking wonder woman! That’s so awesome and you deserve it. After seeing how much effort and creativity in every single one of your blog posts I am not surprised. You are seriously talented and this job seems like it’s perfect for you. I am so glad you are finding your way enjoying life to the fullest and doing what you love. You’re an inspiration! That gives me hope that we can make something work other than teaching (not that that’s a bad option- it’s just not very stimulating work when you end up feeling more like a well paid babysitter). Anyways, congrats again and I can’t wait to see how the rest of our journey pans out!
Izzy Pulido
Megan, you honestly know how to make your friends feel like superstars. So lucky that I get to call you one of mine! I know, I am just in awe that this job is a merger of both my passions and my profession. I was honestly feeling like a glorified babysitter here in HCMC and I turned to Tim one day and I was like I can’t do this anymore. I had gone abroad to teach to see if it was the right path for me and I have discovered that I’m more of a creative and need to be attending to those passions always but maybe one day my creativity and love of education could collide into something particular. Here’s to hoping but this is definitely a step in the right direction!
Hanani
Congrats on the awesome job, Izzy! I agree with Megan — you’re very talented and they’d be crazy to not take you in.
I’ve always been working in the airline industry but I quit quite recently to see if I can pursue my passion in a different field. So you’re my inspiration too!
Izzy Pulido
Wow Hanani! Thank you for the sweet sentiments and I am so happy to heart that you’ve left your job to pursue a true passion! You are an inspiration for me as well 😀 To brave women, may I always be in their company!
Jackie
Congratulations!! I’ve loved your writing from the first time I visited your site, and am really glad that you got this job! Each of your posts just have so much passion and dedication which also makes me feel that this job is so meant for you! God bless your journey! 🙂
Izzy Pulido
Thank you so much Jackie! I know, you were one of the first people I bonded with on Bloggers in Korea and I’m thankful that you could take part in this journey! I feel blessed for sure <3
Gina
This is an incredible opportunity and something you definitely deserve! Good for you for scoring a job and putting your positivity to something you love! Your talent shouldn’t be wasted and all the stuff you’ve done looks incredible! Great job and stay beautiful! <3
Izzy Pulido
Thank you so much Gina for making me feel so deserving! You are so good at being people’s cheerleaders, I really appreciate the kindness and empowering words! 😀
Alla Ponomareva
Congratulations Izzy! Sounds like a sick job and a very unique experience which I’m sure you’ll treasure for a while! I dont blame you, working with kiddies is not for everyone and good for you for finding a non-teaching gig while abroad. Its very inspiring and I’m sure a lot of us will live through you and all your fantastic assignments, please don’t forget to keep us posted! All the best!
Izzy Pulido
Thanks Alla. It really is a very unique experience and exactly. Thank you for validating this moment for me. I started to feel sad about “failing” as an English teacher abroad but you know what, I tried it and there’s value in that. I will keep everyone posted for sure 🙂
Wendy
Yay! You’re indeed living the dream. Congratulations, Izzy! I have a journalist friend who used to work with Korea Times covering culture. She covered concerts of intl stars, kpops and went to restaurants for review. She loved the job. Now she has moved back to the Philippines covering business and of course in a management position. Good luck, girl. Your experience there will bring you to places personally and professionally.
Izzy Pulido
Thank you Wendy! I’m happy to hear that your friend has moved up in the ranks and she’s now back home doing what she loves. I think you summed it up perfectly: that my experience will bring me places personally and professionally. Mostly, I want it to bring me back home.
don
Congratulations on your new job!! It sounds like you found something that will really make you happy.
It must just be amazing to be able to work on something that you love so much and earn a living from it!
Hope to hear more about your new work and what comes up~
Izzy Pulido
Thanks Don! I have found something I love that I didn’t know I could be paid for! I’m so psyched and can’t wait to see what happens for me this year 🙂