They say that life is not about finding yourself, but about creating yourself. This sentiment rings especially true for those who venture to a new country in search of fresh opportunities, like Micka Chu, who has been living and working in Vietnam for nearly seven years and has found her new home here.
The Saigon Times: What inspired you to move to Vietnam? Mika Chu: When comparing the lifestyles in Vietnam, Russia, and France, I believe the Vietnamese lifestyle can be summed up by the Vietnamese traffic, which is like organized chaos. At first glance, it may seem like there are no rules on the streets, but in reality, there are. You just need to immerse yourself in the mayhem to truly understand it. Despite the chaos, there is a sense of peace, and people move at a leisurely pace. I would also add that it takes time to uncover the different nuances here. It might be overwhelming initially, but the more opportunities you give yourself to explore Vietnam, the more you will want to learn. Another aspect I appreciate in Vietnam is the way people use smiles. I believe it's something the world should take note of. How long does it take for you to adapt to a new culture? I am accustomed to traveling and experiencing new cultures. I was born in Russia, but when I was ten years old, I moved to France with my mother. I grew up there and obtained French citizenship. At the age of 23, I went to study in China, and after that, I made my way to Vietnam. When you choose to live in a new place, you must make an effort to adapt, engage with the locals, and try the local cuisine. In my opinion, the most important thing is to embrace the culture and accept it as it is. Additionally, when you begin to learn a language, I believe it's better to absorb the knowledge and the culture first, and then ask questions and be curious. So, I would say I started appreciating Vietnam and overcame culture shock the moment I accepted things as they were. What advice would you give to someone considering a move to Vietnam? I would say three things: don't overthink it, just come and be prepared for a completely different lifestyle! I have been living here for almost seven years, and I have witnessed the rapid development of Vietnam. I have also seen how the country tackled challenging times during the pandemic and emerged stronger and more vibrant. I feel fortunate to be here, witnessing all this growth and being a part of it. You are well-known as a multilingual MC. How did you manage to be fluent in five languages? My native language is Russian. When I relocated to France, I had to learn French to assimilate. In France, we study English as a foreign language and choose a second foreign language to learn. I opted for Spanish. When I moved to Vietnam, I realized I needed to add another language to my repertoire! Language learning, for me, is more of a journey than a destination. For instance, I enjoy watching Vietnamese movies as a way to acquire language skills while being entertained. It's all about having fun. I'm a playful and joyful person, and I try to find enjoyment in everything I do. If I don't enjoy something, I either don't do it or take a break until I can find pleasure and enthusiasm in it. Could you tell us about your business in Vietnam? I am the host and producer of "The Micka Show" on YouTube. Together with my team and guests, I use the channel to discuss motivation, personal growth, psychology, and mental health. The show aims to inspire people to take action towards self-improvement. Each episode is an embodiment of our vision for life, and we wholeheartedly dedicate ourselves to it. What inspired you to create this show? I would say my life journey served as the inspiration for creating this show. The truth is, I grew up without my father and have only seen him three times since I was eight. Being a woman far away from my family in a foreign land, there is a sense of loneliness and a desire to share and connect with others through meaningful topics. To make the show successful, I put in a lot of effort and do my best. Additionally, I openly discuss my current problems and struggles with others. So it's not about always being happy, but rather about accepting difficulties and transforming darkness into light, as the Buddhists say. What do you hope viewers will gain from watching your content? Alongside my guests, I aim to share practical advice in an engaging and enjoyable manner. After all, personal growth can be achieved in various ways, right? We talk about business, personal stories of overcoming obstacles, and the development of soft skills. One aspect that I particularly enjoy is sharing my love for Vietnamese wisdom and the Vietnamese way of thinking. The show encompasses various topics, making it a well-rounded combination for our audience to learn about personal growth, mental health, business, entrepreneurship, and practical soft skills for everyday life. How do you plan to encourage viewer interaction and create a sense of community within your YouTube channel? We have expanded The Micka Show to YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram to foster a sense of community. These platforms offer diverse content formats to keep viewers engaged. I enjoy creating various types of content and interacting with people by reading their comments and providing encouragement. We produce short-form materials like reels on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, as well as engaging images to stimulate audience interaction. Our aim is to entertain while offering practical and valuable content.
Reported by The Ky
