Writer/memoir coach Mark Koehler discusses sport, health and living well on a visit to Vietnam.
On holiday overseas I look around for some tennis courts but can’t find any. It’s the same story as previous cities I’ve visited in this strange hot and steamy country. In abbreviated English I say to a guy, “I am tennis player”. He has some basic English but still looks at me blankly.
“You know,” I say, “Roger Federer. You know him?” Another querying look. Three times now I’ve had this vacant conversation and they frown a little, not recognising the name.
I’m in a part of South-east Asia where tennis does not feature high on anyone’s agenda – or any sports’ news for that matter. Is the problem is my rudimentary language skills. Or is it my Aussie accent? Maybe, but for goodness sake, how many different ways can you say ‘Roger Federer’?
It is Vietnam. The people are lively and happy, but are not generally into sport. They’re too busy making a living, so they just work. They do not share our crazy Australian obsession with all things sport. Even swimming at one of their world-class beaches is a minority pastime because most folk have never learnt to swim!
I miss sport, even if it’s my fascination with (armchair) cricket. Instead I’ve become the inquisitive tourist.
We Aussies of course derive great benefit from our recreational pursuits – we study it, discuss it at length. We might compete, travel away for weekends, build friendships, stretch tired muscles – sometimes too much.
But not the Vietnamese. They do not indulge in such frolicking behaviour. Yet they know how to stay healthy and fit – much more than the average Australian. They could teach us a few things about living well. Read more