Etienne Mahler: I grew up from a “good black”

8 years ago, you were a student in Germany, studying anthropology and Chinese. But then you came to Vietnam, and stayed to study at the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language. What happened?

In September 2014, I came to Vietnam as part of a student exchange program between Göttingen University and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. At that time, I was a first-year student majoring in anthropology and Chinese at Göttingen University. The program lasted 6 months, but I asked to stay for another year. After that year, I decided to drop out of Germany to stay in Vietnam and study Vietnamese.

In 2017, when I was just 30 years old, I was admitted to the Faculty of Vietnamese Studies and Vietnamese Language of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities and graduated from university at the age of 34.

Etienne Mahler (far left) with some foreign students taking a photo with Dr. Tran Bach Hieu, teacher of Ho Chi Minh Thought - Photo: Thien Thanh

You started university (in Germany) when you were 26? What about before that?

I used to be a bad student. When I went to work at a hotel, I met some friends, they said you are smart, why don't you try reading books? So I started reading the first books, at the age of 20 - 21. Books opened up another world for me, it made me want to explore, learn about life, this world.

So I felt I needed to go to university and graduated from high school with honors (14.3/15 points). I was 26 years old that year.

What do you do for money?

According to German law, 14-year-olds are allowed to do some light work. But I started working a little earlier. My first job was handing out flyers, then washing cars. I also tried working as a supermarket employee.

My parents divorced when I was only a few months old, I lived with my father but the relationship between me and my father was not very good in general. That's why I started working quite early. At 17-18 years old, I had a lot of my own money and 2 cars.

Back to the story of starting college. You chose anthropology, and you also studied Chinese. Why?

At that time, I simply liked to learn about cultures other than German culture, so I learned Chinese. When I came to Vietnam, I immediately “fell in love” with Vietnam. Now I like writing and research. So maybe I will be a journalist or a scientific researcher. Maybe I will even become a professor in the future. But that is a long road. In the near future, I will probably continue to study for a master's degree, then a doctorate.

You dropped out of your university program in Germany to stay in Vietnam, learn Vietnamese, and then go to university in Vietnam. How did you start your life in Vietnam?

The first year in Vietnam was the time when I received a pretty good scholarship from the German government, about 30 million VND/month. It was a scholarship for a bachelor's program, meaning I was financially guaranteed throughout my university studies. When I decided to stay in Vietnam, I had to drop out of the program.

Etienne Mahler at a festival of Hanoi National University - Photo: NVCC

But as I said above, I have the ability to earn money - independent since childhood. When I was in Germany, I opened a small company specializing in website design (I learned website design by myself 10 years ago). When I came to Vietnam, I still maintained that company but worked online, with customers mainly in Germany and some European countries.

Later, I also worked (English editor) with 2 scientific journals, one of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, one of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, and some other freelance jobs related to translation.

Going from a young German with a vibrant life to a young man who loves reading, writing, and also working to earn money, do you find it difficult?

In Germany, there was a long period when my life was very hectic. Back then, I went out as early as 11pm, or even 1am, and came back at 6-7am. Now, I live a very disciplined life. It is normal for me to work 10-12 hours a day.

I also realized that the changes in my life were drastic. But because my starting point was low, I had to try very hard to have enough capacity and knowledge to do what I like.

Etienne Mahler (middle) received the first prize certificate for scientific research students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi - Photo: Thien Thanh

What is the most attractive thing about Vietnamese culture to you?

At first, it was simply because it was a completely different culture from Germany. Then I found it really interesting. Vietnamese people are very friendly. The Vietnamese economy started from a low base, but technology developed very quickly. For example, right in Vietnam now, you can use 5G phones.

One example that I find very interesting about Vietnamese culture is the issue of religion. In Germany, each person has only one religion and people are usually quite strict about this. In Vietnam, it is... relaxed. You still follow Christianity, but still have an ancestral altar in the house. There are many expressions of belief that, if viewed from the outside, cannot be combined together, but in Vietnam people accept everything. I find this feature really interesting.

When Vietnamese people think of Germany, they think of it as a very developed, stable and good society. In fact, although Germany is rich, in general, its economic and social life develops quite slowly. Vietnam is different. I really like to see the very clear development in each Vietnamese family that I know. I knew them when they were poor, now they are much better off, and that is really fun.

But there is one thing I see between Germany and Vietnam getting closer, due to the opposite developments from both sides. That is, parents in Germany are starting to take care of their children more. In the past, in Germany, 6-year-old children had to go to school by themselves. But today, more and more parents send their children to school. That means family culture in Germany is gradually changing. In Vietnam, it is changing in the opposite direction, parents are less "pampering" their children.

It is known that although your thesis is highly appreciated, you have little time for it?

It was because I had previously chosen a different topic. But then I found it unsuitable, so I changed it to the topic “Digital Education at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi: Current status, expectations and development orientation”.

In about 2 months, I completed my thesis of 4 chapters, 127 pages, along with 600 pages of appendices (which were interviews I conducted with the research subjects). After finishing writing, I had 2 Vietnamese friends help me correct the spelling. Before submitting, I asked my instructor to read it for comments. She said the writing style was not wrong but a bit strange, similar to Western writing, like it still had the style of foreigners writing Vietnamese. She asked me if I wanted to edit it, but I asked to keep it.

Are you surprised that your thesis is highly rated?

During the process, I knew I was doing well. Because this is a topic I am passionate about, it is useful, highly applicable. But I was also surprised when it was rated so highly.

Etienne Mahler was congratulated by Professor Pham Quang Minh, former Rector of the University of Social Sciences, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, on the occasion of Vietnam Press Day 2021 (in his capacity as editor of the Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities) - Photo by Thien Thanh

You want to continue your studies for a master's degree and then a doctorate, which means you will need another 6 years, when you are 40, to start building a career in academia. Is that too late?

This is a very good question. Eight years ago, when I was interviewed for a scholarship in Germany, they asked me: Now that you are 26 years old, do you know what you should do? I answered: No!

I am still the same, still on a journey of self-discovery. It is never too late. With what I have and have, I feel like I am living an interesting life. It helps me see that everything that is happening is very good. I do not live for the future, hoping that the future will be better. I try to do everything in the present, and enjoy it. Of course, I still want to be happy in the future, it's just that I don't focus on that.

If you become a professor in the future, will you be the first professor (at least in Vietnam) to wear earrings or lip rings? And do you think that you will break the image of an intellectual who is usually considered to have a serious appearance?

Throughout my life, I have broken many images, and I like that you mentioned that. I don't dress like a good student, but that doesn't stop me from being a good student. How I dress, how I do my job, those are two different things. You mentioned that you started reading when you were 20-21 years old. Do you remember the first book you read?

I just remember the first book I liked, after a few I didn't like. It was Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder, a Norwegian writer. The book is about a young girl's journey to learn about Western philosophy, with the help of an old philosopher. I was fascinated by this book. Thanks to that book, I later read many books about philosophy.

Thanks Etienne Mahler!