The Vision

On 7/5/08, I started to write a post:

What do I want to do with my life?

Other than someday being a wife and mother, I would very much like to work with children and use my accounting skills to help kids in Africa. Although, if you've been reading this blog for -- well, ever, the latter part of that statement has been made very clear. I also want to help my community, like small local businesses/organizations with tax preparation, consulting, and everything else financial. I also want to serve those who would otherwise not be able to afford a qualified accountant. I want experiences so as to build up my resume - not to impress the reader, but to assure the person that I have been adequately prepared to an outstanding job.

Sometimes... I think it's too much. However, I hope and anticipate that these will all work out somehow or another.

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I remember being in a very somber mood when I wrote that - with many anxieties plaguing my mind. Ironically, however, I am not anxious at all about my future. Walking to my car yesterday after the BAP BBQ I thought to myself, "Wow... I am exactly where I'm supposed to be." This indescribable assurance had come over me - I am SURE that this is what I want to do with my life. (What is "this"?, you might ask. "This" is using my degree to help kids in Africa... and people who "can't help themselves.") And I am also SURE that it will all work out.

When I wrote that, I was determined to do everything "financial," but a good friend and common sense hit me with the hard truth: I CAN'T. I can't do EVERYTHING.... and that was a really difficult thing for me to deal with, but it has settled in my mind and now.. well, now I'm actually okay with that. Actually, I'm very happy and content with not being able to do everything because then it means I can focus on what I'm good at and not have to be nearly as stressed out! =)

Seeing all the opportunities in front of me, all the ways that Foster is going prepare me for exactly what I want to do, hearing about firms who have the same vision and mission as I do, potential leads that would lead to a job position at those firms..... I've this strange (but wonderful) sense of anticipation for the next three years. I'm okay with graduating "late" and I see it as an opportunity to learn more and more and more.. to meet more people and hear different ideas and be exposed to different environments... I am very, very much looking forward to it all. I can't believe I'm here.... but I'm exceedingly thankful that they let me in! =)

Jessica K. Nguyen
Accounting, Finance Class of 2011
Michael G. Foster School of Business
University of Washington, Seattle
accountingforAfrica.blogspot.com

Community Efforts

As promised (a long time ago!), here are more pictures from my time in South Africa [Cottages at Injesuthi, Summer 2007]:


Every Monday (and sometimes Thursday or Friday, depending on how much food was left) the cook and any given caretaker would go into town (Estcourt) to go grocery shopping at Mackson's FoodZone, one of two supermarts in town. In this picture: pears, toilet paper, laundry soap, cereal, milk, "biscuits" (kind of like wafers). It was really astonishing to see that, though they purchased an immense amount of food, it was all very fairly priced. I appreciated seeing how the money that was given to the Cottages was stewarded well and not going to waste. The lady (cut off) on the right is Florence, or Flo, the orphan village's cook. If you look carefully, you'll be able to see something wrapped around her top - that would be a blanket she wrapped around her waist to secure her infant (Kozi) to her back. That's how she'd usually carry him around, unless he got fussy or hungry.



Here are Kwanele (HIV+, standing in the doorway) and Mfundo (going up the steps). Mfundo is carrying a box of cereal into the storeroom and Kwanele is getting ready to carry in some toilet paper. It was adorable to see how eager they were to help bring in groceries. The kids were often rewarded for good behavior like that - but not necessarily with money. I was told that in the Zulu culture, tones of voice are used to encourage or discipline a child. So if they were being good, the child would be verbally praised and approved of, but if they were bad then a harsh/loud tone of voice would be used before physical enforcement entered the picture.



Pictured above are some crafts (beaded pens, bookmarks, HIV awareness pins, a star, a butterfly, a strawberry, in the bottom right there is a intricately decorated ornament). These were all hand-made by ladies in the community. They also make very, very beautiful baskets and mats and traditional Zulu jewelry. Many women support entire families (often large ones, I might add) on this trade alone. Some of the beaders have been doing this for decades and others have just begun. Life stages range from teens to grandmothers. If you're interested in purchasing some of these items (all proceeds go right back into the community), you can contact Roz Thomas at rozthomas@hotmail.co.uk. [Actually, I have a bunch of residual craft items that never got sold at last year's fundraising auction. If you're interested, you can have them. E-mail me at jesknguyen@gmail.com for details.]

I don't remember this lady's name, but she's one of the much older, much more experienced beader ladies. This was on one of the days that all the ladies gather together to sell their products, take orders (they do many custom projects), and share techniques/stories with one another. Barbara Borgman oversees the entire community betterment project that these ladies and their beautiful trade are a part of. The ladies get paid a very fair price for their work and any proceeds from sales to tourist shops or tourists (there are many groups who come through the Cottages to help) go straight back into helping to improve the quality of life for the community members. This is done through various things like HIV awareness programs, financially/morally supporting families, and teaching others how to take up the beading/weaving trade.
If you are interested in getting involved with this project, you can contact Barbara Borgman at ubuntup@lantic.net. [See photo of business card below - click to enlarge]


This is Zeneli, age 10 or so. Her story is a sad, but fascinating one (if you want to hear it e-mail me at jesknguyen@gmail.com). Remember that first picture where I talked about Flo carrying her infant on her back? Well, this is Zeneli mimicking Flo. She has a teletubbie fastened securely to her back while she rakes away weeds to earn marbles. It was really neat to see how much the younger kids would pick up from their elders. There was always this sense of unity and community and working toward a common goal while I was there. One of the goals of this village (and all the other villages in Africa) is to give these kids a new family. That's one (of many) reason(s) they don't allow adoption through this village. Each child is placed with a caretaker and that becomes their family. It's really quite beautiful the way it works...



Speaking of working together as a family, Kwanele (HIV+, Left) is helping Kozi (middle, Flo's child) learn to walk. Even though Kwanele is the third youngest child at the Cottages, he's still helping to lead and teach the young'un! Again, it was beautiful to see these kids love and serve and lead and teach one another. This room is the dining hall/common area. After meals and cleanup the kids would sometimes play games, but usually they'd have dance parties. I'll post some pictures of them dancing later.


This.... now, this is a very special picture to me. Not at all because I'm in it, but because of the little girl to my left (right side of this picture). Her name is Nothile and she is a very special piece of work. At the time, she was a 13-year-old orphan. She was actually the first child to come up and introduce herself. She simply grabbed my hand and said, "Hi, I'm Nothile. What is your name?" in an soft, sweet, gentle tone. From Day 2 we were inseparable (we got in late on day 1). Before going to Africa, I dreaded the idea of working with preteens and teenagers (that was a rough patch in my life...and toddlers/preschoolers are my specialty) and I was utterly astonished that she and I clicked so well. She has a heart of GOLD and a curiosity like no other. She plays jokes and is often very goofy (she tried to convince me she was 21 the night I met her - I believed her, haha!), but we had some great talks; she possesses maturity far beyond her years.

That is it for now. I will hopefully update again soon! =)

Jessica K. Nguyen
Accounting, Finance Class of 2011
Michael G. Foster School of Business
University of Washington, Seattle
accountingforAfrica.blogspot.com

Fall has come!

School started yesterday. I'm really excited for this quarter - taking Intermediate Accounting, Business Finance, Marketing Concepts, Business Communications for Accounting, and a choir class. Monday and Wednesdays will be long (8 hours of class on Mon, 6 hours on Wed) but I only have one class on Tues/Thurs and NO CLASS on Friday!

I've been meeting with advisers the last couple days and they've helped ease many of my anxieties. Bill Wells (former Acctg prof) informed me that there ARE options to do Big 4 Accounting (or even acctg at a large firm) and still help kids in Africa. He said KPMG has (or at least had) a small, but decently-sized nonprofit segment and he could connect me with someone at Clark-Newton over on the Eastside. (He said Clark-Newton is fully nonprofit and they're the biggest nonprofit firm over on the Eastside). My academic adviser helped me sketch out a graduation plan and it looks like I'll be graduation in Spring of 2011 (instead of 2010, and with a French minor!) so that I'll have enough credits to take the CPA exam.

As it turns out.. I am no longer taking that Tax Course that I was so excited about. A good friend of mine talked me out of it, because I probably would have lost my sanity and good spirits if I loaded up 16 credits (5 classes), 6 hours/week for the tax course (+homework, probably), work, xAct, and a social/family life. I'm really thankful to her and my dad for encouraging me not to stretch myself too far...

Well, I'm off to an info session with EY (Ernst & Young, one of the Big 4 firms). Tonight I'll be going to the BAP (Beta Alpha Psi - an honors Acctg/Finance organization) Welcome BBQ... so much to do, so much excitement! It will be a fun quarter.

Jessica K. Nguyen
Accounting, Finance Class of 2011
Michael G. Foster School of Business
University of Washington, Seattle
accountingforAfrica.blogspot.com