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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

When the Unexpected Happens

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

Currency Exchange

A nice touch from Compass Living

Bouquet of flowers from Compass Living Staff

We are staying at the Compass Living Parkview Residence in Saigon, Vietnam. It’s a long way from family and friends.

Recently, while thousands of miles away, we received the news that Billy’s aging Mother had passed away. Family at home needed papers printed, signed, notarized and sent back.

Notarized? In Vietnam?

Grief was gripping at us and we were already discombobulated at the loss of a family member. Where would we start to find a Notary in the busy city of Saigon? With the language barrier, how and to whom would we explain what we needed?

The first solution that came to our minds was: “Let’s ask the Concierge. They will know what to do, they will figure it out. And they speak the language.”

 

 

 

 

The practical matters of death don’t wait and they don’t spare any of us.

Billy took the elevator down from our residence on the 7th floor to the ground floor where the Concierge works. Sorrow was written all over his face as he explained the situation we were in.

The Concierge knew exactly what to do and jumped into action. Miss Tina called the U.S. Embassy and found out that if we told them that we had a family emergency we would be able to get through the lines quickly. Otherwise, we would have to go online to their website to book an appointment which could take weeks. Then Miss Tina called the Compass Living driver.

We were whisked away by Mr. Tang, the driver, and taken to the American Embassy. We explained our situation to the guard at the door, and were waived on. Our cell phones and cameras were taken from us and then we walked through x-ray security. Passing via several 5 inch thick doors, we finally arrive where we needed to be and we see about 20 or more people waiting.

Billy approached one window where he explained in English why he was there, and the Consulate employee took his passport and asked him for payment of notary service which was $50USD. Returning to his seat, he waited for his name to be called. Moments later, he is at another window swearing that he is who his passport says he is, signs his paper, gets his seal and we are off.

 

 

 

 

It’s back through the heavy security doors and we exit the building. We collect our gear from outside the building at the front door, and then Billy calls our private driver on his cell phone. Once again it is only moments before Mr. Tang shows up and takes us back to the residence, with signed and stamped documents in hand.

The whole process took less than an hour. It would have taken us days if not weeks if we had to do it all on our own. 

We began the day in mental disarray because we were in a foreign country and were required to have official international business taken care of, and didn’t know where to start. Because of the Concierge services at Compass Living Parkview, in the shortest time imaginable we had everything completed.

While this might have been just another day of problem solving in the life of a Concierge, we are very grateful for their help.

Hotels and Travel Information

For more stories and photos of Vietnam, click here

About the Authors

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli are recognized retirement experts and internationally published authors on topics of finance, medical tourism and world travel. With the wealth of information they share on their award winning website RetireEarlyLifestyle.com, they have been helping people achieve their own retirement dreams since 1991. They wrote the popular books, The Adventurer’s Guide to Early Retirement and Your Retirement Dream IS Possible available on their website bookstore or on Amazon.com.

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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