Can you catch a rat?

I have never interview with any profession that has not been  a common career that can easily be searched online.  However, this weekend our project KA group allow me to interview with odd jobs that is primarily for survival purposes or a profession that was passed on from their parents.   What make this interview session even more special is that we were able to travel outside Hanoi to enjoy the city of Hai Phong but also get some work done with fun!


We traveled on Thursday afternoon to reach our destination --Hai Phong, Khuong's home.  We were welcome with open arms and great hospitality by his family.  We got a taste of dog meat with special drinks for Khuong's birthday.  On Saturday, we spent the entire day at the  beach of Do Son which is about an hour away from Hai Phong by motorbikes.  In the evening, we had to take care of business and proceed to start our interview process with our first interviewee -- a rat catcher.   The woman who we interview was very energetic and friendly when we asked to interview her.  The interview took place in her own home where she seem very comfortable and at ease talking about her work.  Her job is significant for it's regional and location purpose since her job is seasonal.   What I find interesting is that she seems to really enjoy doing this low-paid job because it is also benefiting for herself because she gets rid of rats on her own farm field.  The description of her job is to catch rats living on the fields that destroys farmer's crops.   The job is in high demands around harvest season which is around October and November.  The job is specialized but it is a common labor work for farmers to take on at the same time get extra money for it.   It does not pay very well-- only 3,000 VND for every rat's tail.  These rat catchers will collect the tail of rats to get paid by a united farm worker coalition which all farmers help contribute money to get rid of rats that destroy their crops during harvest season.   As she mentions the process es of catching the rats, the way she interact with was filled with amusement and joy.  She did not really considered it much as a career rather than an odd job to get extra money to help support her family.  She even mentions her kids joining her to do the work which is fun for everyone who participated in it.  


The interview went on very much like a casual conversation and it was fascinating to her about a job that I have never heard of in the city life of  Hanoi.  She was very open to discuss the work which made the interview went smoothly. I would love to see her in action and maybe participate in the work itself just to see how it is like.  It is a work that most people would not mention as a career and would not like to be their primary job.  Although it is her seasonal job which has been passed on from generations, she also work along her husband on their farm land.