Binh Nguyen

My Valentine

2011-02-15T11:32:00.001+07:00

Man, it's long since my last blog entry. I can't help showing this cute Valentine gift from my Sweetheart...

If you happen not to know our puppy love, learn about it, it's fun.

We have been through 2 Valentine days already, but this year is the first time we can stick together. The previous one I was still in Finland, therefore of course we were separated. It damn hurts when couples can't be together! I see many couples in distant love experiencing the inconvenience and perhaps soon get break-up because of the tiredness of waiting. Some say couples shouldn't just be together all the time and separation can refresh the feeling. Okay it's true but make sure separation doesn't last too long. My own experience says that 3 months is a safe duration of time for couples to keep their patience, any longer time is challenging. Some can say there are ones who wait their lovers for years and they're still okay. But is it the waiting that means for love? No, IMO. Absolutely NOT. You cannot just stay away from your lover and bring him/her spiritual caring all the time. Love shapes by physical presence. A hug is better than any oral comfort. Especially in events like X-mas or Valentine day when the need of having someone beside gets on top, the absence of lover(s) really dismays.

That's to tell how blue it was for us in previous Valentine day. Well, stop talking about past, it's over. This time is splendid after all!

Hanoi is extremely crowded in these events. Traffic jams everywhere and any restaurants/coffee shops are full. We just went somewhere to eat and came back home after a long time going around searching for a coffee shop. It turned out to be a wise decision. We had intimate time self-capturing photos and unwrapping Valentine gifts from her. This above clip comes with another a pair of gloves all make the best gift for me, ever!

A homely yet intimate Valentine day is all I yearn for. Thanks to my Sweetheart, it comes true.

Wish that everyone will eventually meet their Valentines and enjoy the bliss of life :)

10:14 AM

150211

Homecoming

2009-12-09T06:07:00.008+07:00

My House, taken inside its small front garden. Xù, already lost, is sitting on the window staring at me

Long time not updated anything here, since I decided to move the blog into Tumblr, a very quick and easy blogging platform. More convenient than Blogspot, indeed.

Well, today is my second last day at Finland. After, I will return Vietnam to enjoy my X-mas holiday as already declared on the previous entry. The feeling is pretty good, it's almost one and a half year since I last breathed Hanoi air already. Deeply nostalgic.

I will, unfortunately, suffer from one whole torturing day long flying from Helsinki to Beijing and finally Hanoi. 11 non-stop-hour flying, and 9-hour waiting at the airport. Additional last 4-hour-flying. Damnhell, I don't know what to do during those hours? Waiting is like pain on my ass, even for just 15 mins! Perfectly, I can't sleep during the flight so well thus guess I will have a really tough time! Even coming back home delights me, but thinking of the long flight dismays me badly, too. Everything I can do is to grab myself a novel, Kafka on the shore from Haruki Murakami, which will be my company. Also charge fully my HP laptop's battery and iPhone's battery in order to help me struggle against that harsh challenge! Just hope I won't be jet lagged... Sighs, wish I could have a rocket to carry me home, or I could use superpower of teleportation. Why the hell can't human teleport?!! It is a real mistake of nature. It really is. >_<

Luggage packed already. Necessary stuffs brought along with. Ticket. Passport. Money. Guess I don't forget anything.

My friends have already given me lovely offers of hanging out and gathering that seem a lot of fun. They really make me eager. My beloved Sweetheart agitates me by keeping talking about the very first moment I see her, touch her and have her as well as our 1st date. Wow, her illustrative stories make sense a lot. I still not know how to react when facing her and looking her in the eyes yet. Let's wait and see. xD

There are quite many people waiting for me to come back. They really make my life. Thank you and love you all xxx.

Been looking for some cosy restaurants and shops at Hanoi, in which I and my beloved people can enjoy snugly. Amazing to see how many of them have been born since the last time I was there. Bet my Hanoi has changed quite a little and hope it would be more enjoyable, too. I do miss the feeling of riding around at mid night and tasting the unique coldness of winter there. Not mention some kinds of food I yearn for long. Wow, I indeed MUST have a better LIFE once being there!

Now, everything to do is to live on through 2 more days.

LET ME GO HOME!

0559 AM

091209

Happy B-day, Sis Annie Dang :X

2009-11-13T15:23:00.010+07:00

I never think I could have another person I called "Sis" beside my unique full-blooded Sis. But surprisingly I could.

Thanks for Facebook, I have coincidentally met her for just more than one month, but she has very soon become my close sis. Having shared quite many things lately together, mainly affair-related stuffs, she appears to be a thoughtful Sis who could bring me such reliable advices and fun that I do appreciate a lot. To be honest, I didn't have interest in befriending with elder girls at all. If must get involved into girls, I prefer younger, or at least coeval, cuties to whom I can flirt or stay as senior. I have quite a number of twinned younger sisters who I make acquaintance through the Net or in reality but never consider having another elder sis. One is quite enough. I just thought I couldn't stand for elder girls you know, 'cos of age gap :D.

Still, my newly-found Sis is exceptional. As she describes herself, "An Ordinary Girl with ExtraOrdinary Mind", she is a combination of both sageness (most of the time) and babyishness (sometimes). Her mature side is helpful to me a lot when listening to my occasional troubles in life and giving out best solutions. Beside, when she's down or in the moments of weakness, she becomes kinda emotional---time for me to listen to her in return. She is quite "useful" to me somehow ;)) since I have been shared many good music from her as well as other valuable insights in exchange of living experiences. Her viewpoints about this life, or other micro matters---which is quite open-minded and civilized---is quite similar to mine and I feel interesting discussing with her about things. A true good talker!

In short, a sympathetic Sis!

Tomorrow is her B-day, I write this entry is kinda early. I just don't know what to say but wish her all the best! I feel lucky to have one more elder Sis to talk and share with, and you know this kind of chance is rare. Thank you for all your sharing so far, Sis. I'm happy to be your bro. Hope we can meet in reality someday and retain this relationship for long. Not even mention that eventhough you ain't my full-blooded sis but I just consider you as close as that. :D

Happy Birthday to you, Sis. All the best in life will come to you I'm sure. Love you, Sis! :X

"I choose this picture because you smile on it, look good :p"

The above song is for you, Sis, Happy Birthday to You from New Kids on the block.

Hope we will have a great online birthday celebration together tonight, Sis. :X

0321 PM
131109

Blogspot's inconvenience

2009-11-11T22:15:00.003+07:00

Blogspot is not easy and quick in comparison with other Blog services, especially like Tumblr. With Tumblr, the process of composing an entry is rather quicker and just-do-it. Blogspot is good just for writing, not for other fun. Posting a video or even a picture in blogspot is not flexible at all, people must manually do it so much and it's rather hard for ones who ain't Geek. Tumblr is better this matter but I don't like its rich text editor. It is not rich at all as its name. So that I'm considering using both services, Blogspot and Tumblr, to exploit the utmost convenience they provide.

However, by dividing into two separate blog adresses, it is actually not convenient at all. I just wish there is a method to connect two those services. Seems like still impossible. Anyhow, keep writing here and posting other "quick" stuffs there in Tumblr. Here is my page: http://thieuvan.tumblr.com/

It's strange that Google seems not paying very much attention to their blogging service. They have many innovative products but not this Blogspot, like it's left behind. So bad...

PS. This time next month, I will be getting out of the airplane and heading to Home! Oh yeah!

1013 PM
111109

Ticket booked! Returning day identified!

2009-11-03T04:40:00.006+07:00

Finally, I have my returning day determined. :)

It is sooner than I expect, and I hope this will be my best time ever. Home, I'm coming back home!!! I'm gonna be Home!!!

Now, my study is still be an obstacle and I must overcome it to get everything done before going back. I wish I would do everything well! It has been a year and few months since I last was home, and I feel enough living here. Enough! Just go back to change my life for a little bit, and start something new over is all I yearn for now. I am totally worn out of the boring life with unchanged days, some fresh air is more than a need to survive.

Okay, it will be my first Hanoi winter time after 4 years, and of course the first X-Mas with my beloved people! Before, I have never considered X-Mas seriously as a holiday because it isn't my culture. During the time living in Finland, I feel how warm a X-Mas is by foreigners, and it is just similar to our national holiday, Tet. I do love X-Mas now but I never have chance to enjoy it with my people since I'm far apart from them. This year is different! I will have a great relaxing holiday surrounding all by laughter and fun. I really miss Hanoi winter badly, so good I make it!

Whatever it is, I am coming back home! The day is identified! Everything will be set well!

Just brief writing to memorize such a big day of mine. :)

I am so happy.

0434 AM

031109

Listen to this song, and feel what I feel! The feeling of coming back Home!

The least Netiquette

2009-10-29T22:50:00.005+07:00

Throughout the cyberspace, there are many digging themselves under screen-names seem to forget how to behave properly. In short, most of people once going on-line often forget to follow the etiquette, which they disciplinarily obey in reality. People reckon a nickname cannot express much and they are free to behave whatever they would love to do. This way of viewpoint might be true. However, I think even just a nickname can tell many things about its owner depends on the way it is impersonated. Never think you are totally anonymous on the Net!

Well, what is Netiquette? It is the etiquette of Netizen. According to this website's definition, Netiquette is the do's and don'ts of online communication which covers both common courtesy online and the informal "rules of the road" of cyberspace. Can say, wherever we are, on-line or off-line, we should at least follow/obey some certain etiquette rules or codes of conduct, what make us conscious human being.

There are quite a plenty of etiquette but I just hope Netizens are able to do only one tiny thing: introduce first, then be friends.

Always give the Introduction about yourself first!

As long as I am involved into social networks, on-line communities etc, I have felt frustrated enough to see people self-depersonalizing themselves just simply by forgetting the least etiquette: never bother introducing themselves first when making friends with others. Facebook is an example, it is more than surprising to me when I have been given many invitations from people to add my page into their friend lists. They just see me somewhere around the site, find me interesting or not interesting, then add me consciously or unconsciously. Of course never enclose a PM with the Invitation indicating who they are. There are very, I mean very very very, few people polite enough to remember the introduction. I really appreciate those rare ones!

Let's imagine that if you meet someone new on the street and you wanna be friend with him/her. What will you do? You must go talk to him/her right? And the very first speech is used to briefly introduce about yourself right? If not, how on earth could people be friends with each other?

So, if you can do that etiquette well in reality, why can't you do the same when being online?

You just cannot suddenly jump into other's house without a speech. It is same with those online communities, you cannot, or are not allowed, to step into my page once you're unbeknownst to me. If you wanna be warmly welcome, nothing I request but just a tiny speech of introduction, to show me that you are good enough to get involved into. It is all I ask for.

Each day I receive several invitations from people in facebook or other social networks. Many of them are very cute-looking girls in avatar, who I believe I will feel in love with (haha) if I can be friend with them. Unfortunately, I'm afraid they know they are cute so that they have the right to add people without bothering thinking of introduction. It shows me that they don't even really care about being friends with others, just add for fun and for having more people flattering about their beauty. Apologize girls, I cannot accept that perfunctory attitude. Relationship is quite solemn to me and if you under-estimate when adding me into your friend list, I would prefer we shouldn't know each other, even you are as beautiful as a queen. Meaningless to me.

There are at least 2 people add me without introduction, I don't confirm the invitation yet and send them a PM to ask who (the hell) they are. Soon reply that they see me somewhere and decide to add. Okay, I tell them please give an introduction first the next time you add someone else, also stress that it is the LEAST etiquette. Never I receive something from them again! I think they feel shameful, and keep silence is a sign of negative attitude so that I end up ignoring them. It is still a pity to me because actually either of them are friends of my close friends, not really strangers. Just hope we could be all have fun together, but simply impossible.

That cases make me ponder whether I am too strict about this rule of etiquette or not. But finally I come to the decision that I should keep my identity and pride. I have my rule and if you don't follow it, you are out. Be flexible is easy, but not that perfunctory. Also, I believe if a community is aware of the least netiquette, sooner or later, netiznens will follow it. In reality, we have been following enough etiquette, and when being online, we should breath more freely, is it what you wanna say right? Okay, chill, friends, you are right but it doesn't mean we lose every essential behaviour. Remember, even a screen-name can define who you are and how you are!

Thus, behave yourself when go online! Be polite!

Please, give me an introduction first when adding me.

1100 PM
291009

New toy, In-ear Apple Headphones

2009-10-27T21:42:00.013+07:00

When I have an iPhone, the most frequent activity usage is to listen to music. But since the headphone comes with it is veritable a shamrefully poor product, I MUST consider buying a new one. It is like a cheap trick of Apple! They equip buyers with the very best phone and the very worst headphones! That crap easily falls out of your ears and if you try to locate it tightly, your ears get badly hurt. WTF?!! That's it, Apple really force the customers to buy their products! After two week standing for the inconvenience, I'm unbearable anymore so I came to the franchisee store of Apple today and looked for an In-ear Headphones with Mic and Remote which is offered and claimed about its quality by Apple.

Having read Apple's introduction about that headphones, I was just fascinated enough. Still, I have surfed through some reviews from Netizens to get pratical view of it. Learnt that this cute designed product is not that perfect but many times better than the one I'm having, sounds promising huh?

It is truthful to say Apple is not an expert in music industry and their products for music purposes are all of medium quality only. I also consider other professional brands like UE or Shure, two leading headphones makers, but thing is I reckon it isn't cool at all to combine other products with Apple style, like incompatiblity. You know, white wire headphones are trademark of Apple. Even those brands have similar white wire products but they cannot mimic such an unique style! Okay, let's say it's my blindly following to Apple but I do love that white wire, it's lovely. :X

Anyway, I just want something to be able to stick snugly onto my ears and of acceptable quality. I prefer enjoying music at home or elsewhere having a true sound system, not by headphone. Headphone is just used in short-time when I go out, not my top priority. Something enough is enough.

Okay, here is the box of the product, again, refined design as always!

This box is cute, which contains the manual book, too, just like box of an iPhone.

I am unboxing it, removing the plastic cover and taking everything out...

Here is the package of the in-ear headphone comes along with a... pill?

Looks like a pill doesn't it? Actually it is the curved carrying box for other two alternative eartips. I really love that design, you feel relax to see that cute pill. :p

Some comments of mine:

Price: In Apple site, they set the price for this in-ear headphone is $79, while I buy it as €79, as if currency exchange rate totally non-existed. Is it ridiculous or I am wrong?!! What a rip-off! Anyway, the price is indeed a little expensive but Apple means expensive themselves. Sigh...
Design: no more praise for Apple design! Cream of the crop!
Usability: It is stunning! Solves outrightly the problem for my ears' hurt since it sticks snugly and comfortably into them as I expect. Just try some songs to test its quality and I indeed can feel the improvement. Put deep into ears, sound is kept clear and a little stronger even I set the volume in low level. I try some sophisticated songs like Opera or Rock and they seems to be more thunderous. Wow! Don't even need to mention about the built-in Mic and Remote because they're essential in controlling the phone call or a voice-chat through Wifi connection.
Conclusion: it's fair to say this in-ear headphones are very good for either aspects of physical design and practical usability. The price is kinda much but it is worth. Wanna see more analysis from experts about this headphone? You can learn yourself here, a completely full review: [link] See? There are many brilliant people who are willing to try and test and write feedback for such tiny products, I just admire them so much! Net is really the place for sharing, you can be a wise buyer if using Net the right way.

Enjoy the music fully from now on!

0939 PM

271009

Happy B-day my Sis!

2009-10-24T16:47:00.008+07:00

Happy Birthday my one and only full-blooded Sister in the world! Wish you all the best, a happier life, better job, cooler bf and anything else you are longing for! <:-P

two of my sisters

I love You, Sis. :X

Never wanna see you depressed so that please live optimistically and happily, that's what life is meant to be. I, and parents, are beside you all the time. :X

0455 PM

241009

Gifts from Love

2009-10-20T20:54:00.009+07:00

I have received some Love Gifts from my lovable Sweetheart last week, at the same day with my iPhone, and they together formed my day perfect. It was our 2-month-anniversary of the first day I met her again after 11 years, don't I need to stress that it was very special? I guess no!

Swear to God, I was crazily worried if my stuffs could arrive on time that day but thanks him that everything was safe! When I held the whole package of stuffs on my hands, I was just too much excited to go home to unwrap them. Why was the way home that far?!!

Eventually I was home and had time playing with those cute stuffs. I have already told about iPhone, now will be time for my Love Gifts.

Sweetheart, my everything, has patiently knitted a super thick and long scarf for me for weeks when she knew she can transport it to me by quick way. I have told her about the cruel winter here and she is just afraid I could get cold so that a scarf should be an expedient gift. During several days she was knitting that lovely scarf, she showed me her webcam, and I really love the scene which she stayed in bed and knitted it for me. Just like the intimate image of a wife. So close. So sweet.

Here it is:

I really love this scarf, its dark spotty texture is rather cute and the main colour of white just matches my clothes well. I must say this scarf is too warm! No more fear of upcoming winter and snow, I'm sure. Thank you, Sweetheart.

Come along with the scarf, she sends me her "Debt note". It is, funnily, her notebook to note down my debts with her and over the time it becomes her Love Diary, hehehe. :P

The Love Diary with the scarf

I really fancy the wrapping paper, so babyish and so cute, and everything is made by her, that what I do appreciate. Now let carefully unwrap it to see what is inside?

Oh God, here is the notebook I have waited for long time. She bought it since the very first days we met and it contains many sweet memories between us. Looking at that blue cover with some funny and nice images of the ocean and starfish, I just feel kinda peaceful. A very beautiful notebook!

The notebook is really small and I can take it with me everywhere. Contemplate it in-depth for a while, I cannot wait to see her hand-writing. Okay, slowly open its pages... so eager so excited!

Finally I can see her hand-writing. Quite legible and clean, reading her writing is more than a bliss because every single sentence contain her full love to me. Touching. Moved. Speechless...

For 2 months, she has written so much things down on it, and by reading page by page, I feel like driving a time machine to get back to the near past. Each memory, each speech, each emotion are clearly lighting up and from the inside of mine, something is bursting into tears...

You know I and her are still far apart from each other, and it is the first time there have something tangible existing between us. We both feel like our love is certainly real even the distance boundary is challenging us. Nevermind, we believe we will overcome it together, and we really would do!

I am thinking of reading again and again this cute notebook, even the time when I am taking the flight back home. During that whole day long flying, I guess her notebook will really shorten it. It is not long since I return, please wait me, Sweetheart. For our sake, let make dream come true. Without you, nothing I can do.

I really love those gifts, so wonderful that they arrive on our big day anniversary. Oh God, that day was the most happy day I ever had since the day she confessed on me! We have suffered from two months already, and some upcoming months are awaitin'. Each day passes by, I feel more excited to know time of returning home is closer. Just cannot wait!

Thank you for everything, Sweetheart. Your gifts from love really touch my insight. Appreciate! I love You, and them. I feel like you are just nearby me, sitting next to me, and I can feel you by those stuffs. Your scent, your taste, everything is just so close. Gifts from me to you, and from you to me, really create a strong bond between us, to let us know our growing sweet love is true. So that, everything would be just as wonderful...

So much Love.

0952 PM

201009

iPhone showtime

2009-10-20T15:50:00.011+07:00

I have had this piece of art for more than one week but still haven't had time to write about it. This morning is kinda free thus a little review written.

iPhone 3G S 16Gb is something like a portable low-configuration netbook, even that kind of compare isn't accurate. Ranked as the Invention of the year 2007, when you hold an iPhone in your hands, you will feel funny. Apple makes it difficult to define iPhone now since it is no longer just a normal mobile phone but becoming more than that, a smart high-tech communicator, entertainer and other multi-functional devices, you name it. I just couldn't wait to embrace this cute designed toy several days before it arrived. >_<

I am like a die-hard of Apple and its either products and way of doing business. Far from the the great outputs Apple brings to the customers, the chain of building up the brand name, winning reputation and charisma from people, launching Marketing strategies etc and all serve for the last purpose: setting up a mighty empire of Apple, is truly a legendary story. From the field of business point of view, Apple should be glorified as the avant-garde who bravely defies others to head their own way, to think different and do different. Apple is a true master in claiming its value, nothing I can comment more, that makes them the best in the world!

For those who are normal users, I think they will feel rather excited when having an Apple's product. But, for those who enchanted by Apple's behind the scene story like me, I believe we are not just excited but ineffably touching to contemplate and enjoy the huge invention. It is indeed the magnetic enthralment. Have you known about how Apple becomes the big name in the world? About the great eccentric and talented CEO Steve Jobs? No? Why not learning about them right now? Believe me, it's worth a study, especially when you are into the world of business and wanna be a future successful businessman!

Here are some pictures of the sexy iPhone.

I must say everything comes with Apple's products are always in high-level of design, just a box of its tells all. Refine and distingué minimalism. As far as I know, the box of iPhone now is made to be smaller and when you first look at it, you will wonder whether that tiny box can contain something? But it actually is well-arranged enough to put sufficient stuffs inside.

Now the box is unboxed.

Since my iPhone is white, everything comes with it is in a pure color of white, and believe me it's actually very eye-catching from the very first glance. I just cannot self-control to cherish the main thing on the box, here it is...

All the accessories come along with the product, everything is just magnificent. This is my iPhone with the extra hard cover which doesn't enclose with the package of the product. I asked my relative sis to buy the cover for me. Honestly, iPhone is supposed not to be covered by anything but the bad fact is that the cover of every Apple's products are very fragile which easily gets scratches. In order to protect that masterpiece from being spoiled, nothing users can do but to put another cover on it. Sorry Apple!

Without my additional black cover, it is naked sexily like that. Beautiful!

Now iPhone on close-ups:

The design is just wonderful, not any more a metal but a soulful work of art!

The above photo is the enclosed book guide for user which is my favourite. It looks like a chocolate bar doesn't it? Very well designed!

I will skip commenting about iPhone functions because articles about it are ubiquitous on the Net. Still, I really love iPhone's connectivity and usability. Now the dream of being online 24/7 and staying connected with people are coming true, leave alone iPod's majestic music player ability. I have checked if it can connect through Wifi well, and here is the result:

It is surfing through my blog and I can say the graphic is rendered just well. Safari web browser is my favourite and it fits iPhone just perfect. Depending on the speed of the network, but you will not feel bored of waiting the phone to load the site, indeed! The best thing is that user can zoom in or out the site just by using two fingers, so much convenient to read texts and see pictures! Talking about the zooming function, when you view a photo in your gallery and feel interested in some part of its only, you can zoom in then take a screenshot of the preferred part then make it your phone wallpaper. Thanks Apple for their great idea!

When entering heavily graphical site, iPhone still does a great job in accessing, but too bad with flash-based site, it cannot fully display for the shortage of built-in flash player. I cannot believe but it's a real mistake of Apple not providing users that application. I really yearn for a fix from them soon because flash-based websites are popular today. Gosh! >_<

For more photos of iPhone, feel free to view it on my facebook's gallery: [link]

Not like many other users complaining about the multi-touch interface of iPhone, I do love it. Even you know? Many people suggest Apple should have a real QWERTY keyboard like Blackberry or Nokia phones. Oh gosh, c'mon, don't you want Apple to self-sacrifice its style? Using the artificial keyboard is quite convenient to me even either the interface and keyboard are rather too sensitive, but I do enjoy using those functions. To get familiar with typing in an iPhone really requires time but once you get used to it, you will soon love it very much. Every pieces of this iPhone in specific speaking and other Apple's products in general speaking, are just very much intuitively designed.

I love iTunes application, iTunes store and Apple store, too. Professionalism is just like that. With those stuffs you will be ensured to control over and keep your iPhone in track and it's all users wish for.

Of course iPhone still gets some disadvantages but they are incomparable with its advantages. I think iPhone, with all its built-in functions, is really enough for a normal usage in case you do not have some extravagant needs. You cannot, or should not, demand too much from iPhone since it has already provided you all the best. Ones who asking for a real all-in-one devices are typical example of insatiable style. They should keep dreaming in their sleep and never should wake up because never has something called "all-in-one" truly exists. All-in-one concept actually depends on how you see thing, if you content with it then it's all-in-one. Remember, iPhone essentially is still a mobile phone with additional functions!

I must say using an iPhone just commences for other futuristic products from Apple I am gonna enjoy. I'm thikin' of an iMac pro at the moment, save money now! =p~

Go grab yourself an iPhone and keep track with your work and people!

0544 PM

201009

Blog was undergone a facial surgery

2009-10-16T19:25:00.013+07:00

If you often haunt my blog so far, you will notice that I have made an overhaul for my on-line home here, a completely different appearance was built up in replace for the poor, bad-looking default theme from Blogspot.

Honestly, you cannot imagine how many hours I have spent just in search for a satisfied theme blog. There are many options available out there but not many of them are really usable and cool enough for my strict taste. I have been diving into myriads of websites offering free, downloadable themes and sometimes I was just fatigued for watching and trying too much models. Eventually, after suffering from hours wondering about this and that, I made up my mind to use the current one, as you all see.

My personal comments for this theme:

Nice design: this theme is quite utilizable to me since it is clean and simple. I do not really fancy some sophisticated, flourish designed themes blog which is prevailing in the Net. I just need something simple but profound in aestheticism's point of view. After trying different colourful models, I came to the thought that it should be better to use less colours, in order to avoid messing up the screen
Usability: the wide sidebar on the left in black is definitely cool, which highly contrasts with the right-handed, bright-coloured main frame of the blog. Black-and-White-based design is always eye-catching, which is perfectly added some points of red in the menu and texts just to gain more impression from viewers. The side bar now is friendly enough to encourage me to add some functions on it, instead of leaving it blank as used to. Now, sidebar is really something controlling over the whole site! In the future, I'm planning to add some more widgets into it
Smart entry composing space: the best thing I love from this theme is that in the main frame where blog entries composed, the width has been rearranged to keep it in balance, not so large nor so tight. I can be sure that no matter what web browser used and resolution of view's screen is, they will still see my blog in perfect situation. Yay yay!
Fix the bug: if you notice, my previous default theme blog has a very narrow width that results in the invasion of Youtube video once its width is larger than the width of my blog --> layout is broken sometimes, no good! Now, problem is perfectly solved. I love this theme!
Menu added: more than that, this theme gives me a menu on top of the site that enables me to put there some special offers for my blog visitors, for a quick get-to-know about me. It is ideal since all default themes from Blogspot forget to add a menu in the top-bar
Search engine: a built-in search engine is added and you now can search within my blog more effective. Kudos!

Still, I myself add in the bottom of the sidebar a Shoutbox, which enables you to make a quick chat with me when crossing by here. It is just convenient thanks to the great service of Cbox.ws since my blog was kinda in lack of two-way interaction between me and visitors if they do not have a Blogspot account. You can go to Cbox and possess yourself one, it is my highly recommendation!

Credits: its name is 2plus, from Blogger Styles, the best blog theme supplier in the Net ever found! Actually I have modified some codes from the original source to best matches my preference, thanks God it was not a tough job since I have no kop on coding at all. :P

I always wanna self-customize my blog as personal as possible but Blogspot is not so flexible to do so. Thanks to those modifiers I can let my wish come true. Now, I will blogging more often here. :D

Please be so kind to let me know what you think about this new appearance of my blog!

Here is some other options I have wondered, draft themes:

http://thieuvan-4.blogspot.com/

http://thieuvan-3.blogspot.com/

http://thieuvan-2.blogspot.com/

http://thieuvan-tester.blogspot.com/

How do you think? They are all cool ain't they? But I believe the one chosen by me is the best among those for usability! :P

Some sources of theme blog I found:

http://www.bloggertemplates.org/

http://blogspottemplates.blogspot.com/

http://blogger-classic.blogspot.com/

http://blogspotbloggertemplates.blogspot.com/

http://freetemplates.blogspot.com

http://www.eblogtemplates.com

http://www.falconhive.com/

http://www.bloggerstyles.com/

http://www.bloggertricks.com

http://www.yummylolly.com

And many others, Google yourself to find! See? I have been to many sources to get this one, and feel just content about it. :D

From now on, I will rotating-ly change my blog's face periodically. I hope my blog will be a feast for your eyes!

Thank for crossing by. Stay tuned!

0758 PM
161009

About. Fun. Fact

2009-10-16T19:14:00.002+07:00

If you are passing by this blog, you might or might not know know me. Whatever bond between you and me is, I do appreciate your visit.

You are now in personal blogosphere of Binh Nguyen, a 22-year-old Vietnamese student who is currently studying International Business bachelor degree in Finland and going to return home country after graduation next year, 2010. Being on-line and enjoying the life optimistically is my essential lifestyle that can be a relief for my everlasting loneliness. Describing about me, in short, quoted from someone's testimonials, "quiet in the outside and rebellious in the inside".

[...]

Stay tuned!

Contact

2009-10-16T18:21:00.007+07:00

Feel interested in and would like to approach, I accept you to contact me through the Internet based on those following sources:

Disclaimer:

- For the unbeknownsts, hello and nice to meet you! Please be so kind to introduce you first before adding me onto your Chat Messenger List. A PM is enough. Normally I will not add a stranger without any sign of introduction. Thank you for your understanding!

- For the acquaintances, I would love to get in touch with you all!

- Any off-line contact information (phone numbers, home address, appointment etc) should only be provided upon request under a reliable reason

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Yahoo Messenger: truyuc

Skype: thieu.van

Gmail: truyuc@gmail.com

Facebook: [link]

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Thank you for your concern!

0645 PM

161009

Refresh

2009-10-10T15:39:00.014+07:00

I'm currently enjoying my autumn break, as long as one week off-school, but since we didn't have class on Thursday this week, I have about 10 free days haha. So great. I'm bored enough of school stuffs so need to unwind now...

SIGNS

You should watch the above video from youtube, SIGNS. It's one of the best I have ever seen. You see, Love sometimes just comes suddenly into your boring life and delights you up. You don't even need to speak anything, just let it grow silently. :)

Lesson from the clip: don't let love go! If you have a chance, hold it tight or you will miss it unforeseeably. Love is something fragile and easily effing, distance between win or lose is just narrow, your turn to lead it!

***

Recent few months I do gym twice per day, after getting up and before having dinner. I do mainly push-up and sit-up and some other kinds. Gosh, I used to play sport like an athlete since pupil-age and gave up when entering university. After few years not so active in sports, and my most frequent activity each day is to sit down on the chair using computer, my body seems no longer belong to me. It becomes weaker and weaker and I'm such a lazyass...

Anyway, getting the scheduled gym back is quite funny. It's unbelievable to realize how my body defies against me when I first ordered it to do some tasks the first week, it hurt hard. I bet my muscle was still sleeping. But thing was fine after 3 weeks. Now, doing gym twice each day is becoming my habit and I really cannot live without it.

I just have a feeling that by doing gym, by making your body work hard with strong activities known as sports, it creates a bond between you and your body. I often close my eye when doing gym, and feel the physical tension my body is under, to test its sustainability. Not just making your health better, gym helps you understand your body language, like a spiritual communication. Know how to stop when your body reaches its limitation, know how could your body can endure, all of those new things are just interesting to discover. I feel like I deeply understand my body's insight now, how it thinks and how it works, in order to control over it better and to understand the utmost intrinsic power I have. So amazing!

Also, I know that it's easy to gain some weights but so hard to gain a little muscle. Sigh... cutting redundant fat off is my top target at the moment. :-??

***

Current life is too much happy that sometimes I wanna write down something, just don't know how to start, and how to end. Strange, when you're blue it's easy to release your sadness. But when you're full of happiness, everything you can do is to smile. :)

I'm feeling exactly like the guy on the above clip. He lives the lonely life each day. Eats lonely, sleeps lonely and thinks lonely. He lives with no happiness nor sadness, each day passes by just the same way. Thing changes when she appears and he gets something like inspiration to live happier. I see myself on the video clip. Love comes and it cheers up my boring life. I don't say love is all in life, but it has the power to push your life ahead while nearly nothing can do the same. Love partly makes your life full so that I wish you all would find love in your life. :)

Next time, I will talk more about this fav topic. Now, enough for a day. It's weekend already and everything I would love to do in weekend (if not in Hanoi) is to stay home and immerse into Love and Music. :P

0735 PM

101009

Loc's 22nd B-day

2009-10-02T13:28:00.012+07:00

Okay, today is my best friend's b-day, the 22nd. Congratulations! Here is the guy's blog address, step by and give him a wish if you can: http://azecna.tumblr.com. He has patiently collected himself quite interesting things there, I'm sure you will find something worth reading.:)

Hellyeah, a blog entry cannot tell everything between me and him.

Anyway, we have been friends since 10 years old, it's about 12 years until now, quite a long time actually and I feel good having him as a chum. 12 years old is something like a pride, many people have themselves friends but long-term friendship is still something special. Many ones have childhood friends but when they're mature the friendship breaks up. Thanks God it doesn't happen to us. Contrarily, thing just goes better and better over the time. Damnit, so great! =))

I just realize I have quite a few close friends, but only him is boy, others are girls. Since you have a chum to whom you are too close, it's unlikely to have an another which can stand in the same class. Methinks, friend is something non-interchangeable, even you have 1000 loosing friends cannot replace for only one close to you. I don't really distinguish friends between friends, someone I call "friend" should have a certain connection to me, but it's natural this one has more solid connection than others. So that, close friend like him is quite unique, at least I cannot---or don't need to---get really really close to any other boys, so that I switch to girls as 2nd option to consider friend. But don't get me wrong that I come to you just for only choice, girls, you know me yeah? Yeah, get to know girls is just a majestic job I have done in my life so far, ha ha. :P

It's amazing that I have more than just one close female mate. Making friends with girls seems to be easier than it is with boys, to me. But even there are a few close to me, no one is as comparable as Loc. Anyway, I feel really good having you all, mates. :)

Okay, talking back to my guy, he seems having some certain difficulties in life after study graduation. However everyone has his/her own hasn't him/her? I believe he will suffer from if he tries, it's what life is supposed to be. Hope whatever happens, he still be able to keep his head up! For b-day wish, I just wish we could be friends long-lastingly. Not exactly a wish actually 'cos it's just what is gonna happen for sure. But anyway, just a wish, since I don't think of anything else. What is more important than friendship?

Okay, be cool, man! So bad we couldn't stay together for your b-day these years as usual since I'm still getting stuck in this goddamn country, but I'm sure your next b-day we could follow our traditional custom: staying in some cool restaurant and be freaky there hehehehe. :D

Happy Birthday, Loc. <:-P

0148 PM
021009

Self-introspect

2009-09-30T14:19:00.009+07:00

I am lonely.

More accurate, I am lonely living aboard.

Loneliness is always my mate, living right next to me, staying beside me for long since I was small. It hurts me sometimes in the past but no longer affects my life at all, at present, since I've learnt to accept and welcome it, as an irreplaceable aspect of life. There is no such feeling like happy or sad when being lonely as it becomes a normal mood. I have a supportive family, sympathetic friends, an enthralling lover and quite many interests to inspire me to live. It is a full life actually. You can ask why do I need to be lonely? Okay, loneliness here doesn't mean I have no one with me but no feeling living here. Overseas.

I have been going aboard for nearly 4 years and it is quite a tough time. The aboard life is just fine, I can adapt to a new living environment not so well, but not so bad either. Of course I have some certain difficulties at first but things are all fine after early periods of time, I overcome all of those. The longer I live here, the better I feel 'cos I have my 100% freedom without parents' surveillance. I learn to live on my own and decide my life, it is a great experience ever! I learn to make foreign friends and make money as well as make fun to enjoy the life. After all, it is my luck to go study aboard, and become a man out of boy.

However, last few days when I was going in the middle of the street, I just felt deeply lonely, just like no one were besides or all were strangers. I just realize I don't belong to this society, this city, or this place. No matter how much I try to love it, this society isn't mine. Again, I must make you right that the problem doesn't come from the feeling of having no one stay with. I just realize everything is somehow unreal. People I know, the freedom, the life... everything is not real. Don't know why.

Vietnam, honestly, is not a good country to live. Vietnamese society and people has too many vices and bad sides which can kill brutally my love for it. I hate many Vietnamese stupid cultures and bad people. I hate Vietnamese government polices. I hate the uncivilized condition of its either people and society. I hate many many things belong to Vietnam. However, I am a Vietnamese. My roots is Vietnamese. If someone ask me whether I feel proud of being a Vietnamese, I will NOT say YES immediately. I will suggest the question to be clearer, "proud for which extent?" For some certain extents, I really feel happy to be a Vietnamese and vice versa. Still, I know many Vietnamese fuckin' people refuse their roots when being asked "where are you from?". In stead of answering "Vietnamese" they lie other nationalities. Okay, maybe I'm not fully proud of being a Vietnamese but I never refuse being a Vietnamese. Never hide my roots.

I can see negatively toward Vietnam country but I prefer living in my native land, Hanoi, to elsewhere. Hanoi is a true place where I belong to and I am a true Hanoian. Maybe I am not fully proud of being a Vietnamese but I am really really proud of being a Hanoian because Hanoi is the best city of Vietnam no matter what others say! I think the feeling of loneliness I'm having at the moment essentially results in the fact that I cannot belong to elsewhere but Hanoi. When you feel you cannot live truly happy in a place---or the place you're living in isn't meant for you---the best you should do is to go back to where you come from. So yeah, I'm coming back where I come from, Hanoi. Next year. But...

In order to be able to come back, I must graduate soon from university and try to earn some bucks which enable me to be affordable for the life there. Actually I am getting stuck on my study and work here at the moment. Feeling a little disappointed... My study is quite tedious and killing my inspiration. My work is procrastinated endlessly. However, if I wanna back ASAP, I must finish the goddamn study quickly, no other way... To be honest, I'm never a studious student since I have no inspiration for studying, but if it is for the dream of coming back my home, there is no place for such thing like want or don't want, just do it! I think it will be the first time in my life I devote time and effort for study. Maybe I will study my ass off and kill all my free time to read read read, just like a bookworm and soon become a dull... Okay, let me explain or else you think of me as a lazyass. I hate school and academic environment! I prefer self-researching and self-studying. It is my strength to self-study and I have penchant to follow my own interests more effectively rather than being forced to study something. I have my own ways to collect and accumulate knowledge and living experiences. Everyday, I learn myself something new from the Internet and society and people. Everyday, I keep myself gaining something which makes me gradually a good person. It is my way to learn. I don't really think some subjects I'm dying into at school are quite necessary for my future but okay let don't talk about it, it's education, hell... Anyway, I hate studying, and the best way to get out of it is to finish it. So yeah! Kill it soon and concentrate on working for a short time before coming back. My plan is set!

I'm 22 years old at the present. Never before do I crave for a stable life in which I can live freely to promote my career. Yes, I'm in the gateway to my career and it's urgent time to concentrate on advancing required skills and abilities or else I become a loser. Everything I wish for at the present is the time pushes quickly for next 3 years, when I would be 25 and maybe having my own family! Yes, I'm serious when talking about my-own-family.

I have been lonely quite enough and now I just wanna say bye bye to that old mate. Since I realize family is the most important thing in life, I just look forward to having it. A man really needs a family as a solid foundation for him to single-eyedly develop his career! I am fed up with having lonely meals daily. I am worn out getting home just to enjoy the completely lonesomeness because home is meant as just me and me here. I am weary of doing things alone. Never before do I wish for having my own home sweet home where has my lady and babies laughing. Never before I yearn for a stable life. Oh gosh, you can make fun of me because as you might think; I'm just 22 and it's quite early to think of my own family but it's the truth! My mindset has changed inversely, I used to plan to have a family at about 30, but now I think I cannot wait that long! I need a company to walk with me in the long road ahead. Family---includes its all members---is the best company I can find!

Hanoi is the place I make my dream come true. Hanoi is where I belong and family is what makes my life. It's it!

So yeah, try hard to achieve the dream! C'mon, myself!

0240 PM
300909

Passion for Music culminated by Love

2009-09-27T15:40:00.008+07:00

I love Music.

Among many passions I have ever had in my life, I realize music possesses my highest desire! Nothing is comparable to music, and I deem music is the purest thing originates for many other human's passions. Music is able to delight or depress me depends on which song I listen to. It's just a mysterious power! I think I have a good sense of music though, once I'm in the right mood for a song, I can easily stay in trance for it for a long time. I can be able to feel the beauty of a single piece of note or the rhythm if my concentration reaches its top. I like writing, and each time I plan to write something, I often listen to a collection of songs in search for writing inspiration. Most of the times I find what I wanna find!

Talking about the beauty of a song, empirically, there are songs just are subtle over your mind and you do not feel it for the first time listening. But suddenly when you are in the middle of something, sentences of a lyrics cross by your mind and make you notice, then that song will go inside you quickly. You might feel nonsense for a given song at first, but you can never anticipate if it really is not meant for you later on. This phenomenon happens to me quite often. Be flexible and opened! Many people know me also know that I once proclaimed I would only enjoy Rock music as my essence of life. I used to think Rock is the one and only genre merits listening to. Oh yeah, how superficial I was haha :P. Since I learn to enjoy the life more, surprisingly, I find out beside Rock, there are many many other genres should try or else my life is worthless. Pop, Jazz, Country, Folk and so on, even Rap. All are fantastic!

I have the habit to listen to music alone. If you have ever read a novel of Japanese author Haruki Murakami, South of the border - West of the Sun, you will see me as the protagonist of that novel, Hajime, at least for the habit to enjoy music. Hajime is partial to immerse himself into his own world with full of books and music and other interests where no one can trespass. So do I! I wanna be alone with the fear that others could ruin my peaceful ambiance music brings. As time flies, I gradually lessen this extreme point of view and let other good friends enjoy music with me. I had one beautiful night sharing the music during the last summer short trip with my best friends, it was a very nice experience ever. But that kind of friend is rare, like one or two only.

Also, I reckon lovers don't really need to be harmonious in the taste of music 'cos each can enjoy himself/herself lonely and separately. My ex-girlfriends don't have same taste with me, and we never listen together something. Actually I cannot stand for her music and neither she can. But, it is just fine to me. Why need her to share? Anyway, all of the sudden, my Sweetheart shows me that if a couple can share the feeling of music, it's just a platonic love.

Well, talking back to the novel aforementioned, the content just fits our affair well. Hajime is an extremely introvert thinker who always lives lonely and does things with his discretion. He is too protective for his private life. But eventually he finds he can share everything, include music, with his girl, Shimamoto, and they are childhood friends. Over the time, they lose each other for many many years and only after they are adults could they reunite. Basically, it is just same to me and my Sweetheart. We lost each other 11 years ago---shorter than the time Hajime and Shimamoto have--- but luckily I can catch her again now :P. The babyish affection still retains and enhances into a higher level, known as Love.

It is an ineffable feeling when I find out we are like-minded, in many extents: viewpoints, habits, hobbies, life-styles... almost everything. I never expect my girl must be alike with me 'cos I know each person has his/her own personality, but the more similar we are, of course the better. Now I believe if a couple is maladjusted each other and they cannot find things in common, sooner or later they won't not have a very happy ending. My conclusion is applicable in most of the cases, as I base on plenty of people's love stories. The most common explanation for many breakups simply is "mismatch", but what does mismatch really mean? No one cares about it until they break up. So yeah! It's my experience that I should fathom the girl I target out first, then decide to take thing seriously with her or not. A couple who don't have time to discover each other and hastily jump into love would end up nothing. The prerequisite for a solid, long-term affair should be like-mindedness between lovers, I suppose. Maybe I and my Sweetheart are coeval so we can understand as well as sympathize each other well. At least, we have no conflict stems from age differences yet, like other couples. Age differences create viewpoint differences you know.

Opps... seem like I'm misleading. Okay, music again. It's true that since I fall in love with my Sweetheart, she helps culminate my passion for music. Naturally, we share our music even our tastes are not the same. But unconsciously I open my mind to accept her music, also accept me to try them. I realize she has a good sense of music, too, or maybe even better than me. Her taste is rather refined. Songs recommended by her are all good, most of them are love songs. Cute. I love them, very much.

Greater than just listening to music together, Sweetheart sings for me! She is my unique singer. Oh my Goddess, it's wonderful if you can conquer a girl who can sing :D. She loves singing and hearing her songs now becomes my daily habit. Some songs she sings I cannot find consonant if I listen to other professional singers' performances with the shortage of love as additional taste she offers :P. I feel harmony exists between us in music. Each song she sings, she also indicates which sentences of lyrics are cute or meaningful to her, or explains the meaning of the song for me. I feel like she touches my sense of music and inspires it so that I can feel the songs deeper. Her magnetic voice enthralls me, brings me back to the childhood when I lived peacefully. It is a very pleasant feeling after all, to immerse totally into the world of rhythm.

It's true to say Sweetheart widens my world of music, puts many good songs into it. Also reminds me to carefully discover the hidden message which a song contains. I pay more attention to the lyrics, ponder its meaning and note down some beautiful sentences I'm into. Seem like each of the song I can find a part of "me" within, and it's just lovely!

Music is a pure joy of life. I love it. Of course I always love music but thanks to my Sweetheart, the love for music could be able to reach its climax. Music purifies my mind and frees it up from boredom. Each night before I sleep, my unique singer lulls me by some love songs. Each morning when I wake up, if we can meet, she delights me by her voice, again. In case of not meeting each other, I enjoy myself with those shared songs. I just think music is our common way of communication. By together walking in that way, we become intimate and close. Sometimes, we stay together, without saying a word but listen to a song, or she sings for me. It's just enough to touch each other's insight. Also, my heart is opening now to self-discover other styles of music which I have never tried before. More than a surprise, there are so many good ones out there. Opps, my laptop's hard-disk is overloaded with music now. Oh yeah, my most valuable treasure!

Have you listened to music today yet? :P

0413 PM
270909

Love & Loss

2009-09-18T19:12:00.009+07:00

The picture above taken from the movie Fast & Furious 4. Three guys are talking and drinking. The middle guy (bad guy) raises his glass of wine and says, "to the ladies we love, and the ladies we lost. Salute!".

It is a little scene of the movie, but I find it impressing. Yeah, someday you will head to a certain period of your life which is long enough for you to look back the past. What reminds you of then? Memories. Sometimes, memories of fading affairs really turn you down. Within your life, how many ladies have you hooked on? How many times have you felt missing someone badly? How did you react?

We can easily love a lady, and dump her even easier. Love is somehow impulsive and sometimes we just follow our vagarious moods to get into a lady without pondering whether we match her or not. Why bother pondering? We feel her sexy/pretty/cutie and it's just enough to get into her. That's it. Life is easy. Ladies, are sometimes too naive---or too easy or too wise---for us to catch---or to be caught, that we get involved into such amourette hastily. We don't even have time to feel love before it's gone. And when it's gone, we have no after-taste of it at all, or just a very slight scent of hers is still subtle over our minds, which also totally vanishes transiently.

However, I believe if we respect love seriously, we will be much happier. Love-game is easy to play, and easy to lose yourself, too. What is left after such games is a feeling of emptiness which is really be able let you down inextricably. Talking about the ladies, sometimes the ladies we lost deserve being reminisced. Anyhow, they are whom we used to love, or still loving. I have my ladies. They crossed by my life and gave me such happiness. I lost them, and I don't remember a lot of things about them, except sad memories. Time kills all. After a breakup of an affair, I keep some love-tokens of ours. But I realize that I lose those stuffs over the time, also realize if we want to keep something reminiscent of the past, we should keep the intangibles not the tangibles. Memory is intangible so that it could be kept longer in our minds. Unfortunately, time also kills human's minds, too, so that we will lose everything of the past someday, and soon. It is why I always treasure memories as the most invaluable, cherishing thing. Memory is the proof of the life I have passed by, and each single piece of it never ever is allowed to forget regardless of cheerful or tearful it is. It is what makes my life's meaning: cherish the past as present is less prior.

But no matter how much I cherish the memory, it's gone someday as time passes by. I know this and I accept this. To be honest, I think it's better the memory is gone naturally instead of staying with its owner immortally. If we rigidly insist on keeping the past, we will close our hearts and sooner get stuck. We should keep our mind, heart, and soul open in lieu of closing them, otherwise we are unable to find next love. When memory is gone, it is. Past is past and we are living at present.

Last night, I had such a nightmare about my first lover. She was there, clearly. She smiled. She laughed. We were intimate. Just like the time we were together. Hell, the dream illustrated too clearly about us, we did such thing which I cannot stand for or never think of again since I lost her. She was too real. It was not the first time I dreamt of her but it was the first time the dream illustrated such silly and terrible things which scared me. Sigh... she is too far away now but it seems I still get obsessed from her. When I woke up, I hardly believed I could have a dream like that. It really turned me down and scared the hell out of me. Okay, dream is just a dream and I'm not kind of person who is afraid of confronting the past, or anything. What makes me scared from that dream is not because I met her again, but the feeling as if I still have something on her or else the dream shouldn't be that... intimate. The fact is I have nothing left for her. Absolutely. Totally.

I'm deeply into my new affair now and don't wanna have anything affects on it. That kind of dream really pisses me off when I see myself embracing with other girls rather than my true girl. I'm sweated when I wake up and a little bit thrilling. How the hell could I have such a dream?

Thing goes fine when I'm online and read my sweetheart's sweet offline messages. I just feel like to be revitalized. Anyway, it is a dream and even how bad it is, nothing you need to care about, just forget it. I realize what my real love is and what I really should cherish: the present. Yes, I should not cherish the past that much, what I should cherish is the current life! Sweetheart, she is my present life and I should put everything from the past behind in order to be with her. Past is worth being treasured but I should take it easy. Sometimes bad memory comes and it hurts, but I can be able to keep it in guarantee so that it no longer infects other aspects of my life. I can keep my head up, I can move my life on whatever happens.

I still can salute for both the lady I love and the ladies I lost care-freely. I still remember them. I treated my lost ladies bad from the past which is my lesson now to treat my current lady better. Still, I forgive every bad things they have done to me, too, and really appreciate them for crossing by my life and giving me such happiness. Thank you, ladies! Wish you all lucky in life, as I am since I can find new love. My new essence of life: avoid mistakes from the past re-happening and treasure the present!

Let me close the past and open the present. What is bygone, is bygone!

0705 pm
180909

Co-habitation

2009-09-15T17:13:00.011+07:00

Prelogue

Few weeks ago, I wrote an entry entitled "Pre-marital Intimacy", which is incomplete so that I add the missing second part of it.

The term "Co-habitation" in this entry means pre-marital co-habitation or to cohabit without marriage. Due to the fact that this life-style is outdated already in many other countries, Vietnamese people still see it as immoral. In short, cohabitation is unaccredited in such a deeply feudal country because it defies against the culture.

Vietnamese culture disallows people to cohabit before marriage but the national law does not state this life-style illegal. Cohabitation becomes illegal only in the case the joiners are already married to other people. Hence, I will only analyze cohabitation based on safe cases: cohabitants are single in marital status or divorcees. Moreover, cohabitants should be above 16 years old or else they break the national law. Before going deep into analysis, there is one important issue should be clarified here: is cohabitation immoral? Or isn't it?

Moral or Immoral?

From the past, Vietnamese culture allows men to have more than one wife whose average ages could range from 12 to 16---unbelievably young! Nowadays, the country seems to be civilized a little bit since it sets the law in which punishes people who have more than one spouse. In the meantime, the law also claims it is illegal for people to have sex under the age of 16. It is completely contrary to the past, as you can see. But it is funny that if our predecessors see a model of family with multiple spouses whose ages are young is just normal and natural, modern people in current society see it immoral!??

Where does the code of morality originate from? Of course, it is ingrained from generations to generations over the time. It is historical! So why people consider cohabitation and early sex are immoral now? If they insist it is immoral so the predecessors are all immoral, too? Is it funny? Paradoxically, people are living the modern life but they are less open-minded compared to their ancestors. We are having a bigger life, but getting smaller brains.

The truth is that Vietnamese people don't even have ourselves an official, national-widely accredited code of morality at all. What people are keep calling "Morality" is simply a ridiculous concept which is set by a group of people who distractingly state themselves as patronized class in the society. They empower themselves to judge others to be immoral even they don't bother thinking that they are ones who go against their own culture. Over the time, this spontaneous rule becomes prevailing just because many people are too weak to resist it, and they end up unreasonably assenting. Reluctantly.

What I am all implying about is that cohabitation---and of course pre-marital sex, which already proved in previous entry---is NOT immoral. If you do not accept it, just shut your mouth up! Firstly, do not bring "morality" here to support for your own conservative viewpoint. Morality does not concern. Secondly, do not tell me that it is against the national culture because our, aka Vietnamese, culture does accept cohabitation as well as early sex. Looking back the past and learn to appreciate our history!

After all, once cohabitants do not break the laws, no one can have the right to judge them. You can realize there are many bunches of hypocrites in the society who jointly form Vietnam as a hypocritical nation. It is our shame, even you posit it or not.

Why disapproves cohabitation?

Beside the misconception of immorality, people have other reasons to disapprove cohabitation. I myself support some of those.

In general, cohabitation is usually emerging among the young people, especially students. In the limited extent of this entry, I just wanna talk about the young's cohabitation who still not get married. The fact is that many cohabitants still do not prepare themselves necessary knowledge and skills before getting involved into living with another people. Cohabitation results in the increasing rate of abortion, the alarmingly number of self-murderers and other social maladies. All stem from the bad education system, as I already said once in previous entry.

Responsibility is what most cohabitants lack of. Many of them volunteer to cohabit but are not responsible enough to jointly solve when facing difficulties happen. With the thought that they are still not official spouses, they seem to forget to promote their cohabiting lives as happy as possible. Essentially, cohabitation and marriage are the same, the thing differs them is just a wedding---a formal procedure. Apparently, Vietnamese young people distinguish clearly between a spouse and a cohabitant and consequently leads to different attitudes---respect or disrespect---toward the person they are living with. Many blokes view his cohabitants as someone they just are playing with, not their serious relationships which deserve a full respect. They can dump their cohabitants whenever they want, as boys say. I think it is a REAL problem of morality!

Furthermore, many girls who agree to cohabit with their men turn out to be not ready enough. They misconceive the people they live with and only after sharing their lives could they understand how bad their partners are. Being given bad treatment and unfair behaviors, girls feel regretful and easily get both spiritual and physical pains which lead their lives to hell. It is, again, a REAL problem of morality. Society always strikes its unjust prejudice towards women if they have lived with other men before their husbands. Thus, in order to live okay under a feudal society like Vietnam, women who wanna cohabit should be aware of people's criticism and consider whether they can stand on it or not.

Being irresponsible, people easily lose their love affairs after cohabiting. They are open-minded enough to voluntarily cohabit but not open-minded enough to accept their partners' weakness or bad sides revealed during the cohabiting life. They have an illusive hope to make their lives happy when living with their lovers but they are not ready to compromise each other in dealing conflicts. In most of the case of breakups, cohabitants are all defending for their strong, egoistic personalities instead of calming down to sympathize each other. Also, as said, with the thought that they have not married yet, they do not need to preserve the relationship and end up ruining it once they realize how different they are. Easy comes, easy goes.

All of the above issues to say that many young people are having troubles with their attitudes of cohabitation. Lack of knowledge to have a safe sex leads to bad consequences afterward, lack of necessary responsibility leads to inevitable breakup, lack of sympathy and respect to each other and so on. No wonder why people disapprove cohabitation.

Think seriously before you react!

Why approves cohabitation?

However, cohabitation has good side. It is a sign of love's sublimation to which a couple show each other. Cohabitation makes people be closer and sometime it is a memorable time in one's life. Love-based cohabitation is romantic and very special for lovers to get to know each other better, as well as to experience their harmony. Life is harsh and sometime we need someone stays beside us, cohabitation is ideal this way! Still, cohabitation can teach people to be responsible since they are not living for their own but for others, too.

Practically, cohabitation also solves a very big deal to most of the adolescents: sex need. Yes, sex need! People need and want sex, by cohabiting they satisfy their basic instinct. It is natural to the up-growth of human being and I have no idea but to support it.

Cohabitation without official wedding is convenient. Many married people get stuck in their marriage since they don't feel good being with their partners, but fear of divorcing due to the social prejudice. Cohabitation is great this way, people can say goodbye easier once they still ain't under the legal binding. No binding life sounds irresponsible but in some isolated cases, it agitates people to live easier and freely. It is what life meant to be, easy and free. I love this life!

More than that, cohabitation is important for future spouses. It is illustrated as a testing period of time for two people to measure their harmony. Harmony is prerequisite which decides whether spouses can keep living long-termly or not. Many people who do not have the cohabiting time before marriage feel disappointed after that. I can say the raising divorce rate results in lacking of time getting to know each other before marriage.

Cohabitation and Marriage

I have a very interesting case supports for the entry, here it is [link]. Published in Dantri (a cheap Vietnamese e-tabloid), the article tells us about a couple who has decided to cohabit since the student time when they were studying aboard, until when they are back to Vietnam and working. They seem to go well until the man wants to get married with his cohabitant. Surprisingly, she refuses as she tells wedding is not important since they are living just fine together. The man feels upset, and he is under pressure of his parents since they are too old and all they want is to see him gets married and has babies. Typical feudal style of parents in Vietnam. The man gets in dilemma in which he can not even find a way to get outta which results in the couple's lack of explicit conversation to exchange their wants and needs. No wonder their relationship will be broken. It is an archetypal example of most common problem for any cohabitation.

Here, I raise a question, is a marriage important? Come back to my old entry to read my viewpoint of Vietnamese traditional wedding, and the way to facilitate it: [link]

Back to the case, when the woman insists it is fine for her to keep living together with the man, and she agrees to have babies due to the man's, and his parents', needs and wants, but he still does not feel satisfied. He needs a wedding to declare their official matrimony while she views it unnecessary. The fact that she is totally right. Why needs a wedding to declare their matrimony? It is real that they have been living together for years and they can be considered spouses already. A wedding doesn't help at all in making things be better. Such a matter of attitude people often misconceive; marriage is too much being over-estimated.

Vietnamese people still view non-married cohabitants is eccentric and rebellious. Marriage has bad sides itself, so many people fear of it. More and more misogamists are becoming a group of people in the society and forms an emerging life-style which is being followed by a number of young people. Is it bad or good, you answer it yourself!

Anyway, I just wanna say that cohabitation is human's natural right, do not judge it or fuss too much. Be responsible is all you should be, before considering cohabitation. If you think you do the right thing, just do not care to society's criticism. It is not worth.

05:27 pm
150909

Destined Love

2009-09-13T21:40:00.008+07:00

Feeling like being crazy of reading a very long, boring material served for the subject I'm studying my ass off, I decide to postpone it and write something. As you might know, writing is something like releasing the boredom through my fingertips, hope it helps me get back my aspiration now...

...

Following the daily news, just to realize Hanoi is touching its very first signs of upcoming autumn. Wow, autumn! My most favorite season of a year in the past. However, after 3-year-plus, I have no idea how other seasons except summer are like in Vietnam? In my current mind, the last images of Hanoi autumn, winter and spring have all diluted and been effing, or they are just very vague remaining senses. All I still remember is that once the very first sign of autumn appears, people all feel good in hope of fleeing from the hot weather of summer. I guess Hanoians are all feeling very eager to see the falling leaves now. :)

Cold weather is always better than the hot, as I think. Apply into Love case, the scene of a couple walking together and the girl is nestling in her boyfriend to hide herself from the breezing cold wind, while holding hands to warm themselves up, is, unconsciously, my strongest impression of the intimacy of love :X. Since I love someone, I love the winter, too! Not the autumn anymore, even a scene of a couple walking together under falling leaves from the trees is quite beautiful, too. Autumn can bring lovers a pleasant and romantic feeling, while winter gives you more than that---a cognizance of protection. Holding my lover's cute hands to warm her up, twining her to feel the cold is being lessened, is what I think I'm truly meant to do, in the winter, to show my love. Peaceful!

Destined Love, also known as meant-to-be love is an interesting concept, due to some people's mindset. Idealistically, love is already set in one's life and when you find it, it is your destiny. Your fate. Apparently, people also believe that if a couple cannot meet in the previous karma, they will reunite in the next karma and become lovers (religioner's belief). Okay, it's just what I have read, doesn't belong to my own mindset at all. I just think there is no such things like destiny or fate exists. If there is destiny or fate, then human's life is obviously already determined, or set, so that nothing we can do to change it. No matter what. Ridiculous. If we're living the already-set-life, so why we bother trying to live well or to be responsible or else? If you are miserable or poor, then is it your destiny? Or you are just not lucky enough, or competent enough? You answer it!

My mindset: destiny or fate is what human creates, not what creates human! So yeah, you create your life and determine how it becomes. Anyway, even I don't believe about destiny or fate, there is an exception when talking about love. Love is uniquely different, theoretically and practically. It is not what a person can surely create and it stands beyond human's subjective wish. Love is simply a hazard itself. Unforeseeable. So that love is somehow half destiny, half fate. Still, the other half of love lies on your hands. You still have a certain power to decide whether you can find a love or not if you stand up and react, instead of keeping doing nothing but wishing.

If you feel you meet someone seems to be like-minded with you, don't miss that chance. Let him/her be close to you to discover more about the truth. But always keep in mind the hazard of love in order to avoid being grief-stricken once love's gone. Because love is somehow destined, nothing you can do then (if you have done your best already but nothing changes). Maybe the effing love is still not what is destined for you, so let it go and patiently wait for your real goal.

In my opinion, a destined love should last long, maybe lifetime. I feel tedious about such fragile, easily-vanishing relationship I have experienced so far, both loves and crushes. After such relationships, you will realize the value of love drops down in your eyes. Sometime I yearn for a long-term and trustable love that I can put my belief in. There was time when I was quite choosy, thought that as many girls appear in my life as better, so that I have many choices to decide who will best matches me. Now, I feel like I don't need many girls but only one. The last one, I hope...

Still be early to affirm whether I'm having a destined love or not, but as far as I believe, I can decide half of the success, or failure, of the love I am cherishing. So yeah, everything should be done now is to change it from a random hazard into a real love affair, by effort and enthusiasm. Are you with me, my destined love?

09:38 pm
130909

Donna Donna

2009-09-05T12:57:00.006+07:00

I love this song, Donna Donna. If you have yourself a lover, it's my highly recommendation you ask him/her to sing this for you. Pay attention to the lyrics, mind the rhythm, and immerse into it, you will be enchanted by love!

This is one of the finest songs I have ever heard. Simply touching and simply stunning in every ways, it will purify your mind and fill it up with only one thing: love. If it is sung by a cutie you fall for, you even can feel being touched till the utmost inner nerves. Your sense of music would reach its climax that nothing you can think of but the song. I totally forget where I am staying, how I am like, I just speechlessly listen to it, and be inspired!

I'm obsessed by this song. Keep repeating and whistling its rhythm all day long, think of it every seconds while doing other things. This song is what I will listen to, each night, 'till the dream comes.

Donna, Donna

On a wagon, bound for market,
There’s a calf with a mournful eye.
High above him, there’s a swallow,
Winging swiftly through the sky.

How the winds are laughing,
They laugh with all their might.
Love and laugh the whole day through
And, half a summer’s night.

Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Don,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.

Stop complaining said the farmer,
Who told you a calf to be?
Why can’t you have wings to fly with,
Like the swallow, so proud and free?

How the winds are laughing,
They laugh with all their might.
Love and laugh the whole day through
And, half the summer’s night.

Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Don,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.

Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
Oh, why can't you have wings to fly with
Like the swallow you've learned to fly

How the winds are laughing,
They laugh with all their might.
Love and laugh the whole day through
And, half the summer’s night.

Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Don,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Donna,
Donna, Donna, Donna, Don.

Listen with me!

Love.

http://www.ne.jp/asahi/minako/watanabe/Donaenglish.htm

0105 pm
050909

First day of the last year

2009-09-03T20:36:00.007+07:00

It means my first school-day of the last school-year. Student life is gonna end soon!

In Finland and my Uni, in the first two years students study full-time to achieve both basic and specific knowledge about certain fields, like mine is International Business. Since the 3rd years, students are supposed to do the exchange study in other countries, then to do the practical training as well as to prepare for the thesis. Normally in the 3rd year studying, students don't go to school and neither do I.In fact I did go to school to study 1 or 2 courses but in very short time, because I was busy doing those compulsory stuffs.

So that this morning is almost the first time I come back school after one year. Wow. I felt a little bit excited 'cos this summer time passes by slowly, and I'm getting slothful for just staying home all the time, except several working hours. Quite boring! Come back to study is funny, at least it gets you outta the too-much-free-time idle life.

Getting up quite early this morning, I settle myself with quick gym, quick bath and quick breakfast. Wow, the usual dizzy I get each time waking up just disappears. Welcome, new morning! I'm feeling full of energy and be ready now, especially when I immerse myself into the consonant, consolable rhythm of my fav songs: Lover's Concerto, Love Paradise and At any time. Thanks someone for suggesting me that cute music! :P

I'm not in a hurry 'cos the school won't start sooner than 0950 am, and it's just 0800 am now so that I get myself out of house just to realize how pleasant the weather is. Very nice breezing cold wind surrounding me just makes it perfect for a walk to school. Oh yeah, it's really Finnish autumn! The best time in a year since it's not too hot and not too cold, either. Quite pleasant! Leisurely walking along those deserted streets is quite an amazing experience, I suddenly realize I love this city much more than I expected, it seems... It's funny, I never think I like Finland. But recently, I just think I might miss this country badly when I'm back to Vietnam. Okay, nothing can compare to my sweet Hanoi but this peaceful city is really a memorable place. At least, I spend my youth here for some years and a certain affection I've given to it. Anyhow.

Here comes my beloved University! Wow, amazing. It's good to meet those familiar faces again, and the feeling of attending at class just like the first day is quite touching! My first course is International Business Operation. Opps, I forget to tell that it is one of the most important courses that BBA students are supposed to take. No wonder how hard and challenging it is! Okay, it's shameful to reveal the truth but I failed in the exam of this course the previous year so I'm gonna take it again... Damn, that lecturer of this course last year, I must say, was like an asshole! Strict and rigid, he possesses a very bad pedagogic teaching method that even makes it harder for the students to follow! That's why I feel quite hesitant to attend this class at first with the fear that I HAVE TO face that ugly asshole again. But, all of the sudden the lecturer comes into the class is not him! Bravo, a middle-aged lady! Thumb up for my school when it replaces lecturers over time. She is a very nice female Finnish teacher, I mean easy-going and convincing. I have never met such a female lecturer with that strong personality. Normally, new lecturer will spend 2-3 minutes to introduce himself/herself briefly in front of the class but that lady is totally different. She did make a digital presentation to introduce herself, with the full time of the first lesson, 45 minutes. She talks about her background in a very specific details, both personal and public information. Amazing! Nice sense of humor, too, that she makes us laugh out loud always. I just love her lecture, at least she lessens the difficulty of such complicated concepts belong to the hard subject.

In the first break time, I couldn't help but came and praised her for the interesting presentation. She gave me a warm hand-shaking and wished me would pass the course this time, after I had told her about my previous failed. Totally a nice lecturer! I just wish with her smart teaching, I could pass this time. Praying...

There is a plenty of new-comers this year, I noticed a Japanese girl coming into class. Hell, seems like I know her, but I'm not so sure 'cos there is something different in her. I have a very strong interest in Japan country and all of its amazing customs and stuffs. I wish I could travel there but unfortunately I yet haven't had chance. Anyway, it's quite a pity my school doesn't have many Japanese students or else I'm sure I will make friends with them in order to know deeply about the country.

During the break time, all of the sudden when I was talking with a black guy, she came to me and said "hi" and asked me whether I still remembered her or not. Of course I said "yes" and we gossiped for a while. Now I do remember, she was the Japanese girl who used to live nearby my apartment, and a whole gang of us had some party nights together last year in her house. It wasn't something like wild party with alcohol and alcohol, but a warm, cosy gathering and we just talked and laughed. The main topic, of course was culture differences when people rotationally introduced about their cultures, at the same time compared and contrasted others.

I must say she is very cute, or Japanese girls are cute in general. You know I love Japan don't you? Anyway, the last time I saw her, she was a little chubby, but now look at her! Wow! Unreasonably, she is having very good shape, just guess she loses some redundant weights and it's just perfect at present. That is why I felt something vaguely different in her. She is very much prettier, just cute like a doll! Alright, she wanted to exchange contact information with me, so I gave her my number, also knew that she still lived in same apartment last year, so yeah! I just plan to hang out or hold some parties sometimes if she doesn't mind. Just hope she doesn't mind!

I studied the whole morning, and one hour after lunch. The second course is International Negotiation taught by an American. Quite good course, though. We laugh much during the studying time so it is just relaxing. I love it when we still be able to relax under such an academic environment, aka school.

Coming back school from a time is quite funny. I just know my speaking and listening skills are weakening over the time, so it's necessary to get them back now. During those studying time, I feel like my reflections gradually return and it's just good! I also realize that after several months working hard to advance my language ability, now it appears to be useful to follow the lessons. A little self-confident, yay yay :P. Anyway, as an English learner, it's never be enough to keep studying!

After class, I come back home. Walk again, and enjoy the nice weather again. Hell, if the weather stays nice like that, I think I don't bother coming back Vietnam, ha ha. :D Okay, just kidding, I prefer Hanoi weather! And of course I am in the homeward journey next year!

Now, I will be busier studying. I'm not kinda studious or study-lover but you know I'm into world of Business and Marketing now so I research them with inspiration, rather than being forced to study. So that, I find myself study is something intriguing , such just a matter of attitude! Still, to be busy is good, at least I don't have plenty of time thinking of what I shouldn't think of. Sigh, time will pass quick, though, keep living well until the right time reached and I can do everything which I wish!

Some notes for a day. I love this life.

0835 pm
030909

Premarital Intimacy

2009-08-31T17:53:00.018+07:00

Prologue

I miss writing English. These days I don't write anything as practicing, except chatting. So this morning, feeling very good after a hard time doing gym, having a quick breakfast and enjoying myself with music and coffee, I spend time writing some fun because to me writing is really fun! I was back to the old apartment I used to live several months ago, start life over now.

Well, Pre-marital Intimacy, it is the hottest, most sensitive topic debated throughout the world and in Vietnam, in specific speaking, those recent decades. Actually, it is such obsolescent topic already when applying into Western countries---people get used to it---but in Vietnam, a typically feudal society, still a big deal. Daily, the most attention-catching news published is something indicates to sex, just next to religion and world economy respectively. Lately, Vietnamese society expresses its special concern into pre-martial intimacy as the prevailing life-style of such bunches of people, most of those are young. In contrary to western countries, Vietnamese people take this issue serious as more a bad side than a good side. Is it really?

I divide the so-called "Pre-marital Intimacy" into two different issues: Pre-marital Sex and Pre-marital Cohabitation, due to different specific aspects of each. I want to write my own viewpoint about this topic so long time ago, but until today I squeeze out to write something, as I feel myself experienced enough. Still, in the usual conservations among close friends, we often share the viewpoints toward things, so that this entry is in reply to some of my close friends' question for such topic.

Pre-marital Sex

According to some statistics and surveys, we learn that the average age of Vietnamese people start having sex has rejuvenated significantly for at least two recent decades, as early as 15 or 16 years old. Some isolated cases, it could be even younger. It means that an amount of teenagers in secondary school have sex already, just exactly the same period of time compared to western teenagers. For example, in USA or England or France, most of people have sex at the age of 14, quite early. Now, Vietnam seems to follow the world trend quickly. Granted, if people in Europe, American, African or elsewhere except Asian, feel this trend naturally---Vietnamese people and of course some other typical Asian countries like China feel this trend ugly. In the extent of this writing, I just aim to analyse Vietnam case, no other countries, where I have a full clue about.

As I say, Vietnam is still a deeply feudal country even she has been modernized nowadays, but her culture core is still ingrained by feudalism. And under an archetypal feudal regime, early sex is always considered forbidden, or a serious taboo people (should) obey. Many people, most of those are old, keep saying that in the past, our previous generations never had sex before marriage. Gosh, I feel myself this saying mere a shameful lie! Many oldies blame the present generation for having sex too early but I believe that trend happened in all time, not just today. The thing is just today, communication facilities publish more and more news about this, from the past they didn't. Hence, people misconceive all the time that previous generations lived the pure moral life. I don't think so. People always do the pre-marital sex regardless of age!

Anyway, I concede that it seems the number of people have pre-marital sex is now increasing today. But I must say it is normal, and natural. As long as it isn't too early, it is acceptable. When too early? Vietnamese law stipulates that having sex with people under age of 18 is illegal. So, at least be sure that you don't break the law, then it's okay. When I say it's okay, it does mean that just okay with law, not the morality or society's prejudice or else. Personally, I support that law. There must be reason why people rule it. People under 18-year-old still do not grow up enough to be ready for sex; both the physical and spiritual aspects---science proves it. But until people grow up enough, still they are under strict society's prejudices which disallow them to have sex freely. Now, the problem stems from...

Society's prejudices

Vietnamese people generally stick their unwilling attitudes toward pre-marital sex. As Vietnamese culture, sex MUST happen only after marriage. It is the code of morality which unreasonably people obey. Children are educated not to have sex early, especially girls are warned not to lose their chastity before getting married. Pre-marital sex is always considered unprecedented, but ridiculously it is truthfully precedented!

The second prejudice is that Vietnamese girls are immured by that strict curfew so that many of them unworthily end up ruining their lives for having lost chastity. They fear that their future husbands will not accept and forgive them for that. Well, most of Vietnamese men wish to be the first one to possess a girl's maiden---I mean, deflower her, sorry to say---but we (men) can easily dump a girl after having sex (deflowering) with her. It is about men's egoism. Most of men wish to have as many girls as possible to play them, but of course we cannot get married with all, so those girls become miserable. Paradoxically, men wish their wives to be virgin still they marry them, but before marrying them, they have done many other girls. Is it fair to girls? Of course it isn't.

Two big above prejudices lead to other matters in relation with pre-martial sex, such as unintended born children or the alarming increase of abortion, or STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases). I will say about this later on this entry. Before coming deeply into those above problems, it is necessary to define the pure meaning of sex.

What is Sex?

Sex is a human instinct, a natural need just like eat or drink. Essentially, there is nothing bad about sex because it is meant to be a method of preserving lineage, but people make it bad themselves. By the civilization of the world over time, sex has been transformed into a sort of art. Methinks, sex is the cream of two lovers' emotion. It is the highest image of unity of two people who fall in love with each other. When the aspiration reaches its climax, people have sex to release their message that they want to melt into each other, like the story of Twin Flames. Sex is one of milestones of a person's life. All I want to imply is that Sex should only be made once you really love the other one. Sex goes with Love, a true Love, not the amourette or transient affection.

Besides, there are people who view sex as a game, I mean wild sex---one night stand or else---I don't support this idea. As I think, sex without love is plain a game, nothing more. Easy come, easy go. After the game over, what else you can feel? Not so much, yeah?

Of course those open-minded, self-abandoned people feel sex easy. Grab someone, and do them. That's wild sex. What they are doing is exactly like coming back to the stone age, when people just considered sex as basic instinct and a method of preserving lineage, not as enjoying an art. I don't blame these people, at least they know how to live freely, better than feudal people who jail themselves into unreasonably prejudice---hypocrite, I mean. So yeah, feudalism is just hypocritical!

Wild sex is another story, perhaps can be talked in other time. Remember, there is no right or wrong about sex, just the right or wrong person. And, each culture, each country has itself a standard on criticizing sex. I don't support the idea of wild sex doesn't mean I find it bad.

Resist prejudices?

That personal definition of sex is used to resist against the society's prejudice that sex shouldn't be made before marriage, of course when people are over 18 years old. Many couples now have sex before marriage, once they are mature and are responsible enough for what they have done, sex is no longer a taboo. If they love each other and be willing to share the highest affection, aka sex, then just do it. It is them to decide, not the society. Furthermore, imagine that if we all follow the rule of having sex after marriage, is it really possible?

It is real that people get married later and later, at the age from 27 and older, compared to the early age ranges from 14 to 25 from the past. So, since sex is a basic instinct, do you think a person can wait all the way long to have sex? I don't think so! Adolescents are ones who love sex the most! And at that time, their needs for sex are more intensive than ever, how can they wait? Again, science proves that a lack of sex in casual life leads to bad effects on people's health. People lose balance, they cannot do anything, just like they are starving if they don't have anything to eat. So that, sex is to help people get balance! For the advantages of sex, I suppose I don't need to write more, yeah?

However, people should keep in mind that once they have love-based sex with someone, at least they should have certain responsibilities on sex partners later on. Men dump women after having sex even men feel good with them. Men dump women just because they want other targets, all about the men's egoism and unsatisfactoriness. Thus, if you feel even after having sex couldn't you two be together, just try to treat each other good. A cold dump hurts your sex partner much. Be mature, be responsible is all you should be before considering sex.

Still, Vietnamese men should be more open-minded about women. Men have the rights to have sex---deflower---with women, so why bother requesting your wife to be still virgin? Men make the exploitation of women, and it is just unfair. As far as I know, many young Vietnamese girls commit suicide just for the thought that they won't find a forgiving husband to accept their losses. Hey men, we are all human being, not the tyrants vs. servants so that feminism should be appreciated. Men have the rights to have sex. So have women. Women have their own emotion like us, so they just react as their emotion tells. It is better if our society takes it easy and frees women from that ingrained prejudice. For human being's sake.

After all, the misconception stems from the damn stupid feudal regime should be eliminated outrightly as soon as possible. Our country, our society has been under stupid fuckin' feudalism for too long, and now it turns to 21st century already, why don't just kill that out-dated and brutal misconception? C'mon, let people free! Freedom of sex should be appreciated!

However, once thinking objectively there have certain dangers that people should be aware of before the sex freedom is accredited. As far as I know, those western countries---as I mention---don't take early sex serious because people all know about the SAFE sex while most of Vietnamese people do not. For this point, it is what we lack and should fix.

Sex Education

The truth is that we are in shortage of a good sex education.

Sex Education here means not only educate people to have a SAFE sex but a GOOD sex. Safe sex doesn't bring STDs or bad consequences, basically. And Good sex doesn't get people hurt after it is done.

For the Safe Sex, everyone can be cognizant of the shortage of sex education in Vietnamese education system. Pupils ain't educated fully and usefully about sex. Adults, teachers or parents avoid talking about sex to the children with the fear that children will have sex early---or worse, adults think children don't need to know about sex. Hell, it is ridiculous that the neglected attitude of adults does lead the children to have sex early! Once reaching a certain age, children will be curious about the new concept "Sex" and try to figure out what it does really mean. If adults ain't ones who guide them, they will surely discover it themselves and easily end up detouring. Like what? Stuffs like surf porn through the net, or experience a real sex themselves with friends to get to know it. Consequently, with the incomplete knowledge about sex, children even don't have a clue to protect themselves. STDs appear, many young children end up killing themselves because of diseases and pressure.

No wonder why there has increasing rate of abortion now, when children don't even know how to use contraception. Consequently, many unborn babies to be killed, many pupils become parents. After all, it originates for almost society maladies: robbery, murder, divorce, prostitution or else. It is all about the bad education!

For the GOOD sex, as I told already in the part of defining sex, when children cannot find help from adults, they must experience sex themselves to satisfy their curiousness. Many of the young come to compromise to have sex with someone to whom they don't even have a feeling. Of course, sex without love cannot bring something good so that it is likely the young will misconceive about the solemn meaning of sex. Then, once they don't understand the meaning of sex, they end up living the wild life which is full of dissoluteness, orgy, revel, dalliance etc. It is the problem of morality, and probably will originate for, again, society maladies: robbery, murder, divorce, prostitution or else. It is all about the bad education!

Apparently, Vietnamese people ALL know that we are having a bad education, but it stays unchanged for decades! Hell, everyone calls for refreshing education but not so much positive reactions to be made so far. The problem really comes from the government and ones who are responsible for setting up law and education in our country. What are they doing? Busy developing national economy? Oh yeah!

Conclusion

After all, my consistent viewpoint is that pre-martial sex should be accepted rather than be forbidden, or avoided. But once you decide to do the pre-martial sex, be sure you collect these suggested qualifications:

1. Having a full grasp of What is Sex and How to do Sex

What is Sex, I have mentioned.

How to do Sex, sounds ridiculous but it turns out to be important. Sex requires specific skills, not just like to plug the electric wire into adapter, ha ha. Sex is all about inspiring your sex partner, so just make it soft and carefully. Treat your sex partner well, make him/her relax. Notice your sex partner's feeling! Get to know what he/she likes or doesn't like. Don't just pay attention to your own feeling, your own satisfaction. Sex is Art, remember!

Early sex might be bad because since the human body still not fully growing, yet it isn't meant for sex. In fact, Medicine claims that too early sex actions might harm your ungrowing body or badly affect your grow-up. Be careful, young!

2. Safe and Good sex is essential

So yeah, try to self-study about how to have a safe sex. If you don't want to have a baby, or don't want to be injected diseases, let them not happen! All about the survival knowledge!

Moreover, choose your right sex partner, the one you are sure not make you down after that. Now, it comes to another issue: paid sex! You know that paid sex is the oldest profession appears in the world so far. And it works in the law of supply and demand. For more information, I suggest you read this interesting article: 'John schools' try to change attitudes about paid sex.

3. Be responsible and be willing

Many young guys force their girlfriends to have sex with them, with the faked convincingness that sex is the representation of a true love. It appears to make sense, but it's just boys' deceit. All most of boys want is to bang a girl, not have her love them. Hey men, think of the girls! They are vulnerable when you leave them, and I'm sure you can firstly just don't care that. But sooner or later, the hurt you make will obsess you the lifetime! How come you live freely with the image of a miserable girl always crossing your stupid mind? Even the very cold, heartless guy has the moment of confession and repentance, so just be responsible for what you have done. Life is fair, people will repay for what they did. Believe me or not?

And for the girls, be wide-awake! You, girls, are ones who must suffer more from this society's prejudice so that don't even ruin your lives by a wrong decision! Honestly, I feel sorry for girls for our stupid goddamn feudal society. If girls feel that they can't defy this society, so protect themselves beforehand.

After all, a forcing sex doesn't bring the good feeling at all. So, never try to force someone to have sex with you. All you get is just bullshit, not sensualness. Indeed!

4. Willing to confront the consequence

No one can say there will be a completely safe sex, it is something beyond human's abilities. Thus, in case you ain't that lucky after having sex, and some bad effects appear like the break-up of a relationship or the unwanted baby born, just explicitly confront it! It is the responsibility we should appreciate, too. For example, some exterior people could criticize you once they know you have sex before marriage, could you be bearable? Can you be willing to solve every likely problems happen after sex?

If you say yes, why hesitate to have a good time with your beloved? C'mon, just do it!

So yeah! Forget all about the morality, all about what outsiders or society keep telling about it, if you are qualified to have pre-martial intimacy, don't miss it! Appreciate sex, keep it as your mindset, then your sex life is just incredible!

Co-habitation

to be continued...

05:54 pm

01:54 pm

Seinajoki

310809

When to go back?

2009-08-23T20:18:00.000+07:00

Alright, that question is always crossing my mind these days. When to go back? Of course, next year I will be home, but when? Which month? Which period of time?

Does it differ if I go back earlier or later just several months? Yes, indeed! The fact that if I can go back now, it's the best, so yeah! There are three options of the returning time for me: 1/next January 2/next June and 3/next September or later.

I have just registered many courses to study for the coming school-year, that can ensure my graduation. The sooner I graduate, the sooner I can go back my home country. But beside study, I have another big reason to procrastinate; finance. I can just go home right after I finish my study, but I won't have anything in hands but the certificate. And it isn't sure that I can grab a good job right away after I am home, like many others. Hell, go home, and still ask my parents for financial support when hanging out with friends. It's just bad, and shameful...

Finland has a very supportive policy for the grads. You still can extend your staying time here after graduation, as long as one year. It means that they don't kick your ass off immediately but give you a chance to keep enjoying the North European great summer. Hellyeah, due to the fact that I can do some chores to earn money here, haply I must lengthen the returning time. The first option, nearly, to be eliminated.

As planned, I wish to chill out at least 6 months in Vietnam before applying into any firms. The Vietnamese market is just strange and insane, so that I need time to get acquainted with it. Many bachelors after years studying aboard have come back and faced the Inverse Culture-Shock in their own country. I have researched many articles through the Internet, and find out that it's true. My major is International Business, and compared to theories I have learnt so far, they seem to be inapplicable into Vietnam case. What makes Vietnam-based business differ from the rest of the world includes many reasons: culture, people, viewpoint, poorness or other bullshit. Even you are quite a very smart Businessman or Marketer, it doesn't always guarantee for your success once operating your business here. Vietnamese market is quite potential and gripping, but just like a trap, too. And, you are a starving rat. If you want to take the suave piece of cheese away safely, you must react consciously or else you are simply trapped. Many foreign famous firms are doing good in other markets but bad in Vietnam because they mechanically apply inappropriate strategies against Vietnamese characteristics. Strange and insane, you know.

Back to the point, 6 months or more is time I plan to self-study about Vietnamese market as well as cultivate my mind with profound knowledge served for my future job. Question here: how can I be survival during that long? The problem turns to the finance matter, aka money. Money is always the big deal. Sigh... I have estimated myself the amount of buck needs to live in Vietnam for one year, and I have earned half of it. In the coming school-year, I just can earn quite little sum of bucks so that in case the school-year ends, in May, I still don't collect enough, I will stay here the whole next summer.

In fact, I think September next year, 2010 is quite the right time to return home. First, I can avoid the tremendous hot summer. Second, I have more time to work and to save money for the perfect returning. However, it would be a regret if I miss the summer time because my best friend suggests me a vacation which I am really eager to take it. Summer is meant for relaxing and traveling, not working! Still, many people are all waiting for me to be back. I just cannot wait to hug them all. All of those make me struggle a lot to decide the time. It doesn't mean I put friendship and family behind money. Money is just shit, but without shit, you cannot even have fun with your kith and kin. That's why...

Anyway, I promise to someone to be back ASAP. And I'm sure to protect that promise.

Kauhava 230809
0815 pm
0415 pm

Preterm weakening?

2009-08-15T14:15:00.006+07:00

HP Pavillon HDX9200

I'm in bewilderment now. My laptop significantly weakens recently. I have just bought this machine for more than half a year, and everything is still okay since last month. For several days ago, I notice that when I am playing games as the same time with playing music, surfing webs and chatting etc, it appears to be pretty slow in reaction. The games don't go really smooth, in fact it crashes sometimes, pauses working for a while or the loading time is just lengthening. Strange. I used to do many things simultaneously with this machine, even twiddling Photoshop while playing heavily graphical games or wandering through the Internet, using Window Media, it doesn't matter. Its processing speed is 2.4GHz under Core 2 Duo processor T8300, with 4GB RAM installed and a strong video card, NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS. 3MB level 2 cache. 20" wide bright screen. A monster laptop! The peripherals are strong enough to allow the user to run multiple applications simultenously. But now, hmm, it really matters.

When I play game, surprisingly I notice the screen shakes! I mean, the characters in the games' motions ain't smooth that causes the visual effect as if it is shaking. I just thought that my eyes have problems for having used the computer too long but they are all good actually. Hell, I am worrying that because I used some hard things to touch the screen to clean it, so there might have some "death points" as the consequence. Once the screen has death points, the image cannot be displayed smoothly in the broken areas. C'mon, it is just nightmare to me if what I'm worrying is real. It is the unrepairable error excepts replacing a new one, and you know laptop isn't supposed to be able to change its screen. :(

For the running speed of this machine, now I must stimulate it by software, like SpeedUp My Machine, very often. If I use multiple applications at one, the procrastination appears to be easily noticeable. In theory, this machine is quite strong enough to run all of those, but now it is like defending against me from overdosing it. Am I really overdosing it?

More than enough, it drives my crazy with the consecutive crashes of web browsers. Firefox. Safari. Chrome. Even shitty IE. All these craps suck hard very often while I'm accessing the Internet and sometimes it results in my sudden loss of uncompleted works. Hell, I just ponder whether it's my crazily slow connection's false but logically there should be nothing to blame about the speed of connection that crashes the browsers, right? It should come from the browser itself or the machine, though. Now, it is more confusing to me 'cos I'm sure there shouldn't be no thing wrong for the up-to-dated browsers and I see nobody reports that error to Google, Mozzila or Apple. OMG, after all, my machine seems to be in trouble...

Furthermore, my HP laptop becomes overheating after a short time working now. Even I equipped one two-fan-laptop cooler for cooling down its hotness but it's still quite hot. I google through the Internet and figure out that HP laptops generally often calorify intensely for a long usage. I have no idea, becoming hot is inevitable for any machines, but becoming hotter and hotter should be considered seriously, shouldn't it?

I'm running Vista-fucking-SP1 inside this HP, and I doubt that it might be because I have installed too much stuffs from Window Update function provided by Microsoft, which makes it overload. Microsoft claims that their update patches solve errors in Operating System, but I don't see any positive change in processing at all. Instead, I can feel the prominent slowness it gets. Why the hell I am too stupid to install myriads of stuffs from Microsoft without selecting? Of course I'm not blaming Microsoft for my laptop's weakening, but I think I waste my hard-disk capacity to store their useless updates. And you should agree with me that Vista sucks itself, like many other users respond. Anyway, I am waiting for Window 7...

I plan to use this HP for 3 years, but it just goes one-sixth of the planned life. I wonder if it has reached its lifespan? No way, even the warranty time is still not expired, how come it is obsolescent? I have thought of virus injection but it shouldn't be problem, either. I update my anti-virus software very often and I don't access poison sites. Still, I have the good firewall system in Firefox, so that virus cannot be the gist. The OS gets trouble? Could be. So a clean reinstalltion can help? Hell, I'm sick of re-installing OS for this machine, it requires too much time. And more important, I can almost sure the OS doesn't encounter such seriously errors at all since I use it under strict caution. Besides, I do the hard-disk defragment once a week as well as cleaning the clusters to make it best performance. So after all, I really don't understand what the gist of its slowness is...?

C'mon, be healthy as you used to, hon. I cannot live without you so you know you should be okay. :(

I have problems with my belove damn laptop so often...

Anyway, happy weekend!

Reunion

2009-08-13T04:12:00.016+07:00

5E Class, Le Van Tam primary school, 1993-1998
full size: click here

Today, cheerfully, is a Day of Reunion. Suddenly, I can regroup my old class-mates in the primary school through Facebook. It is almost ten-year-plus since we graduated from the primary school and ended up separating. Still, there are ones I have never had a chance to re-meet them. But today I found some. One guy posted a picture of the whole class into Facebook and we went there to comment, a long day chatting though. So much fun. It is so great to see the friendship is still cool after years. Thanks, Sơn.

I must say I just laugh my a** off seeing myself in that age. I look like a funny moron, ha ha. Nah, everyone looks cute and funny, too. :P

More than enough, funnily and surprisingly, I meet again a girl who once had a crush on me in that school. She was at the same class in high-school with one of my primary class-mates, and thanks to that guy---Sơn, again he he, we had a very nice time chatting after a decade. It is a hilarious affair. The girl seemed to fancy me, and she asked me out. I seemed to fancy her, too. But I was just too puerile that time and didn't know how to do with that frivolous, fugitive affection so that I ended up fleeting from her without saying a word. Such a behavior! I was unreasonably scared to confront her so that I weasel out of any possible meet. She misunderstood that I disfavored her thus she evaded me, too. We were like playing hide and seek together since the childhood until growing up! It was just funny, when I saw her on the same road, I automatically, immediately changed into another direction. The equivocal attitude of ours pushed us further and further and eventually nothing serious happened to us, not even a crush. I forgot her by the time.

Finally, I meet her again today, in cyber-space. I am just a bit thrilling to add her nick into my instant messenger list. She is very astonished when I catch her, and she still keeps the hesitant attitude at first. But the more we chat, the smoother the dialogue is. We, together, retrospect that funny memory and enjoy it. The silly misunderstanding between us is explained, and solved. She is still a cute girl now, I mean, she still can retain her cute, babyish look even it isn't as pure as she was a decade ago. Enjoyable time! Oh baby, thanks for a day.

I love it when I can re-meet someone in the past and we have good relationship, but unfortunately by some reasons we cannot stay together. Reunion is amusing that way.

Today I wrote on my facebook wall: "Time passes by, yet the memories remain, survive, retained and retrieved". Friendship is what makes memory, and yes, friendship should never fade away, or diluted by time. It always remains! My life's biggest fortune is that I have so many good friends. I have an unique chum, many like-minded buddies, and quite plenty of intimate old class-mates. All these relationships shape my life. And thanks them, for just delighting it.

Since I went aboard, one goal I achieve is that I realize the magnitude of such things like Family, Friendship and Love. You will never know how these things are important to you once you have never experienced the completely, utmost loneliness. If your family is chaotic, it is your true adversity. If you cannot find love in your life, you are really unfortunate. And if you do not have good friends, or any buddy, it is your regret. You life cannot get the true bliss if you lack one of these. And vice versa, it is just your ineffable joy when you have all of these.

Talking about friend and friendship, I used to think that only close friends are necessary, other loosing relationships ain't, now I rule it out. Chums or buddies is still essence of life, but I should appreciate other friends as they deserve, too. Friend is not just one who stays close to you or one who understands you, fathoms you, or one you could confide in. Friend could be anyone who even you don't meet much, for a decade or more, but once you meet them, you can have fun with them and feel relaxed, that friendship is worth being appreciated and well-treated. That is all. Maybe it is what friend is truly meant to be. Friend is born to be your bliss, friend is destined to delight you. It is my mindset! Be friendly!

I cannot wait for one year more to come back Vietnam to grab my kith and kin de novo.

Off-the-track

I am thinking about saving money to buy a new camera, Canon EOS 5D when I am back Vietnam. A luxury asset which needs a long-term saving! Lucky me, I still be able to get a part-time job here to earn some bucks monthly. But I'm never a wise money-saver. I often lavish much in miscellaneous things, and buy stuffs casually. Maybe I should learn to manage finance since then, or else I never can buy anything I wish...

A short writing to mark such a happy day.

120809
Kauhava, Finland

Right-on CV

2009-08-12T01:19:00.025+07:00

Off-the-track

The picture is the book I'm into now, Marketing: An introduction, co-written by Prof. Philip Kotler and Prof. Gary Armstrong, the 7th edition. As the title, the book comes up with all what a newbie needs when starting learning about Marketing. Can say, I'm swallowing every single words of both two authors because they express their ideas in such a very clear and convincing way. The book rings a bell to my mind that agitates it to re-think the misconception of Marketing beforehand. Only after reading this, and some others, could I know what is real Marketing. Very helpful book. It is my recommendation from me to you.

Containing 700-page-plus, the book is more involving than you expect because coming up with theories of Marketing, two that geniuses add loads of case studies; insights of famous organizations or firms to help readers be clued up on their Marketing strategies. So informative and comprehensive! I keep myself from reading at least 10 pages each day, a little slow 'cos I need to ponder about and to link information on the book together, for a full grasp. It isn't easy for me to read, but I am trying since I know I love Marketing so much. Secret: I used to hate the subject I am studying: International Business (BBA), but thanks God I chose it anyway.

Now, the question risen here is whether I could apply this theory into practice when coming back Vietnam and working in a firm? Let's see.

...

When applying for any firm, the people who recruit you always require a CV comes along with all other papers. The more impressing it is, the better chance you have. I am thinking of a CV which is not just plain a paper but a set of stuffs which really could indicate Who I am and How I am. Recently, I like LinkedIn, thanks to bro Duc Ban's suggestion. It is like an online profile maker for you. Give it a try. All you need to do is to give your personal information, the website will help in designing and forming the profile appearance. Useful!

Pretending yourself as an employer, what do you expect from your future employees, and current recruiters? Do you want to fathom them out? Do you wish to get inside them in order to ensure the person you choose is Mr(s). Right? Well, if I am an employer, I really wish I could know them well. In contrary, once I am a candidate, I really wish the employer should know me that well, too. I don't think a plain paper with some texts could figure out how a person is. The interview doesn't help, either. Because in an interview, many exterior factors can affect its quality: candidate's mistakes, disconcertment, overreaction or just the employer's unwisdom, irresponsibility. You can be IN or OUT unreasonably and wrongful. Hence, instead of qualifying someone just by their manifestations, I suggest the funnier way, figure them out deeply. You could miss an effective and interesting employee as a gift for your competitor if you make the decision carelessly, recklessly quick. So, read on!

Right-on CV/Resume?

The idea is I build up my CV/resume by the available tools instead of self-writing and designing it.

As said above, I like LinkedIn for its utility. I plan to use it as the official personal profile to send/show off to my future employers. In case of on-line application, instead of filling the suggested form the firms provide, I just give them my link address to my LinkedIn page. Profile is there to read. But LinkedIn isn't perfect, it doesn't support users in self-customizating (am I wrong?) so that the employers could think of me as lazy or uncreative. To solve it, I think of using another service called Tumblr. The draft page is here. The theme is so well-designed, simple and clean with the charming font style used. A typification of minimalism! I still cannot define what Tumblr really is, it's quite huge in scale, but it helps me in designing an indispensable thing accompanies with CV, the Motivation Letter, aka Cover Letter. Conventionalized Motivation Letter is meant to be formal and in order, I hate that. I want something new rather than just a statement-of-purpose essay. Well, when you apply for a job, the Motivation Letter is supposed to answer the big, harsh question from the employer---Why should I hire you? Therefore, instead of boasting about your "dreaming" qualification, why don't let them discover you?

Confronting that question, I will answer, "Well, I believe I will please you in the position you offer. But listening me fussing about myself is not more interesting than reading my papers. So that I suggest you evaluate me yourself by surfing through those websites. My identity, personality and qualification are all placed there".

In my current Tumblr page, yet it has been done 'cos it's a draft. I plan to write a Motivation Letter to publish there, accompanies with some decoration (yes, decoration) which could indicate me such as interesting Quotes from interesting people, my writing about things, my other link addresses etc. The idea is once the employer visits my LinkedIn page, he/she reads my profile. Then, he/she goes to my Tumblr page to see my flourishing Motivation Page (not just a Letter anymore). By turns, he/she keeps going through my Blog, my Gallery, or my social network pages. Everything is to get to know me well enough. This whole progress shapes my real, fully CV! He/she can see multiple sides of mine. And those websites are all very trendy! People should appreciate if you are active enough to follow the trends. Be active! It is a good point one should have. After all, I think it expresses the creativity. Creativity is essential for everything, especially for a marketer or people working in Marketing field---my target. Besides, it express how much I appreciate my profile. And of course, a set of resume like that can truly reveal Who I really am and How I really am. Indeed.

If you notice, in the right-side menu of this blog, there has one section I set, "Havens". Why Havens? Well, I like to think of cyber-spaces as where I haunt; where I self-efface from the real, hustle and bustle life. I list some websites there, they are part of my on-line world. It is what I wanna put on my CV to employers. Still, I'm in search for other better services, Tumblr seems not to be meant as I use.

You will say there is no employer could be that patient to go all the way long to discover a recruiter. Well, you are right. Many employers are like that. Why they bother discovering you? Okay, as said beforehand, you could miss an effective and interesting employee as a gift for your competitor.

CV is your personal thing, so just make it personal. Just like the slogan of HP in one of its best Marketing campaigns, "The Computer is Personal again". Stereotyped CV is tedious, and poor. There are many available tools and services which the Internet provides, if you find them helpful and useful to make the best of. Like Apple or Steve Jobs says, Think Different!

Be personal.

My two cents.

01:15 120809

Beeline, the newly-come conqueror

2009-08-09T01:18:00.052+07:00

I am sleepy now, it is currently afternoon and I don't wanna take a nap, so that I force myself to write something, to resist against the sleepiness. Each time I sleep at noon or afternoon, I always feel dizzy and dazzle after waking up so that I almost do not sleep in the day-time. Recently, I sleep very late at night but wake up early in the morning to go to work, so that I lack of sleep. Tired! Anyway, it is what summer's meant to be.

...

There are more and more foreign firms jump into Vietnam market to launch their businesses, in all possible fields. Cannot be greater! I love it when the foreign investors come inside Vietnam in search for expanding the market and in exchange of technologies and ways of doing business. For an imminent grad like me---and many others---this is mere a good news. Many possible chances are waiting for us out there! I will be possible to work in a foreign firm in Vietnam when I am in the homeward journey after finishing the abroad life as a student.

Working for a foreign firm is always my dream, not because of the high-paid salary but for its business professionalism. I don't believe Vietnamese organizations or firms. To be honest, I don't think there is something can be considered "professional" in Vietnam up to now. To be called "professional" is not simply like you set up a company, produce something then sell them. Professionalism is not that easy, but many people often misconceive it. Anyhow, once the foreigners mingle into Vietnam, they have brought up a new fresh wind here. At least, they bring us the professionalism in doing business---what Vietnamese people still have no clue about. Thanks to them, Vietnamese people have chance to experience such professional products and services, which they cannot search for within domestics firms and organizations.

I am talking about Beeline, the new-comer who has been booming up Vietnamese telecommunication market lately.

Beeline

In the website of Beeline, they state:

Being the joint venture established in 8th July 2008 under the cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s GTEL Corporation & VimpelCom, the leading integrated telecommunications operator in Eastern Europe & Central Asia, GTEL Mobile Joint Stock Company aims to provide GSM/EDGE voice & data services to cover all Vietnam with over 86 million people. This establishment was initiated from the Principal Agreement to establish a mobile telecommunications joint venture in Vietnam under the name of GTEL Mobile signed with Vimpelcom Corporation. GTEL Mobile is not only a business enterprise purely but also the international combination aiming to bring Vietnamese people a new trend and style in telecommunications industry.

GTEL Mobile has also cooperated with different branded Telecommunications companies all over the world such as: Alcatel Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, Comverse, Avaya and Comverse & IBM to deploy its GSM network.

GTEL Mobile will use “Beeline VN” as the brand-name to launch in the Vietnamese Telecommunications market.

VimpelCom is the Russian second largest cell-phone operator and it operates in both Middle Europe and Center Asia. The brand Beeline is rated to be one of the world top 100 brands---and to be one of top ten brands in the field of telecommunication---and its value estimated as high as 8.9 billion dollars. This says that the new-comer is a tough competitor to domestic firms like Viettel, Mobilephone and Vinaphone, three top providers in the same field in Vietnam. Co-operating with GTEL, VimpelCom has been under a contract to officially establish its business in the new market, Vietnam, as you can see above. So yeah, here comes the new mobile telecommunication provider!

Wed-design style

Once you visit Beeline, the only word you can comment is CUTE! It is so cute, and user-friendly. An eye-candy site with the clean and simple layout, decorated by very cute icons. The outstanding logo in black and yellow with the cute brand-name, Beeline, really make you feel funny. You will think of a bee, so lovely.

More than just a brilliant design, the whole structure of the site really surprises me a lot. If you are in search for detailed information about the firm, you will have not so much but the above paragraphs describe briefly about the firm minimalistic information. Very little information but quite sufficient! In short, they do not say much but people still can catch the keywords to be cognizant of them as one of the world leading companies, and it is just enough. People just need to know that the brand is world-class and it will be appreciated automatically. Great! They are the big name in the world but once talking about themselves, they are very unobtrusive!

From my point of view, they are quite wise. By half unraveling themselves, like seriocomic, they tempt people to keep learning about them. In fact, when I have a certain clue that they are world-class brand, I can't help but to keep searching more information with Google, and after half a hour reading some referencing articles, I can have a clearer view towards them. A very big brand-name with a very successful business! All come to me with astonishment, wow, the big man comes to the small pool to fish. Amazing! Now you understand my idea, by letting people self-study about them instead of giving out a fully introduction, it turns out to be the most effective way to go inside people's mind quickly and deeply. If you face a full-length article to introduce, you will be slothful to read, and eventually you forget what you have read easily.

Still, all other information about their services, tariff, prices are all sufficient and clear while being displayed in the simplest way to relax viewers' eyes. Your screen will never be flood with myriads of information coming simultaneously, everything is set into a simple structure. Very good design! If you wanna find something, you find exactly it. For example, come to the Services, they list all services offered, with very brief but sufficient descriptions!

I often evaluate a firm by its website construction because nowadays website is face of any firm where displays its identity. If the design is smart, I very much appreciate it. Here, Beeline shows us a piece of art which builds up a strong impression in visitors.

In comparison to other providers' websites like Viettel, Vinaphone and Mobilephone, you will realize the difference. It is Simplicity versus Complexity. It is the Sufficiency versus Redundancy. Sometime, Less is More. To rate the efficiency of the web-design style, Beeline is worth getting 10 out of 10. Vietnamese firms never can be as smart as the foreigners in web-designing.

Marketing Strategy

Quote from Professor Philip Kolter:

Selling starts only when you have a product. Marketing starts before a product exists

It is exactly applied to Beeline case. Since Beeline has not released in Vietnam yet, people have heard about the upcoming new telecommunication provider already. The marketing process of Beeline works really well. And then, when it comes...

Remaining the principles based on such keywords as "brightness”, “friendliness”, “effectiveness”, and “simplicity” and “positive emotions” which has captured people’s hearts and minds all over the world, Beeline VN is expected to be the best friend of all our customers. With our slogan “live on the bright side”, we desire to bring a new trend and brighter life to all our customers as well as to win their sympathy and their love to make them choose us as their heart - friend. We also desire to bring our customer a new inspiration and to help them link with each other and to the world.

Like other Beeline brand name licensed in other countries, Beeline VN maintains our brand core value as followings:

- Close and ready to help: Our goal is to listen to all needs of our customers and to serve them at our best efforts.
- Easy: Our products are simple and clear. It’s also quickly and easily to use and understand.
- Fascinating and inspiring: We always go ahead. We are interesting, we are able to carry out and support interest of clients.

It is the rule that once a new comer aims to invade into new market, they must do something to attain attention. Here, is the shocking price. Beeline, after officially operating, has made the first strategic move by offering the cheapest prices ever in Vietnam. As cheap as unprecedented and unanticipated! Many experts forecast that the new one will set a reasonable price but when the tariff is publicized, everyone is shocked! The price is nearly like free! People are delighted and eager to try the new service. As a consequence, three other big firms start to fear then end up declaring a cut in service prices in order to stay competitive. Positive reaction, but not good enough. All three firms are too naive, they just think that if they reduce the price, they will gain the customers. Stupid as they are. Marketing is not that simple!

Notwithstanding, in a interview, Mr. Alexey Blyumin, general director of GTEL Mobile, states that Beeline doesn't aim to be a low-priced provider. Their target is to become the best provider which can offer reasonable prices and great services. He says that the target customer is everyone, but prioritize the young whose ages range between 15 to 25 as the main customer segmentation.

In fact, I can see that everything Beeline has done is dedicated to the young: the cute logo , the eye-candy website, the special offer are really for the young to enjoy since they are the dynamic force in society who are willing to experience the new thing. In contrary to the oldies, who tend to be loyal and hesitant to change stuffs they are using, the young is ever-changing. And the strategy of Beeline just fits the young so well.

It isn't hard to realize that Beeline marketing strategies have been being promoted in many ways; both off-line and on-line. TV ads appear periodically to intrigue people to discover; the black-and-yellow logo is available in some websites; promotion campaign; discussion topics created in online forums by future customers; and most important, all sorts of news in relation to Beeline are now ubiquitous in most Vietnamese e-magazines and even some foreign ones. Every Beeline's single move is under people's following. Beeline is too successful in gaining public attention.

To sum up, I love Beeline marketing strategy. Simple, easy, and effective. They are very professional! The interview of Mr. Alexey Blyumin makes me know that Beeline has researched about Vietnamese market quite carefully before coming inside. They have a very solid knowledge about Vietnamese market background as well as consumption habit. According to one market survey, 55% of the interviewees have a full grasp about the newly-come brand, Beeline. It is a very good signal. You can ask why Beeline could make a big impression like that? I answer, the brand.

The brand is the most valuable asset of a firm, and once be rated as the world top 100 brands, it is the guarantee of high quality. People, especially Vietnamese, all appreciate a firm if it has a famous brand so that Beeline is indubitably welcome in Vietnam! We really need a high quality service that can satisfy our demands instead of dissatisfying us like other providers have done so far.

After all, a good marketing campaign is crucial.

Why Vietnam?

As I have heard, Beeline claims to invest 1.8 billion dollars into Vietnamese market.

The first reason is to expand the market, of course. Vietnamese telecommunication market is very potential. With the population of 86 millions (2008) while 55% of those are ones who use mobile phones, it is an attractive amount to every investors. Moreover, the age of people using mobile phone in Vietnam has dramatically rejuvenated; we can see the children in the secondary school use phones becoming more and more popular. Even in some isolated cases , pupils in primary school are equipped hand-held devices by their parents in order for them to surveil. All of those tell that the percentage of people are, and will be, using mobile phone is going to spectacularly increase for a few upcoming years. It is the promising chance for a mobile telecommunication service provider.

Personally, I don't think Beeline can get benefit from that highly discounting prices at first, but it doesn't matter to them. Why? Because they are have a solid financial foundation, so they will accept to get loss in income for some first periods of time. All they need now is to gain the market. Hence, in order to reap the market share, cheap price is essential. According to Vietnamese people's behavior, we all prefer what is cheap, so that I think many people will change into Beeline service quickly. It is just the first attack of the whole campaign!

Besides, due to the current situation in Vietnam, all of domestic firms are involving into irresponsible services---especially the customer care services---that deterred the customer quite seriously. Following the daily news, we can easily encounter successive articles reveal all the technical errors or the bad services that Viettel or Vinaphone or Mobilephone are giving their customers. All the stuffs like that make me feel my belief on them is effing. We are always wishing for a better service, and Beeline happens to appear just the right time!

Furthermore, Beeline is professional, and I believe other firms would be able to learn from Beeline the way to do business professionally. Beeline undertakes to fairly compete within their own capacity with other firms. It is amazing to see how small, domestic providers rival against the big obstacle.

Anticipation

Beeline is trying to gain 2%-4% of the market as the end of 2009. After, they will run a long way to set up the services in almost 60 cities in Vietnam. And, it needs time for them to be accredited.

As a personal anticipation, I believe Beeline will be successful in Vietnamese market in the near future. They will quickly dominate over others and gain the market leader position in the next few years. Why?

Well, let choose me as an example. Once I am at Vietnam, I will use Beeline immediately without any hesitation. I know that when I am served under a world-class brand, I will receive a high-quality products and services. Why I bother using bad services from domestic firms when there is a better one waiting for me there? Many young people think like me; if you are a customer, you should have customer value. You have the right to choose the service and you are worth being served by the best services. Some bad firms will never improve if there are people who are willing to compromise and keep using their bad services. Vietnamese customers should be more aggressive and decisive to choose what best suits them.

I hope that Beeline will promote Vietnamese business into a new level. Let's see how other firms imitate the top-brand.

04:26 am
090809

PES2010

2009-08-08T02:24:00.006+07:00

I am a game-aholic, and the game I am most looking forward to playing this year is PES2010. We are, the PESfan, all the viewers of the next innovation in the forthcoming version of Pro Evolution Soccer, aka PES. Due to all the revealed information Konami has told so far, all we know is that PES2010 is being undergone an overhaul!

Each year, there have many games to be released but only a few of those are what gamers really yearn for, based on their qualities. Personally, last year my most longing game was GTA IV, and this year is PES2010. I am counting every single day passing by to be able to have this game in my computer and to install it. I cannot wait until October for its release. It isn't because the game is so great that I wait, there are many other greater games out there, but this time the next version of PES is promised to be redesigned as a new innovation. There are several reasons I appreciate what Konami has done so far.

Customer-driven marketing strategy

Konami is considered to be arrogant and lazy of changing the game-play. For PES, they keep producing a new version each year without any remarkable up-growth at all. It seems that thay never listen to what the fans want, and need. They just concentrate on their own business: make the new versions of the game and sell them, and don't even bother thinking whether the gamers like it or nor. Because they know that whether the gamers like it or not, they will buy it no matter what. We have no choice but to buy it or else we have nothing to play! Konami has only one main competitor produces the same Football Game so that two of those firms conquer the whole world market. It means that even some of these people could play Fifa, but many of those people will play PES. There always has a stable number of people playing their game so that they have nothing to worry about. It is very bad! I really wish there would have more games suppliers operate in this field of business so that gamers would have more choices, too. More than that, once many companies operate their businesses in the same market, the rivalry is intensive. After all, customers (gamers) get the benefit when every company must take care their customers well enough, not like Konami.

But this year, Konami has shown their listening and understanding that they will make the game as the gamers want. It is the greatest new to the fans ever! Konami has shown their respectfully effort in the work of redesigning the game based on suggestions from PESfans from over the world. They absorb fans' ideas and amend the game that ways. They also launch a website dedicated only for the PES2010 and display the slogan as "PES wants You". You means Fans. Very wise marketing strategy!

As a customer, I think Konami has been aware of the boredom of the gamers toward their product. Many people I know say they will give up PES if it still is unchanged for years and try other kinds of games, and Konami has learnt about this thing themselves. So that, in order to avoid losing customers, aka gamers, they MUST change. To establish a marketing strategy declares about the revamping throughout the game, it immediately has attracted many attentions from gamers all the entire world. Every PESfans now is all eager and looking forward to it, which has never happened before. People know that each year a new version of PES will come to the market, and all they can do is to wait to buy it. But this year, they wait it intensively because they all know that the next version has been exhaustively improved so that the thing they are gonna buy is not just a game, but a masterpiece! It tempts them very much. Consequently, the income of Konami will be undoubtfully increased, too.

You should know that, due to the world crisis, Konami income has reduced terribly this year, and they are suffering through considerably recession. Their business doesn't go well and they cannot product any good games for years. That's why they are all working their best to give birth to a greater game that can help them get out of the financial problem. If they false this time again, I assume they will be in huge trouble, so that it is the reason why they change their business style into customer-driven. Konami now knows that if they don't focus on the customers, they will be kicked-ass sooner or later. They are doing exactly what Professor Philip Kolter tells about the Marketing; to satisfy the customer's needs and wants and to keep track with the customer relationship, instead of just trying to sell products for once. Never before has the interaction between the game producer---aka Konami, and the cutomers---aka gamers, been reformed like this. People can come to the blogs of the Konami top-leaders to see how the game will be; many in-depth details publicized there. It is unprecedented! Konami is really trying their best to fast-track a new achievement!

Master League improvement

I am a fan of Master League, one kind of off-line gameplay of PES. And since Konami has declared that the Master League is being remade to a completely new style, it just captives me a lot. I wish that I could have a feeling of being a real manager like when people play Football Manager, but still I can play the match myself, not just an outsiders as the Football Manager game.

According to what I have heard about, the new Master League is a dreaming remake. I am really shocked because all the new changes are what come from PESfans' ideas but Konami seems to follow that. So great!

2 months to go

I am very interested to see all marketing strategies that Konami has launched so far, they let me know that they appreciate the gamers and are willing to serve them well, as they deserve. Very promising! I really hope that the game will be as good as it is meant to be. So now I almost cannot concentrate on anything else, how much days left to October?

02:34 am
080809

Vietnamese chicken soup

2009-07-31T21:33:00.009+07:00

Today, there have two strange things happen.

The first thing, my house has undergone a power-cut. While I was working with the computer, all of the sudden it shut down. When I tried to turn it on back, nothing responds. I was a bit worried whether it was broken but later I found out that the electric system of my house was dead. Not only my house, the whole building's electricity has gone. If you don't know I can tell you that since I have been living in Finland for more than 3 years, it is just the 3rd or 4th times I have experienced the power cut. In Vietnam, this thing happens quite often that everyone gets used to it. But here, it is strange if the electric system dies. But thanks God after 15 mins it is back.

The second thing is that it is the first time I have ever made chicken soup myself, which is one of my most favorite dishes. I do love eating chicken soup but every times I have someone cook for me, until today I decided to try making it.

Following the instructions from some websites, I found it simple to make, even for a bad cook like me. The ingredients are easily collectible, which include:

- Chicken
- Shiitake
- Eggs
- Corn
- Chicken eggs
- Auricularia polytricha
- Different flavorings

With all the materials above, I can make chicken soup with very Vietnamese style. It takes about one and a half hour to finish cooking, mainly for the time of preparing all the stuffs and hard-boiling chicken. Be sure to dip both Shiitake and Auricularia polytricha (their scientific names) into hot water to soften them, then I need to cut them into pieces. After, sauté chicken and shiitake together. Then, put some corn into the pot used to hard-boil chicken to make it ripe. Now, all you need to do is to put everything into the pot. Remember to put the melted eggs into it for extra special taste. The last work is to put flavorings into, much enough to fit your taste. Eventually the result comes:

Chicken soup

I must say the soup is very good. Since the pot is on the verge of boiling , its smell is so good that I cannot wait to taste. Wow, such an excellent kind of food which is easy to make. I always misconceive that it could be complicated to make but the truth is everything becomes simple if you concentrate on learning how to do it. Since I'm very lazy in cooking, I think I will make chicken soup more often now and then because for a big pot of chicken soup, you can eat it the whole day, ha ha.

Are you drooling? Go make yourself now!

0939 pm - 310709

Discover the "Đo Đo Quán"! Come here, mates!

2009-07-28T20:11:00.001+07:00

Due to all respect, sir and ma'am, I myself feel a big honor to introduce a new website to you- place you might feel interested to pass by.

First of all, let me spend a little words to say about the owner of it, one who I adored since I was a child, until now when I grow up a little bit. One who I considered as a Teacher of Life even he has never directly taught me in a real classroom, but all of the lessons he gave me so far are still valuable and unchangeable; the lessons of How-to-Live and How-to-Love! It isn't overpraise to say such things since, say, he seemingly has even stronger affect in the whole progress of forming my own ego than anyone else including my parents or teachers I have ever met. Of course, just to some certain extents but it's true. He has such intensive impact in my life, both backward and onward.

He is more than a teacher. He is a writer.

And, his name is Nguyễn Nhật Ánh. And, the website of his is: http://www.quandodo.com

In case you were kind of literature-addicted style between 1980s-2000s, I'm sure you must know him. Nguyễn Nhật Ánh and his charisma began initially by a series of pupillage-based stories which were read mostly in the South of Vietnam, but no longer after became national-wise well-known. His literature was pure, simple but strong, and very touching which was based on tender sense of humour. His stories were simply nostalgia. Everlasting, tearful and gnawing nostalgia. The nostalgia of a man who always regrets about the far-gone never-return time. Just like me.

It could be me who was too naive that time to truly believe into his stories. But, if it wasn't because of those cute stories who oriented me to believe that the life was sweet, I wouldn't have become a person as I am at present. I always think that life is still great no matter how harsh you must to suffer through inevitable solitary and tristesse it brings into.

The website is named after a restaurant appeared on his story, which is entitled "Quán Gò đi lên". The story I rank myself as one of his 5 best ones. And along with passing by to discover the website, I would like to provide you a link address enables you to read the story: [link] After reading it, you could get to know the deeply meaning of the name Đo Đo. And in case you really like the story, don't forget to think of supporting the author by purchasing a real book which is prevailing available in every bookstores.

The website, with well-designed and classical ambiance, surprisingly, is not about author's literature but about unique cuisine comes from his native land. Be a eat-aholic? Why don't come to try, mates?

http://www.quandodo.com

PS: sorry my foreign friends, this website is plain Vietnamese. No English version available. But if any of you planning to visit Vietnam someday, especially Saigon city, it's just a good place to try Vietnamese traditional cuisine. Are you drooling now? :P

Written under a theme song of Cô gái đến từ hôm qua, sung by Mỹ Tâm. A song named after a story of Nguyễn Nhật Ánh.

Facilitate Vietnamese wedding

2009-07-28T04:21:00.017+07:00

Recently, I have a whim about the Vietnamese wedding. He he, don't get me wrong! It isn't because I'm gonna get married so I think about it. Well, maybe I will get married, but no sooner than the age of 27!

I find Vietnamese traditional wedding style is too formal and too complicated. In fact, it's like a nightmare! You don't believe me? Okay, just check it out yourself about the simplified description of Vietnamese traditional wedding here: [link].Remember, it is just the simplified description! Actually a real Vietnamese traditional wedding has more steps than that, depends on each family, and cannot be fully told.

In generally speaking, wedding is a very big big deal to Vietnamese. I don't say that wedding is not a big deal itself, of course wedding is something important to each person, but most of Vietnamese people take it more seriously than it should be. You know why? Because to Vietnamese, wedding is not only a business of two people, but also involves into many other exterior people and things. It is what I call formal and complicated. From the below is my personal plan of the future wedding. Warning: read twice and think thrice about what I am going to analyze before you criticize.

The gist of wedding's magnitude

Well, if you think wedding is simple in Vietnam, rethink! The gist many Vietnamese people still overestimating wedding as a great deal is that it is supposed to happen only once in life! From the cultural point of view, divorce is one of the taboos that most Vietnamese fear to face. Consequently, people naturally (mis)conceive about marriage as an one-time game and lifetime lasts! No game over. No change. No replay. No restart. Once married, confront it the entire life. Because of so, since marriage is supposed to happen once, then wedding is, too. And because the game is to be played just once, players always try their best to be as good as possible. People always find it justifiable to celebrate as glossy as they can. Or in fact, many people even celebrate it more glossy than they could be affordable. Is it crazy?

Don't get me wrong! I support the idea that wedding really should be done once. But in reality, not many people doing good with their partners---or worse, many people, after years living with the other one, gradually realize how mistaken they were to get married with him/her. Now what? Since the affection diluted by time, why people bother living with each other for more? The answer is simply because almost Vietnamese people fear to be lonely so they CAN"T divorce! No matter how bad the argument between spouses is, they still try to keep the business going even they really hate the other one. Why the hell is that? One phrase from the novel of Anson Chi, "Yellow on the outside, Shame on the inside, Asian Culture revealed", SAVING FACE!

To save face, people would rather being lonely together than being lonely completely. Many people find it's better if they keep living with that damn person no matter how bad he/she treats them. Once they still can let people/outsiders think as if their matrimony is good, there is nothing to worry about then. They fear that the outsiders can criticize them about the marriage's break up. In my opinion, divorce is such really a normal and natural thing in life. Who can affirm that this partner is my true soul-mate? Can you 100% sure about the person you've chosen is your Mr(s). Right? By any reasons, you have unfortunately hooked on the wrong one, but only after getting married with him/her could you unravel that. What would you do? Keep living as hell with that Mr(s). Wrong the entire life or to eliminate the marriage as quick as possible?

Believe me or not, the first choice is what a lot of Vietnamese people will be willing to compromise. Why? It's the cultural issue which has been being ingrained into Vietnamese people's mind, from generation to generation. Be afraid of losing face, to fear of living alone, they eventually make up their mind that it's OK to spend the life with an unloved person. It doesn't matter, just live on your own and don't care to him/her. It is what many people think, might I ask is it happiness? Additional, the children is what baffles people from breaking up the marriage, too. To sum up, marriage is quite the most binding ado that many Vietnamese people often get stuck in, in case it doesn't go well, and so hard for them to get out of.

But thanks God, I see there has prevailing life-style that a number of people---most of those are young---dare to get out of the used-to-be husbands or wives nowadays when they know they mismatch. Just see on the divorce rate raising at present and you will understand. It is what we should and need to do: Respect yourself and your life! Don't even ruin it by any reasons which lead your life to hell.

As I said, the gist of wedding's magnitude is because it's supposed to be held just once, but it's the misconception of people. We never can anticipate whether we will be OK with the partners or not, so take it easy! Let yourself have another chance when the previous one is bad! Don't even think of wedding as an one-time game anymore!

When wedding is not as simple as a groom marries his bride

Does it sound faddish? But in reality, it's true. In Vietnam, wedding is not just the affair of two people but the affairs of many others, too. Like who? Well, groom's parents, groom's parents' parents, the groom's friends, the groom's relatives and so on. It's the same with the bride. Why do they concern here?

Come to the spouses' parents, they play a main roles in the wedding. Who decides the date of the wedding? Them. Who decides who will be invited in the wedding? Them, partly join. Who celebrates the wedding? Them, partly join, again.

Vietnamese parents wish to control the wedding of their children no matter how the children think. They ween as if they have the rights to decide the date of the wedding as well as the rights to invite guests to the wedding without bothering noticing how their children think. As a consequence, in almost Vietnamese weddings, you will see myriads of people coming. The number of guests are uncountable! There is no difference between the rich and the poor when it comes to the wedding: always has uncountable people invited with loads of aliment and beverage served. I could be fussing but I must say half of the guests---or even second-third or more---are unbeknownst to the groom and bride. Why? Because most of the guests are parents' friends---or worse, grandparents' friends---so the couple have no clue about them, of course. For the rest of the guests, some of them are relatives of the family but many of them are far in pedigree so the couple apparently have no clue about them, either. In conclusion, in a wedding, the guests are almost who the couples don't know. Is it funny?

Moreover, the pure dignity of the wedding in Vietnam has been considered the wrong way for long. Wedding is not just a wedding. It's a mess. It's where people conspire to make money, just like a stock market! Wedding is considered to be lucrative. People always be aware that once they celebrate a wedding, it could be a huge loss of money so they try, by any means, to take something back. From who? You know what I mean, the guests! So yeah, now the guests turn out to be suckers! It is ridiculous but it is what a wedding truly is meant in Vietnam. I'm serious.

Preposterously, because people are not willing to invest such a huge amount of buck in such a wedding, they must try to let others give the bucks back. And thanks God it is Vietnamese custom that whenever you are invited to a wedding---and obsequies---you are expected to give money to the celebrators. They call it is as SEND LOVE. That money is considered LUCKY MONEY to the new spouses. And in a wedding---and obsequies---there is always an obligatory donation box for the guests to put money in. And amazing that people do this wittingly. Seemingly that no one dares not follow this custom. You know why? Because in the bridal night, the first thing that spouses do---not to do you-know-what---but to check the box and write down the names of the guests and the amounts of buck they give. For what? Well, to repay the same amount when another wedding of any guests to be held, and the spouses are invited. It's exactly like putting the money on the left pocket to the right pocket. I don't even understand why people think it will be beneficial while the money they received will be repaid later on. What a custom!

Furthermore, when a family makes a wedding, it's pride if they can make it luxurious. People avid for flaunt so they think wedding is a great chance for the show-off. The more luxurious the wedding is, the better reputation the family gets. Again, with the (mis)conception that wedding is held just once, they even wish to make it bigger and bigger. Opportunity for making money just comes once, why not snatching it? Because of so, the family always tries to invite as many guests as they can remember---even the ones they just meet once or twice in life---in order to have a big wedding, for showing off, and to get money.

As a consequence, Vietnamese wedding normally is very big in size, where gathers myriads of people with loads of aliment and beverage served. In fact, the money the guests brings cannot as much as the money the family invest, but no one cares about it. On the other hand, the reason why the family must invite many people is that once they invite the person A, they think they must invite the person B, too, since A knows B. And because B knows C and the family knows C, too, so C is warmly welcome! Now, D and C is mutual friends of the family, so they are impossible not to invite D! After all, that explains the way many people are invited. People will not feel good if not being invited. Vietnamese people always fear of breaking the relationships! So that, if you invite this one, you MUST invite that one, too. It's such a win-win. Or is it? It really doesn't matter because they feel good when seeing myriads of people surrounding at a wedding and it's all.

Wedding-caused adversities

I see Vietnamese traditional wedding style has many potential disadvantages.

Firstly, with the uncountable guests coming, the interaction between the guests and the groom and the bride is inevitable loose. There are only two protagonists in the party but they must go talk to myriads of people. How come they do that? Of course that will lead to the situation that someone would never be approached by the couples---or some of the guests appear to non-existent. That's just bad. Why they bother coming to the wedding without having a chance to say hi to the new spouses? What the hell they do there then? I answer, eating. Yeah, the guests try hard to eat as full as they are during the wedding rather than go talk to the spouses---because they have donated the money, so they must eat the stuffs served, in return. It's fair enough huh? Still, because many of the guests appears to unbeknownst to the spouses, so why they bother talking to each other? What an etiquette!

More seriously, you might follow the news and people are warning that more and more crimes stem from wedding. Stuffs like: people killed in wedding, scuffles happen in wedding, or even worse---groom or bride killed in weddings. Why? Simply because since the guests are coming from different places, and they don't know each other, thus, it's easy for them to have conflicts during the wedding---especially when they are drunk. Many people---most of those are male---consider wedding as an orgy! They come to the wedding, eat and drink like fishes and cannot control their behaviors, that leads to the negative deeds later on. In fact, I attended a few wedding and most of those look like a mess, or chaos. Think about it!

Secondly, I find the money each family needs to invest is quite much, and quite lavish. In fact, it is a waste of money! You may not know but many young Vietnamese people try to work hard for a few years just to accumulate money for celebrating a wedding! It means the investment is as high as a few years income of a normal employee. It's stupid I must say. If you spend all your savings in a wedding, so how could you survive after that? To restart the accumulation? C'mon, why the hell you must be that miserable?

Thirdly, since a wedding's meaning is transforming into another purpose, wedding---which is meant to be a symbol of happiness of human being---becomes formal and cliché. It's real that many guests feel like hell when being invited to a wedding because they know they are FORCED to donate the lucky money whereas they don't wish to do. But the guests still push themselves to come just because they, as I said, fear of breaking the relationships. Hence, the attitude of the guests toward a wedding is really faked, or perfunctory. Is it what people call happiness? Why the hell we must torture each other like that?

Last but not least, the pretentiousness of Vietnamese people expressed in the way they celebrate a wedding is plain superficial. If I have to spend the money, I prefer spending in more relevant purposes.

Facilitate Vietnamese wedding

With all the negativeness I pointed out above, I find it's urgent and necessary to re-design a new model of the Vietnamese wedding. The whim will be illustrated below.

Empower the groom and bride completely

Since the wedding belongs to a groom and a bride, they have right to celebrate it the way they wish. I know many young Vietnamese people don't want to have a huge wedding---because of their poverty---but they still are forced to make it big. They defer to their parents' wish. It's ridiculous and paradoxical! Why outsiders take advantage of their wedding without their unanimity? Seriously, let the protagonists do their own business! They need to choose themselves which day they wish to celebrate the wedding as well as who they are going to invite to the party. Neither their parents nor anyone else.

Wedding limited in range and size

A wedding limited in range and size means that it will limit the number of guests to be invited as well as the duration. I plan to have the exact number ranges from fifty to one hundred. These people are who really close to me. They must be someone I really need in my life. They should be my mates, my people who really wish to share the big day with me, without any reasons or purposes. Besides friends, I will leave some voids for my relatives to fill in---who I know very well, too. For my parents, they will have less seats for their friends---only ones I like are allowed.

For the duration of the wedding; in case you might not know I would like to reveal that it's normal for a Vietnamese wedding to last for a few days, or even a week---maybe longer. If the groom and the bride are not from the same city, so their parents wish to have wedding in each place---their own hometowns. Means they can have two or more weddings to be held separately in different places. Hell, it spends time very much and since I am kind of person who consider the value of time, I am not willing to spend that much time just for the same thing. Wedding should be held in the place in which the groom and the bride decide to live onward!

Pros and Cons

I know what you're thinking about. In case I let the idea come true, I must encounter many obstacles. I emphasize that I am aware of them! Let's analyze.

Once the groom and bride are empowered to decide everything in relation to their wedding, they will be independent to make it as they dream. For example the date of the wedding, I would love to choose it myself rather than asking my parents for help. When I say I choose the date myself, I mean it will be randomly any days I like, not the day which the prognosticator suggests. I do know that it's Vietnamese custom to ask the fortune-teller to analyze and to choose a lucky day for a wedding. Methinks, it's mere superstitious! I'm atheistic and I don't believe that there is a day luckier than another day in a year. Why people bother believing in such a prognosticator to decide the day they celebrate their weddings? Why the hell they can know which day is good, which day is bad? I don't believe in those baseless anticipation. Those prognosticators are just lairs, and too bad many Vietnamese people---especially someone who has high education---still be brainwashed about this. I don't aim to blame them, I just don't understand. Of course the problem belongs to culture, but I don't see anything believable in this custom. I'm serious!

When I say this to my mom, she says it's the psychical belief---means the idealistic thinking---so it has nothing to do with the bad or luck of the day, but everything to do with the precarious imagination of people. To me, it's just because many people are not decisive enough---or they are too choosy---to be able to choose themselves a certain day. That's why they must search for help from outsiders. Shame on them.

On the other hand, people obsess with the lucky day to be chosen because they believe if the date of the wedding is not good, then the spouses will have conflicts, sooner or later, and eventually their marriage might have bad endings. This idea appears to make sense. But how come a day affects a relationship? If the spouses don't live well together, it's their own false, not the date of the wedding. Vietnamese people would love to blame anything for their mistakes, even for their marriage. It is you who control your matrimony, not any others!

Still, when the couple are independent to choose the guests, the wedding will be guaranteed to be warm. I will just invite my real close friends and so will my bride---notice, I don't have many close friends. Quite a few, in deed! But because people surrounding me are all I love, so I can have big fun with them. They are few, so I'm able to take care of a single person as they deserve. With the limited number of guests, the interaction between the family and them are quite intimate, and no one is left behind, or to be forgotten. The ambiance of the wedding could be truly cosy, and I with my lady would converse snugly altogether with beloved people of ours. Isn't it great?

In accordance with the limited invitation, it will solve the big deal, aka money, as well. Since the scale of the wedding is narrow, it costs just a little, and I could be affordable. At least, the spending for a wedding should not cost me as a few years total income. Don't get me wrong! You might think of me as such a miserly asshole when I consider the money too much. Sorry mates, you are wrong. In fact, I am cognizant of wedding as a milestone in life and I really appreciate it. It would be good if I can have a big day well-arranged with many beloved people around to share my highest happiness. It always is what I dream to do. But it doesn't mean I will lavish extravagantly on it! The wedding could be small in size, but the quality will be still ensured. It will be good in the inside, not the outside. Since I'm a future businessman, I always appreciate the value of money. If it is spent, it should be spent in the right place and for the right person! I am thinking of an alfresco buffet and activities for the guests in stead of indoor meals as the traditional way. My beloved people---again, quite a few---will surely have a memorable time with the best services.

Talking about the financial matter, since the wedding is within my affordability, so that the guests are sincerely welcome WITHOUT being expected to donate the money! Now, who thinks of me as a miserly asshole? To think objectively, even it is because of the culture but I still don't understand why people must donate the money? Wedding is the own affair of a groom and a bride, so once they celebrate it, they SHOULD defray all the expenses themselves. What if they don't have a strong financial potentiality? Easy, just make it small enough to be affordable. Just like me!

When the guests are expected not to donate the lucky money, I suppose all of them will feel really good! So that, since money is not a big deal any more, the guests could come to the party with the highest attitude. I really don't want anyone to come to my wedding with the anxiety of the money to be donated that makes them hesitate so that it would be better to forget about it. Take it easy! Just come to me, mates, it is your visiting that I am grateful, not your money. Isn't it a real win-win for everyone? I have a cut on the finance needs to invest, and the guests don't bother about how much should they donate. After all, such an ideal wedding!

FAQs

Q: Why you have the idea of your wedding?
A: The roots come from my personality. I wanna be responsible for my things and I want to do my own things rather than let outsiders do for me. I want to be able to decide the life I'm living. And I conceive that if you cannot be able to decide for your own things, e.g. wedding, then you I am never independent.

Q: I see your idea interesting, but what if your future wife doesn't want to do that? She is kinda classical.
A: Well, you are right. My not-known-yet wife is a very big deal. If she refuses my plan, I will convince her about all the pros and cons of it. I don't see my plan unpractical. In fact, it is really feasible. If she cannot understand, why I bother marring her? Ha ha, I am just kidding, but it is all what I expect from my future wife: be civilized enough to fathom me, her husband.

Behind the scenes: yesterday, after writing this entry, I confided my idea in my current girlfriend. Surprisingly, she intensively asked me, "are you distracted? Wedding celebration is not your rights. It's parents' decision". I convinced her for a while but was unsuccessful. She insisted that to celebrate wedding is what parents must do, and I would have less power on it. Hell, you see, even my close person thinks like that. As I said, it is the cultural issue which has been being ingrained into Vietnamese people's mind, from generation to generation. People really need to civilize their minds!

Q: What if your wife wants to follow the plan, but she cannot because her parents find it crazy?
A: Well, the person I marry is my wife, not her parents, or her relatives or friends. In fact, I don't really care what others think of my plan, except my wife. So that, to me, the outsiders are not allowed to have any decision. And in reality, I am right. No one can have decision for my life, except me! If her parents intensively refuses me, then I quit. Let them continue raising their child, ha ha.

Q: How about your parents?
A: My parents are open-minded and sympathetic enough to understand what I am yearning for. Actually I did tell my beloved mom about the plan and she partly agrees. She has joint enough weddings to know how bad the situation could be, and how tired the people are.

Q: Even your parents and your wife's parents are OK with that, but they fear of losing face with their relatives and friends in case they cannot invite so much people to the wedding? The same to your friends, what would they think of you?
A: To the relatives of the oldies, I don't think it would be a big deal. Vietnamese people should learn that a personal business needs to be appreciated. And wedding is a wedding, not a showcase, or a mess. And again, since the parents don't play the main role in my wedding---I and my lady do---their relatives and friends don't concern here, either. If the oldies want to have a chance to meet each other, they can hold a party themselves anytime.

Still, since the parents' relatives and friends are almost who I don't even know, why I bother considering them? We won't meet those people many times, so that it's meaningless to care about them. It's my right to invite who I want. In case the uninviteds feel not good about that and have negative attitudes toward our parents, then I kick their asses.

For the friends of mine, I think I have myriads of them, but I won't invite all. In fact, I CANNOT I will choose just the most important ones. You will say it isn't good if I distinguish friends but I cannot help but to do it. It is real that I have some certain friends who are closer than others. Some of the one I call friend simply mean I know a little, such loosing relationship. And in my big day, there is no place for such loosing relationships! If they are mature, they should understand this. On the other hand, when a person who knows me, but is uninvited, I would love to have them know that he/she and I have are not close enough to be with me. If someone feel disappointed or angry to me for that, I am sorry but there is nothing I can do. If I lose any relationships for this, I think it deserves. In fact, I don't need ones who don't understand me.

On the other hand, ones invited to my wedding really should know that they are my true beloved! It is all I can do to express my affection for them.

All of the above to say that I never fear of losing face! Phrase from Anson Chi again, "People don't define who you are, you define who you are". I live my own life and be responsible for it, and once I don't do anything wrong, I never regret.

Q: Do you think you are an egoist?
A: No! Or at least I'm an egoist to an extend, but I'm still a kind-hearted human. If being yourself is a sign of egoism, so I wonder how many people are hypocrites out there?

Q: Do you think you are destroying the traditional custom?
A: Well, you don't need to fuss like that, do you? I don't kill the custom at all. I just facilitate, or simplify, it. You can say I'm kind of rebellious, but once I still retain the custom, I feel nothing to worry about.
In fact, if you might not know I would love to announce that Vietnamese government has already encouraged the people to facilitate the wedding style. No wonder why they do that, it must have a reason. Think about it!

Tuesday, 28th July 2009
02:59 Kauhava
06:59 Hanoi

All about Love. 1st Love. Part I

2009-07-23T01:32:00.005+07:00

All about Love. Prologue. Crushes

The gist that I procrastinate to write the continuing parts of the "All about Love" blog entry is because I suddenly lose aspiration when talking about Love. I'm not so successful in love and love brings me more sadness than happiness so to tell about it is a little painful. Well, but if I don't initiatively recite it once I still remember the details, I think I can't tell very much in the next few years. Time kills human's mind very brutally even for the one who has biggest brain. So that, let's retrospect now.

First Love comes to me naturally and slowly when I was in 11st grade---means 17 years old, if I don't remember wrong---and she is, again, the cutie sits right next to me. We share the same bench. You remember that I'm seemingly into whoever sits right next to me in class? So, in case you wanna be my next target, easy, just sit next to me, ha ha.

In fact, we didn't sit in the same bench firstly. It was because I was like an idiot on studying so our former teacher decided to change my position. And because Ex (now I will call her "Ex") was such an intelligent and outstanding pupil in class, the teacher thought it would be good for me if I could have that girl to be my tutor. Or would it be? Oh really! More than good, ha ha.

I must reveal that I was too too bad at studying that time, because I didn't feel any aspiration for studying, or I was just too lazy. But truthfully I hated studying, and you know Vietnamese education sucks! Okay, let's not talk about it. Because I was like the worst pupil---loser, I mean---in class so a personal tutor was something necessary. But at first I felt really anxious to change the old position into her bench because she was prominent for her stern and glacial and gelid and cold appearance and manifestation! In fact, I seldom saw her smiles or laughs or expresses any graceful emotion in front of others. She was really cold, like an ice-cube! She was smart at study, but everyone in the class admitted that she was kinda eccentric. She has a very long silky hairstyle floating naturally along her body, and always be tied trimly. I love that hairstyle! Girl in long hair is beautiful, no matter who she is. She wears nearsighted glasses, too, which even makes her look colder and sterner. The fact that many boys in my class are afraid of her 'cos she has a very strong personality. She is not only cold but also stroppy, or even a little rebellious and impulsive. She is very straightforward and to be the one who is willing to explicitly plead against the teachers once she weens as if she is right in any cases. Who dares plead against teachers? Not many pupils could be that explicit, you agree? Well, it's the way my ex is, a strong girl.

To be ironically contrary to her, I was like an effete boy that time. To be a humble pupil, and had nothing for anyone to remember. My personality wasn't impressing, either, so that I though I didn't make sense to her. Perhaps she even didn't know I existed! And more important, I don't like cold girl! I find cold girls or girls who try to manifest coldly just boring. I love girls who are lively and debonair with the smiles all the time bloom on their lips. But for Ex, my very first impression to her was really negative. Damn, why the hell the teacher forced me to sit next to an ice-cube? I couldn't help but hesitantly went into new position. When I sat down, all of the sudden, surprisingly and astonishingly---I guess it is the most amazing time in my entire life---that ice-cube smiles to me and said, "hey, will us be friends now and then?". At the same time, she raised her hand in front of me and waited for a hand-shaking.

Swear to God, I was shocked! An intensively tremendous shock ever! Just like an electric shock. "Oh God, the ice-cube just smiles to me", said myself. "Am I day-dreaming?". "Oh God, the ice-cube just smiles and wants to shake hand with me".

And look, she has such a very cute smile. You see? A lively lips with white teeth in a very good shape! Her smile... her smile... I am just speechless. She is so cute, her smile is so cute, too, and she is so cute, after all. She is the cutest I have ever seen---I mean, realized. Hell, I can't believe and can't accept that I don't know she is that cute even I have studied with her for almost 2 years. How come? It is more than consternating to realize how her appearance can transform within just a smile! Like an ice-cube magically converts into a sun! Compared to any crushes I used to have, she is such a goddess! In fact, nothing can compare to her. She is so outstanding. She is so cute. Oh damn, she's smiling to me, is it real? Look again, white teeth in a very good shape. Nice lips. Suave eyes looking directly at me. Small and pretty nose. Seductive face. What else? She's such a work of art! A real work of art! Her smile is like a volcano. When a volcano wakes up, everything ends. And now, I seems to end my life. She is like a luminous sunlight happens to shine in the night and lights up every creatures and species in this space! She is like a breezing wind gently makes you forget about the hot. She is like... anyway, I don't aim to write such romantic novel here. So I should stop or else I would write 1000 pages more just to praise her.

All of the above were my though that moment, I was inextricably in trance for a while because of the electric shock (by her). But once I noticed that she was waiting for me, I woke myself up and stuttered agitatedly; "ah... ah... well, ok... ok". Then I put my right hand forth to catch hers. My God, her hand is so soft, maybe the softest thing I have ever touched! Her hand is as cute as a baby's and small enough to lie thoroughgoing in mine. Wow, once I touch her hand, a very warm feeling spreads into my inside and I immerse myself into that pleasant transient moment right away. She puts her hand back! No more dream!

From that moment, I am beaten.
From that moment, I simply know I just love her. Coup de foudre!

(to be continued)

Pass the Impasse

2009-07-22T23:37:00.006+07:00

Some of you are expecting to see the next chapters of my "About Love" novel—joking, I mean the previous blog entry—but too bad I disappoint you. I'm losing the necessary aspiration to write such thing like love, since I'm stuck in it. Complicated to explain, anyway I will continue it ASAP.

Well, I am in impasse for another story, my visa is gonna expire soon in August and I must renew it as hasty as I could. Normally last year and last two years, I did this job in Vietnam so I had nothing to worry about, but this year—because I don't return Vietnam anymore—I must do this here. The big deal is that you only are considered to be qualified to get your visa renewed once you have something to prove to the local police and other departments that you have legal purpose to stay here. To me, is to study. You will ask me why I don't ask our school for help? Well, I did ask but still get no response yet.

Okay, I will explain. In case I want to renew the visa, I must have the study certificate. In order to get the study certificate, I must show the working certificate—means my practical training certificate—and it isn't bad enough. In order to get all the stuffs, I must contact shool officers who are responsible for this case, but too bad it's summer time so everyone are on their vacations now. I don't know how to get them and when they're back. They will kick my ass if they don't return as quick as august comes.

Yesterday, after a very long time, I wrote reports again. I mean academic report. Damn, because after I'm done with the practical training thus I—and other students as well—am forced to write such boring reports to the teachers and it is really a hard work. So paradoxical that not the language ability that matters but the formality kills my writing style. I was just more than astonied to realize that just a report could trouble me that much. I totally forgot the form of layout and text should be displayed in such academic documents. They must be all in order! Something like the line spacing, the size of text, the distance of paragraph etc. Just piss me off! I hate formality!

More than too bad, I realize that everything in relation to academic matters are all really boring to read and write. If I write a blog entry, I can write just naturally and smoothly and tidy with load of precise and flexible vocabulary. But for such an academic report, I must write as simple as possible, with the stereotyped words and phrases, under strict rules of writing. You know it really bores me 'cos I don't like something appears again and again. For example, it's the report for my whole period of practical training so they expect me to express the working experience, or the goal I achieve after being a trainee. Okay, they have some suggesting questions like "how could apply your study in work", "how you overcome the difficulty", "what you expect to gain", stuffs like that. And you know, these are all stupid questions, or say, formal questions, cliché questions. To evaluate the job, I must repeat during the report that it is very "interesting" and "interesting" and "interesting". Why interesting? Because "interesting" is such a popular and accepted word, or some say it's just polite and general to comment about things. True! The fact that it's too general so that it cannot express anything at all.

How could I say that the work is just boring, but the salary is damn amazing on the report? It's colloquial but believe me or not, that way of speech is graceful makes sense, ha ha. It makes more sense than just to say "interesting" or something similar. But of course, it's the formality in the academic environment.

Because of so, when I write a report, I feel myself as a charlatan, or a lair. I cannot even tell the truth but just something equitable even it's not what I think. I can't say I didn't apply any knowledge I gained from study into work at all but my personal living experiences. But thing is I still have to say such untrue things into reports. Okay, I'm a lair. But whatever. And who cares?

I think I'm saying like an idiot now, so I will shut up. Just a crazy though about crazy thing. In fact I'm anxious about my visa now...

All about Love

2009-07-17T06:51:00.010+07:00

I once weened myself as a love-savvy but seemingly the truth turns out to be not that positive. Okay, it doesn't mean I have no clue about the so-called Love, I'm not that naive, of course. Basically you can say love is just love, it's something like a two-people-story---when a boy falls into a girl, then love appears. True! But it's just the simplified description, or say, it's just the outset of a love road.

I had the real love since I was 17---now I'm 22---when I was still in pupil-age. I call it real love, or "official" love 'cos I had uncountable crushes before, and I don't count crushes onto my love list. Crush means unrequited love, or fugitive affection---or more romantic, coup de foudre (love at first sign) as the French says---that I can't take it seriously. But after all, crush is such an enchanted feeling that could make you tipsy. It's weird and tempting. Well, the very first crush---I mean it's the earliest one I could reminisce---naturally came to me when I was in the 2nd grade---means 7 years old. Wait, am I detouring now? I think I aimed to recite about my 1st real love, don't I? Hmm... anyway, let's finish my crush stories first 'cos crush is in relation to love.

Crushes

She was the monitress of the class whilst I was her sub---means I was just under her but above everyone else in the class---and we were targets for bullying from our classmates. Since I was too cool that time--or at least I though I was cool--and she was cool, too; we quickly became the hot couple of the whole school---confessedly, I think we were hot just within our class, but whatever--and every other naughty mates always tried to make fun of us; they called us spouses or something that really annoyed to both of us!

Of course I was so shy being teased like that but I spontaneously felt really into her. She was really cute! She had short hairstyle floating over her shoulders, a babyish face and an angelic smile, that broke me into pieces whenever I contemplated her. Well, I remember one time while I was in my class, and my angel was standing up reading something from the textbook as assigned from our teacher. I couldn't help but just keep staring at her without noticing about anything else surrounding me. I must have forgotten that I was in the class---actually any boy loses his mind whenever he thinks of his girl, not only me---then when she was done reading, the teacher requested me to comment about her reading skill. What the hell?!! You could guess that I couldn't say a word! The teacher knew I was absent-minded in class because of busy spectating my girl---well, I wish she actually were mine---and it was bad as hell that she recklessly decried me in front of the whole class. She said to all that I busied watching my girl so that I was impossible to follow the lesson. Consequently everyone just laughed their asses off! You see, they couldn't lose any chance to make fun of me, it's what children meant for---making fun of friends. And my teacher was just unsubtle, wasn't she?

Well, it was notorious that I fancied that pretty girl, but it was even more notorious that she fancied me, in return. I knew that even she has never ever confirmed, or confided. But when I saw her in her eyes, they told me that---hell, sounds like I'm day-dreaming---she fancied me. You see? The imagination of such 7-year-old-boy is quite imaginative huh? I have never ever told to her that I like her, either. Well, when I recall that sweet time I think I should bravely ask her out then end up dating her. But swear to God, I couldn't have a single chance to confess with her since our naughty, inquisitive mockers were ever-present somewhere waiting to make fun of us. And truthfully I didn't even know that there was something called "date" existed! Anyway, she and I had a very nice memorable friendship, even it was transient. I was with her just for 2 years. My mom took me to another primary school 'cos the education quality was better there, which was equivalent that the fragile, innocent, childish love of ours to be mercilessly killed---if it has ever existed. It is surprised to me now that when I changed my school, I even didn't say a word to my girl, or didn't bother thinking of her. Well, it's the way a child is---forget things naturally and easily. Such a funny memory to retrospect.

You know what? Sometimes I wonder how could that damsel be when she grows up? Still she retains that cutie? Where the hell she is now? And most important, still she likes me---hell, perhaps I'm still deeply in dream---I mean still she remembers me? It's appr. 15 years I haven't had a news from her, and she must have changed a lot as the time flies. I really wish to catch her again sometimes somewhere 'cos I like to be with old buddies in order to converse about the past and to retrospect altogether. Well, if this thing coincidentally happens, I will ask her out then end up dating her! Ha ha, I'm kidding, of course!

Then it's all about my first crush. Right after I changed the school, I had some other crushes with someone else---well, it is the way boys are. And the more I grew up during the pupil-age, the more crushes came, but they are all just short-term fugacious affections, most of those were girls who sat right next to me in the class, mean we shared the same benches. The next girl I had a crush on was a very intelligent and diligent pupil, she was quite good at studying. The feeling I had on her is more apparent than it was on the first one, it might because I grew up a little more, I felt like her suaveness and intelligence a lot. But I was quite shy to confide in her so we stayed as friends all the time since my primary school time ended, 2 years. Again, I had to change to another school 'cos we all upgraded into next educational level, the secondary school. Thanks God this time we all were old enough to ask others' telephones or addresses to keep track! Still, we were able to meet again the following years and we ended up being good friends until now. Actually, I had a very nice impression of her for all that time. She is still a nice, intelligent girl at present.

In the secondary school I still had deep crushes---why the hell I'm always stuck in crushes?--but things still didn't come to a happy ending. After all, some of the girls I used to have crushes on end up being my good friends now, or else the rest of them disappear on my life. I can't count how many girls I really fell into, 'cos you know when girls reach the age of secondary school---12 to 15 years old---they're growing up. They transform magically from babies to real girls, and I must say it's the time girls are so attractive or more than just attractive. That's why I had so many crushes this period 'cos I had so many attractive buds surrounding me. Among of those, there were 3 girls I fell deeper then others and they were my salient memories. One of them, was such a wunderkind. She was the best girl I have ever met in my entire life, until now. I am saying about her intelligence on studying. She was just a genius, to be terrific on every subjects at school and to be the outstanding pupil among others. I think she was one of the top pupils on my class, or my school as well. She had several same hobbies with me like reading same books from same authors or else. Now you can see how deeper the crush was when I was in secondary school---we did talk, we did come close to each other and we did share something personal like hobbies---things have never happened when I was smaller, in primary school.

Since boys and girls are in secondary school, they now naturally have tendency to communicate or to get in touch or to inquire the other sex. In primary school, boys are in boys' world and girls are in girls' world, like two discrete worlds. It's funny that when boy or girl is smaller, like in the kindergarten age, the sex difference doesn't matter much. Little boys can play well with little girls without hesitation. I guess at that time children don't even have the perception about sex difference. Anyway, in primary school boys really hesitate to play with girls 'cos they have certain perception that they differ from each other---that impedes them from coming close to each other, too. I guess it was why I couldn't get close to my little girl. Poor her---I mean, me.

Okay, let's go back to my crush. Well, that girl to whom I'm talking above had a very ugly personality, more like a boy than a girl I suppose. She had strong personality, in deed. She was easy-going, too, that made us converse snugly together. In fact, we had very much childish conflicts but those crap didn't baffle our friendship much, even sometimes I just wanted to kick her ass (ha ha) for her stubbornness and conceit.

It is funny that I didn't know there was something called "crush" existed. Of course a small child can't know that complicated concept, can he? Only after I'm mature could I be cognizant of what crush is. So yeah, during that fargone time, the naive child like me always insisted that whenever I fell into a girl, it was---ridiculously---a true love. Because of that, believe it or not, I myself felt like being heart-broken many times whenever I fancied a girl but she even didn't pay attention to me. Then the fragile heart of such a naive inconsolably broke into pieces like hell. Hilarious! Anyway, I deem that she fancied me, just like I pretty fancied her. We kept the trend go well until the end of 2nd-ary school but nothing more special came, we still were not mature enough to deal with such a big deal like love.

Hilariously, during the time I was into that girl, I had paid attention to two other attractive girls, ha ha. One was close friend of the girl I mentioned already, and the third one is our monitress. Oh yeah, seemed like I had special interest in monitresses huh? To easily tell, I will name them as respectively as following: A,B and C. I fell into A for her personality, but she was a complicated girl, too. Sometimes I really didn't understand her. B was a little cutie, and C was just my idol. I didn't know why but B was the first girl I have ever confessed my affection. Unfortunately I was rejected. Hell, I felt really like her, and I decided to ask her out. I bought her a nice gift for her birthday---now what, you see? A boy starts to cajole a girl by giving her something tangible in stead of just speech and action---but she even didn't give a glance on my gift. She restored it to me right after I gave it to her, couldn't remember whether she said anything else but it was terrible enough. So cool! C'mon lady, you don't need to overreact like that do you? I was just too frustrated so that it seemed to be the last time I talked to her ever, it lasted for years. It was the first time I experienced something call lovelornness. And it bled the hell out of me! I was heavily grievous and started to flee from her even we were in the same class! I blamed her for everything, she was too cold, she was heartless and insensitive. Why the hell did I have a crush on her? Ha ha, believe me or not, when we all grow up, we're now close friends of each other. Such silly memory! She's now a very charming girl, wish she be lucky on life, hon.

The C girl was quite an solemn person to me, I idolized her, I mean it was something greater than just adoration or admiration. She was cute, statuesque, long hair, piquant, nubile, amiable, intelligent, sensitive, suave, caring... Hell, I think I should shut up now or else I would lengthen this blog entry to 100 pages more just to praise her. General speaking, she was just perfect to me! The crush was too deep that I couldn't let her know my true feeling, 'cos I simply couldn't. Hell, I still have no idea why I could idolize her intensively like that, but she was just totally the number one girl I have ever thought of. Maybe I was too naive and too stupid that time, but that crush lasts very long! Until I have a true first love or even later, I think. But now, game is over. She is just a girl, maybe she has certain good sides but she has bad sides, too. It's just me who extravagantly exalt her much more than she is herself. One exactly phrase for this case: beauty lies in the beholder's eyes! Or simply my personal paranoia...

C girl now almost disappears in my life, and since we got out of the 2nd-ary school to continue stepping into the more important educational level---high school---I seldom had chance to see her again. We end up being nothing to each other, or just normal old classmates. Anyway.

So from now and then, welcome to my high-school time, to meet others my crushes. :P

Like usual, I had several crushes in highschool---why the hell I was always stuck in crushes?---but all of those were quite vague. In fact, I had no crush as vehement as it was in 2nd-ary school, so they don't deserve telling here. But I, naturally and surprisingly, faced one of most impeccable event eventually happened in my life--thing that made me stop immersing myself in crushes. Yes, I'm talking about the so-called Love.

It is sufficient for the first part of this writing. I will reveal more in the next part which will be written later. Soon. So, stay tuned!

0654 am

0254 pm

Kauhava, 170709

Last working day

2009-07-10T13:08:00.007+07:00

After more than 5 months, it finally comes to the last day I work. Well, yesterday I had a very nice farewell with my boss, I gave him a birthday gift from my Mom, a 100% silk cravat, she had prepared it before visiting Finland 'cos she knew my boss is a very nice person and actually he is so kind to me. He, in return, gave me a cute b-day postcard came along with the working certificate. It was a little pride to read such those praises written on the papers they indicated me, and yeah I felt really content for what I had done, I guess I did a good job.

My boss, courteously, held the bag carrying all the stuffs by both his hands and gave it to me solemnly, he said, "I do as the Vietnamese culture". I was just pathetic, he was a, as I said, very nice courteous gentleman. From the following days then, I wouldn't see him as daily as usual so I was a little sad about it. He was so kind to me as a supervisor and a teacher, means I got valuable lessons from him, both of how to deal with work and language matters. I like him very much, you know, his age is almost the same as my parent's so I treat him as respectful as I do to my parent. He is one of the kindest Finn I have ever met so far. And since he is a good English teacher, and our university has the relationship with Hanoi university of technology, so he has chance to visit Vietnam for working as an exchange teacher in the future. If that thing happens, I feel really lucky to his future Vietnamese students, because he is a very good teacher! Vietnamese students can advance their language abilities so much when he teaches them. Okay, after all, thank you so much for everything, Mr Tapio.

C'mon, I've just overcome a probation, the next step is the graduation thesis as you might know, before I really graduate. Things seem to go well, and I really feel good about it. I will have relaxing days until the end of July, then to wake myself up again for other important things need to be done. Phew, life is just a long way and each time you pass by a landmark you will feel a little funny, and happy. Thing is to keep going as far as you can!

The only matter that bothers me is that yesterday I received an email from the working place reported my last salary for this month, and because I didn't work the whole month, just for the first 10 days, so I expected the money shouldn't be so high. But more than my expectation, it was just... how could I say, just unbelievable! I did work these days but they paid me something like few hours wage. "WTF?!!", talked to myself, I even couldn't believe it. Was there any mistake here?!! The money is not what I really care about because the opportunity to work is more important since the practical training period is mandatory in my to-do list, but the salary shouldn't be that ridiculous! Anyway, I had written an email to my boss to ask about it, and still waiting for a positive response... God blesses me!

This morning, I come to the office, maybe the last time, to clean it up and throw away some personal documents, and to erase everything in the computer. This office is really cosy, I remember the time I was here alone and felt really enjoyable with it, I could work in peace, or even listen to music in low volume in search for working aspiration. I just wish I could work in an office like that in the future, small but cosy, rather than a big room with full of people and computers. Because you work, so the working place really should be quiet and peaceful, which is perfect for the concentration of the work-er. Some of you might wish to see as many colleagues as possible staying right beside you, for a little fun you guys could have during the working time. I mean the gossip or discussion or whatever any colleagues could share together, and you might call it something like funny-working-place. Okay, it's just what you wish, but if I can choose, I will choose to work in a discrete ambiance. Maybe it's because of my introvert but it's what I really hope for the future job.

After all, now I will enjoy myself for days without work. I printed out some novels and documents waiting to be read, and I planned to do something else, too. Life is Good!

Farewell, job!

0909 am
01:09 pm
100709

Plans

2009-07-09T15:21:00.008+07:00

Eventually my practical training is going to end soon, this Friday. And before I take another job in August (if I could), I will have at least about 20 days kinda free. I'm thinking of the stuffs I'm gonna do during that time.

Well, I dont' wanna be a vidiot anymore. You know one of my desire is games so I spend such too much time gaming these days. And it's just bad. I'm thinking of spending time reading books, like what I used to do years ago. Yesterday I downloaded from the Internet an ebook entitled Understanding Stock (forget the author's name) and it was really interesting. Honestly I don't understand what Stock really is, while many people are all becoming crazy about it. It's time to keep me up-to-date with the world, I guess, especially I plan to embark upon life right after the student time ends.

At the same time, I have a decision towards the way I will step into when I finish university. I will come back Vietnam for work! Before, I wondered whether I should keep living overseas or return home country. If I live in Finland for more, I would like to work rather than continue studying a Master degree. But eventually I choose to come back Vietnam. Even many advisers tell me that it's quite hard to live in Vietnam as well as to get a good job there, I believe myself that I will be OK living there again.

Reason? Well, for the life, I am Vietnamese so I have no prob living in my country at all. And for career? I know that in Vietnam now there have many foreign firms operating their businesses and it is not a big deal to apply in one of those if I'm good enough. Optimistically, I have some certain target firms already, and it's just the matter of time when I can achieve the plan. Personally, I aim to work in Vietnam for a few years, and when I am affordable I will pause (or stop) the work to go overseas to study again, of course, for a Master degree. It is because I feel like bored if I keep living in the same place for long, and 4 years is quite enough for Finland. I will live in Vietnam for some years, and when I feel like tedious about life and work, I will come back to the student time, as a way to chill out.

Some people, like my mates, are trying hard to gain a Master diploma as quick as they could now. They try to study for a Master course right after getting a Bachelor certificate. I have no idea about it. You know, each person has his/her own strategy of life and I myself think it isn't necessary for a Master degree now. In Finland, mostly Master courses are designed for ones who have worked already, not for a freshman who just gets out of the school. I mean, one of the compulsory requirements for the candidates to apply into a Master course is the working experience, normally 3 years or ranges differently due to the subjects they are going to take. There must have a reason for that. I guess it's because any Master course is meant for the senior not the junior. You wanna study deeply about one field, you must have practical experience about it, here is the field of business, and it's even more practical.

I admit that if it's possible, I just wanna be a quick runner like many of my friends, who are taking a Master course. It is the finance that matters! The fee for a Master course is always extravagant expensive, and since I don't want my parent to lavish anymore on me, I decide to earn bucks myself to afford the study. If thing goes that way, it will be my long-term plan to achieve.

Since August comes, I will start writing my graduation thesis. I have illustrated the initial structure for it in my mind, and the crucial probation now is whether I could collect sufficient necessary reference documents or not. Anyway, take it easy and everything will be okay.

22th

2009-07-06T03:54:00.009+07:00

The entry dedicated to Dad, for his loss of b-day, as a birthday gift from me. And of course, it's dedicated to Mom, too, the person who co-operates to create me.

22th here means my Twenty-twoth Birthday! Okay, finally another b-day comes to me. Warning: stop confusing or correcting me that it should be the 23th in stead of 22th b-day of mine according to the Chinese lunar calendar's way of calculating age or Vietnamese "pre-born age" (tuổi mụ). I'm 22 years old now, no matter what.

You will ask me what does my 22th b-day mean to me? Okay, it simply means that I used to be 18 four years ago, or I used to be 16 six years ago! As an ultra nostalgic style, I'm negatively obsessed by the grown-up. Thus, all the upcoming b-days always tragically remind me of the fact that I'm in the progress to get older, or say, the distance between past and present is more and more lengthening. Past is apparently unapproachable. Of course it's just my personal point of view, you can find it preposterous, but if it wasn't because of my too sweet childhood, I wouldn't cherish the past that much cordial and regretful. Life is becoming less happy than it used to be as the time passes by, so I find it a little unpleasant to accept my growth. When I was a child, the thing I most yearned was to be mature, and now, ironically, to stay young is the most longing wish ever. Human is just vagarious! So am I.

It's, if I am right, 3 or 4 years since I realized that b-day is not that important!I t's just a day, as others. I didn't have funny b-days, but grey ones these years so that I felt really tedious about them. And this year, 2009, is the first time I have my b-day in a foreign country. Right before my b-day just several days was my Dad's "formal" birthday. I call it formal b-day because he even doesn't have a real date of birth himself! It was because of the fucking stupid war that some Vietnamese people were impossible to remember their dates of birth; they lost their birth papers from the war. Fuck it! Fuck the war. Why it does exist? You see? Even someones (e.g. my Dad) don't have an exact date of birth themselves, then what it really means? Just plain meaningless!

My Dad never asks anyone else to congratulate him in his b-day. And unfortunately our family members always forget his day when it comes, we just rarely remember for some years. I guess with him, b-day is just something humble (because it isn't his real day!). It's just one year since I was aware of that, and I felt just hellacious, for his loss. Oh, damnit, I used to have very happy b-days celebrated by my parents and friends but he, as long as I can remember, never have someone do the same thing. Holyshit, I'm just embarrassed myself that I am very much more lucky than him and I realized how I neglected him...

Moreover, I don't know why but the more I become mature, the more trivial I consider b-days. I love my past time, it was just memorable with lot of funny time. I used to be very naive to enjoy the life, and it was just the purest aspiration I could have. I saw the life just wonderful. Now, it's harsh as I more and more involve into, and I'm tired sometimes. The aspiration for the b-day as a child yearns for new gifts given has saluted by time to me. And as said, b-day is a sign of time's passing by, so I don't really fancy the event that much. I'm now 22, I even can't believe it. The 18-year-old-boy seems just standing in front of my eyes, and I can't stop recalling that time---the time when I lived lively, carelessly and full of energy, full of curiousness to the big world; everything has just over. Maybe I am under sting of memories too much, but my heart wrings whenever I look back the road I have passed through.

Being 22 is a little funny. Generally when you pace into it, it's time when you are nearly done with the study process, and getting start to embark upon the real life. All I care now is how my future will be? I'm in the last year of my student time, and I'm gonna graduate soon. After that, I will stand in the conflux of life; many ways opening to me, and whichever I choose, will lead my life into a different direction. Thing is that I should choose the good one, not the misleading way. Now, it's time for me to hustle myself, to push myself to go. I must keep going! I must have a good knowledge foundation for the awaiting life ahead. I must equip myself with necessary stuffs like perception, experience or abilities. I just wanna swallow everything! Damn, so much to do. But I will manage all well!

Okay, even b-day doesn't seem to be very special to me, and I don't feel really happy those days, but I'm very grateful to everyone who show your kind hearts by giving me such nice wishes. So yeah, you know you revitalize me a lot, don't you? If there is something I wanna confide, I just wanna tell to you all that please enjoy the life as much as you could! Time passes really quick even you don't realize that. The moment you're living in will never return, so cherish it well. Live positively in order for you not to regret about time, about deeds you made. You will never have a chance to re-live the time you want, chance comes just once, so you'd better live happy! I have suffered from enough tristesses, okay no pain no gain, I know. Thus, I just wanna live happily now and then. In order to achieve that, I should let myself get out of dumb things and learn to think less complicated. I wish I could. I have learnt to accept the fact that the memories are just memories, just keep them along with you as personal keepsakes, make them the dynamic of life for you to keep living, and try to enjoy the current life! So yeah, the birthday wish is just simply a happy life ahead. No more, no less.

Happy life. Happy life. Happy life.

Again, be thankful to all the wishes. And thanks to my lady for staying beside me, one I know always wants to make my b-day memorable. She's sweet.

I miss Hanoi very much.

22th Birthday, 060709
03:34 am, Hanoi
11:34 pm, Seinajoki

Summer trip 2009

2009-07-02T14:40:00.020+07:00

Sweden. Ancient beauty

Here is the description of the trip which I have spent this summer. Wow, it just lasts for 3 transient days but it brought me a plenty of sweet memories. Retelling it to you is something funny.

Disclaimers

- The entry comes with both texts and photos. And I apologize for the bad quality of some photos. I even didn't have time to take such good photos (hmm, yes I mean something photography, something artistic) because I went with my companies and people didn't wanna wait me for just standing behind taking pictures so long.
- Some of the photos look a little over-exposed, you can say so, but believe me it's the over-hot weather and too much sunny light that kill the photos. I did my best with my camera Canon 350D, it wasn't capable of solving the bad weather.
- There are so much things happend and amazed me during the trip but of course I couldn't tell all. I hope you will have a good illustration of what I'm gonna tell about. For more photos of the whole trip, I would like to invite you to my facebook's photo album: [link]

Preface

Okay, as you may know (or not), my mom came over here to visit me a couple of week ago, and we have just been back from the trip. We've been to Sweden, and it was really a cordial time! During the time my mom stayed here, I just took her around the two cities I was living in and it was not something special 'cos two that places are kinda boring and small with few places of interest for tourism. The most memorable time was when we took the trip to Sweden. I will tell about it later. First, I must say it's so good to reunite my mom after a long time.

Mom, on the main deck of the boat

Due to her retirement this year, she's now having plenty of time to do what she could not do from the past. She has devoted almost her life for working to guarantee her beloved children (my older sis and me) would get a good life, and it's fair for her now to chill out after all. To be honest, if it's possible I wish she could get out of the goddam job she had worked before as sooner as possible because she worked for the administrative office the whole life! And you know, the Vietnamese administrative offices are all shitty! Holyshit, employers all the time work as hard as they could while being underpaid, and it's just disgustful. I will never work for a national office no matter how it is! But thanks God she eventually retired. My mom and I don't seem to fit each other so well, and we have family conflicts so often but honestly she's the one I pay my most reverence. I just adore her and I love her even my manifestation always seems to be cold to her. I was so worried when she took the flight to Finland because I was afraid of the plane crash but she had a safe flight after all, thanks God! To see her here is more than wonderful, all I can say is that.

Let's start the trip.

Helsinki port

The portable city?

I spent the trip with my mom and my girlfriend, and other mom's friends.

We went to Sweden by boat and it was where we predominantly spent the time, yes on-boat. And holyshit the boat is just incredible! It's huge, as huge as you could imaginate. It's something like a portable city, of course if it's huge enough to carry a built-in airport so I can call it a real city, ha ha. But it's just huge. Its name is Silja Symphony and to be one of the biggest boats in Finland which has the main route is from Helsinki to Stockholm and vice versa. It's capable of carrying as much as 2800+ passengers and 500 cars, you believe it? 500 cars. OMG, I'm just... speechless.

Silja Symphony

The Smokestack

Inside the boat there have several restaurants, bars, solarium, sauna, cinema, gaming room and some other special services. Consisting of more than 13 decks, there are such nice places for the passengers to view the beautiful sea and enjoy the time in the top floor- where I spent most time vegging alfresco.

Inside the boat, the main lobby

Main deck

Services on the boat are all well-arranged and professional. Food is excellent, goods for sale are a not so expensive under tax-free prices but we didn't lavish that much on stuffs there excepts the purchase of drinks or some sweets or cakes. Buffet on the boat isn't really Finnish style as a company of mine said since it had many different styles of food offered for different people's tastes, they were all yummy and tasty and yes the quality was just scrumptious. Price? Not so extravagant, still be acceptable and affordable I think. And yes, since all the stuffs from a piece of salad to seafood or ice-cream for the dessert are worth eating and being praised, I have no complaint at all. Kudos, for the services!

My companies

Main deck

The bars of the boat were where people mostly gathered, of course. There are two discrete bars, one for classical people and one for the youth. I more fancied the first one because they played consonant music there, while the other one they played really annoying music. Cocktails there were exquisite, and the bartenders really knew how to make a good cocktail. I drank a so-called Summer Kiss with ingredient of soft wine, strawberry and other juice mixed. It was sweet, cold and cool and really something just for summer time! And wow, when I ordered that cocktail I saw a man having been given a Mojito, that made me think of my best friend 'cos he fancies Mojito the most! The hilarious thing was that ridiculous mexican-look alike guy saw me and said something like "Nihao"?!! Wtf, man, I was so surprised that I repeated as what he said, "Nihao", and he laughed out loud. "Hey shit, man, I am not Chinese". But he left and I guess he didn't even hear me when he looked kinda drunk. So funny ha ha.

Helsinki port. The church

In the main bar, a band played music all the night, and there had circus performance for the kids. Ha ha the performance was just funny, and it was years for me to re-see the clowns. Just enjoyable!

The room where passengers stayed was not so roomy but it's well-equiped, it's valid indeed. 4 flexible beds, one table, one toilet, a small cabinet and a beautiful view to the sea. How could you request more? I love that small room even more than my room at home, because the ambience it brought was really cosy and pleasant. It was more than a joy when you could watch the sea from the window, felt the tenderly slow move of the boat and the peace of the blue sky just in front of your eyes. It's something I call the enjoyment of loneliness ('cos sometimes I was at the room alone).

The lobby of the passenger's private rooms
(sorry for the under-exposed pic, it was quite dark there and my camera's flash light is limited in range)

The passenger room

Tax-free supermarket inside the boat

I and my lady once spent time on the spa service located in the nearly top-deck of the boat, which consisted of both sauna and solarium. It was good even the area for spa wasn't quite big, there only had 3 or 4 small pools for passengers to join, and they seemed to be quite narrow when a lot of people jumped into simultaneously. But in general, the spa was good, especially when you could enjoyed the spa above the ocean and watched it while dipping yourself into hot water!

Helsinki port

The cinema, in one deck higher than the spa area, was not really a cinema, there had no big screen at all but only the projector! The movie was watched by a projector thus I though the quality of the film displayed wouldn't be good enough, that I gave it up. Next to the cinema room was a gaming room for the kids, there were severals PlayStation3 engine there, and I really wanted to play some games but when I came inside the room, all the kids were there so that I gave it up, too, ha ha.

Sleeping in the boat was not so pleasant, not because of the shaking of the boat while moving, it didn't shake at all, but when I woke up everytime my body shook for a while. OMG, my body did shake and my fingers quaked. I had no idea why my body shook, maybe it was becaused of the effect of the boat's moving but it moved really smoothly. I still don't know why. Those phenomenons stopped after I walked for a while. So strange, but it didn't matter much.

Somewhere in the sea between Sweden and Finland

Deck of the boat

The eventide in the sea was something special I have fortunately experienced. In Finland summer time, the sun never sets before 1000 pm, so the crepuscular time is later than usual. The sun was bloody red, and it looked like a fireball hung afloat on the sky and sparkled its shadow over the sea. A majestic landscape ever! And hey, notice it, could you believe this photo was taken sometime around 1045 pm?

Crepuscular illumination over the boat.
The lady, wow, she's just charming...

Sweden- unexpected allure

This is the very first impression of mine towards Sweden:

Sweden

I was just wow, and I said to myself "look, the architecture here is nice". And the deeper I came into the center of the city, the more wow I was.

Sweden

OMG, I was shocked! I never though Sweden would be that magnificent! The architecture here, from just a tiny house to a huge building or palace, was just a work of art! They were ancient. They were antique. And they were just eye-catching. The city itself had a power of seducing the visitors from the first glance. I couldn't help myself stop watching around those beautiful roads, the pretty boulevards and the narrow alleys. "My God", told to myself, "I love this place. It glamourizes me already".

The narrow typical alley

Those narrow alleys like this reminded me of my hometown, Vietnam, very much. The Swedish roads were not very big, and in walking roads there had full of alleys in two sides, which were what I really was interested in. Inside the roads, hundreds of house in ancient-designed shapes were just beautiful which had detailed vignettes carved delicately onto the walls.

As a suggestion from my Finnish company, we all together visited the street market in the center of the city, which displayed hundreds of juice store offered to the customers. "The sellers almost are non-Swedish-citizen but the foreigners, it is different from Finland 'cos in Finnish street market, mostly the sellers are local ones", said my company.

The Swedish strawberry

My mom bought a bag full of cherry and they were very fresh, at least they alleviated me from the damn hot weather. Got out of the street market, we came straightaway to the big square, methinks, located somewhere in the center of the city, and now I faced the modernized side of the ancient city! There were a lot of modern buildings in cutting-edge architecture, mostly glassy houses. Now I must explain to you that in countries like Sweden or Finland, you will never see skyscrapers like in US or HongKong or else, just middle-sized buildings. Because of this, you will not be staggering seeing hundreds of tower houses, this characteristic makes Sweden look very harmonious in architecture among areas.

Big square

My mom and lady stood in the middle of the big square

Crossing by this long road (shopping center), we saw thousands of multicultural, multinational restaurants and shops

Yes, the photo above represents the view of a shopping center. You are shopping-aholic searching for with-it stuffs? Just come here then you can find almost everything! From Nike to DG, from Christian Dior to McDonald, from Thai buffet to Mexican, Italian cuisines... I felt like the world gathers here!

Modern building

I'm sure many of you have been aware of this statue:

I have seen it in the Internet but never think of it seriously, just be aware of it as something funny. But some local people told me the meaning of it as a symbol of peace. Well, when a gun is twisted over, it's no longer hurtful. Oh yeah, it's just fab, isn't it? And surprisingly this fab comes from Sweden.

The big square

Above photo is the underground of the square, where locates fast-food restaurants and small supermarkets. I even met a commemorate from a Michael Jackson fan, someone put flowers, candles, letters and pictures of M.J there. So sad to hear about him...

We chilled out for a while there, then continued into a magnificent area where had many many beautiful houses, churches and museums, even the King Palace.

Here is where I felt amazed. The huge stone gates leaded into the square where antique architecture's tremendousness could wring your heart and captivated you.

Standing in front of such giant monuments made me feel the human was so small. If it wasn't because of the overheated weather that prevented me from capturing the landscape, I would have taken as much photos I could. But you can see the photo and feel the sun, it was too hot!

The entrance

Look! Just a play of colors. I wished there were a blue house, then it was a perfect of color mix. :P

Almost photos I took, you could ask me how I did with those? Did I adjust the tone into blue like that? I must explain that I did nothing in enhancing the tone except making some under-exposed or over-exposed photos into acceptable conditions. The blue sky is natural! And isn't it beautiful?

I wonder who is this guy? What is he thinking?

And this lady...?

We decided to wait in front of the King Palace to see the Sentinel's changing. I didn't feel interested in it, but my mom and other companies did so I just followed them. We had to wait under hot weather in the middle of the day, and I was so tired! Surrounding us there had thousands of people waiting to see the thing like us, too. The show did very slow with complicated performance from the royal bands and sentinent's action. It's the national ceremonial of the Swedish and they do it everyday.

To my Vietnamese mates, ha ha it's just something the same to the sentry of Ho Chi Minh museum, they change the turn daily. :P

We ended up the walk and continued the trip by car to the tower of the city, which was as high as 30 floors. On the top floor, you can view the whole city, just fabulous! I love the restaurant there, very homely.

After that we returned to the boat and enjoyed all the rest of the time there, I came again to the bar at night, watched the show and slept late. The following day, we were en route to home.

In conclusion, this trip is my best one ever! Wow, living for a few days on-boar was something amazing and awesome. I had a very nice time with my beloved people, thanks to my Mom, if she didn't come to Finland I think I wouldn't have had a chance to travel like that, because I was still busy with many other things.

I think I will be back Sweden someday, it's so great! 1 day is a very short time to discover such a mysterious country. Hopefully that I will have opportunity to travel more in the future. :)

And hey, where did you spend your summer time this year?

Finland, 0344 pm, 020709

Google

2009-05-15T13:20:00.005+07:00

Tôi đặc biệt thích Google, nhẹ nhàng mà tinh tế. Trên một site thương mại nào đó từng xếp Google vào vị trí số một của 100 thương hiệu tốt nhất thế giới (giờ tìm lại thì top rank đã thay đổi), điều này đủ xứng đáng với những gì mà Google đã mang lại cho cộng đồng người dùng Internet. Đôi khi tôi nghĩ, nếu một ngày không có Google thì tiến trình công việc của cả thế giới sẽ ra sao nhỉ?

Tất nhiên, ngoài Google ra chúng ta còn khá nhiều bộ máy tìm kiếm tốt khác, nhưng thói quen search mạng bằng Google không phải chỉ tồn tại ở khía cạnh hiệu quả, mà ở khía cạnh tinh thần (hay duy tâm) nữa. Người dùng Google lâu năm dễ có cảm giác "nghi ngờ" với kết quả của các bộ máy tìm kiếm khác, dù kết quả có tương tự. Điều này nói lên tầm ảnh hưởng của thương hiệu hàng đầu thế giới này, Google.

Hôm nay nhân một vài lí do mà viết entry này, như một cách quảng cáo cho những dịch vụ mới mẻ ít người dùng của Google. Đầu tiên, đối với bất kỳ con nghiện Net nào, điều quan trọng nhất chính là trình duyệt web. Từ khi Google Chrome ra bản chính thức, tôi nén lòng không dùng cho đến hôm nay để nghe các ý kiến phản hồi từ người dùng. Almost positive responses. That's cool. Hôm nay cài thử, quả thật đáng dùng. Giao diện đơn giản, hạn chế tối đa sự lấn chiếm diện tích window bởi các thanh tác vụ, tận dụng tối đa khoảng không tương tác cho người dùng. Tốc độ lướt mạng nhanh, công cụ vừa đủ, không gây cảm giác nghẹt thở cho users.

Cảm giác dùng Google Chrome giống hệt khi mới dùng Firefox vậy. Trong tương lai, đây sẽ là hai trình duyệt đỉnh cao nếu hai ông lớn này đầu tư thêm nữa cho hoàn thiện sản phẩm của mình. Còn IE thì, dù Microsoft phát triển thật, nhưng cá nhân tôi thấy họ càng cải thiện thì càng thấy chướng mắt và bất tài. Đã dùng Firefox rồi thì không bao giờ muốn dùng lại IE nữa bởi sự nặng nề đồ sộ đến ì ạch thảm thương của nó. Microsoft còn trơ trẽn đến mức ép buộc người dùng Vista PHẢI sử dụng IE, means every other web browers can not be set as default web browser in Vista COMPLETELY. Càng cố gắng sửa, Microsoft càng làm cho tôi thấy muốn vứt bỏ tiệt IE ra khỏi máy, nhưng rất tiếc là không thể, bởi nhiều trang web vẫn chỉ truy cập được khi dùng IE.

Dịch vụ thứ 2 mà tôi muốn giới thiệu đó là Google Docs. Trình soạn thảo văn bản tuyệt vời nhất hiện nay. Không phải Microsoft Office Word nhé, mà là Google Docs. Chỉ dừng ở mức soạn thảo văn bản, thì Google Docs là số một, với khả năng lưu trữ văn bản trực tuyến, soạn entry ở Google Docs không còn lo bị mất mỗi khi Yahoo phát điên nữa. Google Docs dành cho nhân viên văn phòng là thích hợp nhất.

Dịch vụ thứ 3, đó là Google Sites. Một dịch vụ mới mẻ, và đầy tiềm năng. Sites có vẻ như là một sự pha trộn và dung hòa giữa web cá nhân và blog. Về thiết kế, dễ dàng nhận ra ở Sites một layout đặc trưng của các trang web thông tin với 4 frame riêng biệt: khung menu bên trái - khung nội dung ở giữa - các chức năng khác bên phải - credits phía dưới. Nhưng về hình thức, Sites mang dấu ấn của blog khi được tích hợp sẵn trình soạn thảo văn bản từ Google Docs.

Nói tóm lại, Google Sites hướng đến sự nhanh chóng và tiện lợi cho người dùng không cầu kỳ. Chính vì lí do này mà Sites sẽ được tùy biến linh hoạt dựa trên nhu cầu sử dụng của từng người. Tôi dùng Sites như một trang nhật kí điện tử, và sẽ có người dùng Sites như một Notepad online, lưu trữ thông tin sự kiện, hoặc vân vân và vân vân.

Google có một đặc điểm mà tôi thấy, đó là tham vọng. Cái tham vọng của Google đầy bản lĩnh, và có chiều sâu hơn Microsoft nhiều. Nhưng hình như họ hơi tham vọng quá mức khi ôm đồm quá nhiều dự định. May phước là họ đến nay chưa thực sự thất bại hoặc sai lầm lớn nào. Khi mà những dịch vụ họ đưa ra đều miễn phí cho người dùng, thì họ vẫn đáng được tuyên dương như một người hùng công nghệ thông tin. Chẳng ai muốn bỏ một đống tiền ra mua một bản phẩm rồi thất vọng về trị giá của nó như những gì Microsoft đã làm cả.

Tính đến nay, kể cả Gmail và Google Blog nữa thì tôi dùng cả thảy trên dưới 10 dịch vụ từ Google. For that, Google is amazing.

The Dragon

2009-05-15T13:20:00.004+07:00

Have you ever thought of a high-technology laptop that can replace a desktop or even a TV? HP did that great since they launched their great invention into the market. And there comes the Dragon...

Được mệnh danh là Dragon, sức mê hoặc trong thiết kế hoàn mỹ của các chuyên gia HP đã mang lại cho người dùng một sản phẩm máy tính xách tay mạnh mẽ đủ sức thay thế cho một desktop cồng kềnh, thậm chí thay thể cả chức năng của một chiếc TV. Đó chính là HP Pavillon HDX9200, sản phẩm thời trang đi kèm tiện ích đa năng đủ thỏa mãn cho mọi nhu cầu của người sử dụng.

Màn hình widescreen 20" thay thế cho một TV LCD cùng cỡ, đủ hoàn hảo để xem phim. Âm thanh khẳng định thương hiệu HP, giàn loa ngoài công suất lớn đủ thể hiện những pha hành động gay cấn mà các dòng máy khác khó có thể đạt tới.

Một vài ảnh:

Cho những ai tò mò Dragon to thế nào thì có những tấm ảnh sau đây:

Chi tiết thiết kế, từng góc cạnh có thể xem ở đây để cảm nhận hết vẻ tinh tế: click here

I love it, my new baby. :X

Future plan

2009-04-21T12:41:00.001+07:00

It's almost coming to the end of April yet the weather in Finland's still that cold. I have no idea why it's still retaining cold like that, but it's windy so much that whenever I go out, I feel like being frozen. If I look into the sky behind my room window, wow the weather seems to be nice. But it turns out to be harsh. There is wind screaming anywhere just like a storm coming. Gosh.

1. My connection, ironically, was **ed up again today. I came home after work then realized it dead. Felt like being in an intensive rage, I run right away to the ISP office. I told them about their stupid mistake with all of my furiousness. It was a bit rude, but I was unbearable any more so that I nearly screamed or roared out loud to them. The secretary lady must be scared of me. She explained something like someone got wrong so that they sucked my connection. The third time, you believe it? That kind of explanation was just stereotyped as the previous time and I felt like being provoked. I said I could not stand in this situation any longer and told I was gonna eliminate the damn contract. She started to phone someone else and after several minutes gossiping bla bla bla, she timidly announced to me that my goddamn connection would be re-activated quite soon after 10 minutes.

Why me? Why was I always be in this kind of situation? I warned them that I hate to see the problem happening again and the lady scarily promised that it would be OK since then. WTF.

Thanks God when I was back home it's reborn. But I'm still mad at them, the ISP, and their services. I hardly believe they're that terrible and irresponsible.

2. Ok ok I'm sick of telling about that goddamn, so I'm gonna tell another thing. It's just cool that I make friend with NiteAngel lately. He's HongKong architecture and graphic designer. He's just ambitious and clever. We exchange thoughts about some certain things in life and I can see the similarities between us. I wish I could visit HongKong and have a meet up with him.

He motives me a lot. It's not only the desire for Design but also the determination to study English careful. Since I was small, I studied English very soon. And I knew I have penchant toward learning languages. Years ago I once read from somewhere that one who is left-handed dominates to study languages very well. And I'm a left-handed. I admit that if it wasn't my mom who oriented me and my best friend to learn English as soon as we were just 10 years old, I wouldn't have had that such solid and comprehensive foundation at present. I was better at learning English compared to other class-mates and once gained a 3rd reward in a big English test. But since I went aboard, my English didn't improve that much because while my listening and speaking skills ameliorated yet my writing skill had been worse than it used to be because I lost my writing habit.

Generally I do love English because of its tidiness but I never take it seriously to study English. But NiteAngel motives me a lot because he's himself an English learner and he improves so quickly. To some extend I can say I admire him. And be inspired by him. He keeps saying like if he does have enough determination he is easily able to overcome such hard probation in life. So do I. I feel shameful because after that years yet my language ability's just insufficient. But I have self-introspected and did raise a clear target "study plan" to be achieved. And after nearly a month, I can see my positive change. I will determinately keep this trend and truthfully after maximum an upcoming year, I will reach such a level which is as outstanding as he is, NiteAngel.

Actually because I'm doing my practical training in one faculty of my whole university, so my direct boss's a lecturer as well. And I'm participating one course of his simultaneously with my work (I'm allowed to combine study with work like that): English for Mechanical Engineering. Sounds like not related to my field (Business Administrations) at all but anyway, it's a English course so I do love to take part in. And basically I'm trying hard to be the top student of that class just to let my boss know how I am. Due to the grades I gained so far, I'm still at that good, ha ha.

NiteAngel, my mail-mate, has impacted me and I just wanna admit that it's just a beneficial advantage I achieve. In return, I give him some valuable criticisms or praises that I think he will find them interesting. Yes, it's just great if you could have an enthusiastic mate who has something for you to learn and be willing to share whatever.

3. Eventually I did decide the official title for my graduation thesis. Yes, after I complete the internship I have to seriously concentrate on writing my thesis. I was stuck on a dilemma of different topics appearing on my mind. But with the advice from my aunt, I decided the unique topic among them already, and I believe it would be an appropriate choice.

The thesis should be really independent research of student and my supervisor commands it is compulsory to have at least 70-100 pages length which are self-written. Such a challenge. I have never written that long in English so far. But, I'm gonna do it anyway. I know someone who faces the graduation thesis will try to plagiarize from someone else. I mean, thesis is somewhat challenging and baffling that many people will think of faking or ripping it by others' work. I myself used to think that, too and that's just shameful. Now, I think that thesis should be appreciated because it proves your comprehensive experiences gained after years studying in some certain fields. So, why deceive yourself by ripping? It's ok if you can counterfeit some researches and mysteriously transform them into your own one later on. But what's for? Nothing. You will get no benefit from that except just an useless disguised certification. I don't wanna be a charlatan that way. So, I will do my thesis myself. I will write it through every single word. And I wish you could do the same.

The title of my thesis? For sure I will publicize it here once I finish outlining the layout for it. I estimate the time I start it is the end of May because I need at least one month to read reference documents and articles. And by the end of this year I want it to be accomplished.

I'm so excited and full of energy to do my thesis. C'mon, one more year and I graduate.

11:39 pm - 210409 -

Thaumaturgic

2009-04-18T13:47:00.001+07:00

Lately, I've spent more time watching movies than usual. Cinema is such a joy of life that you should make it as a daily habit yourself. I mean, it's just great if you could spend a certain time in your daily timetable to enjoy a good movie. To me, to watch a movie often costs time and since I always feel lack of necessary time I don't watch movies very often. But, undoubtedly, a good movie always captivates your spirit; let you be in merry or tristful mood, due to the story of it.

Since I watched V for Vendetta, I have tried several movies but none of them was possible to bring me that such intensive inspiration as the character V could do. The aftertaste of the movie lasts such a long time that I can not feel the interest in any others. But surprisingly there are two isolated movies can bring me out of the shadow of V for Vendetta, and they just merit being considered cinematic masterpiece.

They are The Prestige and The Illusionist.

They are all telling you about the world of Thaumaturgy, the two movies are both mysterious but they have different styles. While The Prestige's core is about world of true magician performing on the stage based on "tricks", The Illusionist tends to refer to the supernatural powers of human.

The Prestige

Being voted 8.5 out of 10 in IMDB, you can imagine how good it is. The Prestige, from the very first scene to the ending, always forces you to pay highest attention to the progress of it. With the purpose-built scenes, which are ever-changing from past to present, it's hard and even confusing for the viewers to understand what is real and what is hallucination. As a result, the viewers get lost, as the judiciously crucial idea of the film makers.

There are two protagonists, both of them are magicians, working in the same circus and be friend each other. One guy's wife accidentally died in one performance of the magicians and he blamed the other one to be involved into his wife's death. Thus, the animosity of loss was essence to which the movie based on. They eventually split up out of the circus and worked individually. Each of them still kept performing magic skills to earn a living but they were jealous of other's tricks as well. They tried to discover secrets of other's performance and invented a new higher-level magic. Generally, it's quite hard to evaluate who is dominated between them.

When one of them showed off a new magic called Transported Man, the trick persuaded audience that the magician could transport to two different positions in such a transient moment, the other one felt himself astounded and was insane to find out the key secret of it. Since then until the ending, the movie dealed with solving the conflict of that two guys. The unique of the movie is that even you might be intelligent that high, you still are possible to anticipate which is next because of such perfectly sophisticated scenario. Yes, you will be misleading all the time watching it, even when reaching the ending, you still are impossible to fully understand some details. Only after rethinking of the key details, connecting and analyzing them, could you be able to answer the big question existing in your mind of why-is-that.

One of the movie's metaphors that I can feel is that human always possesses good or bad side inside his or her ego. I mean the charitableness and brutality of one man can be just close and once their hands are dirty, they are. The ending of the movie was just astonishing and unexpected. Only one thing I dislike is that the film makers created an incongruous spot towards the secret of Transported Man. It's unreal. They used a machine to duplicate one "real" person and it's the point. They said it's pure science rather than magic or trick, but that detail even makes the movie become unbelievable.

Anyway, that's cinema. And The Prestige is still a masterpiece of the makers, which is nearly perfect from every single scene. There is no hot scene at all, excepts some romantic kisses. There is no violence, either. It did not thrill the viewers but still made sense to them. Really a top-choice movie to be watched.

The Illusionist

The Illusionist differs from The Prestige mainly for the content, although as said they all tell about the magician, but The Illusionist is love affair-based so that it is more emotional and touching. There was a boy who loved a girl, and unfortunately it was a forbidden love because of the different social classes they were from that mattered. The girl was aristocrat while the boy was just poor, but they still fell in love to each other. A really tearful calamity happened that separated them for years and when they had a chance to meet each other again, it was 15 years later.

The boy, who had become a famous illusionist, and the girl, who had become a beautiful noblewoman, knew that their barrier was just lengthened and it was quite hard for them to be together again. But they still tried to be together! After 15 years, the love of their still was that intensive. But seemingly they were not that lucky since there was the third man existing between them, the Crown Prince, who intended to marry the girl, just as a political conspiracy. The noblewoman tried to flee from the rude Crown Prince in order to be able to stay with her beloved man, and it was all about how the movie's progress going: a love conflict among three people.

The ending of the movie is unanticipated. I mean, the ending itself is too astonishing that you never can predict, under any circumstances. It is just amazing and really really touching, I totally satisfy with it that much and have no complain about it at all. It's no way to make such a more perfect ending rather than that. So, I will skip about re-telling the content of the movie but commenting some outstanding details of it.

The Illusionist, this word itself can describe that the protagonist here, even somehow still be a magician who performed in the stage, in front of the audiences his magician skills, but the magic here was seemingly supernatural power. He even did the necromancy or controlled the speed of time when he raised a tree growing up just in a moment, or called up a soul of some dead ones. The film makers must want the viewers to think about the man as a God, an evil or an angel or anyone who has power that a normal "real" person could never be achieved. Who is he really? You will keep asking yourself this question by the time watching this movie, and it's the point. It is explained only by the ending, and just watch it then you can answer.

Generally, his magic is somewhat materialistic and even superstitious or ultramundane. And, it's the main point that differs from magic of The Prestige. You know what I mean, when you watch both of them.

Besides the love affair-based scenario, the movie also related to political side. The Crown Prince was on behalf of bad guy who wanted to make coup d'état to achieve his own conspiracy. He was rude, ambitious and be an egoist. He did not have love inside yet he used woman just as a good exchanged for certain purposes. As a result, he got what he deserved. The metaphor of the movie is that love itself does not have any barrier from social classes. It isn't the difference in classes that baffles if two people fall each other. If you love someone, just tell him or her, and together try to cherish the affection and raise it up as much and as long as you could.

The Illusionist is just suitable to watch with your-special-person or just by yourself, with friends if you wish. It is worth watching! It is no doubt that once you search for some movies mysterious but still romantic, so The Illusionist is your best choice. From the begining to the end, the movie makes you excited, even it didn't explain the serect of the man's tricks, but you still accept it as a natural thing: Magic shouldn't be explained. Just enjoy it!

12:44 19th April, 2009

Tedious

2009-04-16T16:54:00.001+07:00

If you can imagine, let's assume that the energy value could be counted and 100 is set to be the standard. So, my energy for yesterday and today has just reached as much as 10 only. I'm really frustrated.

1. Yesterday my damn-slow Internet connection was **ed up unreasonably. The ISP closed it violently without noticing me a word in advance. As usual, I woke up right in time in the morning to go for work and returned home at 0430 pm just to realize the connection was dead already. I came to their office, complained about the error, they checked and said I didn't make any mistake thus the problem came from themselves. Ridiculously, they said it was almost out of working time so everyone in the Technical Office had gone home and they promised to reopen my connection the following morning. Funny huh? They closed my connection and it was annoying to me! In return, all I received from them was an inconsolably helpless explanation, "I don't know why". So cool, even not a single apology spoken out! Hey, why you kept sitting there just not to know how your job is going on, lady?

I was just furious. It was the second time I was forced to be involved into that situation, they always did close the connection without explaining anything to the customers. Sign of cheesy offensiveness, wasn't it? I really needed the Internet because I planned to do some researches for my job but I was forced to play games the whole night in stead, ha ha. Today morning when I woke up, I rechecked and the connection was reborn. A lot of fun they are. If they do it the 3rd time, I swear to eliminate the contract immediately and try another ISP.

Furthermore, seemingly that my laptop gets trouble. This morning it works really slow and I can feel something wrong with it... C'on, baby, works fine please. I fear of wasting time fixing you up, you know, sweetheart?

2. Recently, it's been hard for me to have a sound sleep. Even sometimes I felt exhausted yet I couldn't sleep right away after laying in bed. Even while sleeping, I didn't feel really enjoyable. Morning, I woke up and felt really tired. As a result, during the whole day, I kept felling asleep. Sigh, tonight I will try a little Baileys and let see if it could help. :D

3. ManU won yesterday. At least they won and I just satisfied with the result, but the way they played was just lack of spirit. They still have a long way ahead to touch the Champion Cup, I'm wondering how they could survive if keep playing like that?

4. Almost Vietnamese E-newspapers are more or less becoming tabloid! I can see every e-newspapers publicize some news very ridiculous and irresponsible. There is not much good news to be read so far since they're all concentrating on submitting such the same news for many times. Some news are even carelessly translated from foreign websites which are lack of authentication and eventually confuse the readers.

I don't believe much in Vietnamese newspapers no more.

5. The next entry will come with a review of Murakami's novel.

16th April, 2009.

End of pleasure

2009-04-13T13:29:00.000+07:00

Eventually I've come to the last day of my rest. Tomorrow I'll be back to the daily casual routine.

1. I missed the chance to do Photography these off-working days. Yesterday the weather was quite nice but I was lazy of going out. Sigh, shame on me. Today, as planned to get up early then to go out somewhere, I got up at 12:00 noon just to realize it was late enough, and the weather was that murky, too. The sky looked not bright and really turned my energy down.

Besides, if I have had some partners with me that I would have gone out. My friends seemed all busy doing their own businesses that I hesitated to call them up. Okay, just wait for another chance. This weather wasn't for enjoyment, either.

For 4 recent days, I slept late and woke up late as well. Afraid of being changed my biological clock that leads to bad affection to work, I guess I need to sleep earlier tonight. Sigh, I miss the solitude at mid-night much. Being lonely at night, if you listen to a song, you can pay your highest concentration to it. And surprisingly, you might realize the deeply hidden meaning of the song that you are impossible to understand when you hear it other day-time.

2. I'm a loyal Firefox user. There are many other good web browsers out there but I only prefer Firefox because of its abilities to allow the users to customize and make-it-your-way. Today I just found out an awesome add-on for Firefox which so-called "Tab sidebar ".

You see? The essential advantage of this add-on is to create a new way of displaying your tabs in your web browser!

Usually when you open up multiple websites simultaneously in one web browser's window, the tabs of those will be shown up successively underneath the address bar. Now, with this creative invention you can move that tab sidebar into different positions on the browser screen; on the left, on the right, or on the bottom. Tabs will be displayed as thumbnail-based frames and the power here is the status of theirs are up-to-dated with your network progress. You can even see a tab whether it's been loaded successfully or not. For example, you open a new tab, insert a website address and return to the previous website you're working in. Then, after a while, you just see the status of the loading tab as previewed on the tab sidebar to know how it is going. Very convenient!

Additional, the benefit of this add-on is to help you find the tab you're looking for in case you're opening such many many ones simultaneously (and get lost) since they have thumbnails themselves. Just scroll down the tab sidebar until you find it. Moreover, since my screen is 20" inches width with high resolution, there are much unused spaces on my web browser because a typical website's display is coded in standard of 1024 768 ratio or a little more, thus if you use this add-on it will fill your screen up by width and gain some small free spaces by height of the screen because it gets rid of the tab bar below the address bar, as usual. So, after all, is it such a must-have add-on?s

You might not get acquainted with the new thing soon, but believe me, your Firefox will be ameliorated and be more convenient for your work. Just give it a try and spend a little time to encourage the person who made it.

I'm really cheered up with my Firefox now, it has most useful adds-on installed and really be something unique.

3. Today I re-watch the movie entitled "The Gameplan", it is just damn hilarious. It makes me laugh into tears even I have watched it several times.

Also, I was shared some very very funny and cool Vietnamese Rock songs from my bro. He he, and it's such a day today to me when I can get good songs. Music is my most desirable and enjoyable thing.

4. I feel deeply home-sick. It isn't so often I feel missing Hanoi to death, about twice per month I guess. Of course I miss my home sweet home every second passing by, but it doesn't mean that I wanna be back there immediately whenever I think of it, I can self-control my mind. But, it's seldom I feel hysterically missing Hanoi that much. And whenever I'm in that bad mood, it's just like turmoil or being spiritual tortured.

I don't really know how long I could stand being in this situation. But, I have been standing under a permanently question of whether I come back Vietnam or I continue living abroad for long. Still have no question yet. The problem does not refer to lack of decisiveness myself but come to another complicated extend. Is it really better to be back ASAP?

Anyway, the life's still going as it's supposed to be. I just need to finish what I've not done now is to graduate from university. Afterward, I will see how I let my life flow.

13th April, 2009

Off-working days

2009-04-11T14:00:00.001+07:00

Days without writing, becoming lazy again...

1. I'm having off-working days for the Easter. I guess you know this holiday, no? Look it up here: Easter. It's just valuable time since I have 4 days for myself. I just watched two movies yesterday, Traitor and Cocktail, and they were just good enough.

The movie entitled Traitor, whose background is Islam, told about conspiracy & terrorism. The spot you can read on the Internet since it's ubiquitous but I must say the content of the movie impressed me much. I almost had no idea of what Islam was excepts knowing that Muslim seemed to be quite pious. But, I didn't expect they, those who following Islam, are that devout. Because I'm an atheist, or more exactly nonreligious, it's hard for me to understand why there are ones who are willing to do whatever just to get benefit for their religion, even to come to die. I can't say I adore them for that because I don't think death is worth that way.

Well, you who haven't had chance watching that movie could be curious what I'm talking about so I will tell in more details. The movie tells us about a Muslim, the protagonist whose daddy died in a car-bomb, looking for a revenge of his loss in the past. After suffering through calamities in life yet he joined one hidden terroristic organization leaded by an ugly man, who turned out to be involved into his daddy's accident. Those terrorists tried to destroy the world as much as possible by setting bombs in different places and control them to explore later on. The leaders of that organization even trained young kids to be "shahids" by magnetizing them that to die for good of Islam was just solemn and those deaths were considered sacred or sainted!

The end of the story was just easily anticipatable but it still did make sense to the viewers because of the whole movie's progress. It brought out a clearly view of such harsh world of Islam where people paid their lives just to defend for their belief. I can't say more about it but the movie really deserves watching. If you're interested in discovering something about Islam, just don't miss it.

The second movie, Cocktail, which is expected to be good by me, eventually became not so. A young ingenuous bloke, who came back home from military service, (starring: Tom Cruise) searching for a well-paid job in some companies but wasn't so successful because of the lack of study degree. The coward, by accident, tried the last chance in a bar and, bravo, he did find a humble job as a bartender. Time passed by and he was inspired by making cocktails in bar, getting himself some girls to get laid, making fun in life... stuffs like that.

I felt no sense at all watching that movie, but because of interest for Cocktail I tried it. It still made you laugh for some scenes but I even stopped the movie while watching half of it and didn't have plan whether I would resume it or not.

2. I feel strongly depressed for this damn low-speed Internet connection I'm having now in my new apartment, 512/512. My old house had crazily built-in high-speed connection (actually it wasn't that fast but compared to the current one, it could be called crazy) and if you can imagine, my current one's as slow as a turtle. I had to register a discrete Internet connection with the IPS and paid an extra amount of money beside the housing rent. With support from IDM and cFosSpeed programs (downloading acceleration software and Internet speed increase software) and a premium account of Megaupload service, I just could download something with the speed of approximately 50kbs ~ 70 kbs, and not even exceed 100 kbs. Damn it! Can you believe? I used to download from Megaupload service with a speed of 700 kbs at the peak. How can I accept being in this situation?

It means for a normal movie, 700 megabytes weight, it takes hours for downloading, and weeks for a heavy game. This matter really drives me crazy. The ISP provides different levels of Internet speeds but with exorbitantly expensive prices for acceptable connections' speed as well and I just can't stand for that hard offers. I'm totally pissed off.

3. The weather in Finland's becoming nicer and nicer since it has sunlight everyday. In front of my window is a small forest which has a river crossing and a quite nice view. I just wanna go out for wandering and taking photographs in the morning but I'm so lazy. Anyway, I will do that sometimes.

Since the summer's coming close, I just wanna be back Vietnam as every previous years. But this year I'm busy finishing my internship period so I must stay here for long. I'm planning to graduate in the next summer at the latest because I must do my graduation thesis and study some more courses in the next academic year. I'll be crazy busy since then until next summer and I guess I need to push myself very often in order to achieve what I'm planning. Student time will be ended soon and after that I'll be standing between two choices: staying in Finland if I can have a job or coming back to Vietnam. Hmm, I still don't know which one I prefer.

4. I've been using Gmail for months but haven't discovered all its great until recently. Gmail's just WOW, too good to use. Gmail is like all-in-one email service that Google can offer. You know, Gmail is just amazing when you can do many many things with it. You can chat with friends, make voice-chat or video-chat, organize your documents or creat to-do list, reminders for yourself. There are many many utilities waiting to be discovered. Just try it!

Stop using other email services to get acquainted with Gmail, please! My higly recommendation to you guys, I swear you will never regret with Gmail! Best email service ever!