A month holiday at home

A month break between two semesters is really a luxury gift for teachers. How to spend it smartly :-)? Well, for me, finish some missions as a vice, prepare some lessons as a teacher, earn some money as a mother, look after the flat as a home owner, take care of myself physically and spiritually as a woman, make a travel plan for Tet holiday as a tourist, do gardening as a garderner (even I do not not have a garden :-) and implement many other things as a normal person.

End of term 1

Semester 1 has ended. We have 4 weeks to relax before Semester 2. The department's leaders and assistants had a small party together. We had so many changes and challenges during the first half of the school year. However, we overcame them confidently and successfully because we work together and always support each other.

The restaurant was on the top floor of a hotel near my university with a spectacular view of the Red River. The food was fine and quite cheap. But what matters for me is to have really good time with friends and colleagues over the lunch.

Happy me!

Recently I have read an article "5 Unexpected Things Happy People Have in Their Homes". It listed a mess, a hobby, a hand-me-down, a plant and an almost-used-up luxury. After reading it, I realize that I am a happy person. :-) :-) :-)

Greeny

Autumn is passing and winter is coming slowly to Hanoi. Cooler these days. Nice weather. Time to buy new plants for the flat. About one year ago I had the idea of putting plants in the flat. I spent a lot of money. Pity that the flat does not have much sunlight, so the plants do not live long. I try to maintain some green areas in our small flat, which is not easy at all. What I get in return is that I feel relaxed and peaceful whenever I am at home and the flat is lovelier.

Oldest and youngest sisters

Here is one of my three older sisters. Between us is 4 siblings and between us is 17 years. She has got my father's face and her life is more or less like my mum's.

It is told that one day after she got married following the groom to his house, I realized that my family missed her and asked my parents to tell my brother-in-law to return the sister to me. So funny. Time passes quickly. She has become a grandma of 7 grandchildren.

Class reunion 2015 - meeting an old friend

 We used to sit next to each other when we went to high school. We used to be close friends. After high school, we studied the same subject but at different universities. After graduating in 1996, we became teachers. We hardly ever meet. So happy we met again last Sunday.

Relaxing moments

Although I have a summer holiday, I hardly ever have a free day at home. Teaching private classes and meetings at university to prepare for next school year keep me busy. I travel like a shuttle from the south west to the north east of the city. Whenever I am at home, I spend time thinking about how to make the little apartment nicer in my eyes. In return, I find myself satisfied and relaxed at the end of the busy day in our cozy home.

Summer holiday 2015

A school year with many changes has finished. Summer holiday has come. Time for me to relax  (not going to university) until August. Some plans need implementing, but first I treated myself with a Sunday no working. I volunteered to be a "photography model" in the sun. Not easy to outside when the temperature is about 34 degrees at 9 am :-(.

Nice and simple plant

I have some plants on the balcony. This lime tree is the first one I put there. For almost 2 years. To save space I had to cut off some branches stretching towards the balcony and curve the other ones out of it for the leaves to enjoy the fresh air and the sunlight. Luckily it survives well even it is hot (heat from the sun and from the conditioners). This spring it blossoms quite a few flowers (many more than last year). I am glad when I can bring some nature to the flat above the ground and somewhere in the sky :-).

Forty years old

Some hours to go then I will be 40 years old and will belong to the group U50 :-). Wow, a middle-aged person and honestly still have a warm heart and a young soul :-). I wish myself another peaceful and happy new age; many good things will come to my life and above all good health.