Change in working time

We changed working time at the beginning of this week on request from the government to reduce traffic jams in Hanoi. Now we start work at 7 am and finish at 11 am, in the afternoon the working time is from 12.1.5 to 4.1.5. Early start early finish. Honestly, it has influence on my daily life. I have to get up early at 6 and try to leave home at 6.30. Getting up early is not fun at all in the cold weather. :-( Then I have to prepare breakfast for myself and my son, who leaves home much later than me. I have enough time to have a simple Western breakfast (cereal and milk) and enjoy coffee at school and during breaks I have some snack. I realize that these days I am not wearing any make-up. :-) I must look really modest. Perhaps, next semester I should choose to work 3 full days. So I can reduce the mornings I have to wake up early... Change is always difficult at first. But gradually people adapt to that.

Birthday

So I am fully 37 years old now. That means I am one year older than I was last year and L belong to the U40 league.

Since yesterday I have received happy birthday wishes from my beloved and friends. All of them wish me happier, more beautiful and more successful in my work and one person even wished me to have a partner to be not lonely any more :-). To my surprise, my first brother-in-law who is my eldest sister's husband, remembered my birthday.

The day before I entered my 38th year in life I suffered a terrible headache. I felt so sorry for myself. One of my best friends, Van, also had a headache last night. Both of us took panadols and today we met again at work we shared our story. Unluckily, we often suffer it. We just blame on change in weather and high humidity. But perhaps we have "fragile" bodies.

I should have organized a birthday party for my family and friends. Honestly, it is my wish. I can not do it during the week when the time is not suitable. I have free afternoon but my friends not. We can not have great fun in the evening when it is the time for our children to do homework and travelling by motorbike in the cold evening is not pleasant at all. I wish I had been born in summer :-). I also want to have a party with my family but we live far away from each other. As a result, no party at all right on my birthday. However, my close friends and I agree to have lunch together on Saturday and I think a small party with my family on Sunday.

Any wishes for myself on birthday? I wish to get smarter and braver to cope with difficulties I encounter in my life and those I stupidly make for myself. Some moments I feel I am too tired. Some moments I feel I get stuck. And so far I can not figure out the way I should live. I thought I was independent. It turns out to be that I am dependent emotionally and I could not let what should go go. That is why I wish to be smarter and braver after I have gained another year of age.

Vacation in BKK Tet 2012

A week in Bangkok passed so fast. We were satisfied with the decision to travel south on Tet holiday. While Hanoi was cold, Bangkok was so pleasant, not too hot, ideal for travelling around. It was really time for me and my son to explore cultural attractions there. Bob was really excited about his first trip overseas. He never complained about walking so much and eager to help mum buy tickets for skytrain and subway. About food, no Vietnamese food, which did not matter at all because he can eat fast food. He liked eating croissants. Every breakfast he took at least 2. What a boy!

Travel broadens your mind. Truly, each time I go to I find something new and impressive. This time they are Reclining Buddha, China Town, Bangkok from the tallest building, Dusit Palace and Vimanmek Mansion and the weekend market, Chatuchak.

I hope that after this trip my son's interest in travelling will be increased. And his travelling experience will be built up gradually.

Lunar Year 20112, Year of Dragon

The Lunar Year 2012 has come. I got some wishes from my colleagues, friends and students and I replied to them. I felt really happy when one old student sent a message to me and then he called me to wish me a happy new year. He said he liked me and my teaching very much (although I did not do any favour for him :-)

I spent the first day of the new year with my son going to a pagoda nearby and visiting relatives, as a tradition in Vietnam. The weather was cold but not raining, so travelling outside was fine. After the pagoda, I took my son to my mum-in-law's house. She is staying home alone. The house big with four storeys but frankly it looks so dull and dirty, lacking personal care. I sighted sadly when coming into the house. Then I proceeded to Long Bien where my mum lives. I also visitted my mum's brother, my father's brother and my mum's aunt who is more than 90 years old. I had dinner with my mum and my sisters and brothers (not all of them because two sisters could not visit mum on the first day - one busy with her husband's family which is number 1 priority and one living too far, in HCMC). My eldest sister had a change: she used to have long straight hair, now she has wavy hair. Wow, I am very very surprised when looking at her. She looks younger and more 'up to date'. Among four sisters, she is the most modest... But now time to enjoy life, time to take care of herself after a long hard working life. I like her much. I also feel sorry for her because she can travel by car, train or plane. She spends her life just within Hanoi. My eyes once got wet when she told us that she has never been to some famous pagodas in inner Hanoi. Her daughters can not take her because they are busy with their own family. I promised to be her guide in the near future. Can you imagine that she lives just 7 km from Hoan Kiem Lake?

Today we stay home. We wanted to prepare for the trip which starts tomorrow. So far everything is ready. Two suitcases for mum and son, money, important documents and tickets. A week away is really good for me to refresh before I come back to work on 5 February. As planned we are going to explore Bangkok.

Tết Nhâm Thìn 2012

Thế là một Tết nữa đã đến. Tối nay là tôi giao thừa, sự chuyển giao giữa năm mới và năm cũ. Bao nhiêu vui buồn lẫn lộn ngày cuối năm.

Thừa hưởng truyền thống tín ngưỡng của người Việt từ mẹ, tôi đã làm đúng những gì mẹ thường làm: làm bữa cơm cuối năm cúng trời đất, tổ tiên và cúng đêm giao thừa... cầu xin trời đất, tổ tiên phù hộ cho bản thân và gia đình một năm mới gặp nhiều may mắn và mạnh khỏe.

Đêm giao thừa năm nào tôi cũng nhớ đến bố nhất. Mọi người nói đầu năm mới phảỉ luôn vui vẻ để cả năm được vui vẻ. Nhưng tôi không làm được điều đó. Nghĩ về bố và tôi lại khóc... Cấu xin bố phù hộ cho cô con gái "rượu".

Một năm trôi qua, và đây là những gì năm Tân Mão mang đến cho mình.

Về công việc: không có gì phàn nàn, dạy tất cả các buổi sáng tại trường. Ngoài ra còn có 2 lớp riêng tại nhà mẹ, tuần dạy một buổi, vừa có thêm chút thu nhập vừa được về gặp mẹ. Một niềm vui nữa là được nâng bậc thù lao, từ 85k đồng 1 tiết lên 90k và sau đó được chuyển lên một bậc nữa theo quy định mới về tăng lương chung của nhà trường. Mặc dù được tăng kép, song với tình hình lạm phát hiện nay ở Việt Nam khoản tăng đó chẳng đáng là bao.

Về con trai: Bob đã thực sự "lớn", đã ngủ riêng phòng và thực sự không muốn mẹ can thiệp vào thế giới riêng của tuổi mới lớn. Tôi đã thấy hụt hẫng khi cảm thấy minh và con không còn được kết nối như trước. Nhưng đó là điều tất yếu. Con lớn lên và dần xa vòng tay mẹ. Kết quả học tập của con không tệ, đạt học sinh giỏi. Tuy nhiên môn Toán (8.0) Bob sẽ phải cố gắng hơn trong hoc kỳ 2.

Về nhà ở: vẫn chưa có khả năng mua nhà.

Về du lịch: Được đi khá nhiều trong năm 2011. Và sang mùng 3 tết, sẽ mở đầu bằng chuyến đi Bangkok với con trai. Năm nay tôi cũng sẽ đi du lịch vào mùa hè, đang nghĩ đến việc đi nghỉ ở miền trung hoặc miền nam.

Về chuyện tình cảm: Mọi thứ vẫn đang ở phía trước, và vẫn còn mù mịt. Bạn tôi đã khuyên phải dứt khoát và sau đó bắt đầu xây dựng lại cuộc đời. Tôi đã tiến một bước xa nhưng vẫn chưa đâu vào đâu cả. Đôi khi mình đâu có quyết định được số phận của mình. Tôi muốn thế này nhưng tôi lại không đạt được mong muốn đó. Vẫn cô đơn và nước mắt. Tôi không nói từ hy vọng nữa... What will be will be.

Get ready for Tet 2012

January 2012 is quite busy for me. My holiday in Da Nang, my son's birthday, my preparation for Tet and preparation for Bangkok vacation.

After Da Nang trip, I continued to work until 14 January. Very comfortable teaching because this semester I teach 3 classes of first year students and 3 classes of TOEIC.

As a teacher I have a long Tet holiday, 3 full weeks. I have a lot of time to prepare for a simple Tet and get ready for the trip abroad. I made a shopping list and went shopping in Fivimart where I have a membership card with a discount of 5 %. For Tet, I still wish to buy some fresh vegetables and some flowers. My sister in law promises to present me two square cakes and one chicken :-)... I also attended my friend's late birthday party. Always funny when gathering with friends. Then I had my motorbike serviced as well. Good to do it. I need to travel around on the New Year's Day and the second day. About Bangkok trip, I have made the programme and got the budget. I checked the weather there, fine summer weather is waiting for us. Bob has got his first suitcase. It is a good brand because I want to invest in long-term things :-). I hope the trip is going to be fine. And I really look forward to it.

New Year 2012

This year I decided to spend my 3- day solar Tet holiday in Da Nang and Hoi An, welcoming a new year with my friend. We visited the ancient town of Hoi An and Ngu Hanh Son tourism zone in Da Nang. We intended to explore more but it drizzled, which limited our destinations.

This is the second time I have been to Da Nang and Hoi An. So I felt a bit more confident when strolling around.

Hoi An ancient town is very small and full of tourists. They ban motorbikes and cars some time to make it a pedestrian zone. Within an afternoon you can visit the whole town on the river of Thu Bon. We bought some tickets and visited famous places such as the Japanese bridge, museums, assembly halls of Chinese and handicraft workshops. We did not forget to buy some souvenirs.

In Da nang, we climbed Water Mountain, one of the five famous mountains representing 5 essential substances called (Iron, Wood, Water, Fire and Earth). In the previous time I climbed up and down. This time was different, we went up by the lift and we walked down. Much easier but still tiring for me :-). We managed to get to the highest peak of the mountain.