End of Summer Holiday 2016

Summer holiday is going to be over. The new school year starts soon. Looking back the relaxing time I realised I had really wonderful time: two vacations in famous places in Vietnam, being with the cute cat and my son's IELTS result.

Vacation in Mui Ne: really wonderful seeing natural beauty here. The resort, seafood, the two famous sand dunes and the fairy stream are great :-). I was also impressed by the scenery along the road from my resort to the dunes. A large flat ground reminds me of a prairie in Europe or USA what I often see on TV.

Vacation with friends in Sam Son: always fun spending time with them. The resort is quite new and modern. We had a spectacular view of the sea and the resort from our rooms. Walking around the resort we took so many nice photos. 

The cat brings me a lot of happiness. She is sooooo cute and likes being around me. I took many photos of her but not all were good because she always moves. 

And my son decided to take his first IELTS. Although he has not achieved the target band which is required for his dream university in VN, it was not bad. Anyhow he know where he stands and has to strive more for his future. I hope this time next year I will be writing about his student-hood :-).

What I don't like about his summer is that it is too hot in Hanoi. The temperature is between 35 and 37 degrees. Sometimes I have to travel around noon and it is no fun at all. 

Summer holiday 2016

My official holiday is from 1 July to 7 August. That is why even we are not teaching these days we have to do other work: meetings, supervising exams and preparing teaching materials for the new school year.

I feel high mood to spend some days far away from Hanoi and without thinking about work. But before travelling, I am still busy as usual. Honestly, being busy is not bad all the time :-).

New family member

Yes, that's a cat. A gift from my friend. We call it Snow because she is as white as snow. Very naughty and active. Was born on 14 May. I have never had a cat like this, so it took me time to learn how to take care of the kitten and how to teach her to go to the litter box. Not easy at all. However, the cat has so many activities which makes me laugh. The flat suddenly becomes a nursery :-).

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.

Goodbye 2014 and Hi 2015

Just a couple of days to go does the new year come. Looking back the year of 2014 I feel so happy with what it has brought to me. Important tasks have been done successfully:
1. IELTS certificate
2. Holidays abroad
3. Bank loan paid
4. Son's high scores to high school
5. Apartment ownership applied
6. New phone Note 4
7. More kids studying in private classes
8. Type 1 performance bonus
9. Good recognition from students
10. Nice visit from a friend
11. More time to do yoga
12. Green plants indoor
13. Vespa scooter
14. More home decoration
15. Helping mum and brother more
16. Health checked in a good hospital
And many more...
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my beloved who always encourage and support me a lot to overcome difficulties during the year.
Now it is time to set new goals for the new year 2015.

Home decoration

Suddenly I become addicted to interior decoration :-). A hobby takes time, energy and money :-). I saw some websites about architecture and design and I decided to update the flat.

First of all, buy some indoor plants to display in every room. These plants are thought to purify the air and make the flat connected to nature. Honestly, some plants are happy but some are not and I have to say goodbye to those which could not survive in my home.

Second, decorate the dining table. Some fresh flowers in small glass bottles. I wanted to have a Coca Cola bottle. Unluckily, shops just sell plastic. They recommended me to buy in restaurants. I went there and paid some extra money to get such a nice sexy bottle.

Third, improve the coffee table and sofa with some old and new things. Books, candles, and shells are my choice. I got some sand from my brother's place to make the bowl of shells more "sea" :-).

 

Next, change the container for my old artificial roses. They used to be in a wood vase. I bought to baskets to put them in now. In my eyes, these baskets make a big difference. I like them.

And finally, hang some paintings (my son painted), some black and white photos I liked, some photos of my son in childhood and some nice famous saying I asked my son to write in A3 papers for me.  of course some Christmas things to welcome that foreign holiday and New Year 2015 when I will be 40 years old :-).

Thanks to teachers' long break at my university, I have plenty of time for my flat. :-)

Separation and merger

What a flexible organization we have. A year ago our big English department was divided into some smaller departments and last month we merged with 2 other ones to form a big ESP department. No one knows how long our new department exists. There were 31 teachers and leaders in my old department. All were women :-). To say goodbye to our department number 5, we held a buffet lunch last Monday. Just some people did not turn up. After a delicious meal we took some photos together. We looked all happy. It seems change does not mean much to us because whatever decision the university leaders make we are still teachers working under the same university 's roof.

Medical check-up

Almost 40 years old and minor operation on my breast in 1997, I decided to go to the women's center in a hospital for a check up. Several hours in the hospital on Thursday and while waiting for the results I went sightseeing and shopping. I went to malls - women's shopping paradises. I did not buy much but could not leave without something as a souvenir :-). The brown bag on my shoulder is my gift. Simple, soft, practical and matching with my suitcase ;-).

The result was good, nothing unusual or strange. Phew... Everything is still OK and functions well :-). Keep doing yoga, keep eating simple and healthy meals and a lot of fruit and vegetable, keep feeling optimistic about life and keeping loving what I have :-).

Bye bye debt

Long time no blog. I have been a bit out of mood for writing. Shouldn't be lazy. 

To treat myself after working too hard in a couple weeks I took this evening off work and relax and write my new entry.

A really good news is that I paid almost all the debts. Feeling so relaxed and from now on no more worry about the bank. I would not have done this successfully without the help of those who are always willing to give me a hand when I need. Lucky me. Once I told my friend that I earned quite good money in the past years but all of them went to my creditors. Paying off the debts means no more money in savings. So, I start from the scratch again to build up my wallet :-). However hard I work I still look worry-free. Even "worse" I put on weight. Too bad. My colleagues say that is signal of ageing. My work-life balance is not good these days and as a result I could find time for my exercise. Time for change...   

 

Back to work

One week to go we start our new school year. We have to spend this week preparing for it. So eager to be back teaching students and meeting colleagues. However, we feel a bit sad because teachers do not have many classes. It means our income from university will be reduced. Some good teachers teach at private language centers. Some work for one more employer. Some spend more time looking after families. And few (like me) enjoy living a simple life :-).  Wish one day we can live on our salary ...

Starbucks coffee in Hanoi

Today one of the 3 Starbucks coffee shops has opened in Hanoi and in the afternoon my son and I talked a lot about it. As a result, we decided to go downtown and become two of their first customers on the opening day. Quite crowded inside but luckily we arrived early and got seated near the window. After finishing half of the coffee we ordered we went home with our cups in hands.

It is not the first time I have enjoyed Starbucks. I have drunk it before, outside Vietnam. Here are two photos. The above is in Hanoi today and the below is in Bangkok some months ago. Missing the moments I have over the coffee cup...