Kuala Lumpur 2013

I had a three-day break in Kuala Lumpur, which was really a nice time. Because Malaysia and Vietnam are ASEAN countries, I did not have to apply for a visa and there is a direct flight from Hanoi to KL so I did not have to transit. These things made my trip easy and not tiring at all. The first impression on me was KL International Airport. It is new and has a good design. The landing area is a bit distance from the arrival lounge. After getting out of the plane, I had to walk a little and find the train to get to the terminal. Thanks to little travelling experience and  studying the map I figured out how to get out that big airport. Another impression is that the capital is hilly and green. I really like the green, well-cared patches of grass and plants along the streets and roads. And of course the twin towers also made a good impression on me. I was lucky to be able to be lifted up to the bridge connecting the towers and to the observation deck on the 83rd floor. Wow, what a height! Click here to see some of the photos of me. How happy I look!

Hot, terribly hot weather

We have been suffering the first hottest period of the beginning of summer 2013. Really uncomfortable travelling at such a hot temperature. Our classrooms do not have air conditioners so learning and teaching are really our misery. We stop at 11 am and go home at once to avoid the sun at the highest position in the sky. Poor students and teacher working in the afternoon from 1 pm. Luckily, our flat is air conditioned and honestly I do not want to go out at all when back home from work.

Time for summer holiday. 3 weeks to go.

Completion of the modification of the flat

Last Friday, I officially finished doing minor repairs on the flat (but the cost was not minor at all). The flat is not luxurious but I am proud of it and feel happy with it. I can feel relieved/relaxed now after about 8 months I was busy with flatty things. Another milestone in my life has been marked and it is time to set and achieve other goals.

Long public holiday 2013

This year, Victory Day and Labor Day fall on Tuesday and Wednesday so the state lets the people have Monday off and we have to work on the next Saturday to compensate. Plus the weekend, we have 5 days in total off. What a good chance for employees to have a break. Some travel, some visit hometown and some have a holiday at home. I belong to the last group: home holiday taker :-). Easy to feel bored with 5 days at home. That is why I try to keep myself a little busy.

Day 1: marking test papers (2 packages) + trying making cookies
Day 2: teaching little students + marking papers (1 package)
Day 3: going out + marking papers (1 package)
Day 4: having the new doors installed + cleaning up
Day 5: doing whatever I think of + relaxing

One month in our new flat

Today is one month I have lived in our new flat. In general, everything has been settled except our new real wood doors which will be installed by the end of this month. After that some paint will be put on some parts of the wall where I had repairs. As I expect, the flat will be completely finished in mid-May. I realize that moving in is one story but settlement is another. It takes a lot of time, money and energy to make the flat home, to make it function as well as I wish. There were moments I felt so irritated with settlement and somebody had to suffer. :-(

Although we thought very much about where to put things based on our floor plan but in reality we had to change several times to get the best arrangement. I intended to put some plants on the balcony and hang some flower pots but not feasible because there are 3 hot units of air conditioners on the balcony wall. More sockets or not? Cable on or in the wall? Lamps or not? Plants inside? Lots of consideration and discussion before we found solutions to our concerns and the flat is home now. It is ready to welcome visitors.

New home

Finally my dream of having a home has come true. I moved into my new flat on 21st March 2013.  It is not very large but I feel really comfortable and cozy and I am happy to live in my own flat although from now part of the money I earn will be used to pay the loan from the bank and friends. It takes me at least 5 years to settle all the debts. I hope I can do it.

Because the flat belongs to me, I spent so much money on it, to make it home. As a result, some 'safes' have reduced the 'size' :-). My friend warned me that moving in cost a considerable amount of money and reality proved it right.

What touched my heart is that my family cared for me and gave me a hand with moving in: my mum, my brothers and sisters-in-law. They did not mind travelling a long distance to my place and carried my things from my rental flat to my new flat. Someone said I was so lucky to have the family around. Yes, I am lucky in this aspect :-).

I have been lived here for 2 weeks and there is still some work to finish,  some final touches to make the flat complete and perfect in my eyes. But for the time being I can enjoy the feeling of being home.

Training course

In order to  improve the management skills for key people and staff in all departments our university offered a one-day training course. Nearly 200 people attended this course and were divided into 2 classes: one on 14 and the other on 15th Mar. Poor me, I participated in this course at the expense of my class.:-(

One day in the hall was not always interesting. I am not used to spending all day at work. So embarrassing I felt sleepy in the afternoon. However, what the four important men presented was really important to 'young vice' like me :-).