Taking photographs of my family members

Memory is something you can’t buy not only with your own money. It is the felling of happiness and long time has been gone we feel inside. That is the fact that we all share. And of course, it would be very precious when you find old pictures of your relatives, your friends, especially your family members. On Tet holidays, I had a chance to take photographs of my family members, so I did it desperately in my way.

My mother come back home after got a phone call from me asking she returned for taking photographs with other family members. First, I didn’t know how I could take a picture having me and my family members inside. Then I took one for them, then one another with different angle. The two would all be stored in my computer and my blog for long. Thanks to luck, a girl went by helped us do the remained work. However, she was not a good camera shooter, so the photographs weren't as beautiful as expected.

Actually, the power resource of the camera is very bad. It just took about three photographs, then it ran out of power. A couple of battery cost 10.000VND. At the end, I had about 100 photographs. Can you guess how much money that I spent on camera using? For a pose, we had to take more than one shot at the same position and angle. Lots of them were deleted because they were blurred due to bad camera shooting.

The main problem is if you just take photographs then save them in your computer, one day, all of them will be vanished when your computer burnt out. So I decided to develop films. It cost 2.700VND for each picture with a plastic cover. I developed 73, so it took more than 200.000VND. With 360.000VND for two couple of new rechargeable batteries, totally I spent 560.000VND. At the end of this month, for sure, I don’t have any cents in my pocket. But that’s okay, beautiful memory is worth it!

31st January, 2012
Ho Quoc Nam
http://hoquocnam.blogspot.com

The day I met An Thi

Six months from the day I met one of the most special girls in my life. We met at a coffee shop in Thu Duc. The place I nearly spent two years of my freshman and sophomore's time in university but hardly stayed in a coffee shop in this area. I clearly remember that day she wore a brown long-sleeved T-Shirt. In this first time, she appeared to be a virtuous girl. Just smiled kindly, just kept silent when I and her brother Tien Thanh talked about the students' lives in college and about her own college life. For her, we are predecessors who have more experience and know how to handle the complex college life. Later I knew she is the oldest daughter of Tien Thanh's high school mathematics teacher.

Time went by, I became familiar with the girl I met just in the weekend after every week of working hardships. From this day, every time I went far away this city, I bought for her a special gift which I thought she would love it. I used to talk to Tien Thanh: "I just want she to feel happy. That's all!". And I didn't know whether or not she loved it but I could see she always smiled kindly and said "thank you" when took it. I hope these souvenirs would come along with her life for a long time. And maybe one day, when we don't have chance to talk face to face, she still remembers that we used to have a good time together.

About three months after the first meet, when I had a chance to visit her house. I met her family members: her father, her mother, her younger sister and her infant brother. I told her all about that even the story how I caressed her infant brother. From this day, after we met together, I gradually recognized that she had a charming voice when I talked to her on the phone, she had a lovely face when I glanced at her but she didn't notice it. Tien Thanh told me An Thi had a lovely face, and he thought she would be very, very pretty when she knew how to make up. I just laughed through the phone: "Are you sure?". Just kidding, because if I love her, it is not because she is pretty, just because she is virtuous.

It's really a coincidence, the day she took the final examination in her first semester in university and already well-prepared for her coming home, we met again with just three persons: I, her and Tien Thanh. I recommended we should go for the coffee shop where we met the first time but Tien Thanh refused. I didn't know why but I thought I was so lucky and happy because once again we sat together and it might be the last night she was in Saigon before going to her hometown. That's something told me we are also special as we think that of her.

To this day when I am writing this entry for her, she is now being near her family. Maybe she never knows that I used to write a blog post for her. Maybe she never reads this blog post. But I just write it as part of my life, part of my time involved one of special girls I used to love and give my care to. I don't make any phone call because I think at the present, she is now living happily along with her family members. Hope all good things will come to her!

February 17th, 2012
Ho Quoc Nam
http://hoquocnam.blogspot.com

An unusal day of Sara

Truth be told, yesterday Sara had a terrible day indeed. She usually wakes up at 8 o'clock but yesterday she woke up at 9:15 AM because something went wrong: her alarm clock didn't ring. Til she heard a weird noise outside her window and thanks to the noise she woke up. She glanced at the clock and realized that she was going to be late for her school time. After that she immediately got dressed. She didn't have enough time to have breakfast. She desperately ran to school but she was still late for her school time. And of course, her teacher was really upset.

That day was bad enough but everything bad still didn't stop. At lunch time, she went to the cafeteria and made herself dishes. She went to a table and chose a desk herself. But on the way, she dropped her tray and her dishes badly broke. Then she returned to the cafeteria line to took her meal. She paid money again. This time, she chose a place at a corner. She sat silently. It seemed that the day could not be worse but the worst still didn't happen.

After class time, she went home. She accidentally met a friend and he invited her to sit under a  shadow of  a tree. They talked and studied together for two hours then she said goodbye. When she left him, she didn't notice a hole on her way, she fell and broke ankle. Her friend took her to the nearest hospital immediately. After one hour, a doctor put a bandage on her injured foot. Her friend took her home. She couldn't get upstairs without her friend's help.

When arriving at her home, she recognized that she lost her room key. She searched in her purse and her pockets but she found no key. She had to wait for her roommate. After two hours sitting at the room door alone, her friend got back to home and opened the door and let her in. She slept for ten hours that night and hoped the day after would be better. Bless Sara!

December 4th, 2011

Hồ Quốc Nam

http://hoquocnam.blogspot.com

Wishing Steve rest in peace

From our memories of love! Wish Steve rest in peace!

Oh Steve Jobs the Apple man

You gave the world’s technology new name

You dare to do the unthinkable like no man

You shape the world by your own way man

Wish you could be here much much longer

But I guess that’s the destination we all share!

May God bless you safe and sound forever!

06/10/2011
Hồ Quốc Nam
http://hoquocnam.blogspot.com

Students: Empowerment comes through Journal Writing

Students, as a Social Work Practice Advisor and Teacher I highly advise that if you want to be honest, upright, and engage in a workplace environment that is your vocational calling, then it is time to sit down and start writing daily, if possible, like before you go to bed.

Writing helps to keep your heart and soul linked with your mind. Trust me, too often in my life, I was operating from the head of intellectualism and rationalization but through daily journal writing, I got connected to the person that I was meant to be. The journey was long. Many ship wrecks, but nowadays, my vocational calling is built on a mission and purpose. Like Palmer Parker, once I got my heart and soul connected, then doors opened, blessings, and God's grace flowing here and there.

Friends of Social Media, take heed to what you have heard in class from our Instructor, Fr. Joseph Vu Huu Hien. He has asked you to write Journal Entries on Daily Gospels. This might seem a bit challenging; and you might want to start simply sharing an ordinary day you encountered with yourself. soon you will find that the Gospels will become relevant and real to you as your heart opens.

As an English teacher in Pronunication and Conversations, so many Vietnamese students lament that they do not write well. I am convinced it is not they can not write, it is they do not know how to write. They know how to talk but not write.

 

Daily practice writing will help you in the long run

Students, I had the same problem you had when I was in high school and college. I was not a good writer. I could not express what I wanted to say. I thought I had to use big words to write, but really, I learned, I write just like I talk.

But here i am today. So many students and friends want me to write a book.

One thing to get centered on your writing is to think what gives you most compassion in life. Write about it. Or another idea is to find a book that says, "This is me". Examine the writer.

Like today, I spent the day reading about Palmer Parker because his writing is relevant material to read, because I believe his writings is relevant in Vietnam. I am convinced the more teachers, professors, and students look to the heart and soul, teaching and learning will be relevant.

As i look at titocovn.com online postings, I would say, we are making progress at least to keep our postings relevant to Christian life, church renewal, church and family life. We still need a writing group that is committed to unveiling the multiple layers of masks that we wear in church and outside the church. When we can simply wear our true face inside church and outside church, we are travellers with Footsteps like Jesus and St. Theresa of Lisuix.

mailinhduyen

10/3/2011

Hồ Quốc Nam

Flower selling project

I tell you my friends in flower-rose-selling project: Thanks to the project, I learned from you, I truly appreciated when we together went through hardships over the past several days. I learned from all of you, especially from a painstaking girl who taught me how to overcome daily obstacles and respect possessions achieved through hard working. She reminds me of my mother's maternal spirit and my 82-year-old grandmother’s sacrifice for me.

I've won friendship, working hard mental sense and experience in business affairs. So, the lesson I got is, “If I wanted to build a bridge to an isolated island, I would build it all by myself”. Understanding the valuable life I am given and honoring my given possessions are far better than win a high profit business, right?

Dear my friends, here do we get the bottom line is: we lost but still had fun though!

10/3/2011
Hồ Quốc Nam

Facebook initiative

Facebook is too famous for a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People are too familiar to use Facebook to keep up with friends, to share links, to share photos and videos of themselves and their friends, and to learn more about the people they meet.

However, many people become Facebook addiction. It starts off with a simple exploration of your friends on the site and suddenly you are logging on 10 times a day to see if any of your friends have made updates to their profile, changed their relationship status or have posted new videos or articles. You are glued to your computer monitor and the only thing on the screen is Facebook. This is especially true when many applications and games are available on Facebook. You go online thinking you're going to do something useful like research a paper, read news, or improve your knowledge and suddenly the urge to visit Facebook pops up. You decide to give in to that urge, and the next thing you know it's two hours later and the only thing you've accomplished is that you've leveled up in Mafia Wars twice and done a complete renovation to your virtual cafe at Cafe World. Your time will disappear, day is shorter while there are hundreds of things you want to do.

Make Facebook worth spending time

Hence, what is the solution for that? Some people try to control the time on Facebook, but it is not a good solution. This is the reason why we are here.

If you can not give up, why don't make it more useful. We are here to introduce you the helpful applications on Facebook. Hence, the time you spend on Facebook is the time when you can learn, work and even earn a lot of money.

Our applications are widespread. They can be applications for Facebook users who want to change their Facebook wall to books with new knowledge, or for those finding suitable jobs. Moreover, they also provide services for companies, organizations who seek employees and want to advertise their products. Besides that, more and more people become Facebook users and most of them have special skills as well as knowledge on particular fields. Hence, why don't make Facebook become a big-cloud brain which can help everyone solve their problems thanks to other abilities. This is our biggest goal.

http://alwaysonline.info/

02/3/2011

Hồ Quốc Nam

A strange pub owner

I was amazed when my American friend said to me, “G’day mate” in the first time we met. We were pen pals for two years long but I could not understand at once his slang phrase. In fact, I was really embarrassed at first and thought he was taking the Mickey out of me. I did not know what I should do for a couple of seconds. After taking several deep breaths, I asked him to go for barbies. American likes barbies very much, don’t they? But he refused because he thought barbies were not good in the big smoke. He suggested going to the outback instead. But the outback was rather far, so I insisted not to go because the big smoke’s barbies actually went down like a summer night’s dream therefore we had not to go anywhere.

We backpacked for a long way. I nearly went arse over tit more than three times because my friend’s baggage was too heavy. Finally, we reached a pub where sold alcoholic drinks. Feeling fantastic, we yelled out and said “Get it up ya” and “cheers” many times. I and my mate drank very much. I drank more than ten stubbies and my friend drank two times as much as me. Nearby our table was a young couple and I thought they were blind daters because when I saw them, the man was being behind the wheel with a bunch of flowers. In that romantic atmosphere, they always smiled at each other, and sometime kissed the other hesitantly without noticing other people. But their time would not last long.

At the end of the party, we only had a stubby left and I saw my friend’s face turned into a bit tinge of redness. Suddenly, I saw a big dingo run out of the table of one of the couples nearby. The dingo is a kind of Australian dog living in the wilderness. This time we saw it in the center of a big city. Other people at the bar yelled out then everything turned into chaos immediately. The dingo wound people up. They got angry and many girls yelled out loud, “Get lost, get lost,”! The dingo’s face showed patient and I saw it was not moved at all. At the time, I imagined the dingo was smiling at the patrons, telling them, “Nope, nope” and then laughed out loud. Finally, one man with a lot of muscles took a hammer and shouted, “Sure do, you will die soon”. The man bumped the dingo and punched it as hard as he could do. The dingo was gradually died. At that very moment, I imagined it was drawling through its nose, “Oh mate, I was just kidding! Why you killed me”. Poor the dog!

Police reached the scene after at least five minutes. Many people were injured by the incident. They waited in line for medical treatment. Many girls were bleeding and crying. They called the pub owner was “the cheap” due to his late calling for police’s arrival. The pub owner had to run up his credit card for cash because police charged him a fine for keeping wild animal, especially when it was a dingo, the Australian mascot. The dingo was Australia’s national animal like the kangaroo. The pub owner for sure will go behind bars for what he did.

Everyone got angry with the pub owner but I detected one thing very strange and interesting happened, when the pub owner crossing over one of the corps, I heard he whispered to this man, “You have to see where I am coming from”. That was amazing! Long live the worker!

19/02/2011

Hồ Quốc Nam

Strictly scheduled timetable

Strictly scheduled timetable from Thursday to Saturday for English examination:

Phase 1: Taking test

- Thursday morning: Unit 12 through Unit 14; +Practice test (Developing);

- Thursday afternoon: Practice test 1 - 3 (1 hour and 30 minutes including intermission for each test) (Target);

- Thursday evening: Practice test 4 - 6 (1 hour and 30 minutes including intermission for each test) (Target);

Phase 2: Speaking rehearsal and Overall revising

- Friday morning and afternoon: overall revising;

- Friday evening and Saturday morning: speaking rehearsal;

- Saturday afternoon: practicing and rehearsing in speaking through 15 prescribed topics with Mr. Dang - He will be mentoring and adjusting (distinguished feature in my timetable);

- Saturday evening: final overall revising.

----------

SUNDAY: TALKING TEST.

GOD BLESS ME!

20/01/2011
Hồ Quốc Nam

Luck

INITIAL WORDS: This is a short story called 'LUCK' written by writer Mark Twain, one of the most successful American writers and humorists. It is said that he was the greatest humorist of his age. When we were in high school, we got a chance to meet Mark Twain through a novel so-called 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer '. He knows admirably how to describe his character Tom Sawyer as well as the complex-multiple American culture. And here is another story for people who love Mark Twain as well as people who used to love Tom Sawyer. The story is full of humorous anecdotes told by Mark Twain's satirically-writing style. I have read this story many times when I feel sad and lost, when I feel life does not go along the way as it should go or the way I managed it to go. This time it may help you find out the fact not the truth about our lives and may help you feel better with a slightly-smiling face and sympathize the fact not the truth on which our lives are going on. Sometimes, life does not give you the result which you deserve to win. Sometimes we claim that life is not fair enough. But who knows? Life is just going on as a fate, the fate we cannot completely change in some ways! Throughout this story, I hope you will enjoy facts in our daily lives as well as a satirically-writing style of a genius, the one who is highly praised as the most important feature and typically represented for a long period of American-style literature. Best regards!)

I was at a dinner in London given in honor of one of the most celebrated English military men of his time. I do not want to tell you his real name and titles. I will just call him Lieutenant General (1) Lord Arthur Scoresby.

I cannot describe my excitement when I saw this great and famous man. There he sat, the man himself, in person, all covered with medals. I could not take my eyes off him. He seemed to show the true mark of greatness. His fame had no effect on him. The hundreds of eyes watching him, the worship of so many people, did not seem to make any difference to him.

Next to me sat a clergyman, who was an old friend of mine. He was not always a clergyman. During the first half of his life he was a teacher in the military school at Woolwich. There was a strange look in his eye as he leaned toward me and whispered – “Privately – he is a complete fool.” He meant, of course, the hero of our dinner.

This came as a shock to me. I looked hard at my friend. I could not have been more surprised if he has said the same thing about Napoleon, or Socrates, or Solomon. But I was sure of two things about the clergyman. He always spoke the truth. And, his judgment of men was good. Therefore, I wanted to find out more about our hero as soon as I could.

Some days later I got a chance to talk with the clergyman, and he told me more. These are his exact words: About forty years ago, I was an instructor in the military academy at Woolwich, when young Scoresby was given his first examination. I felt extremely sorry for him. Everybody answered the questions well, intelligently, while he – why, dear me – he did not know anything, so to speak. He was a nice, pleasant young man. It was painful to see him stand there and give answers that were miracles of stupidity.

I knew of course that when examined again he would fail and be thrown out. So, I said to myself, it would be a simple, harmless act to help him as much as I could.

I took him aside and found he knew a little about Julius Caesar’s history. But, he did not know anything else. So, I went to work and tested him and worked him like a slave. I made him work, over and over again, on a few questions about Caesar, which I knew he would be asked.

If you will believe me, he came through very well on the day of the examination. He got high praise too, while others who knew a thousand times more than he were sharply criticized. By some strange, lucky accident, he was asked no questions but those I made him study. Such an accident does not happen more than once in a hundred years.

Well, all through his studies, I stood by him, with the feeling a mother has for a disabled child. And he always saved himself by some miracle.

I thought that what in the end would destroy him would be the mathematics examination. I decided to make his end as painless as possible. So, I pushed facts into his stupid head for hours. Finally, I let him go to the examination to experience what I was sure would be his dismissal from school. Well, sir, try to imagine the result. I was shocked out of my mind. He took first prize! And he got the highest praise.

I felt guilty day and night – what I was doing was not right. But I only wanted to make his dismissal a little less painful for him. I never dreamed it would lead to such strange, laughable results.

I thought that sooner or later one thing was sure to happen: The first real test once he was through school would ruin him.

Then, the Crimean War (2) broke out. I felt that sad for him that there had to be a war. Peace would have given this donkey a chance to escape from ever being found out as being so stupid. Nervously, I waited for the worst to happen. It did. He was appointed an officer. A captain, of all things! Who could have dreamed that they would place such a responsibility on such weak shoulders as his.

I said to myself that I was responsible to the country for this. I must go with him and protect the nation against him as far as I could. So, I joined up with him. And away we went to the field.

And there – oh dear, it was terrible. Mistakes, fearful mistakes – why, he never did anything that was right – nothing but mistakes. But, you see, nobody knew the secret of how stupid he really was. Everybody misunderstood his actions. They saw his stupid mistakes as works of great intelligence. They did, honestly!

His smallest mistakes made a man in his right mind cry, and shout and scream too – to himself, of course. And what kept me in a continual fear was the fact that every mistake he made increased his glory and fame. I kept saying to myself that when at last they find out about him, it will be like the sun falling out of the sky.

He continued to climb up, over the dead bodies of his superiors. Then, in the hottest moment of one battle down went our colonel. My heart jumped into my mouth, for Scoresby was the next in line to take his place. Now, we are in for it, I said…

The battle grew hotter. The English and their allies were steadily retreating all over the field. Our regiment occupied a position that was extremely important. One mistake now would bring total disaster. And what did Scoresby do this time – he just mistook his left hand for his right hand…that was all. An order came for him to fall back and support our right. Instead, he moved forward and went over the hill to the left. We were over the hill before this insane movement could be discovered and stopped. And what did we find? A large and unsuspected Russian army waiting! And what happened – were we all killed? That is exactly what would have happened in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred. But no – those surprised Russians thought that no one regiment by itself would come around there at such a time.

It must be the whole British army, they thought. They turned tail, away they went over the hill and down into the field in wild disorder, and we after them. In no time, there was the greatest turn around you ever saw. The allies turned defeat into a sweeping and shining victory.

The allied commander looked on, his head spinning with wonder, surprise and joy. He sent right off for Scoresby, and put his arms around him and hugged him on the field in front of all the armies. Scoresby became famous that day as a great military leader – honored throughout the world. That honor will never disappear while history books last.

He is just as nice and pleasant as ever, but he still does not know enough to come in out of the rain. He is the stupidest man in the universe.

Until now, nobody knew it but Scoresby and myself. He has been followed, day by day, year by year, by a strange luck. He has been a shining soldier in all our wars for years. He has filled his whole military life with mistakes. Every one of them brought him another honorary title. Look at his chest, flooded with British and foreign medals. Well, sir, every one of them is the record of some great stupidity or other. They are proof that the best thing that can happen to a man is to be born lucky. I say again, as I did at the dinner, Scoresby’s a complete fool.
_____

(1) Lieutenant general: highest rank in the military, four-star general.

(2) Crimean War: (1853-56) a war between Russia on one side, and Britain, France, Turkey, and Sardinia on the other. It started because Britain and France believed that Russia intended to take control of the Balkans (=southeast Europe) , and it ended when the Russians were defeated and lost control of their naval base at Sevastopol.

Mark Twain

28/12/2010
Hồ Quốc Nam

On Books

Because of my work, I move a lot. Each time, it takes a few months before the new house becomes familiar. And I’ve noticed, time and time again, the peculiar moment when a new house suddenly transforms into being a familiar home: it’s the moment I unpack the boxes to put my books on the shelves. As the books are being lifted out of the boxes to fill the shelves, I feel my past also leaps out and fills up the present.

I have quite a lot of books. Some I’ve read once; some many times; some I’ve read a half; and some only a few pages. But I always know when a book goes missing. And it bothers me when someone borrows my books and forgets to return them, even though I must admit that I myself sometimes commit the same crime.

Among my books, the ones that I hold closest to my heart are the old books that have been bent out of shape by time. Like the one that I carried with me to India that rainy season – its pages had been soaked and curled up by moisture, such that it forever lost its original shape. Or the one I left for a month atop the wooden desk on the forth floor of my parents’ house back in Hanoi (that house is always filled with sunshine) — the color on the cover of that book has faded. Watching the books fade with time gives me the same feeling as watching my parents, relatives, and friends grow old with each day past.

I never write or highlight on the pages of my books. Just like I never want to paint my friends’ faces with dirt.
Time and space put limits on our life in the sense that each of us can only live one life and be in one place at a particular time. The pages of books, then, serve as windows that open us to lives of others and worlds elsewhere. And just like windows, they also let the sun shine through and into our own lives.

Thus, we read not only to satisfy our desire to know about the universe and life but we also read in order to nurture that desire to know. When we find the answer to a question through a book, we will naturally come up with two new questions and such questions will lead us to new books.

Of course, we can’t find all answers in books because real life is so much larger than books. There are things that books can’t teach us because there are things we can’t fully understand until we’ve crashed and burned in life. And there are also things that are better communicated through speaking than writing.

But on the other hand, we can learn from books more than we expect because there are many things we cannot express in spoken words. Human relationships hinge on certain rules: our everyday life is already tiring, thus we should not make it harder for others by imposing on them our own torments. When we speak, we are making that imposition because the act of speaking demands immediate attention of the listener at that very moment. When we write, however, we let our readers choose their own time to communicate with us. Expressed at wrong times, the most heartfelt message can become inappropriate and lost. Books, however, give us the great advantage of being always stable over time.

Books are special friends who always come to us with an open heart. When we move, these friends accompany us. Forever they are waiting for us on the shelves.

(original adaption in Vietnamese by professor Ngô Bảo Châu, translated into English by writer Phan Việt)

20/12/2010
Hồ Quốc Nam 
http://hoquocnam.blogspot.com

New day has come

Life is coming up with tons of bricks on me but I still love it. So many things to do: wash dirty clothes (I almost have not done this boring work for all week’s time); do Mr. Thong-given assignment (the one I have postponed many times and finally I have to take up that great responsibility); write two essays (one is about language learning and another is about Tobacco and Salt intake Enforcement. They all sound great!). I will have finished those works by today’s evening.

Everything seems taking more time than I expected. On other words, I think that I am a timing-arrangement spaz! It is believed that I do not care if finally I accomplish my missions. More important, I should feel grateful if eventually I am still in love with what I have done, what I am going to do and about to do. I should hope so.

I feel uplifted with a strict and fascinating timetable on week’s days left. Saturday morning is filled up with a convention about Art of communicating. Hope there is something I can learn from it. Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning are about English classes in preparatory B course. And Sunday afternoon is about going fishing out with my elder brother. We need to relax and take a getaways trip in remote area on the weekend. A timetable will not be changed and could not be better.

Time is too short for wasting when my health problems seem to be defeated temporarily. Thankfully, my nose stops leaking liquid and my eyes’ sight are now clearer and clearer. As long as my health can stand under strenuous working pressure, and still good enough, I know I can still forge on. Thank my beloved one who used to say: It is lucky when every morning you wake up, you find out that you have something to do, you are about to change something. And thankfully, I have found out those days in row.

I know I have to do something to change my life, I know I am about to do something to change the way the common people are now thinking about me! It is about time to take drastic action. I write this note for ones who are reading this stuff, for ones with whom I still in love, for ones who still love me and for ones who always encouraging me when I feel lost!

I know a new day has come!..

10/12/2010
Hồ Quốc Nam

An unexpected accident

Today is my unlucky day, yes it is indeed. An unexpected accident occurred when I was driving my motorcycle across a fork near Dien Bien Phu Roundabout. I was being on my way to get home after a hectic day, at the time I intended to turn left into the route which leading to my house then I recognized that I couldn’t stop my vehicle. It was stuck open when I was being at a very high speed, about 30 kilometers per hour. How terrible!

And I saw the traffic-pillar turned from blue light into red light, but I still couldn’t stop it by myself. You know, it is very serious when you can’t control yourself at this very such high speed. I pressed my foot hard on the pedal to stop myself but I gained nothing. I tried hard but I could do nothing. My vehicle kept running straight ahead and it sounded a very strange “Clock Clock Clock”, then I saw a car right in the front of me, a distance about 10 meters. My god it was a car, very expensive. I thought that I would crash into that such unlucky one. Then off-hand I turned right, maybe it was subliminal feelings affected me then I controlled my vehicle in a twisty way. I thought if I crashed into a shop, it would be fair to say that no one would be injured except me. Some drivers driving by my side screaming very loudly and some shouted at me in rude ways. Maybe they thought that I was a drunken man, so I was driving carelessly.

At that time if I had done anything it would have been that I had to pray to god to help me. I could do nothing except turn right and would hit anything unlucky on my way. At the time, I thought that tomorrow I would be in hospital with some broken teeth, and maybe with a broken leg or an arm injured. For sure…

Then I thanked god for saving me… I banged very hard on the pavement, and thanked god, my motorcycle stopped itself. Actually I switched it off. My heart has stopped beating for several seconds. I did nothing at the time. I got my cell out and pretended as if someone was calling me and then put it into my pocket again. I felt really ashamed of myself…. One man drove after then he stared at me and said, “You should fix it as soon as possible”. Of course, I would…

At least, one man understood my problem. I went on the pavement for a short distance, I did not dare to ride it without pedal then I saw an old man. He kindly fixed it. Eventually, I got my motorcycle fixed with a cost of only 10 VND.

Next time, before you roar off your vehicle, make sure your pedal is working in full safe conditions…. Many people has died in this kind of accident.

24/7/2010

Hồ Quốc Nam

Main activities in Semester in army, Phu Quoc Island, 2009

Dear Rose Dawson, my classmate at Le Hong Phong high school!

Rose, you never know how lucky I am and how accident that I’ve met one person, one special, who is in the same room with me right now.

To my surprise and yours, your younger sister Jenny sitting up next to me when I am writing this letter to you. We have joined in Semester in army at the same time, and what a coincidence, we were arranged in the same room. By chance, she was arranged to sleep in the bed beneath of mine. From then on, we became soldiers and roommates. Then we have more time to talk gossips with each other than ever. She told me a lot about you. Certainly, it includes good things and bad things… (^ . ^)

I heard Jenny said that you were going to join Semester in army also, but different from us, you and your friends are going to Phu Quoc Island instead of Dong Nai province. You all will spend 10 days living together in barracks. Yes, you will be really living together in any way, from the dawn to the dusk and at night, from day to day. Ten days, you really have many things to do and many places to go. I hope you will enjoy your time and have gorgeous days. But let’s me give you a piece of information about my country. As you know, I have lived in Phu Quoc for ten years since I was a child.

Phu Quoc Island is away from Rach Gia city about 200 kilometers. It stands in the east, in an area so-called Thailand bay. Upon the time ago, we only had one way to get on the Island by boat. But nowadays, you have two ways, by boat or in airplane. It depends on your choose. However, people usually go there by both of them, but most of people choose boat instead of airplane because go by boat is not expensive at all. It only costs 200.000 VND and you can get one-way ticket. Let’s me give you several suggestions.

Phu Quoc Island is famous for its natural charm

Firstly, I strong recommend that you should go by boat instead of airplane. Actually, if you don’t have lots of money, you could go by boat. It’s cheaper than airplane about 50 percent. The sights on the way are absolutely good. I hope you get a chance to see the sights and enjoy some sightseeing. You can take pictures, of course. The windy sea blows really hard, but don’t mind, maybe you will feel comfortable. One suggestion, you should take a boat at the end of the day, to watch the dusk on the sea. It’s really fabulous. We rarely see the sun sets on the sea, in other places in Vietnam, we usually see the sun rises on the sea and sets on land, but Phu Quoc Island is an exception. People can see sun rises and sets all on the sea.

Secondly, if you can afford an expensive cost or you are afraid of waves on the way as you go by boat. On the other hand, you can’t stand the waves and you don’t like to go there by boat at all, you hate the sake when you are on boat, it moves from side to side. By any reason above, you have to take an airplane, and it will land at the center of Phu Quoc, near central post-office in Duong Dong town, and bus routes are just only nearby. I can’t give you more suggestion because I haven’t gone or left Phu Quoc by airplane, yet.

And when you and your friends have got on Phu Quoc island already, all your soldiers must join and live in army at almost time, right? But if you have time, or your officer allows, you should go somewhere for unwinding. If you are an active person, you like physical activities, you should go to the south of Phu Quoc Island, where has many beautiful beaches. At here, you can join in many outdoor physical activities such as: football with local children, volley-ball with girls studying in Nguyen Trung Truc high school and live nearby, sunbathing with foreigners, eventually you can climb in high mountains if you like, it’s totally free.

Finally, seafood of Phu Quoc Island is really good. It has many types of food for you choose. And if you like seafood, I mean that you really like them because they’re all rather expensive but you can only find them at local restaurants, not anywhere. You can go to restaurants in suburb, as a matter of fact, it’s cheaper than you buy seafood in city center but a little. You can also go to retails chain, I think you should repair for your good barging, they usually put seafood at the high cost, only buy it if it’s commensurate with your qualifications.

Have you ever enjoyed seafood by you choose and mix them? Fish, lobster, shrimp, crab… at here are all delicious. And one of famous Phu Quoc seafood is Phu Quoc sauce fish. It’s well-known in whole the world and you only find it here, which is natural and not artificial. I strongly recommend you to take some cans of Phu Quoc sauce fish for your family and friends as presents from sea.

Okay, I have written so long. I hope you would have gorgeous days and finished your duty as a soldier well. It’s significant certification. I and Jenny shall try our bests. I hope you too.

Hồ Quốc Nam and Jenny Rose Dawson

Dong Nai, Vietnam

Yours truly!

Bon voyage.

21/12/2009

Hồ Quốc Nam

Semester in army in my friend’s memory

One has said, “Ten days cannot change one’s whole personality” but I believe it does. It's believed that anyone of us used to hear or familiarize with the concept “military” once or many times, from heroic stories of our ancestors or previous generations.

I think that I am far luckier than lots of my friends. Because I not only heard about many wars of descendants but also I really did take part in that environment. Ten days for me is too enough to make one significant step, a really shift in my life. I can tell you that those days could change enough whole my life - ten days in SIA or Semester in army.

I had never been away from my parents and lived my own life for many days as the time I was joining in military course. At the beginning, everything seemed obviously difficult for me to be acquainted with. My training field was Regiment 88 where served people who register for military course like me. In my memories, it was the “worst” place in which I used to live. I now back to my ordinary life. However, I still can remember clearly how inconvenient and uncomfortable condition I experienced on the first day at the Regiment 88 though. The facilities were very decrepit and equipment was sure rudimentary. Furthermore, none of modern electrical appliances allowed to be carried with their owners such as television, computer even a mobile phone. Without them, many teenagers maybe could not endure even a day.

We all were modern kids forcing to live as exactly as real soldiers’ lives in severe conditions. However, those hardships reminded me of my previous generation, the generation of my grandfather and my father far many years ago. Their whole lives were full of scare, death, blood, sometimes tears… Actually, in wartime, they had to survive in harshest conditions than ever, year after year, not just only ten days as I put myself in some little experiences.

One of my unforgettable memories about ten days in military course was the time when all of us had meal together in a big hall. Not only the army environment but also the food was unfamiliar with me. It was not delicious at all, or should I say, unable to swallow, yet, it also evoked my contented feeling of enjoying my mother’s dishes. Nonetheless, I was quite a bit proud of myself that I was one of minorities who could get used to the food after the first meal. Most of my friends promised themselves that they did not eat even a little of rice.

However, after two days, most of them gradually accepted what brought in to eat, as soon as they could not stand their hunger. As a result, none of them dared to complain about the food anymore and ate joyfully in all the days left. Eventually, I was very pleased to have drawn out myself a precious lesson that instead of continuing pleading my parents for any extravagant things. I should respect what I am having at the present and be satisfied with them.

SIA in my memory

In first five days of the training course, I had been trained so hard so that to become a good soldier. I had been teaching many of interesting things, including difficult and challenging lessons. My favorite lesson was learning how to use gun to make a shoot directly and exactly to the target. However, in my opinion, the lesson itself was not much different from our real lives. We could not reach out our goals if we were not prepared as well and ready to do. In the contrary, the lesson of which I most afraid was overcoming high hurdles and deep holes.

Yet, it was not an easy thing that anyone could get through. Unfortunately, all the soldiers forced to take practice as a compulsory part. Not any exception, I found it was rough enough for a girl like me to jump over them. Nonetheless, I did not give up and become more steadfast in my pursuit of passing those obstacles. I tried plenty of time and at last, my attempt was not useless and wasteful, as I really won by my own. Actually, it was just like how we coped with our problems in our lives and how we managed to overcome it. Then, no matter what happened, as a matter of facts, I still believe “Where there is a will, there is a way”.

The remaining days in SIA were the most important and valuable ones of all. I had an opportunity to expose myself to reality through variety of charity works such as visiting several orphanages and nursing house. As a matter of facts, nowadays, teenagers usually are rather selfish and lack of social awareness. I confess myself that I once used to be one of them. I used to spend most of my time studying at school and even extra-classes. I had not had much time to concern for others and gradually became a weird person.

However, my perception of life and my personality have changed since my visit to the center for the old-aged pensioners. During the time, I had a chance to make acquaintance of one old man who was almost 80 years old now. I absolutely shocked when I heard that he had gone here for 20 years ago and lived in this place from then on. Without any visitors or contact from his relatives. I felt sorry for the man and thought of his son, maybe he was a culpable one. Much or even little, I suddenly thought of my parents who sacrificed all their lives for me. When I thought of them, who lived along with the motion of time, they became older and older as the time passed. I promised myself I would not let them down.

In my opinion, I think ten days of spending in the SIA can be worth as a year of studying in academic or in my school. I have learned how to be self-respect and satisfied with what I have today. I love my parents more than I used to. They are the most important people who have always encouraged me as soon as I am broken down. Moreover, I have already known how to overcome the “hurdles” of life by my own strength. Everyday in SIA is an invaluable lesson that will definitely help me in the future when I am no longer as a kid and become a mature person. I believe that I have a well-prepared package to start my long journey of my own life.

N&L - In Love we trust

Saigon, Vietnam and Massachusetts, United States

07/7/2009

Hồ QUốc Nam

I will wait until you come back

I dreamed about you... Yesterday, I saw me and you at one place that no one who could find us. We were standing together, watching the dawn at the end of the day. The sun was so colorful, it looked similar to two hearts were getting inside one like us. I dreamed we're hand in hand, walking through all the streets around the Stone lake. I kissed you so deep, it seemed nothing could divide us. So, we're in love forever?

Today, I recognized that's only in my mind. I sent a short message to you, told you all about my special dream. I only wanted to tell you all the truth. Trust in me? You replied my message immediately: "Your dream was really beautiful!". Yes, I know, if it were only a beautiful dream, I would keep it in my mind forever. It was unrealistic, wasn't it? You sent me a message: "I have been waiting for my real pal!". Really? I was such a stupid boy all that time, weren't you? I misunderstood or I didn't understand you at all? It didn't matter what you said. I think I can stand it. It's okay then, I will wait for you. I believe in myself, one day you'll recognize my faith. I think it's all enough for us. People who can live their life without their love, but I think I can't do it without you. Tomorrow, I'm still waiting for you. I have deleted your phone number in my contacts already, as I promised I would never send any message to you at once, but I couldn't get rid of your image in my mind even your phone number as I still remember clearly the first time we were hand in hand. It's so hard but I'm trying my best! I'm always thinking about you, I can't keep myself from missing you.

"I don't know why

I've tried so hard

But in the end

You go too far!

I will wait until you come back."

17/02/2009

Hồ Quốc Nam

The practical way to study English

Câu hỏi của bạn Hisham từ Ai Cập gửi tới Ban chuyên dạy tiếng Anh của Đài BBC: Xin hãy cho biết làm thế nào để tôi có thể nâng cao trình độ tiếng Anh của mình?

George Pickering trar lời:

Xin chào bạn Hisham. Rất khó có thể đưa ra một lời khuyên cụ thể mà không biết thêm đôi chút về bạn vì thế tôi sẽ đưa ra một số lời khuyên chung chung có thể sẽ hữu ích với những thính giả và độc giả khác nữa.

Điểm 1
Cần hiểu rất rõ tại sao bạn muốn học tiếng Anh. Bạn cần tiếng Anh để phục vụ cho nghề nghiệp của mình hay để giúp bạn xin việc, hay để nói chuyện với những người nói tiếng Anh, hay để giúp bạn trong việc học?

Điểm 2
Cần biết rõ bạn muốn tiếng Anh của mình giỏi tới mức độ nào. Bạn muốn giỏi tiếng Anh tới mức nào về các kỹ năng nói, nghe, đọc và viết?

Điểm 3
Hãy thử hình dung và có khái niệm thật rõ về chính mình khi bạn đã đạt được trình độ tiếng Anh ở mức thành thạo mà bạn muốn. Liệu bạn sẽ nhìn và nghe thấy gì và bạn sẽ cảm thấy như thế nào?

Điểm 4
Nếu có thể hãy đăng ký theo học một khóa tiếng Anh. Nếu không thể làm được điều đó thì hãy tự đặt mình trong bối cảnh mà bạn cần phải dùng tiếng Anh...

Điểm 5
Hãy tìm kiếm các cơ hội học và sử dụng tiếng Anh. Hãy nói tiếng Anh bất cứ khi nào có thể. Hãy nghe đài và CD bằng tiếng Anh, đọc và viết bằng tiếng Anh. Nếu bạn tìm những cơ hội như vậy thì nhất định bạn sẽ tìm thấy.

Điểm 6
Hãy viết những từ ngữ mới vào một cuốn sổ ghi chép. Luôn mang cuốn sổ theo người và như vậy bạn có thể giở sổ ra xem bất kỳ khi nào bạn có chút thời gian rảnh rỗi.

Điểm 7
Luyện tập, luyện tập và luyện tập. Có một câu thành ngữ trong tiếng Anh. Nếu bạn không muốn mất thì hãy sử dụng nó. Câu thành ngữ này rất đúng nhất là khi áp dụng trong trường hợp học ngoại ngữ.

Điểm 8
Hãy kiếm một người có thể giúp bạn học tiếng Anh, có thể là đồng nghiệp của bạn. Tìm một người mà bạn có thể học tiếng Anh cùng. Hãy nói tiếng Anh với người đó hay các bạn có thể gửi tin nhắn bằng tiếng Anh cho nhau.

Điểm 9
Học một ít một nhưng thường xuyên. Hãy tạo ra một thói quen học tiếng Anh mỗi ngày chỉ cần 10 phút thôi. Như thế sẽ tốt hơn là học mỗi tuần chỉ có một lần dù với thời gian dài hơn.

Điểm cuối cùng
Khi bắt đầu buổi học hãy tự hỏi mình: "Mình muốn học gì hôm nay?" và vào cuối buổi học, tự hỏi mình: "Mình đã học được gì hôm nay?"

Có câu chuyện về một thầy giáo nọ đã nói với học sinh rằng Các em có biết không, các em đang có tiến bộ trong việc học tiếng Anh khi mà các em nói bằng tiếng Anh, nghĩ bằng tiếng Anh và ngủ mơ bằng tiếng Anh.

Một hôm một học sinh tới lớp đầy phấn khởi và nói với thấy: Thưa thầy, đêm qua em nằm mơ bằng tiếng Anh. Thầy giáo nói: Thật tuyệt. Thế em nằm mơ về điều gì? Người học sinh đáp: Thưa thầy em không biết, vì nó bằng tiếng Anh ạ.

Hisham, xin chúc bạn đạt được giấc mơ về học tiếng Anh của bạn.

George Pickering là một nhà tư vấn giáo dục, giảng viên tại trường Đại học Tổng hợp Sheffield, đồng thời là thanh tra của Hội đồng Anh chuyên kiểm tra các trường dạy tiếng Anh tại Anh Quốc.

Scarlet

Hello everybody! In my opinion, learning English is not difficult as you think. The most important thing is you must have confident in yourself. When u have a chance to meet foreigner, talking with them, it's the way to practise English and improve your skills of listening and speaking. Don't be shy or worry that you can be mistakes, you'll get back something good from that... Magazine, films is the good way to practise English. And,well,well... Nice to make friend with you. :)

Nguyễn Hồng Quang, London, Anh Quốc

I find that it is a very nice idea to have this English sharing colum so that those who are interested in learning English will find there something to share and something rich to learn from others as well. For me, I have been learning English for 10 years on my own first and then with the aid of the academic studies. It is always difficult to learn any foreign languages if one does not love it and know its culture because one will find it more difficult to learn a foreign language without understanding its culture. Culture plays an essential role in learning a foreign language. When you know its culture it would be much easier for you to learn it more quickly. What is the most difficulty for me to master English is to understand its rich expresssions and idioms and to use them in the suitable situations. Because English people use them very often in their daily lives. If one loves it and learns it with great pleasure it is certain that everyone should succeed in mastering it.

16/6/2008

Hồ Quốc Nam