- "It's so beautiful!" - said Mary
- "Yeah, too bad no one lives here" - said I
It was part of the joke Mary and I had when we explored The Manor that Friday afternoon. And I guess others were having the same conversation topic. Well, the first thing I would say about the place is that: It's even QUIETER. But things here were so different from the other parts of the city. Although it was also quiet, like the underdeveloped site we came last time, I didn't feel any peace or calm or likeness.(Trees were used for just decoration, you could sit down under them, just that they had no shade)It was beautiful with French-style-building, and sometimes passing by the area in the past, I did want to live there. Now that I have understood more about the nature of these blocks, it's no longer a happy dream.
It was EMPTY, we hardly encountered anyone walking blocks to blocks (except for a guard who forbid us to go deeper inside). I kinda felt pity for the houses as they were standing there waiting to deteriorate, to be dust-covered and moss-grown before anyone can truly adore and get to know them.
It was ISOLATED, I'd expected before because of the article discussed in class and we'd known for sure that some items in the list would never be found in the neighborhood and within 2km around it. And we were right, it didn't take much time to testify that. Amenities like schools or hospitals couldn't be noticed nearby. There were only a kindergarten which costs more than $5,000 per term for a child. What a premium! Anyway, what high living standard means if people are not exposed to basic needs like seeing a doctor or having education and many other things.
Around The Manor lied some unfinished works. They were untidy and full of sand. This made me think of dis-unification which is not only in places like this but also made a fact in the whole Hanoi. Buildings keep appearing while the accompanied infrastructure system hasn't been developed at the same pace. These ended up being a waste of the society and in the end they become abandoned cement and "memorable" fortress that people, some of whom lost their houses and homes for exchange of them. For no better, I mean.
Who doesn't want their country to develop, to grow but not all agree such a price. The role of planning, sustainable and reasonable one, is really essential now
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Tuesday, 24 August 2010
Mapping: Hai Ba Trung temple
Let’s just call it The 2nd Amazing Race. Except for this time, no one had to “rush”. It was such a busy Friday for me. After work in the morning, I was finally home at 12.30. Lunch lasted for 5 minutes and I rushed to school in the bus number 21. There they were waiting for me in front of building A. Our lovely project team. Traveling to our destination (Hai Ba Trung temple) took quite a long time (about an hour) and we had to catch 3 buses in total (number 1, 9 and 30).
We arrived at the place at about 3 in the afternoon and everything was so quiet at that time. Our team decided to choose a path which would be the shortest to go all around the square drawn on a piece of paper – our drafting and “clumsy” map.
That was the first time I’d ever set my foot on Hai Ba Trung temple although I had been living in Hanoi for 3 years. And unfortunately, it was not open for visitors. All could be seen from the outside was a rather big tiled-roof house and a large ground in front of it. The feeling of intimacy and restfulness possessed myself whenever I walked into places like this. It was like somehow you was isolated from the busy world out there somewhere that seem didn’t even exist. The temple looked out a small lake where trees and benches to sit down were available. One thing which makes sense to me all the time is that if you have a lake view house, whenever you open the window for some air, you know for sure you’re not going to face a big brick building or congested and dusty road but a calm and green surface of water. Well, either you are too rich to afford one or you are living in a under-developed neighborhood like this where these water grounds are not yet filled up for developing purposes. What a trade-off!
We went around the lake-side road and explored lots of things there. We found a lot of cafes, groceries’ stores, phone-card stores and others where most of things could be done as well. We only had to walk around 3 or 4 corners to complete all of the missions. Asking seemed to be nice as people were just as friendly as we needed. And it was getting crowded when we expanded the scale.
Most of the things on the list were available from small vendors and family businesses. Mary and Kristine kept exclaiming surprises as every other footsteps we encountered a small shop. I started to find myself more interested in what they were feeling rather than what I was. These were already so familiar to me. I guess they’ve noticed that instead of getting everything in a mall miles away from home, people here walk around, just like the way we were doing. Instead of having pension and resting somewhere nice and clean, some old men and women in Vietnam still have to work or I want to say still play an important roles in their children 's lives. And there’re so many other things. I found myself viewing the life around me that afternoon different. I recalled the article about “private” and “public” and wow! Look! It was exactly what’s happening and I was like a child having its new toy and I thought: “I truly understand it, just for now. I also understand that this somehow is a part of what my country is going through. People need to make ends meet and imagine if the big word “development” came tapping at the door right away, some would suffer.” Sustainability seems to be the hardest thing, always and everyone better-off, well, I just have no clue.
I don’t want to live there although I enjoy its peace. Sometimes I tell myself if you live quietly for so long, then you will always be invisible for the rest of your life because even if you try, you will miss what used to be so simple. I want to go out. I want to swim out the ocean shores and find my waves. I don’t want to wait for it to come.
We arrived at the place at about 3 in the afternoon and everything was so quiet at that time. Our team decided to choose a path which would be the shortest to go all around the square drawn on a piece of paper – our drafting and “clumsy” map.
That was the first time I’d ever set my foot on Hai Ba Trung temple although I had been living in Hanoi for 3 years. And unfortunately, it was not open for visitors. All could be seen from the outside was a rather big tiled-roof house and a large ground in front of it. The feeling of intimacy and restfulness possessed myself whenever I walked into places like this. It was like somehow you was isolated from the busy world out there somewhere that seem didn’t even exist. The temple looked out a small lake where trees and benches to sit down were available. One thing which makes sense to me all the time is that if you have a lake view house, whenever you open the window for some air, you know for sure you’re not going to face a big brick building or congested and dusty road but a calm and green surface of water. Well, either you are too rich to afford one or you are living in a under-developed neighborhood like this where these water grounds are not yet filled up for developing purposes. What a trade-off!
We went around the lake-side road and explored lots of things there. We found a lot of cafes, groceries’ stores, phone-card stores and others where most of things could be done as well. We only had to walk around 3 or 4 corners to complete all of the missions. Asking seemed to be nice as people were just as friendly as we needed. And it was getting crowded when we expanded the scale.
Most of the things on the list were available from small vendors and family businesses. Mary and Kristine kept exclaiming surprises as every other footsteps we encountered a small shop. I started to find myself more interested in what they were feeling rather than what I was. These were already so familiar to me. I guess they’ve noticed that instead of getting everything in a mall miles away from home, people here walk around, just like the way we were doing. Instead of having pension and resting somewhere nice and clean, some old men and women in Vietnam still have to work or I want to say still play an important roles in their children 's lives. And there’re so many other things. I found myself viewing the life around me that afternoon different. I recalled the article about “private” and “public” and wow! Look! It was exactly what’s happening and I was like a child having its new toy and I thought: “I truly understand it, just for now. I also understand that this somehow is a part of what my country is going through. People need to make ends meet and imagine if the big word “development” came tapping at the door right away, some would suffer.” Sustainability seems to be the hardest thing, always and everyone better-off, well, I just have no clue.
I don’t want to live there although I enjoy its peace. Sometimes I tell myself if you live quietly for so long, then you will always be invisible for the rest of your life because even if you try, you will miss what used to be so simple. I want to go out. I want to swim out the ocean shores and find my waves. I don’t want to wait for it to come.
Tuesday, 17 August 2010
Gig: Corporate head hunter
I expected to have my Gig. Now that I have it and am reading it, I really want to do my “Gig”, our UCHANU’s “Gig”. Each interview in Gig gave me different impression and it was pretty hard for me to choose one to write about. Finally, I think I’ll write about something that I feel close to, that I feel I understand because somehow I had experience part of the same thing.
I’m talking about a girl named Rose and an interview of a head hunter. To be honest, I’ve never imagined the mentioned occupation so hard to do before. If someone asks me what I think a head hunter do, I will just draw a picture of a nice and clean and spacious office with a big desk and a computer. Applications flood in and recruiting announcements full the in-tray. All he/she-the head hunter has to do is to match. Of course, what I imagine happens in the US. After this, I guess I’m no longer that easy-thinking. The same occupation in Vietnam, if ever exists, will not be the same, or not yet and there’re so many reasons. People normally look for jobs themselves and companies seek for the talented by their own means. Matchers in Vietnam, like job agencies, are not often effective and reliable. The result, most of the time, is not what you want. Wrong and careless matches are made, this causes you to lose your money for no reason.
Anyway, come back to the girl. She was a temp. That’s standing out. Even though, she never prepared herself as a head hunter, she possessed quality and achieved experience through many jobs she was put in. But the really impressive fact is how things are carried out in this profession. If anyone wants to excel, they have to have tricks and understand the nature of the whole industry. Imagine how far they can go to get the job done. The interview took me straight to reality, not that I‘ve never experienced jobs or witnessed people did this before. But this, this stood me out. It’s like everything you learn in school seems not to matter anymore. I’ve always understand that life teaches us more than any school does, and life really works here.
I was a bit confused when it came to lying in a job. Well, normally, lying is unethical. I had been a sales person before and to tell the truth, my boss did teach me to lie. A head hunter here, acts as a sales person, she has a product, she tries to sell it. The difference here is no one produces those and she has to find somewhere else. It was convinced that lying was not a bad thing here. At least, people hadn’t been harmed by that. But only if it stops as a means of getting phone numbers or getting to the right person. It’s tempting always for a lying expert to use her talent elsewhere, I guess. A professional in this job, either is a very smart communicator or he/she can become really mean and cunning and crafty and might lose the way if they don’t try to limit themselves to good. I like Rose for that, for she didn’t get lost. She knew how to take advantage of what she had and absorb fine skills on the way.
There’s one more thing I agree with Rose: “The world isn’t about companies. It’s about people”. If companies want to keep their employees, there’s no other way than to treat them well. People have the right. Talented people deserve. I just wish someday to see the society and business world in Vietnam that competitive, that selective and that professional so that more will benefit.
I’m talking about a girl named Rose and an interview of a head hunter. To be honest, I’ve never imagined the mentioned occupation so hard to do before. If someone asks me what I think a head hunter do, I will just draw a picture of a nice and clean and spacious office with a big desk and a computer. Applications flood in and recruiting announcements full the in-tray. All he/she-the head hunter has to do is to match. Of course, what I imagine happens in the US. After this, I guess I’m no longer that easy-thinking. The same occupation in Vietnam, if ever exists, will not be the same, or not yet and there’re so many reasons. People normally look for jobs themselves and companies seek for the talented by their own means. Matchers in Vietnam, like job agencies, are not often effective and reliable. The result, most of the time, is not what you want. Wrong and careless matches are made, this causes you to lose your money for no reason.
Anyway, come back to the girl. She was a temp. That’s standing out. Even though, she never prepared herself as a head hunter, she possessed quality and achieved experience through many jobs she was put in. But the really impressive fact is how things are carried out in this profession. If anyone wants to excel, they have to have tricks and understand the nature of the whole industry. Imagine how far they can go to get the job done. The interview took me straight to reality, not that I‘ve never experienced jobs or witnessed people did this before. But this, this stood me out. It’s like everything you learn in school seems not to matter anymore. I’ve always understand that life teaches us more than any school does, and life really works here.
I was a bit confused when it came to lying in a job. Well, normally, lying is unethical. I had been a sales person before and to tell the truth, my boss did teach me to lie. A head hunter here, acts as a sales person, she has a product, she tries to sell it. The difference here is no one produces those and she has to find somewhere else. It was convinced that lying was not a bad thing here. At least, people hadn’t been harmed by that. But only if it stops as a means of getting phone numbers or getting to the right person. It’s tempting always for a lying expert to use her talent elsewhere, I guess. A professional in this job, either is a very smart communicator or he/she can become really mean and cunning and crafty and might lose the way if they don’t try to limit themselves to good. I like Rose for that, for she didn’t get lost. She knew how to take advantage of what she had and absorb fine skills on the way.
There’s one more thing I agree with Rose: “The world isn’t about companies. It’s about people”. If companies want to keep their employees, there’s no other way than to treat them well. People have the right. Talented people deserve. I just wish someday to see the society and business world in Vietnam that competitive, that selective and that professional so that more will benefit.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
A happy person
I was born on November 3rd, 1989 in Hai Phong, Vietnam. My hometown is a small coastal city and is located 120km South East away Hanoi – the capital. I was a happy person there.
How I was brought up?
I was lucky enough to be born into an educated family. An educated family, as I understand, doesn’t necessarily be a long-standing one but a well-managed and directed one. In the time of turbulence, both my father and mother went to university and actually had jobs and had their house (the one they live in at the moment) bought by their own money. That was not much of a thing to say, though. But I consider that a reminder of myself how they struggled just to give us a life, a good life. My brother and I grew up being “polished” by my father. With great care, I guess. I adore him the most. He taught me most things in my life, not just to know them. He wanted me to do things properly as soon as I started to perceive the world around me. He cared if I had speech defect, if I was shy at school or if I was lazy.
One thing my mother and father made very important to me is that: “Learning is a whole life process” and that if I didn’t put effort in learning or better my knowledge and skills, I would not get what I want, I wouldn’t excel. Maybe that was the reason they tried to send me to good primary and secondary schools. (I was grateful). And also, I tried my best to be an on-top student. My parents were always satisfied for that. I was happy as a child. The happiness of a child, for now, when I can look back and finally understand, is as simply as having someone who loves her, going to school and playing with friends, going to the park at weekends, getting good marks, etc.
How I got on my own path? How I built it and is building it?
I wanted to be rich, I still want to (who doesn’t?) and not for once since I started this desire, I forgot the idea of an entrepreneur. The dream pretty much affected my decision in the past. And every steps I have taken, those that made me who I am today, aimed to fulfill my dream, I hope. Whatever it might be, mum and dad could never interfere as I think I was fine on my own and they believe me as I do just fine at the moment. I’m not sure if they know that I really want them to be proud of me.
I guess now you know why I chose Business Administration at the beginning and I never regret. University time, till present, is the most wonderful part of my life. I have progressed. Staying far away from home, I’m finally independent and confident. I go out and communicate. I make a lot of friends. I travel to anywhere I want. At the same time I learn to be the future-expected-person, I can get experience elsewhere for my own. I had been a sales person, a marketer, a pr specialist, a leader. I’ve met brilliant people whose greatness I wish to follow. I felt like I’m having a hierarchy in jobs and at the end, if I attempt enough, I’ll simply get what I want. Someone asked me before, if there were one thing I could change in the past, what would that be. I may have been better for that. Nothing. I didn’t mean I made no mistakes, my life was so not full of flowers on the way, there were unimaginably sad things. But each and every one gave you a lesson, lessons were not meant to be missed, I even might have done worse. There were always questions, they made me crazy for I couldn’t answer, and again when I get older, they gradually come into picture. Happiness now is to know exactly what I want, who I want to be, how to be there, who I want to stay with if I have only 5 minutes left to live even if the world collapses around me :). Life is unexpected, but the only thing it can do is to slow me down, I’ll always tell myself that thing. And that I create my own destiny. Who knows what’s gonna happen, just set the goal and keep moving toward it. Don’t sit down and don’t look back. I am happy as I am.
If we will meet again, hopefully we will meet where you and I want to be. You may tell me that but I’ll keep mine a secret. But remember, I will be a happy person. Happiness can be something else, then.
What I expect in the next 4 months?
I've talked so many times about this:
I want new friends, I want to discover new things, blah blah blah.
But you know what, being with UC students for a while, I feel like I really want to get closer to all of you. I mean I thought you were somehow Vietnamese or related, so I must have known you, the way you think and work and study. Now I realize there's a whole big world I want to know more.
And you know what, we have a big big big project, imagine when we work together, and I can help get you closer to this place, to people here. I am a happy person again to do that.
How I was brought up?
I was lucky enough to be born into an educated family. An educated family, as I understand, doesn’t necessarily be a long-standing one but a well-managed and directed one. In the time of turbulence, both my father and mother went to university and actually had jobs and had their house (the one they live in at the moment) bought by their own money. That was not much of a thing to say, though. But I consider that a reminder of myself how they struggled just to give us a life, a good life. My brother and I grew up being “polished” by my father. With great care, I guess. I adore him the most. He taught me most things in my life, not just to know them. He wanted me to do things properly as soon as I started to perceive the world around me. He cared if I had speech defect, if I was shy at school or if I was lazy.
One thing my mother and father made very important to me is that: “Learning is a whole life process” and that if I didn’t put effort in learning or better my knowledge and skills, I would not get what I want, I wouldn’t excel. Maybe that was the reason they tried to send me to good primary and secondary schools. (I was grateful). And also, I tried my best to be an on-top student. My parents were always satisfied for that. I was happy as a child. The happiness of a child, for now, when I can look back and finally understand, is as simply as having someone who loves her, going to school and playing with friends, going to the park at weekends, getting good marks, etc.
How I got on my own path? How I built it and is building it?
I wanted to be rich, I still want to (who doesn’t?) and not for once since I started this desire, I forgot the idea of an entrepreneur. The dream pretty much affected my decision in the past. And every steps I have taken, those that made me who I am today, aimed to fulfill my dream, I hope. Whatever it might be, mum and dad could never interfere as I think I was fine on my own and they believe me as I do just fine at the moment. I’m not sure if they know that I really want them to be proud of me.
I guess now you know why I chose Business Administration at the beginning and I never regret. University time, till present, is the most wonderful part of my life. I have progressed. Staying far away from home, I’m finally independent and confident. I go out and communicate. I make a lot of friends. I travel to anywhere I want. At the same time I learn to be the future-expected-person, I can get experience elsewhere for my own. I had been a sales person, a marketer, a pr specialist, a leader. I’ve met brilliant people whose greatness I wish to follow. I felt like I’m having a hierarchy in jobs and at the end, if I attempt enough, I’ll simply get what I want. Someone asked me before, if there were one thing I could change in the past, what would that be. I may have been better for that. Nothing. I didn’t mean I made no mistakes, my life was so not full of flowers on the way, there were unimaginably sad things. But each and every one gave you a lesson, lessons were not meant to be missed, I even might have done worse. There were always questions, they made me crazy for I couldn’t answer, and again when I get older, they gradually come into picture. Happiness now is to know exactly what I want, who I want to be, how to be there, who I want to stay with if I have only 5 minutes left to live even if the world collapses around me :). Life is unexpected, but the only thing it can do is to slow me down, I’ll always tell myself that thing. And that I create my own destiny. Who knows what’s gonna happen, just set the goal and keep moving toward it. Don’t sit down and don’t look back. I am happy as I am.
If we will meet again, hopefully we will meet where you and I want to be. You may tell me that but I’ll keep mine a secret. But remember, I will be a happy person. Happiness can be something else, then.
What I expect in the next 4 months?
I've talked so many times about this:
I want new friends, I want to discover new things, blah blah blah.
But you know what, being with UC students for a while, I feel like I really want to get closer to all of you. I mean I thought you were somehow Vietnamese or related, so I must have known you, the way you think and work and study. Now I realize there's a whole big world I want to know more.
And you know what, we have a big big big project, imagine when we work together, and I can help get you closer to this place, to people here. I am a happy person again to do that.
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