Meeting people

Getting started with project Kiem an, my group has interviewed 3 people with 3 different occupations. They are an athletic trainer for the physically disabled, a gray hair plucker and an obstetrician. The interviews went quite well since the interviewees were friendly and willing to answer our questions.

The first interview with the athletic trainer was conducted at a restaurant after we had dinner together. He was actually Lan's cousin so we didn't have much difficulty approaching him. It took us hours to finish the interview. Anh Tuan - the interviewee, had a lot to share with us about himself and the fact that he was so proud of what he is and has been doing was easy to see.

Chi Huyen - the second interviewee, is working as a gray hair plucker at a small shop. She was helpful but seemed a bit shy. We tried to ask her out for a drink but it was supposed to be her working time so we just talked right inside the store where she worked. Luckily, not many customers came in and interrupted our interview. But the problem is, 2 of chi Huyen's co-workers were there, nearly next to us, when we were talking, so we couldn't have a private talk which could have encouraged chi Huyen to be more open to us. The store where she is working is quite interesting and unique to me..I accidentally found out about that store while going to have some bún ốc with my friends the other day, and I thought this should be an interesting job to learn about. And it is interesting indeed.

We, Lan and me, went to Thanh Nhan hospital to conduct the 3rd interview with a male doctor. He was quite young and friendly which made our talking become comfortable at the very first minutes. The most obvious thing I could see about this man is that he really loved his job. He is an obstetrician so he works with women almost all the times. He shared with us stories about his patients and his thoughts and ideas about sex education in Vietnam these days. No less interesting than the other two interviews, this 1 and a half hour conversation did leave a good impression on me about a young man doing and loving his dream job.

Meeting and talking with new people is absolutely a fascinating experience to me. I had chance to observe and learn more people around me who are just strangers at first, this is like me getting to know many different faces if life. I am so looking forward to meeting and talking with more new people!

Space Mapping: Mỹ Đình 2

This week my group continued our task of mapping the city at Mỹ Dinh 2, the area which was actually familiar to me during my 3 years of high school. That my school is quite at the center of the area did give me chance to go around and explore the place. Things have not changed much for the last 4 years so we could easily found almost everything listed on the paper. 

My Dinh area is shaped by Hanoi's expansion plans to become the capital’s second state administration hub. All the things representing a modern space can be seen here: the national stadium, big housing blocks with spacious sidewalks, supermarkets where everything can be found, playground with tennis court and swimming pool, etc. 

However, I could still spot out some little tiny traditional spaces here and there around the area and I liked it. Just a few steps away from my high school, there is a small pagoda which is always quiet and surrounded by lots of trees. Though there are more than 1 supermarket or convenient store in the area, open markets are still the preferred choice for local people when it comes to needed things for their daily life like vegetable or fresh pork meat. 

Modernization has turned a bunch of villages of Tu Liem district into a developing area called My Dinh but has not taken away all of its traditional charm. It would be great if the city/area planners could keep My Dinh the way it is now. I would love to picture myself living in a place like this.

Space Mapping: Tuệ Tĩnh - Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm

We went to Tuệ Tĩnh and Nguyễn Bỉnh Khiêm streets to map the space yesterday afternoon. It was a rainy day so the heat did not bother our group much. It took us about 3 hours to finish all the tasks, and we had an interesting 3-hour tour round the streets.

It was easy to find most of the things we needed as we walked along Tuệ Tĩnh street. Things like prepaid phone cards, a tree to sit under, trà đá, sinh tố and phở were available everywhere. As if they had been waiting for us for hours to come and put them on the map, we did not have to try hard. People there were kind and tried to help us even when some of them seemed not so sure about their answers. We asked around a lot to make sure we get correct information. The most trustworthy source was the "xe ôm" drivers at the corner of Tuệ Tĩnh and Mai Hắc Đế. Our tasks were much easier thanks to them, they even offered me partnership when they thought I was a tour guide. =D haha

I have been to this place sometimes before, on my motorbike. But this time everything seemed  a bit different when I spent time looking and walking around with slower pace. There have been more shops, restaurants and buildings, less shoeshine boys, key makers and knife sharpeners. That is how Hanoi putting on new clothes. Like it or not, that's the way it is and people are adjusting themselves to the new Hanoi. But I could not keep myself from feeling a bit sad when imagining about one day when no more ambulant sellers or trà đá can be seen along Hanoi streets..

It was mainly Lan who was in charge of asking people around for needed things on the list and how to get them. She could communicate with other people and speak Vietnamese really well. We talked a lot along the way and I loved talking with Lan in Vietnamese, that was so cute! Jeremy was especially good at reading numbers in Vietnamese ^^ It was great to see him keep practicing writing and pronouncing Vietnamese. I know Jeremy will be able to master the language soon!

After walking and looking for a while, we had bánh cuốn for dinner. It was yummy! Jeremy tried it for the first time and he liked it. So did Lan and I. We headed back to Hanu after spending a good time together! It's time to get the map ready! =)

GiG entry: Wal-Mart Greeter

Jim Churchman with his story about his job as a greeter has made a strong impression on me.

To many people, greeter might be an insignificant job, but Jim loves it and does it with real passion. Having a forty-year career and a doctorate in education, Jim still feels like working everyday. He needs a job to keep himself busy and more importantly, to give him a sense of self-worth. To me, that is inspiring. I hope I can keep my enthusiasm about working as long as Jim does.

Just like Jim, I love working with people. I fully sympathize with his positive attitude towards people and life.  He believes that ninety percent of us are good people. I myself share the same thought. There must be at least one reason for a person to be not good at some point. My Dad once taught me a similar precious lesson: Never judge their actions, judge their natures. Thus, I  try to be a tolerant person and always look for the good sides of people around me.

People like Jim, who love what they do and do what they love, help me get really excited about finding a job of my true passion.

About me =)

My name is Thuy Linh. My Mom said she named me after a character in a novel she loved to read when she was young. I guess a lot of people at her time read that novel and loved that character just as much as my Mom did because I have so many friends who share the same name with me (haha ). It is bothersome sometimes. But I know my Mom loves that name, and I think it fits me perfectly, so I decided to love it and just try to make myself different from other ‘Thuy Linh’s =)

I was born in Hanoi, but I spent a couple of years during my early childhood living with my grandparents in a small town when my parents were too busy with their business. I moved back with my parents soon after that, but that peaceful town gave me the most beautiful memories of being a little girl. I loved riding bicycles with friends or alone in a starry night along the lake to feel the summer breeze and breathe in the strangely nice scent of the flowers. I was free like a bird!

Without my beloved Grandma, the picture of my wonderful childhood could not be perfect. Grandma was the most kind-hearted person I have ever known. She loved everyone and took great care of her family. Grandma taught me how to knit, told me endless stories about her life, and forced me to eat more even when I had already loaded my stomach with food… Grandma passed away last month after a long time fighting with diseases. She could not recognize or talk to me in the last few months. I should have visited her more often and not making lame excuses like I was busy or the town was so far away from Hanoi.  Now I come back to the town more often to see my Grandpa, but the town does not seem the same without Grandma. I still sometimes picture her with her ready smile waiting for me at the door. I miss her a lot. A lesson learned for me with great regret as the price: Take care of people I love as much as I can and I won’t miss a chance to let them know I love them every single day. Tomorrow might be too late, who knows...

Last semester, I had a great chance to receive a scholarship for the exchange program at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. I met friends coming from 13 other Asian countries like Japan, Korea, Laos, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, India… We built up amazing friendship by living, working with and learning from each other during 4 months. The program has brought changes to the way I see the world and myself as well, positive changes I believe. And thanks to the “networking” which we have successfully achieved, I feel connected now and gain more motivation to go for what I chose. 

I have been experiencing quite a lot of new things this year, good and bad. And now I am a part of UCHANU, which is another good thing that I have been longing for. I want to learn more about myself, about you, and about our Vietnam! I want to create amazing experience with you all! And I know I can, We can! 

P.s: Just another great experience I'm gonna have: I'll have my first nephew this Oct.! I love babies!!! haha :P