Journey of the mind

#113 Then Can you guess where I am in the picture?  Interestingly, just by looking at their height, you can tell who the older and younger sisters are. But now, most of my sisters are a little taller than me. My brothers are much taller, LOL #114  A Simple Day to Remember My friends and I had a coffee chat on a rainy day. We had made the appointment a long time ago and had been waiting for a rainy day to finally make it happen. I made some popcorn and a banana cake, which they really liked. I also gave them some snacks I had bought in Thailand as little gifts! The coffee shop was so close to our place that it only took me five minutes to walk there. It was the shortest distance I've ever traveled for a coffee meetup! I really enjoyed our talk and want to save this memory for the days to come! (TQ-NQ-TT-HO) #115 Joking About Not Applying Sunscreen “On rainy days, I often joke, "It's raining today, so I won't put on sunscreen". Hanoi, August 23, 2026

I had never thought that Choco Pie was something I could make at home. By chance, I was scrolling through a YouTube channel specializing in cake-making when I saw a video showing how to make Choco Pie. I immediately thought, “Wow, that’s interesting!” I don't think I would normally choose to make this cake because Choco Pie is such a common snack that I associate it more with buying than making. When I think about baking, I usually imagine making something bigger rather than a little cake like Choco Pie. But somehow, seeing the process made me curious to try it. Also, the advertisement for Choco Pie says, “Love as sweet as Choco Pie.” Everything seemed to lead me to making Choco Pie. First, I made the wrappers using a sponge cake recipe, which was not difficult for me. After baking them, I tried one. It was okay and met the basic requirements for a sponge cake, but I didn't like it very much. It had that signature smell and taste of egg and flour, which I don't particularly...

#110 He is not a king but One man army LOL #111  A Little More Time in the Kitchen When I spend more time cooking and baking, with compliments from my roommate (I assume she is quite easy to please) and some others, I think my cooking ability is pretty okay. Rather than before, I never thought I cooked well for some reasons: I didn't spend much time cooking, so I wasn't confident about it. I often cooked only for myself,  so I didn't always put much thought or care. I often tried to cook new recipes and use new ingredients, so I couldn't really have a “signature dish.” But now, I realize that when I spend more time on something, I can see it from a new perspective. When I spent more time in the kitchen, I became more confident. My behavior and attitude in the kitchen changed too. And I find something in myself: when I cook, I am concentrated and curious. These are qualities I know I have in other parts of my life, and they work in the kitchen too. I think that is more t...

Reflections on Becoming a Teaching Assistant Recently, I had the opportunity to work with undergraduate students as a teaching assistant. Although my primary role is as a research assistant, I gradually found myself taking on this  responsibilities without knowing when it happened LOL. This experience has given me a fresh perspective on research and working with people. For the first time, I began to see research more clearly from the perspective of someone who does not do the work. 1. More experience brings more responsibility Having more experience in the laboratory, together with the role of guiding students, naturally places me in a position of greater responsibility. This responsibility motivates me to continue learning, because I need to understand the work deeply before I can explain it clearly to others. 2. Reviewing others' work  Reviewing students' work has taught me something interesting. When you are deeply involved in your own research, it is often diffi...

 #108 Goals in Chess There are many goals you can set for yourself as you work to become a better chess player. In every game, try to accomplish at least one of these: Play a brilliant move. Play a brilliant sacrifice. (Hanoi Lucky Chess Club) #109  A Weekend as a Tourist in Hanoi On Sunday, my friend and I decided to spend the afternoon in Hanoi's Old Quarter, a place that's usually full of tourists. For a change, we became tourists ourselves and watched a Water Puppetry performance, a traditional Vietnamese art form that introduces our culture to visitors. We took the skytrain and rented public bikes, just like I did during my recent trip to Thailand lol. After the show, we enjoyed a plate of Vietnamese dried beef salad at a nearby street food stall before taking the bus home. On the way to the bus station, I even bought a souvenir, just as I always do whenever I visit a new place. We both agreed that we had so much fun that day. Sometimes, exploring your familiar place like...

A black ink sketch of a cake. Weekend feels, fully! Drawn in ink, impossible to erase ☆ Ink sketches might just be perfect for everything LOL 😀 Hanoi, July 18, 2026

(Chiang Mai University Campus) I had always longed for a trip with my sister and we finally made it real. I had an amazing time exploring this beautiful country with her. (7/11)                                    (MRT Blue Line)                                                                       Thanks to her, I came home with so many nice photos! Here are fit checks from the trip - My 30-year-old-and-5x Kg self! We 100% ate Thai food: Thai hotpot, Thai durian, Thai sticky rice, Thai Tea, etc. (Chiang Mai Pao Park)                                      (Bus Station) I met m...

Recently, I've been working in a cleanroom with several large fabrication machines, including sputtering, PECVD (Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition), and photolithography systems. They are the largest and most complex machines I've ever worked with. At first, I felt completely overwhelmed by the countless functions, settings, and operating procedures.  However, as I gained more research experience, I gradually became calmer and more confident. By observing my colleagues, asking questions, and helping with routine tasks, I slowly learned how to operate each machine. Because the cleanroom has been operating for many years, the equipment often breaks down. Sometimes, even a small error can cause an entire machine to stop working, delaying every process that follows. As the equipment ages, these malfunctions become more frequent. This has made me realize how important it is not only to know how to operate the machines, but also how to troubleshoot and repair them. Otherwise,...

An excellent girl is so happy on her proposal She is a famous actress in Vietnam. I was just scrolling through social media when I came across her post announcing her engagement. What struck me how genuinely happy she looked. The joy on her face was impossible to miss. She was already admired long before becoming an actress. People knew her for academic achievements, and success in English competitions. Later, she built a successful acting career and became even more well-known. In my opinion, she has many things people aspire to have: beauty, intelligence, reputation, and financial success. What stayed with me was the happiness on her face when she found the man she wanted to spend her life with. That kind of joy felt so genuine that it lingered in my mind long after I had finished reading her post. Sometimes, I pay attention to small details and quietly hope that one day I might experience something similar. I rarely share these thoughts with my friends anymore. Most of them already ...

My second IELTS attempt:  Good Enough to Move Forward I got my second IELTS test result! Luckily, I scored higher than the first time, and it's enough to meet the admission requirements for most universities Yayy!! To be honest, I didn't practice that much this time. I simply took the test based on my current level of English. There is still room for improvement, and with more thorough preparation, I believe I could achieve a higher score. I also have the option to retake just one skill. If I improve that skill by 0.5 band, my overall IELTS score would increase. However, I've decided not to do it for a few reasons: I'd rather focus on my current work. If I can achieve strong research outcomes, they may strengthen my applications even more than a slightly higher IELTS score.  Realistically, I don't think I would spend enough time preparing for a One Skill Retake, just as I didn't this time. S o there's no guarantee that it would improve my band score. At the ...

Celebrating my birthday with a Red Velvet cupcake - the cake of love ❤️ It truly is the cake of love. Absolutely gorgeous and stunning.  This birthday feels special because I made a little Red Velvet cupcake for my big day. Somehow, it perfectly reflects the theme of this year: a birthday wrapped in Red Velvet and love. To be honest, getting older does make me a little nervous, but I'd like to leave this here as a reminder to myself. Happy Birthday to me! 🎂 PS. In my opinion, the cake has a great texture and is perfect for sharing with many people LOL.                                                                                                             ...

Last week, I went up to the mountains .... for a volunteer trip It wasn't a well-planned trip,  no pretty clothes, but full of meaningful moments. Staying true to my introverted nature, I spent most of the time observing people and everything around me.  I hope the club organizers will let me join as a volunteer again next time : )) I'm not particularly good at working with clay, but I confidently volunteered to be the team leader anyway. Fortunately,  my strength is recruiting talented people. I joined quite a lot volunteer camps when I was a university student. This trip wasn't entirely my idea, though. My younger sister recommended it, and I agreed to go because I would be joining her. She has participated in many volunteer trips like this, and I wanted to understand more about a part of her life that means so much to her. In the end, I got much more than just quality time with my sister. I came home with wonderful memories and a renewed appreciation for the kindness, ...

I once heard a man share that that after he got married, people at work began treating him differently. There was a new level of respect. In their eyes, marriage meant taking on greater responsibilities; he was no longer just a young man but an adult carrying the weight of a family. It was a marker of true maturity. I think there's a lot of truth in that. Sometimes I enjoy the freedom of being single, but I also realize that, in some ways, I might be avoiding part of the responsibility that comes with building a family. It's no longer just about taking care of yourself; it's about being responsible for someone else as well. The photo was taken on a volunteer trip I joined For now, though, perhaps I need a few more years. I'm still trying to build the life I envision for myself and the kind of family I hope to create in the future. P.S1. Every time I see babies who are still at the age of being carried around in their parents' arms, all I want to do is sleep LOL....