Journey of the mind

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 ...