Journey of the mind

#116 Tangsuyuk After several attempts at making Tangsuyuk (Korean sweet and sour pork) , I'd say this one was a sort of success, good enough to accept for now 😂 There are still a few things I need to keep in mind for next time, but at least it finally turned out pretty well. This is one of my favorite Korean dishes from when I lived in Korea. It's really delicious, and the way it's made is quite unique. When I was in Korea, we would usually order one plate and share it with everyone, rather than getting individual portions. Partly because it was quite expensive, and partly because one portion was usually pretty big. Whenever I was craving it, I would either try making it myself (and fail 😂) or buy the frozen version and heat it up. There was only one time when I decided to splurge and order a large portion just for myself during a trip to Busan, determined to enjoy it as much as possible. Well, I couldn't finish it, so I ended up taking the leftovers home and eating t...

#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...