Journey of the mind

I once announced in January 2022 that I would stop writing on this blog for a while. Back then, the break lasted six months because of my studies and my desire to improve my English writing. I have wondered when I might take another official break like that, and for what reasons. Today, I feel the time has come again, and I've made a difficult decision to pause this time for several reasonable reasons: PhD admission prep : I want to focus on preparing for PhD admission: writing my cover letters and research proposals . Each application must be carefully tailored to the professor and laboratory. I also need time to review my knowledge and experiences to be ready for interviews. IELTS exam : I am preparing for IELTS again. This time, I don't have as much to share as before, but I want to achieve a higher score. Even a small improvement requires real effort, and transformation. I'll write more after I take the test. Job transition : I am currently in a job transition...

  Know Me Too Well Song by New Hope Club ‧ 2020 Overview Lyrics Lyrics Ah-ah, ah-ah (ah-ah, ah-ah) I spend my weekends tryna get you off My mind again, but I can't make it stop I'm tryna pretend I'm good, but you can tell (Good but you can tell) You're right, I shoulda text you goodnight I shoulda given more time I wish I had've known this before Now I'm replaying our goodbye But it wasn't a goodbye And I still hear you slamming the door Try to hit you up, but you've had enough You're screaming down the phone "You don't know what you lost" I said, "I'm fine", I didn't care that much But I realise when you hang up, I messed this up I spend my weekends tryna get you off My mind again, but I can't make it stop I'm tryna pretend I'm good, but you can tell (uh) 'Cause you know me too, you know me too well Ah-ah-ah-ah You know me too well Ah-ah-ah-ah Lo puedo dejar para mí, jamás volverte a llamar But baby, n...

#95. 10 years, a long journey A 10-year period is a long journey. From my experiences, ten years are enough to witness a complete transformation. My first ten years began as a university student, carrying hope - to study abroad. Now, a decade later, I have achieved that goal, along with more than I ever imagined at the beginning.  Now I carry with me more hopes for the next ten years. That is why I wrote a letter to my future self ten years from now  (A letter to my strongest version)  I truly hope that in this second decade, I will again become a version of myself that I long for, even in ways as the first ten years surprised me. #96. #97.  Writing this post while this song is playing -Love story- Where do I begin To tell the story Of how great a love can be The sweet love story That is older than the sea That sings the truth about the love she brings to me Where do I start .... PS. This is me at 19 - 10 year ago :) Hanoi, Sep 25, 2025

A little update: I am currently preparing for the IELTS exam again. For international students, this exam is the first ticket to studying abroad. I have taken the IELTS once before, but my certificate expired in 2024.  I realized that my band score would not improve much over three years after my first attempt unless I actively worked on it. I got 6 overall before and most universities accept a minimum of 6.5 overall, with no skill below 6. This time, however, I had experience in the exam room, and my target is higher. I believe I will achieve the score I am aiming for. A little difference compared to last time is that this time I am preparing for the IELTS before applying for admission. I will have my English certificate ready to apply to any university. Previously, I received admission first and then had to take the IELTS in a short time to add it to my admission documents. I remember many of my friends going through the same process, just as I am right now.  One ...

#92. Air fryer I tried to make a sponge cake using an air fryer. I was excited to see how it would turn out. Sadly, it was fail. The cake didn’t rise at all. It felt exactly like when I tried frying cakes and ran out of oil at the very last minute!  Literally, frying without oil! I have a colleague who often makes all kinds of cakes and is really confident about it. I asked her to teach me one day, and she agreed. I'm looking forward to learning from her and, hopefully, becoming a master at baking cakes :) #93. Making money is a skill I am currently reading The Almanack of Naval Ravikant: A Guide to Wealth and Happiness . I first came across it while preparing for job interviews. While learning how to answer interview questions, I watched a video that mentioned this book. The video talked about different types of luck and how to get lucky, which sparked my interest. I also like the idea of reading books recommended by people who work in fields like economics and communication, si...

Since I can work from home tomorrow, I didn't need to sleep early tonight. Somehow, I just feel like writing down these thoughts. So far, I haven't had much smoothness in romance . I stay positive, but sometimes I still feel a little sad about my fate. Still, I've never seen anyone as strong as me. If I can't see a future with someone, even if I once liked them, when it ends, I never regret, no second words. I do exactly what I remind myself to do. I keep my patience and carry hope. Maybe I'm good at hiding my feelings, or I'm just too rational. And also  perhaps they're simply not the battles I'm meant to fight. I don't think career and relationships are two parallel lines. One can influence the other.   At this point in my life, I feel caught between career and relationship. My career presents difficulty and my relationship carries uncertainty.  If my career isn't what I truly want, then my relationship doesn't feel genuine either because ...

I'm in white again, not in a laboratory, but in a factory. PS.  #1.  The farthest lunch trip I've ever taken… all the way to the company cafeteria :) #2. Today, I received an email from my landlord from the time I lived in Seoul. It was so touching. I should have emailed him first, but ... yes but I hesitated, and then life simply swept me away. I wrote him back with some updates, and I know we'll keep in touch.                                                                                                                                                ...

I used to live in this society without needing to understand it when I was a child. Back then, I was surrounded by a small, close-knit community, familiar and comforting. I felt content and happy, without questioning much. But gradually, I became part of a larger and more complex world, filled with many people, layers, and expectations. In the process of searching for my own identity, I began to ask and to answer for myself what society truly means. This society, where the majority often shapes the direction of the community, still leaves space for individuals to shine in their own unique ways through their talents, their differences, and their voices. Here, each person is unique, with their own story to tell.  Outcomes often reflect individual choices. They can serve as examples and might inspire others but they are not one-size-fits-all paths. Every person contributes to create this society. Though nothing is absolute, we are bound by shared rules and a common moral compass that ...

#92. E lectronic components I recently started working at a large Japanese company specializing in electronic components, with thousands of employees. This is my first time working at such a large scale, and it has always been my desire to "test the waters" and gain industrial experience, especially in seeing how applications come to life in the real world. At the same time, I remain focused on my long-term goals. Gaining hands-on experience with electronic components will be valuable when I pursue research in the future. Working in a large-scale industrial environment also broadens my understanding of how the industry operates. Together, these experiences will support my career growth in meaningful ways. What excites me even more is that several professors who work in my field of interest, microfluidic chips for bioapplications, also have backgrounds in Electrical Engineering. This gives me confidence that I'm on the right track. For example: #93.  When you can’t go fu...

What a shortcoming it would be if I didn’t mention my trip to Busan during  Chuseok,  Korea’s longest holiday, in 2023. It’s the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time when most Korean people reunite,  express gratitude to the older generation,  and celebrate together. While nearly everyone was enjoying warm gatherings at home, I was setting off on one of the farthest and longest trips I’d ever taken in Korea. I've always dreamed of visiting as many regions in Korea as possible, and Busan was high on my list, a must-visit. My journey began in Seoul and stretched all the way down to Busan by train, with several stops along the way. I took a flight back to Seoul when the holiday ended. It was such a memorable experience. Stop 1. Seoul Station It all started with a long day of discovery and waiting at Seoul Station. I had planned to spend enough time there to explore, take photos, and soak in the atmosphere. Maybe I was too excited for the trip. My train was scheduled to leave in ...

I've always expected that when I read a book, I will  fully immerse myself in every word, never missing a line, reading from start to finish, like I did as a child flipping through comics and long novels. Back then, I was passionate about collecting them, treasuring each one with deep appreciation. But it hasn't been the same as I've grown older. Sometimes I finish a book to say I've done it, as if it's an achievement to check off a list. I've always expected to watch movies with full curiosity, to immerse myself in the characters' lives and see the world through their eyes, just like I did with the films that once captivated me and gave me new perspectives. But again, things change. Now, with so many choices, I sometimes don't even want to start. The excitement feels diluted. I've tried to explain this shift in a few ways: As I grow older and gain more experience, my worldview feels more complete. External sources don't shake or inspire me as ...

I got to know The Path of Islam ( Con Đường Hồi Giáo ) by Nguyễn Phương Mai through a Blog recommendation. The promise of a personal journey through the Middle East, told from the perspective of a Vietnamese author, immediately sparked my curiosity. The book's cover even reminded me of a photo I once took during my trip to Singapore, creating a small but meaningful visual connection. More than that, I wanted to see the region through her eyes, to follow her footsteps, and to understand her experiences traveling across a part of the world I've always dreamed of visiting. Without hesitation, I ordered the book online. When it arrived, I was so thrilled. The colorful, vibrant cover and the photographs scattered throughout the pages all hinted at a journey that would be rich and profound. The Path of Islam  is the travel-memoir and cultural exploration of her nine-month journey through 13 Islamic countries during the Arab Spring by Nguyễn Phương Mai, a Vietnamese professor at the...