Thank you for being a part of my life!

To be honest, I always feel conflict inside myself when the final week pass by. I do feel happy because we have accomplished our semester with all of the crazy assignments; on the other hand, I do feel sad because some of you guys are going to leave us may be we won't have chance to meet each other again.
There is nothing last forever in our life but memories!I will carry our memories with me on my road because that is the gift sent by God.
For those of you who are going to stay here in ALP, we will meet around on campus because I will stay here too.
For those of you who are going to transfer to another university or go to your major, I would like to say "congatuation" and "take care"
For those of you who are going to go back to your home country, I will miss you guys a lot, and please take care and keep in touch by this web blog.
I want to say thanks to all of my instructors, my classmates in this semester.
Thank you for being a part of my life!

Journal #17 confucius quote

"Find a job that you love doing and you will never have to work a day in your life"
(Confucius)

This quote mean that if you could find something you love to do, even though you have to do it everyday you wouldn't feel tedious. I agree with this quote but it seems that not many people can do it even me. It is hard to know what kind of job that you love doing. You have to experience many different jobs until you find your favorite job. In reality, maybe what you love to do is not a practical job which can not afford your daily expense. because of that reason, I would rather love what I am doing than doing what I love. I find it will be more reasonable and flexible for me. Of course,I won't fore myself to love what I hate. I will try to find a happy middle between "Love what I do" and "Do what I Love". Fortunately, I am applying that theory in my life now. I realize that life cannot always as we expect so some time we should satisfied with what we have.

Mom Dad, what if I tell you that I wanna buy a car?

Dear Mon and Dad,
How are you these days? I do miss you guys a lot hic hic
I am doing well here. As you know that Tony, Becky and me are going to move to a new house which is very far from my school. Therefore, It will take me a long time to take a bus to go to school. I think this is the suitable time to buy a car here. while driving car just only takes me 30 minutes from our new house to school, taking a bus might take me more than 2 hours. It means that I have to wake up at 5 in order to go to school on time at 8 and cannot came back home until around 7 pm. Everyday, I have to spend more than 2 hours on transportation, I won't have enough time to focus on my study :(Although taking a bus is free it takes too much time, mom dad.
Moreover, there are some days I have to stay at library a little bit late to do my research. at that time, waiting the bus alone at the bus stop in the evening is a little bit dangerous so that having a car is more safety than.
May be you think that I am a new driver and driving a car might dangerous for me. I know what you are worry about but I got my driver license 3 months ago. I practice my driving skill every weekend. Even Tony, you know, who is a extremely careful person also agree that I am a careful driver.
I hope that you will be agree with me on this issue and allow me to buy a car because it will be more convince for my study and my life here.
love you!!!
Rachel ^^

Thật khó để yêu thương và được thương yêu ...

(sorry for using Vietnamese guys, this is for myself only ^^)

Yêu thương có thật sự dễ dàng như khi mình nói ra từ đó không ?

Em đã đọc được ở đâu đó rằng "Dễ là khi mình nói yêu thương một ai đó. Nhưng Khó là khi mình làm cho người đó cảm thấy được yêu thương mỗi ngày". Và dường như trong phạm trù của yêu thương, con người lại rất mong manh và dễ dàng bị tổn thương hơn bao giờ hết. Liệu rằng có sai không khi em trao cho ai đó "yêu thương" của mình ? Em vốn dĩ là một người vô ý, nên đôi khi không nhận ra mình đang hờ hững với một ai đó mà mình yêu thương. Em vốn dĩ là người vô tâm, nên đôi khi không biết rằng mình đang làm tổn thương một ai đó. Và em vốn dĩ cũng là một kẻ...tham lam, nên cứ muốn yêu thương quá nhiều người trong cuộc đời mình. Thỉnh thoảng em có cảm giác như mình là một cô bé con, cứ liên tục đòi mua hết con búp bê này đến con búp bê khác, vì quá thích và yêu thương chúng. Cứ vậy đem về cất trong tủ kính xinh xinh của mình mà không thể chơi hết với tất cả.

Một lúc nào đó, em ngồi nhìn lại, và chợt nhận ra mình đang thay đổi.... Thay đổi nhiều thứ.... Cảm thấy chút gì đó xót xa như xát muối vào lòng khi nhớ lại những con người ấy........ Rồi lại tự an ủi rằng...mình cần phải thay đổi để trưởng thành hơn.

Có thật là thế không ?.... Em không muốn mất đi những điều quý giá ! ... Ấy vậy mà sao cứ lần lượt đánh mất mọi thứ... Những con người mà em yêu thương quá đỗi... thì bây giờ mọi thứ chợt trở nên lạnh lùng và hờ hững làm sao...

Em đã nhiều lần tự hỏi mình rằng "đến khi nào thì tình yêu trở thành sự chịu đựng ?". Đã có một ai đó nói với em rằng "vấn đề chỉ là thời gian"........ Nhưng có cách nào để nó không xảy ra không ? ......... Chỉ việc đó thôi mà dường như đã là quá khó..... Khó không phải vì con người thay đổi, mà khó vì làm sao người ta có thể bất biến giữa một cuộc sống luôn thay đổi ...

Bản thân em cũng là kẻ nhiều lần bị tổn thương khi đã yêu thương quá nhiều. Có lẽ mọi căn nguyên đều đến từ 2 chữ "hờ hững". Vậy để nhìn lại, rồi nhận ra mình cũng thế.... Giữ một ai đó trong tim không khó, nhưng để cho người ta thấy điều đó thì thật khó biết bao...

research topic

It was very hard to find a topic for the research paper because this is the first time that I do a research paper in English. However, everything has the first time, juz do it my best.
I already have had some idea in Sociology because it is my major. Therefore, I choose a list of positive topic in Sociology flied. At first I came up with "Singlism". It's quite a new concept in social so that I could not find any information on Wikipedia.com . in contrary, I found some information about "singlism" on Google but they were just some very general info. I thought they will not enough for my research paper. Then, I came up with an other idea which was related to my concentrate subject when I was in university. It was "The differences between western culture and Asian culture on gender roles". I think gender role will be a very interesting topic for my research paper because I have a lot interest on gender studies. It also my major so i have a background concept about it already. Now, I must think about it more to make it more specific and come out with some research questions in order to go on the next stage of my research paper.

American food^^

Although almost all of people all around the world say that fast food is very heavy and unhealthy, they still eating American fast food every day. why?
First of all is Coke. Where does coke come from. the answear is Coke comes from Coca Cola. Coca Cola is invented by Dr. John S. Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886. Till today, Coca Cola has been drunk by people all over the world. No matter the age, the gender, the nationality, they all enjoy coke. In fact, coke just is a kind of sweet - colored water with gas. it's not only does not bring any nutrition to our body but also do harm on our health with the sugar that it carries. This fact has been know by many many people, they still like coke, however.
Secondly, the American fast food's influence spreads over the border regions. Although the "fast food" term first came out in Europe, American is the one who bring this term to be popular to the entries world. The beginning of fast food culture in American was in 1912 by the opening event of a New York fast food restaurant. Nowadays, one of the American fast food icons is the "Big M". I bet that you know what am I talking about. Yes, it's McDonald. Do you know in how many countries dose have McDonald restaurant? the answer is 123 countries. Please notice that is just the number of countries I am not mentioning about how many stores in one country yet. From that result we can imagine how many people are eating McDonald every single minute. People now have enough information about the nutrient facts of fast food; nevertheless, they still keep eating hamburger, pizza, hot dog, etc.
Why people still eating fast food and drinking coke? I sometime crave for fast food and coke despite of my diet plan. The answer quite very simple. Just because they are so fascinating. People won't addicted to anything they don't like for sure.

Vivian and Rachel

I would like to introduce one of my friends in Cal State Fullerton. Her name is Vivian. Although we just know each other in this semester, we feel like we have known each other for a long time. We share many similarities in interest, point of view and many other areas.

The first time I meet her in TSU, we were introduced to each other by Vanessa, a friend of us. We did not talk to each other much in that time. Then, we meet more frequently in the lunch time at TSU. Day by day, we have more communication. I recognized that we are birds of a feather.

I like photograph and Vivian likes to be photograph. Like a puzzle, we match each other in this interest. She probably can be my model whenever I want to take a sire of photos. We would satisfy with our hobby.

Moreover, Vivian and me, we both come from Southern Viet Nam. We are considered the international students here in Cal State Fullerton. Some time we just spent time together to talk about the Ho Chi Minh City, where we both know very well. When we were homesick, we can share our feeling to each other and feel better. We both come to the US for our master degree. I was very surprise when she told me that she would come back Viet Nam after graduate. Although almost international students want to live and work here in the US after finish their study, we both want to come back Viet Nam and start our own dream in our own country.

We help each other in study a lot since we were friend. We do study online together after school by sending our new essay to each other to correct the mistakes which are hardly recognize by ourselves.

It is very helpful to have a friend go beside you to recall us whenever we are heedless. You know, living in the US has many interesting to do other than study. Some time I was lack of attention or motivation on study because of other stuffs. Lucky I that Vivian always pull me back to reality by her advice. We encourage each other to study harder to reach our goal as soon as possible.

Furthermore, travel is our favorite. We are going to travel together for the first time in Spring break. We plan to go to San Francisco for a couples days. I am looking forward to our trip because I hear that San Francisco is very beautiful. Nothing could be better than travel with a close friend!

let me share to you guys one more Vivian's photo that has been taken by me. she looks really beautiful in red!

If i could have a specail power....

If i could have a special power, I would like to have the ability to live in the sea. I really like the sea world with million kind of fishes around me. I always feel free when I swimming so that I would like to live in the sea. I believe that under the water has a charming world and I do want to discover it. ^.^ A little bit crazy huh? but that is what I really want hihi. If I could live under the sea like a fish, I would build me a house near by the coral so that every morning when i wake up I could see the beautiful coral. I would spend my day time on earth to work or study and after that I would come back to my under water house. And if I could pass my ability to my friends I would invite them to live under water like me because the space on the earth are very expensive and no more left hihi. Water cover 75% of the earth so if we could live under water, we would have more space.

IYC Song

IYC - I and You Connect
One of my favorite songs is IYC Song. This is the official song of International Youth Club in Ho Chi Minh city. I have taken part in IYC since it was established in April 2007. I used to be one of the leaders of IYC. Although now I am living far from my city, I'm still considered as a oversea member.
IYC is a non-government organization. We have had done some every successful Culture exchange programs such as the music show called "Journey to Vietnam" (performance by the international volunteers to donate money for poor children ), Green Summer Campaign for international volunteers, Sky series (the English camp for students), Discovery City (for teen ager to learn more about Ho Chi Minh city by) and so on. I have learn a lot form these activities.
The IYC Song's lyrics are definitely showed our dream and our passion. It was written by two of our IYC's talents, their name is Luong Dung Nhan and Tran Quang. This song was first recorded by a teen ager singer named Toc Tien.
here is the lyrics and the song:
the song was written in both Vietnamese and English.

I prefer sunny day

California had been raining for nearly a week. It makes everything wet and dirty. I do not like the wet weather. I prefer the blue sky and the sunny days so that I very like summer. In Vietnam, especial in Southern Vietnam we just have two separate seasons sunny and rainy. Although rainy days bring the romantic feel to people, it makes everything wet and dirty. Therefore, I love the sunny days. Summer is the most beautiful and fun time in a year. In summer I can wear my favorite style, short and tang top. Moreover, I can swim and surf which are my favorite. In a student’s life the stereotype of summer is take a rest and enjoy our life. Summer carries a lot of my sweet memories. since I was a freshman in university 5 years ago, every summer, my parents have given me a change to travel to anywhere I want. I have learn a lot from these summer trips.

A Valentine present for you guys

This is a love letter that I found on internet.It was created with the title of the famous love songs. Enjoy it!

Hello
Oh Darling!
Girl, You're my love
Girl, I'm gonna miss you
Miss you like crazy
I just called to say I Love You
but How can I tell her
I hate myself for loving you
Because I love you
I love you more than I can say
Nothing compares to you and,
Nothing gonna change my love for you
You are my everything
Evrytime you go away
I’m a jealous guy
When will I see you again?
When you come back to me?
Love will lead you back ...
Love in the first degee?
and I want you to know what love is...
How am I supposed to live without you?
I don't like to sleep alone
I want you, I need you and I love you
You are my sunshine
Thank you for loving me
My Valentine!!!

My obsession

When I was a little child, I lived with my grandparents. My parents were so busy with their business and they did not have much time to be with me. I was not close to my parents at that time because I thought they did not love me so that they put me at my grandparent’s house. Due to that childish thought, I used to be scare of being alone. Being a lone in a house, being alone in a room, being so quiet would make me so nervous. I was fear of being desolate. This fear was last in my life for many years. I would not stay anywhere alone, I always asked someone to stay with me such as my mom, my friends or even my neighbors. I could not sleep alone in my room. I did not know why and I just felt so scary. I became more and more dependent on others. My parents were very worry about that. They talked with me and took me to my godfather, uncle T who is a psychologist. I remember that was the first summer in junior high school. My godfather tried to talk with me by his professional skills. Then, he put me alone in a room with a TV, a camera, and some books. He stood outside to calm my nerves. At first I was really nervous. Day by day, I felt more comfort in a room. I am not sure whether my godfather’s treatment was worth or not because it was just a very short time. I did felt comfort in my godfather’s room but I still did not feel comfort in my own room in my parents’ house. Then, I really do not know when I was not fear of being alone. Time by time, suddenly, I just stepped back and recognize that I could be alone. I thought that the more mature I am the more independent I am. It comes very natural. I think that my fear is because of an obsession of my childhood. Now, I can live alone in American. It means I am over come my fears but sometime I still feel depress about loneliness. Whenever I feel lonely I try to find something to do. I try to not think too much about loneliness and keep myself busy.

#2

The Orange’s County transportation is much better than in Ho Chi Minh city, my home town. The first impression about the OC transportation is the buses. I used to take bus to go to school in the summer semester. It was easy to me to find the bus route online. Even though, at that time I just came here and I even could not recognize the road and the direction, but I could find myself the way to get to school by bus. Everything can easily find online and the bus stops are everywhere. The most interesting thing is the bus is free for students. It is a great offer for us. In contrast, Ho Chi Minh’s city buses are crazy. I never went to school by bus because in my house area there were no buses. I always went out by my motorbike instead of bus. Buses are always late and we need to pay for the bad service.

Now, I am no longer go to school by bus. Instead, I share the car pool with my friend to save money and time. I have not had a car yet because the economy is so tough now. It affects my family a lots. If i want to go somewhere in the weekend, I could ask my cousin gives me a drive or I can take a bus.

welcome to my life

My name is Rachel. I come from Vietnam and my Vietnamese name is Nghi. This is my second semester in ALP. I have been in US for 6 months. I am living in Garden Grove city with my cousin and his wife. My cousin came to US over 20 years ago. His wife, Rebeca is an Canadian. She is very nice. During the time here, I have learned a lots not only at school but also out side the campus. Living in the US is totally difference from my country. I needed almost a months to get use to the new living style here.
I graduated from Ho Chi Minh city Open university in Sociology. I came to Cal Sate Fullerton for my master degree. My plan is to study in ALP for 2 or 3 semester to get the TOEFL then, I would begin study in my master program in 2 years. After that I would come back to my home country.
My hobby is photograph and travel. My dream is travel around the world with my camera. I have visited many places such as Guangzhou -China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Bangkok - Thailand, Las Vegas, Seattle, San Diego ... I love to take landscape photos and model portrait. You can visit my photos site here .
I also like to discover difference culture through food. I can eat many difference kinds of food. I am not afraid to try the new food especially the traditional food. I really like Vietnamese food. I also like Japanese, Korean, Geek, Italian food.
I love to make friend with all of you and nice to meet you guys!

Sunny, Y