Will anyone ever gets used to the negative critics from others? I don’t think I ever will, even though I see myself as one with thick skin – one who doesn’t take what’s not worth it. But today I could sense it in the air. I might have been too pessimistic, perhaps because I haven’t …
Author Archives: Thi Le
[DAY 108] past fourteen days
Two weeks back: I love it here. Before I went back, I was anxious about living long-term with my parents. I was afraid I wouldn’t have enough privacy or freedom or motivation to work hard, because at home I’m a semi-baby. Yet, my parents turn out to be supportive of my growth outside of home. …
[DAY 107]
How long does it take for one to rest and get back to one’s feet?
[DAY 106] Names and Siblings
When my sister was born, everyone insisted my parents on calling her “Ý Thơ” because that was the only name that rhythms with mine, “Ý Thi”. It’s the tradition: siblings should be alike. Of course, she ended up with a name after a famous Vietnamese model of 2009, and that’s how much my parents cared …
[DAY 105] Quarantine Camp Friends
I’m dedicating this to the very first group of people I can speak Vietnamese to this 2020, so this blog post going to be in Vietnamese. Chị Kiều Anh: chị trông trẻ dữ dằn luôn, nghe chị bảo sinh năm 91 em cũng nghĩ ồ chắc chỉ lơn hơn một xíu, nhưng hoá ra lớn …
[DAY 104] FOMO
I have liked many guys. To be honest, I have never gone through a time when I don’t have anyone I try to hang out or get to know on the intimate level. There has never been a time when I don’t feel romantic attraction to someone else. But I rarely do anything about it. …
[DAY 102] Drug Addict
OK I always know it’s a drug but I never found a good reason. Until now… So here’s the thing: social media is a drug. I mean, we have a basic biological imperative to connect with people. That directly affects the release of dopamine in the reward pathway. Millions of years of revolution are behind …
[DAY 101] Cultural Competence
Ok, I’m embarrassed. Because I know very little about my own culture. I mean, it’s in me, but I lack experience and cultural knowledge of other parts of the country. This is the first time I talk to so many people from the north, and there were times I couldn’t understand what they were saying …
[DAY 100] First Day: Checked
Wow that’s super fast! It’s already 100 days since I committed writing every day. Yay! My whole day today was dedicated to talking with strangers. I was SO scared! I was worried that people might don’t like me or think that I’m freaking boring. Yet, I needed to put myself out there because I already …