HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Little Mermaid Copenhagen

In 15 minutes New Year comes in Vietnam. Tried to call home but Mum is sleeping, brother is out for a football match (no idea). This new year is not the new year for Vietnam people then. If I were home things would be different. Last several years I always celebrated new year with my brothers with champaign and watching the fireworks shows in TV. This year I'm going to celebrate new year myself in Copenhagen under the very big fireworks.

To summarize the last year I would say, very obviously it is the year of travelling for me. Travel to explore Europe, travel to explore IKEA's world and travel to explore myself.

Well what I remember most is ... water! Water is everywhere in every city I've been. A lot. Especially in Amsterdam. And according to some Vietnamese belief I was born in a water life. So whereever, whenever there is water there is goodluck for me. And yes I do have a very good year this year with these beautiful water related around.

I've been in 8 countries up to this time, the last day of year 2011. I could not remember how many cities. After all one of my biggest dream come true. VISIT EUROPE. and I have to say it's turned out even bigger. As it's not been only visit but it is a true journey of my life.

Another big dream of mine comes true. See IKEA in total. Could not believe after all in general I am confident to say I know you IKEA. It is not purely related to my career path. It is much bigger than that for me. Supply Chain Management is what I aim to. So imagine now I'm just here within the big chain of IKEA. GREAT. It also answers the question why I always can keep that high motivated attitude. :)

The third one I dont know how to say. Is it a dream comes true? Several parts of myself have been explore this year. Beautifully. I would like to say thank you to all people I met during the year through whom I see who I am more clearly with a broader view. Thank you to family and all people who support me during those ups and downs.

For the next year of 2012. Wish that I still could keep this speed. Stay healthy, strong, high motivated to achieve new targets, to explore more new things and ... to love :).

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Christmas at Olso

@ Vigeland park

As planned I went to Olso for Christmas. Many people told me at Christmas time the city would be empty because it was the main holiday here in North Europe. However I believe that there must be some activities within that big city and at least I can walk the city to know it. So I went there.

Friday night 23th Dec I took the night bus from Malmo. It took 7 hours to get Oslo arrived around 6 AM at Olso center satation. After got a map I tried to figured out the way to hostel and I reached hostel around 8 AM. Luckily I could check in right away (nomal should be 3 PM). I got room, took a bath and rested abit after a long cold night on bus.

I headed out for the city around 10:30 and it was quite crowded on the day as 24th is not holiday yet. And I had got a very nice that day, a sunny day. I walked around the main streets to know the city. Afterthat I planned to see the City Hall however I was attracted by Akershus Fortress. There I could see a very beautiful Oslo. I met several people there and joined a Mass at the castle inside the Fortress which hold by military. When I came back to the City Hall it was closed so I missed it this time then.

Oslo coast from Ankerhus Fortress

I came back to city center. Checked with schedule I knew that there would be a Mass at the city Cathedral midnight so I went back to hostel for a rest prepared to the the late activities. It was almost dark. On the way back I just saw many people who immigrated. I really dont have any negative thoughts toward immigrants however I just felt unsafe. It was different with things in Amsterdam where also has many immigrants. In general I still think that Oslo is less safe in compared with all the cities I have been. There were polices or securities at stations, at main streets. There was warning even at hostel lobby where I were (suprised!!!). In fact we all people on the bus were checked by polices at the border. They checked our luggage and even interviewed all people.

So I decided to go back to the Cathedral earlier than planned. I was there around 8:30. And I noticed there was a Christmas dinner for people who were not family at the time. I joined people. There were many tourists like I was. Some of them are students who didnt come back home and there also were homeless people. I sang along some Chrismtmas songs with the others included a Philipino girl with hustband, a Russian girl and a girl came from Guatemala. It was very cosy dinner. We had food, we had traditional drinks, tea... It just likes home. we also had Christmas tree, candles and flowers everywhere and we had ... gifts. Yes all of us had gifts! I enjoyed the astmostphere. In fact it was my first Christmas dinner. After that I joined people singing at the Mass eventhough I'm not Catholic and I dont know Noric :D. I think I experienced the traditional Christmas already!

Quarter past 12 I went back to hostel. And on the way I heard Vietnamese from a girl with a man. I started talking with her and we together went back. We had a very good conversation at the hostel and she left me around 2 AM. Lucklily this time I shared room with 2 other girls even I bookd the mix room :D.

25th was holiday and it was really empty. I left my suitcase at station for the city visit. Most of people on the street was tourists like I was. I went to the Opera house. There I felt that I was on top of the city. Just wanted to fly haha. Then I went to Vigeland which was recommended by many people. And it was worth! It was the most impressive thing this time for me in Oslo. I was amazing with many sculptures. I didnt understand much the arts however I felt the family within every sculpture overthere. And the park was amazing. We had snow at that time. I think it must be great during summer even some people told me it is very crowded at that time :D. After having very nice coffee at Vigeland cafe I came back to city center. And I was on the bus back to Malmo at 11 PM.

Wanna fly at Opera House ´

Again my suitcase was at station. Malmo on 26th for shopping haha. As there was sales everywhere. It was quite tired but I did bougth something for me.

Before shops open around 12AM I walked aroudn the city and went to the East part of the city where we had the longest brigde connect Sweden and Denmark. There I saw the coast. I saw the morden part of the city. There were many building under construction. If I come back after several years Malmo must be different from now. I went to the Malmo museum but it was not open so I went back the city for a nice coffee before the shopping.

Got my room at 5 PM :D.



Me at Vigeland park

Done

Malmo

Done. I've finished booking my trip for the next 4 months.
- Christmas in Olo
- New Year in Copenhagen
- London + Manchester: 6th Jan to 13th Jan '12
- Geneva + Barcelona + Milan: 2nd Apr to 10 Apr

It's quite tight schedule but it shows backpacker spirit. hehe

Finally (if I stop here :D) I'll travel 10 countires within 1 year. WOW

:)

Time for parties! :)

Xmas Party @ IoS

Today when know that I will be here during Xmas and New Year one colleague asked me to come over his home for Christmas dinner. I refused as I may go out with others. And the other reason is I dont feel comfortable to be at his home on the day for family like Christmas.

I still dont know why it takes me long time to be a friend of one person. Seems that there are something in my mindset. Anyway it's the thing for me to discover then :D.

Yesterday I danced. Could not believe but the music was too good. It was first time I listen to that great music. I couldnt stop dancing. Even I dont know how to dance :D. Anyway I did enjoy it. It marked one point in my self-esteem improvement. I dared to express myself :).

Some people called me today. Happily recognised that there are peole care about me :X.

Tomorrow I will go to Malmo and come back for cocktail party with other BPs (Or backpacker Xmas party?)

Nice weekend!

Wish

:D

Still havent got snow yet. Ah yes 1 day several weeks before. Dont know if we can have a true white Xmas or not. However it's really great to be here in Sweden in Dec. Party atmostphere is everywhere :D.

More than 1 month in Sweden. This time is not that strange anymore. However I still got some same feelings which is not very comfortable. Yesterday I had the first review with host. Time flies too fast. Seems that we just sat together several days before. It is always good when we open up the dialog. All of us feel much better after yesterday's meeting. She feels better khowing that I understand the situation and try to do thing myself. I feel better as I know she does care, just because she could not do things differently. Team mates feel better as after all they somehow understand my situation.

1 month. still on track :D. Not that big confused. Knowing that there are many things within this nowhere I have to get before going back. Less than 5 months left. Run? :D

Wishing

Skansen - Something Swedish

Open museum of Skansen

I planned to go to Royal Place today but I had to change it as with some security reason Roytal Place was closed today. It'll open tomorrow. So I went to Skansen instead.

Early morning (8AM but yes it's early then, not sunrise yet) I headed out as I knew the day here was very short. So I wandered around the Stockholm center. The center of Stockholm is not vey big. Means you can walk around the city. But there are many interesting things within the city can keep people busy all day long. Especially this time of the year. Shopping streets are crowded. Xmas market. Skating places ...

After that I went to Gamla stan, the old town, where Royal Place was in. It's very nice town. I love it. I like those things more than modern sftuff. The small streets. the small shops. Unique styles. cafe, restaurants, bas, shops, nice streets, nice people. After got notice that the Royal Place was closed I went to Skansen.

In order to go to Skansen I had to take metro, ferry. On the way back I took tram. Public transportation in Stockholm is very convenience. even it's not that easy to understand as in Paris (well I need sometimes) however it's much better than Rome and Amsterdam. It is easy to travel the city by public transportation. Eventhough walk through the city is nicer. But I dont have much time though.

I like the metro stations here in Stockholm. It is clean. and I can buy almost of things I need at station at every T metro station. Pressbyrån is a popular convenience stores chain brand here, similar as Kiosk in the Netherlands. And Stockholm is really a paradise for shopping fans. However I prefer Amsterdam 'cause I like the styles overthere than here. But foods here seems more divert. People are totally wrong when told me that Swedish food is the worst in the world.

Skansen is the open museum. There we can find many things of Sweden in the past. I was very excited seeing things called Swedish. And supprised that there are many things of Sweden in the past similar with us in Vietnam! And there I attended Lucia concert in a very old church. Very traditional I can say. And I tried several Swedish foods at Xmas market. Lovely I have to say.

I took the very short railway down hill (as Skansen is up hill of Stockholm) at 3PM when it was almost dark everywhere. I came back to center Stockholm. After several calls I met other BPs at Ice Bar. God, it's amazing. It's not big but I can experience the ice hotel. We drank coctail in ice glass (glass? :D) and listen music played by ice instruments :D. It was very COOL. The others continued hop to other bars or pubs but I had to say sorry to them. I could not go more :D.

Tomorrow is the my last day this time. I really want to see IKEA stockholm. However maybe I have to save for next time. As I have to leave at 6 PM and there are several things I want to see here.

So sleep then :).

Stockholm Dec 2011

Stockholm

I'm writing from a hostel in Stockholm. Another year is going to end. One year ago I could not believe that I can be myself travel around EU like this. Everything is possible! :)

Here at Stockholm I feel Xmas. Very much. Everywhere. It is amazing. Tomorrow the others will come and join me so it must be alot of funs. Exciting!

Start think about how to summarize my year. :)

Sharing

White Almhult :)

Just noticed that recently I talked alot with BPs around. It's so busy here for me in Almhult. No time left to feel boring :D. Hope it last long.

Sharing. Lily told me that she was happy to have us here and thanks for my sharings. I told her sharing is the best way for learning. I'm learning from you.

Sharing. It's the method we use for many training within IKEA. I joined IKEA WAY training today and we shared shared and shared. By this simple method we created a big knowledge among us from many different organisations.

Sharing. How to let others share me more?

It's snowing outside :)

And it's cosy inside :X

Today at 7:00 Am Lizzie knocked on my door just to tell me that it was snowing outside. I was just happily ran out of my room forgot to bring my coat :D. It was the first time I saw snow and it was fanstatic! It just liked I was living in fairy tale world. Could not believe. It was really amazing walking under snow.

And it's so exciting to know that there are different kinds of snow. There is snow just melt down easily. It looks like flowers. We call it snowflate I guess. And there is snow that not easy to be melt. It's white, round and hard. I dont need to use umbrella with this snow. Maybe there are more kinds than that. Just wait and check it out later on. Interesting!

I joined some presentations which presented to sales responsible globally during retail week today. It was interesting to see many things related to retail. Relized that I know quite many things about it. I was very happy to see new face of markethall. Plan to go to Malmo wk6 to see and experience it. Seems that I love the blue box more than I plan to :D.

The next 2 days is for IKEA way training. I do believe it will inspire me very much. Just wait and see.

:)

I did it! :)

Flowers for BPs dinner

I did it! I successful host the dinner at my room :). I dont know how they feel about the food, but we had good time together :). I have to learn more in hosting people but I did a very good start. Cheersss.

I did buy things on Friday. Sartuday I went out and bought that beautiful flowers. I need to light my corner up :D. And I did buy some juices. No alcohol.

Main theme for today dinner was vegetable. Started with vegetable soup. After that was rice with stir-fry vegetable with pork and fried bacon tamato egg. I told them those food were very simple to make and tasty so I always make them. Lily, Chinese BP just suprised 'cause the food was same as Chinese food :D. Oh I just love the rice I made. It was not plain rice as we always have. I did make it abit American way with some onion, butter, oil and salt. It was very good. HIGH SCORE.

For reflection. I hosted Adian's way. Means I served people. I cooked. I served foods. I cleaned plates. I served drink. And cleaned again. I didnt share time with people much. Maybe I should try Cindy's way next time. To be real host. Means you lead the event. Let people do things by following you. It must more difficult. But let's wait and see.

Anyway dare to host a very mall dinner like today is a very big step for me. Keep doing Hang :).

Decisive

Helsingborg on 2nd Dec 2011

Helsingborg this time for something related to working. Uhm not really but I can say so. I went there for a meeting with my coach. We are working on my self development recently. I'm focusing on develop my social skills now (networking skill you can say). We did it at noon together with lunch. I talked a lot and she was very patient with me. In afternoon I walked around Helsingborg. Just for fun.

Inteligent. Smart. Fantastic... are the words she gave me. And I came back to her. Thanks but it's time for me to show other people too. Just few people know how fantastics I am. I told her that I had decided to change my way of approaching people. One of the thing I would go to do first is invite other Backpackers come over for dinner this weekend. I am going to connect more colleagues by joining FIKA regularly from next week. We'll meet after 2 weeks to see how things go on.

And right after arriving home I did invited all BPs to come over this sunday. I bought almost things needed for food. tomorrow will prepare something more. But it will be very simple.

Decide to change is a process. Noone believe that one day this soon I invite people come over for dinner. But I'm going to do it this sunday. :)

Goodluck to me!!!!

:)

Introduction to Almhult day

Helsingborg

Today I joined "Introduction to Almhult day". I will come back to some of IKEA units later on as I dont think it's enough. Reflection for the day is I still love the pallets most :D.

Other backpackers just came over to my room and we agreed to make visits to all organisation we are in now. COOL. hehe...So I have change to know more about those units I visited today.

So exciting that they are going to know next step next week. Even I'm looking forward to it. haha

Helsingborg again tomorrow. This time I come to have meeting with my coach. I'm going to talk to her about how much more I love myself :D.

Anyway just 3 weeks passed here with IoS but I got quite many things. It's a very big mirror. I got very sharp reflection. haha... I have to change.

Cheersssssss

OPEN

Open - Is it simple word? Is it easy to understand? It is. But it's not easy to be open.

I thought I'm open. But it seems it's not that much. Or in another words. I'm open. But not to everybody.

Recognized that I'm in the same situation, face the same problem as before. And I still could not find better way to deal with it. Uhmmm Meant I havent learnt the lesson. Ah no I leant but havent applied it yet. haha ....

Open - Season's open. Chrismast is in the air. Everywhere. Tomorrow is Advent. The 4th Sunday before Xmas when every house lit up the first candle. From last night every house hangs on star at window. Its great to walk down the street at night this time of the year. Tomorrow I'll join other BPs in Helsingborg for Avent. Cannot wait! :)

Self esteem

Lake in Almhult

Working with my coach recently and we found out the area that we should work with is "Self esteem". What I need to do is "Love myself more and the most".

Sound simple but it's not easy. Anyway I'm happy that at least now I know what I should focus on :).

Reflection

I've got a very nice day today. The weather was just suddenly very very nice. Honey sun shine. Clear blue sky and not very cold. And I joined the other people IKEA culture day.

After sometimes talked about culture in general, IKEA culture in particular we went throuh IKEA museum and together again discuss about IKEA Tillsamman. Of course we would not miss FIKA :). Then we were on bus headed to Ingvar's private house.

At Ingva's house we had lunch. A tipical Swedish pea soup for Thursday and pancake together with some Swedish beer. A coffee again. After that we gathered at living room listened to the lady now takes care of the houses (the maid before) talked about the house and answered many questions we rained on her :D I love it very much listening to stories of Ingvar who invented IKEA in a cosy room with coffee and sunshining around. I finally got understood how he can make it IKEA like today.

It's time for FIKA. Then went out in a group of 3,4 to see the landscape around the house and of course open discuss again about culture, values... We did discuss alot but more about ourselves, our countries, our oganisations...But finally it was all about culture. Because we are such a different so we need something call IKEA culture to connect us together. :)

Back met up again in the house we talked about REFLECTION. And it was the world for me in the day. It's not only I got a big reflection upon myself about IKEA culture and values. But it's the first time I got that good definition about REFLECTION.

Anna gave us below "Well Reflection"

1. Repeat

Repeat what we did, what others did

2. C0mments

How were they? Good? Bad? Why good? Why bad?

3. Review

You like it or not? Do you think you can use it or not? ....

4. Relfect

Make them yours and from that you developed yourself.

And yes I did got reflection. I suddenly found ... how growth I get after last 7 months.

time flies

I'm quite strange in people's eyes. It's neither good nor bad. However it's time for me to look back a bit. for next steps.

Parents

With my parents on a trip to Mekong delta

Peter has new entry on his blog. As usual it's about things related to parents and children. In the entry he mentions about songs about love bt parents and children. He mentions "mama" of Spices Girls. I love the song.

Naturally I take care of my next generation (my nieces) very much. And always ask for love and care from my previous generation (my parents and my brother). Through the love I give I understand the love that my parents give us. They never ask anyting back. Then I know there is not much time for us to do somethings for my parents.

I need a good heath and an enough time for them.

Mom and dad you have to know that what I am doing now is for you firstly.

There are some feelings in stomatch. it's not comfortable at all. but as everytime before. I know. I'm going to do something big. :)) but really. not comfortable at all deciding leaving something for some others new. but i know. only by this way i grow. such a life! :)

update

Update with new picture

Home. Energy's almost back. Happy with things happened with family. Going to get some funs and get ready for next long trip.

Nearly home

@ Changi airport Singapore

Try to find one picture to upload for the entry but could not choose anyone. Found out that there are no pictures from Vietnam left in the computer, only from April, so not Vietnam. And right now i just want to post things related to my Vietnam.

I was far from home several times, the longest time was in Taiwan, up to 1 year didt go back to see family. But this time for me is the longest time. There are many factors make it the longest.

This time come back, there are many changes. Even my house also is the new one. We've just moved last week. And there are many changes in organisation, even the seats were changed. Some people left, some new people come in. And I myself changed also. Oh God. Let's see how things'll go.

Anyway I'm going to eat my mum's food in 4 hours. So happy!!! That's something havent change! :)

goodbye the Netherlands

Could not believe I'm feeling this bad leaving the NL. Could not understand why and what exactly makes me feel like this. Confused. Again.

It's so stupid! How many times I left something, someone, a place or an organisation? From the age 22 up to now 28 and a half I've worked for 8 companies from small to big, from private to representive office, from shortest time of 1 week to longest time at present job of almost 2 years. And there is still the same feeling. Stupid!

When will I stop moving this way???

Change

Sunrise at Texel

It's not that easy to deal with the change.

Wish that I were a little girl. (Even I always consider myself to be:D).

Do you know where we dont have rules, routines, or method????

"Put your head down and keep working."

"Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!...

Lala how the life goes on...
Ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, brah!...
Lala how the life goes on."

After all

After all I sat at Dam Square for the first time :)

After all I'm in this situation again. Running. Leaving something. Starting with something else.

Transit.

Sweet day.

an under-water level house - Aalsmeer

Today as suggested I went to Floraholland. It was fanstatic.

Checked website before leaving I decided to buy a combine ticket to visit the place of Aalsmeer. And I did a right choice. :)

Today is vey sweet day. Such a long time I have it again. Everybody I met on my way was very gentle, sweet to me. I met around 10 people today. They shared me anything from bus information, flowers auction, tree planting, history of the city, their family .... And I decided to treat myself well, very well today. Is it result of 6 months? :D

Floraholland was impressive. Especially its logistics system. Just can say "supper". Observing the operations there I just wished one day some factories in VN can apply something same like that. And the auction was very professional. Could not believe the auction can be carried out in this way. With many rooms, several clocks per room, attended by many traders all over the world, from small to big. Everyone focused on their screen. Coffee there seems to be stronger :). Sometimes you just heard someone scream out. Good deal! Great experience. And I learnt of course. It was added in my logistics and trading knowledge.

Headed to Aalsmeer town after that. And I had change to see the whole area of FloraHolland. It was large. It was great that bus can go through the area. Smart. FloraHolland really knows how to make money.

Aalmeer was very nice town. "De Woude", Aalmeer sastified me as after all I see something typical Dutch. Or at least those are things I expect to see in the NL. Not bar, pub, beer, shopping center :D. It was interesting to wander around more than 200 islands between two lakes in Aalsmeer. And sometimes you see things like "island for rent or for sales" :D. And its amazing that you can see the land under water level from the boat! LIKE!

someone're leaving...

One of reasons I take picture almost everyday is for my blog :). As without picture I could not do blogging. As I find it hard to remember things. Pictures recall my memories.

Today early morning just arrived office I had got shock by an email. I waited for him to come back but not the news he sent me.

Stand still for several minutes. Could not do anything in the next 3 hours. Many thoughts crossed my mind. Just know that Its so hard to accept.

Told him "it's hard seeing colleague leaving" I tried to let them gone. But it was not easy. Will see you soon in Sep.

leaving

Apple tree

Maybe it's hard for some people to believe that it's my first time ever see an apple tree :). In fact there are many things more I havent seen before I came here in Europe. And I'm going to see snow for the first time of my life in October. exciting!

However it surprised me that Hannah didnt know "De Woude", a small island with 160 people live in :). And it's not very far from Amsterdam. It's very near Zandamm, Alkmaar. And it has website itself http://www.dewoude.net/.

Several farewell dinners have been arranged and even carried out. I'm leaving.

green the NL

At De Woude island

Rain is not always bad. :)

Dare to be ...

I think I'm on the way exploring myself. Peter thinks "explore" is my word. And it is.

So why explore?

Explore is:

1. To search and discover (about something) /

2. to think or talk about something in order to find out more about it.

And I really dont know that much about myself. I've surprised me and other peoples around quite many times by what I did. After several times I know there are many parts within myself that I havent known yet. And I want to know more about me :).

I was not a healthy girl. I was very weak. Got sick almost all the time from 7 months till 5 years old. My parents told me that there were containers of medicine to keep this small body alive. My teeth were colored by those medicine. But I know their love keeps me alive. I owe them my life. That's why health is the most important thing for me. And family is following, or maybe equal.

We had never known that I could be the first or in top 5 in the class many years, be selected to the best school for secondary school, high-school. Passed university entry to one of the best university of the country. We of course had never thought that one day I could go to somewhere out of my home town. And the thought of going out of Vietnam had not existed. But now I'm here in the NL working for one of the biggest retailer in the world.

On the way to be here I have done many things. Everytime I found out things of myself that I didnt know. It makes me believe there are even more. It motivates me to try, to change, to plunge myself to somewhere I havent known, to people that I havent met. With a dream that one day I find a complete me. And beautifully it turns to successes on the way. Happy journey!!!

I'm missing my parents very much writing down these words here.