TET with snow

Exiting NEW YEAR OF DRAGON

Tet is coming. Tomorrow is Dragon New Year's eve. Tet is our new year.

Similar as Christmas here in Europe. Tet is our biggest event of the year. It's the time all people go back home to gather with family. It is the time for us to say thank you to our ancestors, to Gods that help us all year round and wish a new year full of happiness and properity. It is the time for us to say thank you to our parents for being healthy and supportive and wish them a long lasting life. The time to wish children growing up fast and being good. The time to visit all relatives, friends, nabours ... after a year without seeing them. And a time to relax after a hard-working year.

This year my family celebrate Tet without me. It's the second time I havent been there with them during Tet. I miss them. And I miss Tet. So much.

Called home today and learnt that all people were very busy preparing things. Everything must be finished before tomorrow. We've finished making BANH CHUNG (traditional cake for Tet). Dad was busy with preparing gifts for brothers going visit relatives. Mum was busy with preparing foods for tomorrow celebration at home. Brothers were busy with their friends after 1 year no visit.

Called friends today to hear their words of pity that I could not be home. They were busy with helping parents decorating house and thinking about how they should schedule their short holiday with family and friends with many parties and visit.

And I'm here. Together with one Vietnamese colleague enjoying snow :D. We make some Vietnamese food and will celebrate our Tet here in Amlhult Sweden among snow. It will be a memorable moment in my life.

Just want to say CHÚC MỪNG NĂM MỚI! (HAPPY NEW YEAR!)

The 2nd week of 2012

Copenhagen

I should be in UK this week. However for some reasons visa has not been in my hand yet. So I'm here in Almhult writing those words. :(

As usual there always be positive side. If I were away this week my assignment would be 6 weeks late. I could not join my colleagues went out last weekend. And of course those nice stuffs would not be here in my room. haha

The first week of '12 was not very good except 1 more day off for us on 6th Jan. Happy to have a long weekend. Such a long time I had chance to talk in my dear Vietnamese everyday for a week! Such a long time I had chance to taste my dear Vietnamese food for the whole long weekend. And those are reasons why I started this 2nd week in a very best way!

Nice week!

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