I have been trying to walk as fast as I can to go home. Nope, I haven’t had to try …. I walked very fast because of arousing excitement in my mind and my blood. I felt so good… so EXCITED – yeah, this is the most exact word. EXCITED!

I walked so fast from my university to home in order to write down these true feelings on time. This is the second time I participated in the GRADUATION CEREMONY of my faculty – Faculty of International Studies (FIS). Last year, it was 2003-course graduates’ and this year 2004-course ones’. However, the ceremony today made me feel much better than the last year’s. I don’t know why … maybe I can figure out three reasons: 1-It was organized more carefully; 2- I know more about 2004-course’s students than 2003-course’s ones, so my happiness towards their graduation seems to be closer; 3 – I am at my 2nd year with this faculty, thus I have more experience and share more sentiments with it. Right now, I want to tell you how the ceremony was taken place and how I felt during that time.

OK, the graduation ceremony was taken place on the 9th floor of the C building in our university – Hanoi University (HANU) from 6:30 PM till 9:20 PM today (Wednesday, January 07, 2009). In fact, although it was called the graduation ceremony to congratulate 2004 graduates who have been successfully finished 4 and a half year at FIS, HANU, there were two more reasons for this great party: 1- To welcome the upcoming new year in Vietnam (happy new year to all professionals, teachers and students!); 2- To say goodbye to two professionals (Mr. Brian and Mrs.Bich – a couple), they are going to leave for America tomorrow and settle down there forever (I feel pity for losing these two great lecturers; however, I am happy since they will have better life there, in the U.S). Dr.Annie will be in charge of some lectures in the 2nd semesters - she seems cool.

It was cold outside but the atmosphere was so warm inside. I felt like FIS was a big family where grandparents, parents, brothers and sisters and other relatives were gathering together – holding and talking; singing and sharing; laughing and crying. I felt like I was the youngest girl in this huge family (of course, I was the youngest lady there, I was 2007-course student and they were all students from upper classes), as if my sisters were preparing for their weddings (just a joke!). Some romantic songs performed with guitars made people seemed to be closer to each other; afterwards, it was the time for students to present (or share, exactly) their feelings and experiences throughout “their trips to many other countries” which were included in several programs provided by our faculty.

_The first one was a trip to PERU to volunteer for the recent APEC. Three students took part in that trip in three weeks. They had one week in American, then flew to PERU to attend the APEC. I can see that they had a great chance to meet lots of famous figures and befriended with many students from different countries; they learnt a lot about cultures and gained more knowledge about the world. Thanks to our dean – Dr.Lan (I will come back with her later – a very amazing woman)!

_ The second one was a trip to KOREA. A lucky student from 2004-course had that opportunity. She presented so much about an ancient village in KOREA – it was quite different from that in Vietnam, mostly in architecture. Also, she shared a lot of pictures shot during the time in KOREA. Thanks to our dean – Dr. Lan (again, leave her later).

_ The third one was a trip to the US. This was the scholarship for student leaders of developing countries held yearly, as far as I know. This chance belonged to a student from 2003-course (or 2002 … I’m not sure). What a lucky girl! She had time travelling to many places in America, attending lectures, making friends with many people, experiencing a lot … a lot of fun there. Thanks to our dean – Dr.Lan (save the best for last!).

When listening to all of these interesting things, I asked myself: “Hey girl, why did you ignore all of those wonderful opportunities? Are you blind? Why didn’t you try to get them?”. Oh my god! Actually, I missed a number of opportunities available our faculty (and if I did not attend the ceremony, I missed another one). I just spent time with my outside activities. The only one that I did with my faculty was to participate in a program in Duong Lam ancient village ONCE last summer. No comment!

Now I am going to return to Dr. Lan – the amazing woman that I mentioned above.
She is our DEAN – certainly. How will I say about her? OK. She is the most impressive female leader I have ever met in my real life. I am happy to her student. She is so talented with great knowledge, professional communication skills and great leadership style also. She got her doctorate at Havard University (sure that you know this name so well). She founded our faculty – the first International Studies course taught in English in a national university by international professionals and lecturers (sounds strange? Anyway, she made it). She provided us so many opportunities to experience in the real life – taking part in voluntary programs inside and outside the nation, travelling and studying in other countries – mainly in the U.S. Most of these above programs presented by FIS students were supported by Dr.Lan – I told you she was great. In other faculties, students have to learn … ok … many things (so does FIS!), particularly searching or doing research projects (so does FIS!). However, we are not only … (as I said) “so does FIS”, we have more chances to rush in the ongoing society, to see the whole world, to open our eyes and exclaim in front of stunning things that FIS provided us. Dr. Lan – I have to say it again – is the best woman leader I have ever met. I have added her to my idol list recently.

Mr. Douglas – our lecturer who taught us “Environment and Development” in the first semester, a very humorous man – also had some words later on. Most expressively, he showed us a lot of his pictures shot in SAPA – a famous mountainous area of Vietnam in which many minorities settle down – called “portraits in SAPA”. Until then did I know that he used to be a photographer when he was young. How impressive!!! All pictures were in grayscale. How surprising! How fun!
I did know him before entering the course and becoming his lazy student! “Mr. Douglas Jandine, I am sorry for my laziness”, I interviewed him once when I was doing my research paper in first year at the Foundation Studies Department (FSD), he made an impression on me with his easy-to-understand American English and his sense of humor. Sometimes, I saw him wearing very strange clothes – maybe that was a photographer’s style, an artistic style (in fact, look cluster exactly). I like Mr. Jandine because of his sense of humor, his enthusiasm, his way of lecturing and his style (sometimes like a child – always makes us laugh like hell). The fact that his pictures were stunning makes us feel Vietnam so beautiful. Probably, his love of Vietnam affected on us FIS students. Oop, I hope to see him again next semesters.

About another person that I had impression on – the MC, he is a student of our faculty too. It was a long history about him. He should have been graduated, but still now studying with us because he quitted classes for 1 year. He used to be a crazy lazy student who made teachers mad lots of times. He shared with us that he was depressed when entering the course at first because there were so many trivial things to learn. He even did not know what he could do after graduation with all of those clusters. He truly committed that he quitted class, quitted exams and slept in lectures... Later on, Dr.Lan and other teachers in FIS made him understand how valuable all the subjects in the course were – with them, he could prepare a background knowledge to work in any field (he is working part-time as an MC in a Vietnamese media channel now – rather well-known). His sharing partly made me feel better since I used to be in the same situation like him at times before, but now I can understand how I can utilize this so-called broad academic knowledge. Thanks to his sharing! Thanks to FIS staff! Thanks to Dr.Lan!

During the buffet, I had chances to talk to some teachers and congratulate my “elder sisters” (it’s hard to believe but most of FIS students are female) Especially, I took a photo of Dr.Lan (really impressed by her graduation clothes today-shown above). All photos were taken with the camera in my cell phone so the quality was not good. Anyway, I will show you some photos.




I felt happy when Dr. Lan delivered the certificate to each graduate. In 2 years, I will have that honor. I will be standing there – on the stage – receiving the bachelor degree from the dean. Two years will pass so fast. I have lots of things to learn in FIS.





It was 1:40AM now and my feelings were turned into SLEEPY. I should go to bed so that I can get up early in tomorrow morning to attend the lecture on time. Good night to you! I will dream about my graduation day tonight. Love it!!!

I indulged myself today after long time flooded by projects, so I uploaded these pics. As it took me long to upload on Photo category, I posted them here - on My blog.

This pics were taken at Thong Nhat Park and Ethnic Museum in Hanoi - Vietnam.
These r just some of many pics we got that day. The girl next to me is my best friends ^^.

I don't know what's wrong with my Opera. It seems that the public cannot access it anymore, but I hope u r all can read this entry.
Have nice days dears!

at museum

It has been raining heavily for the last 2 days and had no signal of stopping. All streets in Hanoi - the capital city where I'm living now - are filled with water. Flood! Flood! This phenomenon usually happens here in Hanoi because the drain system is so terrible. Although the Gov has been always talking they will try to solve this problem, they take no actions at all. Ok! Let it be! We're going to see some horrible pics - maybe they're more horible than any Halloween partys in the world. This is the most terrified Halloween to Vietnamese people.

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