Sunburn

Sunburn

You injure me as of a furious laser beam.

Leaving a  biting yet honeyed, cherry skin.

I bet you're good for nothing,  except your crafty  midday gleam! 

But my lint saves me from your wicked grin.

Running away from your "bucolic" appetent  is impossible.

Coz that definitely caps  my ambitious globe-trotting!

Heard from afar the echo as you happily gobble,

Buckling "her" as your everything.

        

Oh, I should thank you for the mere chance,

Of leading me to his heart.

Prickling, weeping under the tree of the most fierce fate as I glance,

At our last trip photos by the mountains, though it hurts.

It's you I miss, as I "flick" my scalded shoulders.

Sunburn, sunburn you lied to me!

Down on my knees broken,  as I cede my heart on these flinty, duned shore boulders.

God, I want him back...I plea. 

ESL Teaching Experience in Vietnam

ESL Teaching Experience in Vietnam

Who doesn't want to speak English fluently? Everybody wants to improve at least their speaking and listening skills.  I have been to different learners from Koreans, Chinese, Japanese, Filipinos, to Vietnamese- they have been longing to improve their communication skills. They get depressed and frustrated not because they can't pass the short English courses in schools or language centers, but because they can't understand their favorite movies, and they are sick and tired of subtitles. How about the hopeless romantic ones who love to serenade in English?    How about their self-esteem every time they are laughed at about their pronunciation lapses, wrong usage of words and expressions, bad written grammar, which results to a bad writing piece. 

Vietnamese learners are hard to teach. Based on my two-year ESL experience in an IT university here in Ha Noi, I could say that every day is a challenge. It's hard to penetrate their ability and their capacity in learning the language.  Linguistically, Vietnamese vowel and consonant sounds affect the learner's ability to cope with the pace in improving their listening, speaking, and writing skills.  By the way, Vietnamese can perfect a grammar test, so they  think that studying grammar in class is boring, and a waste of time.   

According to what I have observed in their writing tests,  most of them are dyslexic. They aren't aware of their spelling, and phonological processing. In addition, the way they pronounce is the way they write- for example, they pronounce "although" with a /t/ so definitely, it would be "althought" in their writing.  This is one of the reasons why I always insist the students reiterate the proper sound, so they could produce a quality piece of  writing.  I also suggest they practice anytime, anywhere, by any means.  But we shouldn't forget that "confidence level " affects Vietnamese learning ability.  Most of them are afraid of talking to foreigners, and they always think that speaking English outside school is equivalent to being arrogant and egotistical, which is also true to most Asian learners. Thus, they never get the courage to express themselves in English. 

In the university where I am teaching, general English is a pre-requisite. This is to prepare the students to understand the books that they will be using in their major subjects. In short, most of them just learn to pass the short ESL course to advance to major subjects; they never think that English is as important as those subjects, so the improvement gradually declines as they continue their journey to finish the course. Another factor that affects the rapid decline of the learners' ability is the medium of instruction.  Teachers in their major subjects use their mother tongue in class.  What's ironic here is that, all their books are in English.  Well,  as a concerned educator, I focus on the application rather than the theory. Though  I don't always get the winning card, I am still looking forward to having them realize how important English is.  

                        

Be Thankful

Be Thankful 

Higlands Coffee caught me with their greasy tuna baguette with fresh coconut juice for my late high tea.  It has been a week since I got knocked off with severe gastritis, so I have been very careful with my meals.  As soon as the waiter handed the hoagie in... I immediately grabbed a bite coz I was starving-only to find out that there  were more minced white onions  than tuna. Gosh...I wanted to throw up coz of the fact that onions have very high acid content, and yes it's bad for my inflamed insides. 

                         

Before I had a chance to call the waiter to clean up the leftovers, I saw three young adults from the crystal clear glass wall, with  their backpacks. On their right hand were pairs of shoes to sell. I thought...it wasn't my fault if they couldn't even sip the cheapest drip coffee in town.  Instead, I stopped muttering and quickly ingested the whole submarine and said, "Thank God for this awesome lunch." 

Sometimes we are too comfortable with what we have that we don't even appreciate its value. We don't need to give the unfortunate ones money, food, clothes, rather be thankful and be content with what God has given us. 

Fly With My Feet

Fly With My Feet

Oh itchy feet, please cut your wings.

I'm not ready for the next flight, yet.

Here is my soul, stuck in the broken dream it brings.

Though, 60D is now jumping with zest!

Yesterdays weren't enough,

For the most heart-stopping trips.

Starving, and singing as I cough up,

The last penny between my lips.

Travel buddy, I don't need,

For the next adventures in the south.

Courage and Fear as I bleed,

With every fake word from his mouth.

Patiently, patiently wait!

My backpack is on its way.

Come fly with my feet.

As we swept the whole world away!

                                   

For Jesse

For Jesse

Today, I thought of telling you something I'm sure you haven't heard from anyone else yet. Well, you might have read some of these "cheesy" familiar phrases somewhere...but each "punctuation" promises a unique "me" expressing how I feel about you. 

A thousand personifications wouldn't be enough to describe you  nor a "jungle" of honeycombs for me to stop thinking how sweet you are,  so I will just make it simple according to how you made me become the first time I saw you, and the last time I stared at your clasping eyelashes.   

It makes the whole world grin once you start giggling with those innocent kids you play with. You're perfect to be a "dad" I bet, as you can endure the pain of a baseball bat these lovely kiddos hammer you a hundred times. And you're the best actor, too as every chancy  jolt has different level of emotions-and this makes them gobble more and more.  How did you do that simply amazing quality time with those fragile souls? 

      

   

Everyone wants to be with you, I guess-I'm jealous though coz I wanna be a part of your heart-stirring life, too. Can you be my  younger brother whom I can bully for not surfing well in the big blue waves? Or a coach maybe who gives me a bash everytime I miss a punch? I suppose you can also be the "choate" brick to fill in my missing puzzle piece. But you know what, you are the notes of my plain classic guitar-strumming them gives me an everlasting melody of hope that one day, I would stand proud in the crowd telling them that to be a guitarist isn't a "frustration" anymore.  

Since I don't have the courage to laugh out loud  with you for the second time, I will just keep  your memories in a 5GB SD card I lent you the day you asked for my name twice.  

I miss you and I can tell you my name a billion times just to be with you! 

Love, 

Hopeless Romantic

Greediness vs Selfish Ambitions

Greediness vs Selfish Ambitions

When I was little, I thought I should get the best dessert or get the finest braai of the day coz I was the youngest. Well, that was what my mom used to do...she hides sweets from my older brother and "he" gets furious once he finds out that there's nothing for him. He always complained, " Why do you have to be mom's favorite?!"   "Haha poor you, uhmm you don't deserve this coz you're already grown up", while gloating the last bite of the most toothsome  pie I've ever chewed.  Children are naturally close-fisted and self-centered but not for any selfish ambitions. They're happy for a pack of sweetmeats, new toys, clothes, and tasty dish their parents stuff them-"content" as they live each day.  I could testify that kids are the biggest dreamers more than adults do but "using" others to  bring off their "flights of fancy" is out of the process.  Their fragility and innocence prove how they burn their asses off to get a pint of their favorite chocolate ice cream.  

Many people are unaware of their being covetous which leads to selfish drives.  They tend to hustle to get ahead of others whom they think are far better than them so as not to get overshadowed.   Trying to chase other people's reflections of feats or racing against them is like drifting on the glazy dead end.  Even a starving child never gets the courage to hold a basket of  eggs in his hands for dinner coz he knows he only has ten fingers to grip them and a tiny gullet to swallow a seed.  Simple! 

  

        

       

"Come hell or high water" - people would do everything to get a raise, promotion,  fame and a much more livable life than they used to have- and who doesn't want it anyway? But they must make sure that they don't curse others for choosing "silence" to succeed on their aspirations, nor blistering them  on gambling  a fortune on anything they want to risk,  when in the end "they" would also do the same thing.  Honestly, I pity them coz even if one day they'l have everything they thought they needed and "wanted", their carnal souls won't stop the  desire  for the world and will end up living in the most eerie nightmares of their lives. 

      

     

And... little did they know that "gluttony" is a sin! Haha

Pedestrian Lanes in Vietnam

Pedestrian Lanes in Vietnam

Crossing the pedestrian lanes in the country is a matter of life and death as drivers never respect traffic laws so they don't care about the walkers' right of  way.  This morning, it took me almost ten minutes to make it to the opposite street-not exaggerating.  I have been here for almost three years but I still don't know how to play their game.  Heads up to expats who can drive motorbikes here because vehicles come from different directions and intersections like popping mushrooms! 

On the other hand, there also a lot of jaywalkers who don't know how to use the footbridges in the area. If you're an ambler, better bind  a radar  or eyes around your body so you wouldn't be run over by "fast and furious" motorists.  

       

If it's your first visit, be alert at all times.  Enjoy! 

Do you exist?

Do you exist? 

Have you ever felt neglected? Sometimes, I think I never exist in this tiny world I'm rat racing with.  The first few months in Da Nang, I was glad students especially some staffs were very accommodating.  For instance, Ms. Han takes me to Le Duan Street for shopping, and Ms Oanh for traditional Vietnamese bounty meals.  Until one day I woke up being betrayed by a colleague...so I was sent to  Ha Noi.  To make the story short, I never had pleasing and winning experiences in the first two years, and all I could do was cry with grudges for each tear.  But these made me a lot stronger. At work, I always feel like I never exist...to the extent that no matter how many times do I have to nudge them to send me emails in English, they never do. It always comes to the point of losing my patience as they never seem to care. Once I get bad students' feedback most likely they make me feel how dumb I am..but never taps my back for jobs well done.  I doubt if these seniors are well-trained in managing subordinates. Whenever I ask them something, they always think I am complaining.  Well, I find it difficult to ask for personal favors because chances are they see it as demanding the "impossible". So where would I stand? I'm burnt! Though I am really exhausted, I just make myself happy with the little things around me wandering around landscapes which give me life. 

          

   

The country is beautiful, but remember that once you deligate yourself in a job here, you're just like a lemon once squeezed will find yourself in the trash bin. I won't be one of those poor lemons out there pathetic! 

The Comfort Zone

The Comfort Zone

Where is your comfort zone?  Are you brave enough to knock it out of your life? Mine is in the "inner" circle of the real me...which means, this has nothing to do with the luxury the physical world can offer.  Yes, I love travelling, eating strange foods and taking never ending photos of the sunsets.  These give me a day-to-day butterflies in my stomach and delight but they dont't heal the broken heart, bitterness, low self-esteem within me for instance.  

One of human beings' weaknesses is "feeding" themselves with material things they thought could make them whole...but as time passes by they feel more lifeless and will never be "content" with what they have collected.  I am not a psychologist nor an expert of anything-but surely this is human nature.  

Sometimes I feel like I am behind bars of my own corrupted spirit to the extent that I deny myself of who I really am coz the outer wheel  of "me" is a bit tricky and scary.  I live a simple life-uhmm I do worship too...never thought of getting promoted, wants to live in a small cottage by the mountain, or the lake or by the beach maybe with a small coffee table where my heart beats fast sipping the addicting aroma of the sunrise.  That's me...for real! Isn't it simple enough?  For sure I also dream big sometimes, but my soul tells me to stay inside the inner arena for safety. I hate it...and that gives me a nightmare in boisterous nightfalls.  

Well, one day I know that I would lose grip of my "security blanket" and I will make sure that I would stand proud of myself for making it to the peak! 

            

      

Kissing the Sun

Kissing the Sun

A simple way of appreciating the beauty God has given to me...I couldn't sleep until this morning because of gastritis and I was having a heartburn.  At 545am I got up and opened the glass door...and this is what I got. Awesome! What a wonderful way to start my day! 

                    

     

My Life in Vietnam

My Life in Vietnam

To camouflage for most is auspicious and impervious....but not to me.  Since then, I haven't gotten enthralled with the language so it's hard for me to confabulate.   Well, I know how to count and bargain-those are the most critical  I suppose.  I got a peachy body language, too so "pulling over" is a cherry-pie for bus and cab drivers. There are times when  I get frustrated though as I can't drive and it's feasible to bolster my hops in my own little ways.   

"Do I look like Vietnamese?", I asked.  "Yes, Sue."  Gosh, no way!  Is this the reason why a supermarket attendant yelled at me for not "speaking" Vietnamese? "Hey, we got seven climbers to Fansipan.  Five of them are Vietnamese, but I wonder why one of them doesn't speak the language.  I bet she grew up in America", he said. How many times have I heard most of them telling me, "Oh I thought you're Vietnamese."  I still remember my first day at work..."When I checked my Academic Portal it says my teacher is a foreigner, but now when I see you I think you're a local here," he said.   Urrghh...with an affectatious smile-"Really?"  So this is what I always "hark"  even from expats, "I thought, you were Vietnamese."   

                                            

   

No...it's not funny at all! I mean I don't hate anyone.  In fact, I love the country so much that I won't go back to my hometown not until I have left billions of footprints on the whole map.  My ventures here are almost done-in a few months I am ready to sail to the West.  

Life here is a bit cruel to me.   For instance, "hospitality" isn't for free most of the time.  No matter how sincere and nice you are to most of them, never expect you'd get the same treatment back.  These made me hold on to the fact-"never trust anyone even your closest friend".  You know what I mean. And...to camouflage doesn't mean you get an excellent and "fair" customer service wherever you go, as everything here is just all about hustling and making money. Uhmm anyhow, I have been to many remote and traditional villages of the north and the central parts of the country, and I could say that they are the greener side apart from the ugly faces I have brushed in the business capital.  Hurrah that's great to hear! 

Now, I'm a fighter-emotionally and even  more fierce. Thanks to the experiences for they taught me how to live a fitter life outside my comfort zone.  And despite the unbearable attitudes some of them showed me, I'm still happy I got some "fair and square" Vietnamese companions along the way.  

A Letter for Mama

A Letter for Mama

                                                                                                                                                August 02, 2013

Ally Coffee, FPT University-Hoa Lac Campus

7:47PM

Dear Mom,

Mama, this letter is written to inform you that your awesome and lovely daughter is still "single".  You might wonder why....she's not dumb, nor too ugly. Dad said she is a smart kid and he believes that her legs aren't too short for a fanciful leap.  

                                           

Uhmmm she's a people person, a sweetheart, and a "stage actor".  On the other hand, she's vain, vulnerable, but can be a mere boy at times. She has her own "naked" fashion style. Well, she can wear anything from high-heels to pumps to sneakers and flats. Dresses up like a little woman and cackles as of a significant other, though  most of the time, you can't stop her from going to school with her chucks, blue jeans and loose-fitting shirts.  

Sometimes she feels like she's been doing the same plain-vanilla things all her life that she has thought of giving up.  Where are the adventures outside her most disgusting timezone? I think those are just what she needs together with the fulfillment of her unwanted frustrations-photography and journalism.  And... feeding her irk feet is her  priority though she can't deny that she gets lonely especially running into sweetmeats on the streets, the movies and or the "joe" shops.  Her friends think that she's too childish and reckless and they're still waiting for her to mature.  The way she chuckles and giggles everytime she thinks of her ideal guy is so "high school"!  Deep inside her heart, she will never grow up-let's accept it then as she's only on the first blush of her 30s.     So Mama,  before I hit the salutation, I just want to tell you that you and dad are my first and everlasting  love. 

                  

                    

Stop worrying mom...God isn't done writing my love story yet. 

Yours Truly,

Skirt

The Man-Hater

The Man-Hater

Confessions-"We broke up...haven't talked for two weeks".   "He's annoying, insensitive."  "She wasn't there when I needed her." "Her parents aren't in favor of our relationship because I'm poor." "I don't deserve her daughter."   "You know you're annoying sometimes...when I text you, you don't text me back.  And now you're asking me if I don't wanna talk to you...".  "If you don't want to talk to me or if you want to rule me out of your life, tell me." "I bet you're better off without me." "Am too sincere and even treat her well." "Feeling tired.." 

Sentiments- "I don't know why it's too hard for him to understand the simplest issues between us."  "Nothing is enough for him! " "Why do I have to always compromise?"  "Can't we meet halfway?" "He's unfair!" "He can go out while I can't as I have to ask his permission first before I do such things." "She is very difficult and complicated." "She never feels for me."  

What else? Which is which? Who is to blame? In the past few weeks, I have been bombarded by these familiar blow-by-blow together with "sinewy" despairs from my chummy friends.  

"How long have you been together?, I curiously asked.  "We have been together for four years". Wow, that was quite long for an eighteen-year-old young adult. "What's the secret?" He took his ipad and showed me a couple's picture and said, "she and he are in love"...speechless! "Do you think sending sms everyday is important?"   "No, because I call her each day and we don't run out of stories to share." "We never thought of giving up despite unfavorable circumstances." Are you serious?! Gosh, this might be bizarre for people who never had successful romantic relationships.  

Honestly, I don't want to talk much about "romance" in this blog as my purpose is to see who men really are from a single woman's perspectives.  This isn't stereotyping either. I mean I bet I have the right on my opinions. 

Alright then I will start with how "anesthetized" men are. For instance, they burnt up their lovers or close friends so most likely "girls" chose to be tongue-tied.  I am not sure if they were really born "bone-headed" as the most plain and conventional questions from them are: How are you doing?"  Why are you so quiet?" "Am I annoying?"  Why don't they ask themselves back? Another diddly  attitude is their being "paranoid" yet callous-minded.   One day, I posted a status in facebook saying, " I hate you." He immediately knocked off my inbox with, "You hate me?" If I could only slap him with an iron "Yes"! They always complain that girls are hard to penetrate, that we are backbreakers, and too sensitive. 

Men, let me tell you one thing.  You jerks are good for nothing! Yes, admit it guys,  you always want to be "daredevils" for us to look up to you and to prove that you're real men. What else? If we rant in any social media sites, you criticize us for being weak but if you don't have any idea on our whereabouts, it's either you grill silly questions or every time you feel like hunting for a "howdy-do" you sweat the same cloying inquisitions.  Don't you even have any guts to "paraphrase" them? 

And...the worst is,  men think that women are financially feeble so they think that stuffing our faces with those designer labels, luxury cars, jewelry, trips to the Carribean, fine dinings, Apple and so on is the most "dexterous" way to keep us and drown us with their never ending demands! Oh yes I meant "demands" you got me? Now tell me who's more fussy and more boorish?

  

"Egotistical and Proud" should I say...if you're a man of actions, you should at least know how to find a happy medium  or even respect the idea of meeting halfway. So please, be a little bit "intellectually" canny Ok? This is a never-ending issue among men and women in any types of relationships. 

                          

         

Sincerely,

ThebMan-Hater 

August

August

Tell me why you're shinier alone

From cockcrow to sundown, you never frown

You're bigger and sharper  as I get closer

In this starry August as I prosper

Oh heavens avow fresh as April

In Your majesty, palmy desires will not derail

Take me to where the fields are silver

For I am terrified of hankering "hunger"

Airy "golden opportunity" comes my way

Knees patiently down day-to-day

Ripped off yet stood still

Coz my life is Your will

I beseech you hold me tight

So I won't get defeated on a boisterous night

To You  won't appeal but surrender

My pure fate throughout the year

This is my simple and solemn bid  for the start of the month and the rest of 2013. In every prayer, God is behind. Blessed 1st! 

                           

                                  

From Baba with Love

From Baba with Love 

As clever as the latest walking publication

Works with strength and passion

Faithfully  stargazing by the wicket

That one day, he knocks down the golden gate

Her "pan de sal"quaffs the strong dusky aurora mud

While she hits the  ground running  with a fuschia rose bud

Grass is always greener the other side, she hums

Scowling at the first blush train of bums

The reeking kitchen is her first love 

Yet nestles her soulmate Baba

Mama, where are my hard-nose chestnut gloves

Coz winter is coming, Oh Yeah

Facebook is flooded with vanilla

Skype is filled with apple-pie orders

Yes, it's her birthday with luscious tangy tequila

This is soul sister's love beyond borders

This poem is dedicated to my older sister Ellen whom I consider as the second most important women next to mom since childhood until now. And of course for my soul sister Katrina Sofia who always makes me feel how colorful life is being single. 

                     

       

  Hahaha...cheers on their special day! Happy birthday sisters.  Love you both! 

Blog and Brag

Blog and Brag 

Let me  take this opportunity to blog and brag about my one and only "Exciter". Your guesstimate might be right-so give yourself hurrahs.  In case, you don't have any idea of who he really is, then give me the green light to knock him down briefly.

He is simply our happiness anytime of the day, a superhero on stormy nights, a knight in fairy tales, and Thao Tiny's apple of the eye.  Hold on I remember something-"I'm always his brave back rider"! There are no curves, rocky roads as he swifts along the pavements.  If you were able to patiently follow my kiddie blogs, you would know that "photography" is one of my frustrations, and recently, I have been hooked up with Mr. Afternoon Nap-can't stop writing. So I make sure that I take random shots after work. This afternoon, we decided to take the unusual way and I spotted a rufescent lid.  At the drop of a hat, the shutter started rolling until it caught "Exciter's" endemic  hee-haw.   When I got home, my tablet was ready to share how other people's sweeping shade of hopes and inspirations reach until the roseate smother. 

                     

        

Oh uh what are you thinking?  No, he's not my boyfriend nor a biological brother, nor a son coz I'm still single...and I'm not in favor of pre-marital sex. Haha you know what I mean. Ok, he's one of those lovely people around whom I can always count on emotionally, physically, and "technically". Guess what I don't even have his name in my contacts but we manage to meet "halfway" especially during a square meal, and ends the night with  weird "tea" talks about each other's day. Little did anyone know that this makes me younger everyday.