My Easter break

SakuraLong Wood Garden:




hm...Such a sweet holiday I have experienced. I had a trip to visit Washington D.C with my friends. It took us five hours to reach there. I was sleeping during the way and just got up once when we had a break each section. Hence, I was the strongest girl after a long trip, so I could eat more than another ..kaka...The weather was really bad with snow and cold air suddenly. We seemed to could not go anywhere except to stay in the motel and see the horror movies with some snacks and cokes. We went around the city and visited some friends. On the last day when we came back, we saw a beautiful place with many cherry blossom trees( Japanese called sakura ). We decided to stop there to take some pictures. Although the snow and cold air damaged flowers, some trees still in good condition. Anyway, I had nice pictures with cherry blossom there. On the way come back New York, we stop off at Long Wood Garden (sorry, I do not remember the location) a really beautiful place for travelers. That is the huge zone with many variety flowers and trees. You just have to pay fourteen dollars per person and come in. It was surprised me a lot with a long location history and a colorful view such as a paradise. I recommend that place would make you feel comfortable and happy, especially if you go with your boyfriend ^o^ .

Birthday and Asian heritages day combination

This is Vietnamese's leaf hat



March 30rd is my birthday , but now it was over. At that time I had no intention to hold a party because the Asian heritages day and my birthday coincided. Asian heritages day took place in Marilac hall which is consist of all Asian communities in St.Johns and some outside . There was many interesting performances and events such as break-dances, step-dances, folk dancing and dinner. Each organization has to show at least one performance to introduce their own country's cultural. Vietnamese cultural organization (V.C.O) contributed a traditional dancing to the party. We have a group of 5 girls to perform, all of us are St. John's students( just 4 people in the pictures above because one girl had just gone away). We was in traditional dresses called "Ao dai" and hold the leaf hats called "Non la" or straw hats; then we shown our performance. There was a lot of funny events and hot atmosphere. This is my first time I live far from family and my birthday was not celebrated but I was feeling fine. Anyway, Asian heritages day's party is a big one with too much people that made me feel happy. Maybe that party was hold for me ..haha.... (I comforted myself ^.^ )

Pork Chop ^o^

Lastnight, my roomate Hoa ,went home with a dog. Her friend has to leave from NY, poor dog could not follow them. Hoa decided to feed the dog...The dog name were Pork Chop at first...She 's a very fat Pug dog likes a Pork Chop... I understood that way :D . My roomate Hoa does not like this name and she changed to another name ,Toggie...-_- hm...I dont think that is the satisfactory way to lose the dog's weight. My roomate wants to lose Toggie's weight...Because the dog too fat to go upstairs...lols :D She can eat everthing ...her hobbies is give a hicup ,sleep, and eat ....My god....an ugly cute dog...Hoa and I can make fun of Toggie everyday..She is so lovely and ugly... ^o^ we love her too much.

A satisfied day.

That was my first time I went somewhere outside far from home alone. That was a spare day, I opened the NY subways and railroad map and I saw the place in Manhattan ,namely Museum Of Natural History . The intention to visit there arose in my mind. My friends were all busy at that time, nobody could take me to the Museum of natural history. I decided to go on my own. I were dazzled when trying to find the way on the map. There are many complicated color lines combined together. I determined to try to go there anyway. I took the bus to the subway station and kept looking to the map to find the right way. After more than 4 change of the train, I were been the 86 St- Museum of natural history finally. Unfortunately, It closed 5 minutes before I arrived. But I still happy because I tried my best to go there and I were there.
It were getting dark, I saw the Central Park West on the oposite side with the Museum. I decided to visit the Park. That is a really large park. I saw the beautiful sightseeing with the moon and the further city view . I tried to find someone who can take pictures for me, but no one there. I put the camera on the chair and set automatic button to take pictures on my own. You see...Not bad :D . It were getting cool , time to go home. A long journey ...I thought. Tired but the happy felling inundated in my mind.

My wonderful holidays

One week before the springbreak, My friends and I felt very highly enthusiastic in make a plan for the coming holidays. I really interested in this trip,... hopefully ofcourse!

We took a bus to Boston for more 4 hours and 1 hour to Worcester city where my friend is living. Boston is the very small and bored city, the shops and stores almost are closed at 8 pm and nobody walks down on the street after eight. All clubs are out of serve after 10.30 pm.The weather last week was too bad and it seemed to be not able to go anywhere, thus we decided to arrange a small party with some Vietnamese friends who are living there. Luckily, the day after were getting warm and we decided to go skiing in Wachusett mountain. Wow...Skiing ...this is my first time, I felt a bit scared and nervous. All of my friends are very good at this game, hence I followed him to the top hill....How a beautiful sightseeing! But I could not slide down, it is impossible! Consequently, I start my first slide from the middle hill...I was constantly fall down and tried to stand up and keep sliding. 1 hour later it seemed to be better,I can stop and know how to control the sliding way. I was gradually have the sensation of sliding as I used to with my roller-skate botts. Although the it was getting cold, my body got warmer and I gradually love this game, I like the speed and thrills . My friends and I were been there for 5 hours and we also have the wonderful day and sated with pleasure.

Although all of us were exhausted, we still happy and dreamed about another skiing day in the near future.

Tet Holiday

Tet holiday is Vietnamese New year or lunar New year. Maybe it the same as Chinsese New year. Time has come again. This is the second time I miss the biggest holidays in Vietnam. How sad is it !!! =(

I am not sure when I will have a chance to be able enjoy the Tet Holidays again. Maybe four more years or so. This is the same feeling of all the Vietnamese Students study aboard far from home. You can celebrate it unless you live some where have a lot of Asians.I called my family in Vietnam and gave them the best wishes.

However,I also had a New year party on February 16, that's a date worth remembering. All of us, members of Vietnamese Cutuaral Organization(VCO) celebrated a big party to welcome New Year. There were many exciting performaces and games that had been meticulous prepared; Morever we had the traditional food shows, thus people could know how to make Vietnamese foods. The most important food in Tet holidays is Chung cake, besides raw fish, meat roll and chicken roasted are also popular foods.On the pictures, you can see the specific Vietnamse tree, namely "Dao tree". On the other hand, we had a raffle and gave people an amount of lucky money. Also we had some performances with rase fund for charity purposes, all of the fund would be sent to Gentle Fund Organization in Vietnam......You see,I made up myself with a hairware and made a strangle style for the special day.

Anyway, I had a really happy time with my friends, that's a date worth remembering . I hope all my friends and my family, my realatives and all people that i know(or will know later) will have a happy year ever. HAPPY NEW YEAR.

fast experience

the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan

Gulitsa cake

ondeonde

On the October 7, 2006, when I still in my hometown, I had an oppoturnity to discover and know more about another culture, a very strangle tradition that I have ever known before...."fast", hm.. what is that? it means no food, no drinking, and of course no sexual activities for a period of time. In the Ramadan month, muslim usually fasts from 5:30am to 6:30pm. It's just simple really, but simple and easy only for muslim guys I guess. Probably not for me, Vietnamese girl.

Yet I have experienced a fast day, could you guys believe it? partly because of a friend of my friend are muslim(in sum, both of them are my friends) and I would like to experience like what they do, partly I want to have a bit challenge myself and I am trying to lose weight( I am too fat I think) .

Starting from early morning I wake up without food nor water, you know what I even wake up earlier than usual. I went to school and tried to focus on the work, it seemed to be good till late afternoon when a muslim guy called, he was supprised that I did what we talked the night before, but to be honest I badly needed water just before 2 hours the fast ended,.. could not focus on the work any more... and a bit tired ... time passed by until 1 hour before the breakfast (probably fast-break or break-fast means this way) my friend and I went to pickup the pizza for the break-fast at 6:30p.m. You know what in the Ramadan month, after fasting muslim people always get together in a so-called mosque, a place to have water, sweetened date, then pray, then food.

Probably my friend knew that I was hungry and thirsty on the way to pick up the piza, and I guess he was just like me but the guy looked nothing like me at all. He was excited instead...
We came back the mosque just on time, where a lot of muslims plus some out-of-religion curious students like me want to experience the things that the muslim do daily. I can not help any more since 6:30 just came, the water fountain in front of me was the most valuable thing I saw at the moment, I drank water like I've never drunk it before, the guys just went praying but I just kept on drinking and eating some more... we started the food after a while, whoo la la, finally my stomach was full of "gold" water and valuable food.

Short time of fasting experience, but probably I have learned some valuable things. Thank the muslim friend!