Dieser Morgen ist fĂŒr mich ein besonderer Morgen, weil ich um 7 Uhr aufgestanden bin. Ich bin schon lang nicht mehr so frĂŒh aufgestanden. Um 7 Uhr klingelte der Wecker, aber ich blieb noch im Bett und ich versuche mich, noch ein paar Minuten unten den warmen Decke zu verstecken. Die erste Frage, die mir ins Gehirn kam, war, wer so frĂŒh ein stĂ€ndiges GerĂ€usch machte. Ich versuchte, den Rhythmus einzufangen und festzustellen, was oben oder unten passieren könnte. Die GerĂ€usch hörten sich so an, als jemand Basketball ĂŒben wĂŒrde, aber warte mal…ich dachte: “Es ist unmöglich und unverantwortlich, in der Wohnung zu spielen, besonders in einem Studentenwohnheim und um 7 Uhr morgens, nicht wahr?” Aber ich musste mich fĂŒr dieses GerĂ€usch bedanken, das mich ermutigte, aus dem Bett aufzustehen.
Es verlangte mich nach einem Glas von Orangensaft. Es war seltsam, aber ja, ich konnte mir sogar vorstellen, wie es schmecken wĂŒrde und wie erfrischend es wĂ€re. Zum Gluck hatte ich Orangen zu Hause, also machte ich den Saft nach dem Duschen. WeiĂt Du warum ich so frĂŒh aufstehen musste? Weil ich dieses Schreiben verfassen muss. Heute ist der Einsendeschluss. Letzte Nacht war mein Kopf leer und ich hatte kein Thema, ĂŒber das ich hĂ€tte schreiben können. Dies geschah schon einmal, also dachte ich mir, ich wĂŒrde die SĂ€tze einfach mit den neuen Wörtern bilden, die ich gelernt hatte. Ich habe vielen davon. Der Prozess des Deutschlernens ist wie ein Blick in den Himmel; manchmal ist es wunderschön, manchmal ist es richtig schlimm, und manchmal tauchen viele Wörter auf – es ist, wie wenn die dicken GĂ€nse plötzlich am Himmel auftauchen und herumfliegen; natĂŒrlich scheint as fĂŒr sehr dicke Vögel unmöglich zu sein, aber sie tun es trotzdem. Und ich werde “es” (Deutschlernen) auch trotzdem tun.
WĂ€hrend ich in der KĂŒche die Orangen auspressen, hörte ich die Technomusik im Zimmer meiner Mitbewohnerin. Ich dachte âWow, diese Art von Musik am Morgen. Wird sie gerade high? đ Dieses Kind geht nie in die Schule⊔ Kurz nachdem ich meinen Gedanken beendet hatte, stĂŒrzte sie hinaus und als ich mein Glas Orangensaft in der Hand hielt und aus meinem Fenster schaute, ging sie bereits zur StraĂenbahnhaltestelle. Also lag ich falsch, dieses Kind ging in die Schule. Aber das machte nichts, denn jetzt trank ich Orangensaft. Wie befriedigend es war.
Heute gibt es fĂŒr mich viel zu tun. Ich muss in die Uni gehen, um meine Bewertungsbögen zu ĂŒberprĂŒfen. Ich werde mit Marcela dorthin gehen. Der Professor sagte, er wĂŒrde mich anrufen, um meine Masterarbeit zu besprechen – mich anrufen? Ernsthaft? Ich mag es nicht, weil ich dann die ganze Zeit beim Telefon bleiben muss, bis das abgeschlossen ist. Dann werde ich Blumen kaufen gehen und den Kuchen zu Silvia bringen.
Um den Tag zu beenden, muss ich acht Seiten den DeutschĂŒbungen fertigstellen. Es sammelt sich weite an. Ich hoffe, ich werde mich nicht erschöpft fĂŒhlen, nachdem ich mehrere Leute getroffen habe.
So, I asked ChatGPT and this is what it told me: âThe fact that you are able to perceive, think, feel, and experience the world around you is a strong indication that you are living. Other signs of life include the ability to breathe, grow, reproduce, and respond to stimuli. If you are unsure whether you are living or not, it may be helpful to consult a medical professional or trusted individual for guidance.â
When I read the first sentence, I thought of the article I read earlier this month on my train to Berlin when I was thinking about life, about love, and about the meaning of living. The article discussed Descartesâ famous dictum: Cogito, Ergo Sum or âI think, therefore I am.â
I always wonder how we know if we are thinking or not? Sometimes I have thoughts that come and go and they are not connected at all. Do we generate thoughts or do they just appear by themselves? There are moments when I just want to be empty, to detox myself from my own thoughts but I just canât. But there are also moments when I want to think and nothing comes.
Are we most blank when we are too full?
People say happiness comes from simple things. And I agree with that. A good cup of coffee can bring so much more joy than many other big things, right?
If breathing is counted as a sign of living, what about when we sleep? If so, many, at some point in their life, might be the most living creatures when they are sleeping. Of course, including me.
I remember sometimes walking around very late at night and I saw drunk people who literally just walk. I donât know what they are thinking. I think⊠is it true that sometimes we are simply walking corpses. According to ChatGPT, we have indicators of a living thing â we can breathe, we can walk, we can feel but are we living?
In the end, whatâs the point of knowing if we are living or not? I think if I still can question myself this, I am living đ
Today I went to a coffee shop and while writing this blog, in front of me was a couple who came to the coffee shop, ordered their drinks, and didnât talk at all. Now they started talking, the man moved to the same side with the woman and they talked â or basically, he talked. I hope they solved their problem, at least she smiled. The distance can be measured by thousands of miles, a few footsteps, or sometimes simply a small coffee table. When we are living in the same dimension, itâs never too far despite what continent we are but sometimes sitting right in front of each other, we still donât see each other.
I did my TestDaF in May last year. In this series of #TestDaF, I will publish some examples I did during my preparation. There will be no good or bad examples here, just the texts I wrote that got corrected by my teacher who is a native. This is the first text I wrote without knowing anything about the structure of TestDaF (:D) so you might find it very very long and it does not follow any criteria that TestDaF suggests for a good piece of writing. After this “free writing,” my teacher told me to urgently check the structure and follow it otherwise I would never pass the exams đ And that is the last thing I like about exams, you always have to follow SOMETHING!!!
The examples of the later writings are neater and clearer đ
Hope it helps â€
Es gibt/herrscht noch immer ein Ungleichgewicht zwischen den Anteilen von MĂ€nner und Frauen in vielen Bereichen der Gesellschaft, insbesondere in Bildung und Wissenschaft. Interessanterweise ist der Anteil von Frauen bei der Gruppe der Studierenden etwa gleich mit dem von MĂ€nnern, aber der Unterschiedie wird gröĂer, wenn man Forschung und Lehre an Hochschulen und in Forschungsinstituten betrachtet. Deswegen stellt es sich die schwierige Frage, was getan werden sollte, um den Frauenanteil in diesen Bereichen zu verbessern.
Der Unterschied in der Anzahl von MĂ€nnern und Frauen ist natĂŒrlich kein Zufall. GrundsĂ€tzlich besteht er nicht in allen Bereichen gleich, z.B. arbeiten im Tourismus insgesamt mehr Frauen als MĂ€nner. FĂŒhrungspositionen werden hier jedoch öfter von MĂ€nner als von Frauen besetzt. In der Wissenschaft dominieren MĂ€nner gegenĂŒber Frauen mit bis zu 97.1%. Um die im ersten Absatz gestellte Frage zu beantworten ist es wichtig, dass wir zunĂ€chst die Verteilung von MĂ€nner und Frauen in Ausbildung und Wissenschaft betrachten.
Daten des Statistischen Bundesamts aus dem Jahr 1996 (dargestellt in einem Liniendiagram) zeigen die Anzahl von MĂ€nnern und Frauen in verschiedenen Positionen, z.B. in Schulen und in Forschungsinstituten, in Prozent. MĂ€nner- und Frauenanteil sind an Schulen oder UniversitĂ€ten etwa gleich. Einen Ă€hnlichen Trend sieht man bei den Uni-Absolventinnen / -Absolventen. Es gibt jedoch eine negative Korrelation zwischen der Prozentzahl an MĂ€nner und der an Frauen, wenn es um Promotionen, Wissenschaftliches Personal an UniversitĂ€ten, Professuren und FĂŒhrungspositionen auĂeruniversitĂ€rer Forschungseinrichtungen geht; je mehr MĂ€nner es gibt, desto weniger Frauen sind vertreten/gibt es. Diese negative Korrelation wird mit dem Fortschreiten auf der Karriereleiter, also in Richtung höherer Positionen und höherer Bezahlung, immer stĂ€rker, d.h. je höher die Position ist, desto geringer ist die Anzahl an Frauen in dieser Position.
Die Entwicklungsgeschichte hat gezeigt, dass Frauen in der Lage sind, viele Dinge genauso wie MĂ€nner zu beherrschen. Es gibt einige bedeutende Wissenschaftlerinnen wie Marie Curie, die maĂgeblich zur Entwicklung vieler wichtiger wissenschaftlicher Erfindungen beigetragen haben.
Wie gezeigt besteht das Problem des Ungleichgewichts an MĂ€nnern und Frauen. Es gibt viele Theorien, die erklĂ€ren können, warum diese Kluft existiert. MĂ€nnerfreundliche Stereotype, z.B. dass MĂ€nner besser in Mathematik, Informatik oder Technischen FĂ€chern sind als Frauen, oder eine generelle bevorzugte Behandlung von MĂ€nnern bei Promotionen könnten fĂŒr diese Kluft mitverantwortlich sein. Es gibt derzeit zwei entgegengesetzte Meinungen/Strömungen/Ansichten/Sichtweisen/LösungsansĂ€tze. Die Vertreter des einen (Lösungsansatzes) fordern mehr UnterstĂŒtzungen fĂŒr Frauen durch Gleichberechtigungsgesetze, insbesondere in den Berufen/Bereichen, in denen neue Kandidaten die meist von MĂ€nnern ernannt werden. Dem anderen Ansatz zufolge sollte nur die Qualifikation eines Bewerbers zĂ€hlen; Frauen sollten aalso nicht bevorzugt behandelt oder speziell gefördert werden.
Durch Gleichberechtigungsgesetze kann der Integrationsprozess von Frauen bei der Besetzung von Professuren gefördert werden. Die Menschheitsgeschichte hat gezeigt, dass Gesetze oft wichtige Faktoren beim Erfolg verschiedener historischer Bewegungen waren. Ăsterreich ist ein sehr fortschrittliches Land, dessen Minister viele Programme und Gesetze erstellt hat, die Frauen – egal ob aus dem eigenen Land oder FlĂŒchtlinge – bevorzugen, z.B das Programm âThe Female Factor â in Zusammenarbeit mit Google und bei dem Frauen ohne Programmierung-Kenntnisse einen kostenlosen Kurs machen können, damit sie in ihrer beruflichen Position erfolgreich sein können. Dies hat einige Erfolge gebracht. Dieser Vorschlag könnte Probleme im Zusammenhang mit menschlicher Voreingenommenheit lösen. Es gilt manchmal, dass wenn wir etwas nicht versuchen, wir nicht wissen, dass es möglich wĂ€re. Deswegen können Frauen mit solchen Gesetzen mehr Möglichkeiten erhalten, ohne dass sie Zeit damit verbringen mĂŒssen, fĂŒr das zu kĂ€mpfen, was sie verdienen oder wozu sie beitragen können. Es bleibt aber noch die Frage, ob es noch âGleichberechtigungâ ist, wenn gesetzlich eingegriffen wird. In einem gröĂeren Bild, was wĂŒrde mit MĂ€nnern passieren, die genauso gut sind wie Frauen, und dennoch wegen der Gleichberechtigungsgesetzen ihre Promotionen nicht bekommen könnten? Dazu kommt das zweite Argument.
Qualifikation liegt in im Kern der Argumentation. Wem man den Vorzug gibt, sollte nichts mit dem Geschlecht zu tun haben, d.h möglicherweise erhalten Frauen hiernach keine UnterstĂŒtzung auf ihrerm Karriereleiter. Durch die Verbesserung der Qualifikation wird sich der Frauenanteil von ganz alleine erhöhen. Der Prozess der Angleichung sollte jedoch auf rĂŒcksichtsvolle Weise gefĂŒhrt werden, und nicht auf erzwungene Weise, weil dies kontraintuitive Effekte hervorbringen könnte, z.B. gibt es im Bereich der Wissenschaft, Technologie, des Ingenieurwesens und der Mathematik eine Quote dafĂŒr, wie viele Frauen eine Abteilung haben soll, um die höhere Anzahl der MĂ€nner auszugleichen. In manchen FĂ€llen werden Frauen nur wegen der Quote fĂŒr die Stellen akzeptiert. Es schien ein fairer Vorschlag zu sein, trotzdem sollte nach UnterstĂŒtzung fĂŒr Frauen in anderen Bereichen gesucht werden, z.B. sollten UnterstĂŒtzungsprogramme fĂŒr Frauen nach der Geburt entwickelt werden, damit sie sich auf ihren wissenschaftlichen Beruf konzentrieren können. Den âFrauenanteil von ganz alleine erhöhenâ zu lassen, könnte ziemlich extrem sein. Daher sollten Gesetze oder die UnterstĂŒtzung fĂŒr Frauen generell sich auf den Erhalt der Fairness konzentrieren und nicht auf die Bevorzugung eines Geschlechtsen bei Jobvergaben.
Zusammenfassend lĂ€sst sich festhalten, dass keine der beiden Hypothesen, dass keine der beidenjedes Hypothesen das genannte Ungleichgewicht alleine lösen kann. Trotzdem ergibt die zweite Hypotheseasie zweite Argument insgesamt mehr Sinn, denn MĂ€nner und Frauen sollten nach ihren FĂ€higkeiten und nicht nach ihrem Geschlecht bewertet werden. Gleichzeitig sollten Politiker und EntscheidungstrĂ€ger rĂŒcksichtsvoller sein und eine angemessene und rechtzeitige UnterstĂŒtzung fĂŒr Frauen zu gewĂ€hrleisten.
My friend once asked me how I looked for places to go when I traveled to a city. I said I would usually go to a bookstore and grab a travel guidebook for references. You might think I am too old-school but yes, that is my main resource. Lately, my friend introduced me to a very good website called Timeout and I find it great as well. But no matter what resources you use, make sure you give room for random things to happen because surprises are one of the best things about travels right?
So the route I am going to write today is based on a guide in the Lonely Planet book which we found at our rented home in Florence, about the home you can read it here
I love handicrafts. So, immediately when I saw the title “Florence – city of artisans” while scanning the book, I knew I had to make it. And it has been one of my favorite experiences in Italy so far. Now let’s go!!!
The places presented below are within walking distance and the route can be completed within one day at a relaxing pace. However, my advice is that you should plan in advance based on the location of your hotel so that you won’t have to go back and forth the same route (like we did đ I did not see it as a problem as I really enjoyed walking around the town).
If you are looking for something made in Florence which can be used “forever,” this might be the address for you. They have been producing and selling gloves (only gloves) since 1919 – good quality and simply beautiful. My friend had a pair of gloves here; she is very happy about it. Unfortunately, she lost it on a train from Amsterdam back to Leipzig – sad story. You can read the history of the place on the website linked above. They are also the ones making gloves for high-end brands such as Burberry, Worth and Worth New York, etc.
The artisan workshop Giulio Giannini & Figlio was founded in 1856, famous for its high-quality hand-tooled leather book bindings and marbled paper (decorated paper) printed with traditional folk designs of Florence. The current owner of the workshop – Maria (she is the 6th generation) told me that some decorative patterns we saw in the shops around Florence were originally from there. No products at the shop are the same as they are handmade and printed manually. We had a difficult time finding the workshop as the address was not as it was stated in the guidebook or on Google Maps anymore. The owner of a small shop around the area was so kind to show me the place which is now located in a small alley. I was greeted by a senior (who I knew later from Maria was her uncle and he is the 5th generation). He does all the book bindings at the shop while Maria is in charge of designing and making marbled paper.
One of Maria’s kids is studying in Rome and she was happy to share with us that she was very hopeful as her daughter was interested in keeping this arts and crafts alive. She (the daughter) plans to combine technology with traditional methods to create more innovative products. Talking to her reminded me of my grandmother’s work – we used to have a small workshop producing handcrafted sleeping mats and my grandmother was known for being the best artisan in town for this kind of handicraft – she is the third generation if I remember it right. I helped her when I was a kid too. However, my aunt who is the successor can barely continue it for many reasons; lack of good supplies for materials – grass fibers, as people changed to other industries to get a higher income and my cousin was not very interested in the work. I am interested but I basically have not got time for it yet and many techniques have been lost since my grandmother passed away. Maintaining a family tradition is never easy!
When I was listening to the story and imagining why they had to move their workshop to a smaller one in the alley, I felt kinda related. The good thing is that they are finding ways to maintain the family business and tradition and it is amazing to touch, hold and appreciate their works in our hands. For one swift moment, I wish I could do that to my grandmother’s products – she used to make beautiful hats too.
I think I am writing too much about this place but it is one of the places that made me think and left me so emotional. So if you come to Florence one day, you should go here! Let’s support local businesses!
The workshop is inside this small alleyDifferent works Artisan Maria and me â€
This shop is special. If you want to get inside, you have to ring, which I found pretty interesting. It showed how focused the artisans were on creating their works. You can see everything from the windows and it’s lovely. The shoes and sandals are basic, but basic is the best, isn’t it? đ
The street where this workshop is located is full of good stores and it is quieter compared to other shopping streets in Florence – I wish I had discovered it earlier.
Well, among all the places we had visited so far, this workshop was the most commercial one but it also has a long tradition of making handcrafted leather products too. You can read its history on the website. The current brand-name is Jennifer Tattanelli – so I had to ask if the store was CASINI đ
I met Alex who was very nice and helpful. It was his “first day” assisting clients at the store, normally he works upstairs as Customer Care Manager. While I was waiting for my friend who was looking for a pair of leather shoes in the store, I had a good chat with Alex and I loved the services at the store. They have nice designs but they are pricey too. My friend got a pair of sneakers which is pretty comfy to walk in it; however, if you walk toooo long, you’d better change to a more functional one.
Consani and Giannini is specialized in products made from leather. We came a bit late so it was close but we still could see a bit from the outside as the artisans were still working inside. What I love about Florence is that it is so artsy everywhere and people really “mind their own business,” đ they work with joy and passion and looking at them working is already a pleasure. There are a lot of materials and fabrics here as well – a great place to get inspired! If I come back, I will make sure to be more focused so that I will have enough time to come here early.
I never thought it was a MUSEUM! We had a big surprise here. I was glad we made it the last stop of the day as after moving around the whole day, it was really relaxing getting inside and smelling the exotic fragrance here. Buuut you can be overwhelmed as they have hundreds of fragrances and most of them are just so nice and unique that you want to bring them ALL home.
If you would like to get a recommendation, here are the four products I love:
Discovery Kit Firenze 1221 – you will get all of the heritage scents in one set so why not? People (including the pickiest ones) love this kit.
Tabacco Toscano Soap – I do not need to tell much about this product as it has been their best seller ever since. I myself have never tried anything “tobacco” but I love this one too.
Sali di Lavanda – I got one for myself as it is very relaxing to smell – you can put on your pillow one or two drops for a good sleep. Can be a great gift for people who are under a lot of pressure or stress.
Aceto Aromatico – well, the story is pretty INTERESTING so I copy it here from their website (the lovely lady at the shop told me about it) – “This Aromatic Vinegar, traditionally known as Vinegar of the Seven Thieves, appeared in Toulouse during the terrible plague epidemic that struck the city between 1628 and 1631. Legend has it that it was used by seven thieves, each of whom knew a component and ignored the other six. This remedy allowed them to plunder the sick without being contaminated. It was passed on the hands and face or burned in homes to protect themselves from contagious diseases.” You can buy it as a gift for someone who works so hard and sometimes needs a “real wake up” or a mood booster đ
The workshop is also a museum – from the photo you can tell right? đ
Special stop of the trip: No Name
On our first day in Florence, we had a leisure evening walk to our dinner place. And because we were new in the city, everything excited us so a walk of one kilometer took us forever, literally forever – I thought if I were walking with my “german friend,” he would have arrived in Rome while I was still struggling around Florence. But yes, long story short, because we walked so slowly that we came across a very special workshop. I did not think it was a workshop myself as the first thing that caught my attention was a man playing piano inside and there was no sign telling me “this is a shop” – no name at all. My friend and I were curiously “spying” the products inside the shop – it’s all fur. We were like “do you wanna get inside?” “yeah but I do not want to disturb the man… (who is obviously occupied with music)” But “do you wanna see it?” “yeah but but but…” hahaha
My friend said environmentalists would hate this place and I kinda agreed with her. But on the other hand, if you think of the heritage side of the place – Florence itself, you might have a lighter perspective on this. Some workshops have been there for many many generations and people do it out of passion and it’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it? Especially places like these do not sell their products commercially; everything here is tailormade I guess. Finally, he saw us so he opened the door and welcomed us inside. I have never touched any products made from real fur myself so it was also an experience for me. The hat I touched was made of beaver fur. Beavers are so cute and I saw them in Leipzig sometimes so even though I was curious about the origin of the fur and how he got it, I did not ask further.
His works are amazing and he is a true artisan – the aura is irresistible! We looked around for a bit and left so that he could continue playing piano and enjoying his Friday night – the scene is like from a poem or a painting đ
If you want to visit the workshop, it’s close to a shop called Trattoria.
Update: I think I found it on Google Maps – so the place is called Pellicceria Gionata Cozzi đ
Pellicceria Gionata Cozzi
And if you love Florence like I do, you will find this book very very interesting!
See you next time, when I will write about my experience in Milan and Rome đ
The appreciation is the result of hundreds of cups of coffee around Europe â I had a chance to taste, compare, and finally conclude some cities where I have tasted the best coffee. And some places are so cute and hospitable that I completely forgot the taste of the coffee and still can give it a ten! The one in Albert Cuyp Market in Amsterdam is one of them.
It was our last day in Amsterdam, and we decided to visit a local market â yes, I love local markets, but who doesnât??? They are full of good stuff and by visiting local markets, we know a lot about people in the country we visit right? The materials there are simply RAW.
We were just wandering around, seeing things, and of course, inhaling as much as possible the smell of waffles and fresh produces â one of the very few places in Amsterdam without particles of cannabis in the air hahaha⊠So, we continued walking and walking until a small stand caught our attention. The barista was just looking around as there were no clients then and he greeted us with a warm smile (for one second, I had a simple yet luxurious thought âIf only I saw this more often in Germanyâ hahaha). We looked at the lovely menu which was painted on a small board that stood in front of us. The barista responded to our orders always with âa great choice!â âof course!â âSURE!â and just by looking at him making our coffees, we were already happy. Why? Because he really enjoyed doing his work! People say we are what we eat (or drink :P) and I think that is true because we were very happy after drinking our lattes that morning; I guess mainly because the barista did sprinkle some joy and happiness into it.
After getting our coffees, we were standing for a while watching him talking with potential clients â who were still considering (I almost screamed âyou wonât disappoint!!!! Just go ahead!â hahaha).
While making coffee for his clients, he talked to people who were still discussing if they should order a coffee here âFollow your eyesâ âThatâs a good idea!â â very gently. I can never do that. If I were him, I would pour coffee and tea all over the place. How can I look at people gently and advise them what they should select while performing a Chai Latte??? Impossible. But he was doing that. The smiles were genuine, and the skills were impressive!
After five minutes, we wereâŠâŠâŠâŠâŠstill THERE⊠in front of that little coffee stand. He did have us as FANS! Definitely! He looked at us and asked if we needed somethingâŠand I said âWe have notâŠ.paid yet.â As he was so busy right after handing us our coffees (after us, many clients came) and he completely forgot to charge us. Also, we did not want to disturb him while he was so occupied (and watching him working was also a nice experience :P) so we just waited there. Then we paid and left.
So, it was a GOOD WRAP for Amsterdam and we could not be happier. The name of the coffee stand is Darras Albertcuyp (Instagram: darras_albertcuyp) and our barista of the day is Fadi!!!!!!
P.s we did visit other good cafes in Amsterdam, I will write about them in a more focused post about our trip to Amsterdam. See you again soon!
Of course here are some photos â€
My Pumpkin Latte – why Pumpkin Latte in autumn while we can NOW đ
Day 1: Marseille – France I took a train from Leipzig to Berlin Airport where my friend was waiting for me – she had arrived from Singapore. Then we took the flight to Marseille. I had never been to this city but always wanted to visit once; growing up in Vietnam, I heard about this city several times so I was pretty inquisitive. A quick search also gave me some lovely photos which definitely boosted my excitement đ We stayed here – the apartment was nice and had good value for money. However, it was a bit noisy at night due to the neighbors’ kids and the windows’ metal sun shields. We had dinner here – a Vietnamese restaurant with a super nice owner. He is quite young and already has three restaurants. Their Spring Rolls were sooooo goooood!!!
Breakfast at Coogee Dinner at Au Viet Thai – I love the owners, they are so warm and their food is authentic – and yes, authentic Vietnamese cuisine is very difficult to find in Europe as most of the restaurants would change a bit the flavors to fit the locals’ taste. BEST BUN BO HUE in Europe so far!
Day 3: Marseille – train to Paris We arrived in Paris at around 5PM. We stayed here – very basic hotel but the location is good and very close to the Metro and bus station. Early in the morning on weekends, you can visit local markets which are just steps from the hotel – buy some sweets and flowers there, they are the best! Dinner at Casa Angeli and then we went around to see “Paris by night” đ
Day 4: Paris Breakfast at Cafe Obrkof – very good scones and banana bread Then we walked around for croissants and chocolate tasting. We bought some nice chocolate here at Jacques Genin – the story of his passion for inventing different flavors of chocolate is worth reading too! My friend wanted to do some shopping so of course we went to Avenue des Champs Dinner at Chongqing-Liuyishou-hot-pot – I do not recommend this place despite the food being fine – each person has to order their own pot and normally the fun of eating hotpot is eating together and having one for myself was really a lot, so we could not finish our own pot… and I do not like leaving food like that but we just could not eat more…
Day 5: Paris Places we visited: 1. Louvre (outside only) 2. Not a “place” but it was so good that I decided that it should be here: Dunes Blanches – the best Choux Pastry I have ever tried – we saw it on our way to the “boutiques street” and the display of the store was super eye-catching so we got inside. They sell only two types of Choux Puff, unfortunately, the other was sold out (literally I was just one second late as the one in front of me took the very-last-one) so we only had a chance to try one – was good enough for us to come back next time! 3. Boutique streets – you can start from Dunes Blanches and walk around the area, many local brands are there – good styles but the price is not low. You might also find hidden cafes or pizzerias along the alleys. I love seeing Parisians having coffee or enjoying their meals – it’s just simply classic. I don’t know how to explain but you will know it once you’re in Paris and everyone MUST visit Paris at least once. That night as we were slowly ending our walking route, we saw the full moon.
Day 6: Paris – took flight to Florence – Italy I loved the airport of Florence – small and right at the train station – the mountainous backdrop makes it even lovelier. Lunch at CaffĂš Le Rose which is right at the Central Station; it is not highly rated but I remember we had good chocolate choux puffs with fresh cream, main dishes were okay. Then from there we walked to our “home” in Florence which I rated 10/10. This is the place. Our host Marco recommended some GOOD places that locals love; some we could not book a table, but were lucky to have one that accepted us đ Here is the list: 1. Il Guscio – Marco loves it and WE LOVED IT! (My friend said the pasta of ragu rabbit was a bit too salty for her but for me, the taste was not too bad, my dish of duck with orange sauce was really really nice). Their LAVA cake is the best! 2. Angiolino – Ai 13 Arrosti booking a table in advance is a must – we could not book it even 2-3 hours (or even days if I remember it right) before dinner time. Maybe next time đ 3. Il Santo Bevitore same situation as Angiolino :((( 4. Gelateria La Carraia Marco is not a big fan of gelato as we are (who doesn’t love gelato btw??? :D) but yeah that’s what I love about him – he is very honest with everything. So he said this place was “checked” and confirmed as “the best in Florence” by his friend who used to work as a chef at Four Seasons. Well, he was a chef at Four Seasons so we should listen right? And we LOVED it! (I know you might already think I love everything here but yessss it is also the truth!) 5. Trattoria Napoleone – another place for gelato fans but they do serve food. We did not have time to try this place so until next time đ
Day 7: Florence As my friend said Florence itself was like a museum so for this lovely city, I will have another blog dedicated to “the one and only Firenze” I have started with a small piece of writing here Dinner at Trattoria VASARI – good food, nice people, cozy atmosphere
Day 7: Florence We did a self-guided walking tour “City of Artisans” recommended by Lonely Planet – this turned out to be one of my best “local and cultural” experiences ever! Of course, I will write about it later also. Dinner at Trattoria VASARI – because it was so good that I decided to come back for the second time đ I am very simple – if I like something, I keep coming back đ
Day 9: Florenz – took flight to Barcelona – Spain We stayed here – The location is perfect for exploring Barcelona. The area around the hotel is a bit sketchy at night but during the day it is nice. So make sure if you stay here, do not go out alone too late. We arrived here a bit late so we only had a quick dinner at the airport and then took a metro home. We slept till noon the next day – you never know you are tired when you travel, only when you sleep without an alarm!
Day 10: Barcelona Places we visited: 1. Sagrada FamĂlia 2. La Rambla 5. La Boqueria Market 6. Casa MilĂ 7. Plaça de la Virreina – very lovely area if you are up for a nice walk in the late afternoon and then end the day at a random restaurant with tapas!! We visited some cute workshops and handmade home decoration boutiques around here. Dinner at Vietnamita
Day 11: Barcelona Places we visited: 1. Barcelona Cathedral we had a GREAT morning enjoying the cheerful atmosphere of the “Fiestas de Santa EulĂ lia” (we were so lucky to be here during the festival) 2. Santa Maria del Mar according to my mentor who is a world traveler, the church is the most beautiful one in Barcelona! YES 3. Park GĂŒell a good spot for a panoramic view of the city. If you want to see the work of GaudĂs, make sure you book the ticket in advance. 4. Port OlĂmpic our recommended spot for sunset
Day 12: Barcelona – took flight to Berlin – train to Leipzig Germany We took a morning flight back to Germany so that my friend could see a bit of Berlin đ
Summary of the trip
The trip was so much lovelier than I imagined. As I had been traveling quite a lot before this trip, I was exhausted, and not yet recovered from travels and work. One day before the trip, I had severe back pain – I guess because of sitting too long everyday for work. But I was glad that I made this trip and now I am 100% good đ Traveling heals, doesn’t it?
If I have to pick the city I love the most during this trip, it would be Florence and if you ask me what cities I want to come back, my answer is Florence (of course), Paris (because of its world-class cuisine and pastry and this is my second time in Paris but the city keeps surprising me in so many ways), and Barcelona (because it’s too big and there are still many places we haven’t visited yet, plus THE FOOD!!!)
What city surprised me the most? Barcelona! One week before the trip, I texted a very good friend in Costa Rica saying that I was going to travel to Barcelona and I was “not” too excited because “well, you know, it’s just another big city” and my friend said “Barcelona is amazing, you will love it!” So a little joy sparkled in my heart – I thought “Maybe… Let’s see” and I did fall in love with this city. The city itself is an artwork with beautiful and unique architectures…. and they’re everywhere. I remember one evening I went back to the hotel a bit early and my friend texted me “OMG in Barcelona you cannot stay home at night. GO OUT. Go see the seaaaaaa. It looks beautiful at night. Taste a lot of food there. Spanish food is really good.” The next day I experienced what my friend told me and yes, confirmed!
Besides all the nice experiences, I had a chance to reconnect with a friend I have not met since 2014 (or 2015). We were classmates at university but after graduation, we both went on different paths and to two different countries. There were some small hiccups during the trip and some moments of “why” (hahaha) but I guess we are still friends after the trip and this is more important right? To Helen: if you are reading this, thanks for traveling with me and thanks for always having trust in my choices – I know some you might not 100% like but yeaaah, we made it three weeks together!
Two days ago, I was walking on a bridge by myself heading toward the direction where I could get something for dinner. Then I heard a soft voice behind meâŠ
– Do you know the name of this bridge? – Me: I donât know but I can check it here for you (me taking my phone from my pocket and preparing to check the information on Google Maps) Then he said something I could not hear very well. – San Trinita – Me: âŠ(looked very confused) – No no, I am not asking you the name of the bridge. I am telling you the name of the bridge (with a gentle smile)
Then everything started from there. He walked in the same direction as I did so we had around 20 minutes of walking and talking. It turned out that he wanted to go to Vietnam and was very curious about Vietnam and Cambodia. And of course, when it comes to this topic, I can talk for hours and hours hahaha. As we were crossing a random street and he pointed at a little hole that was so easily overlooked if I did not pay enough attention. I looked inside and said… – Me: ohhhh a construction (I donât know why when I travel I keep making very silly comments hahahahaha I mean itâs so obvious, I donât need to tell a local that itâs a construction) – Itâs a school – a very old one so now they do the construction work to fix some parts. I know a person who taught here, she is very very good. – Me: what does she teach? – Literature and Linguistics
Then I asked if he was in this major as well and he said YES. I almost got starstruck when I heard it because my Bachelor’s degree is in the same field and I love this topic. So of course we talked about this and he asked if I chose Business because of my work. I said yes. He told me if I like something, I should work for it now because living is the art of NOW, not later (my mentor also told me so many times about this). We never know what comes tomorrow. He continued…
– âŠmaybe next year you fall in love with someone and get married then itâs not easy anymore
He gave me so many other pieces of advice, introduced the city to me, talked about the hundred-year-old bridges, and shared with me what he liked about his hometown and I felt like I had known him for some time⊠Every time he told a story he would make a little pause, then look at me smiling…
– now you know something new about Florence
He knows every bridge and every building. The stories kept going on and on and on… but at one point I REMEMBERED I had to BUY DINNER đ€Łđ€Łđ€Ł and my friend was (perhaps) dying hungry at home. He said we could go for dinner and talk more, which I really appreciated but my responsibility was big đ. So I had to politely say no and he told me that he walks the same route everyday and hopes to see me again around the same time the day after; he said he lived on the other side of the river and if we meet again, we shall go for a drink. Unfortunately, as with all of my trips, it was packed so I did not walk again that path but I will remember forever the conversation we had and how he was so calm looking at me and giving me advice as if my grandfather was then talking to me. He also commented that my English had a very strong German accent and it was very easy to recognize. Got this comment from a linguist, I donât know if I should be happy or sad about this đ„Čđ„Č.
His name is Davide. I will always remember this experience. I enjoyed the conversation so much that I forgot to give him my contact but thatâs good because it means I did live in the moment as he said. Every single person I met in life taught me many valuable lessons. The more I experience this, the more I believe that a random encounter in life can change our mindset, our lifestyle, and even our future. Be open and good things will come.
Then I went to pick up the dinner at a very small restaurant called Trattoria Vasari (small yet loved by the locals, specialized in Tuscan cuisine). I did not check any Google Reviews for this place nor search for it, I just got in. When a person at the restaurant handed the food to me, he looked at me smiling âitâs warm and homemade. I made a discount for you.â I was like⊠âohhhhh noooooo this city is TOO MUCH.â The next day I did come back for dinner again because the food was soooooo goooooodddd and guess what they remember me so I got a discount AGAIN…
And those are just TWO among many little stories that happened to us in Florence. Everyday here is an experience, even the studio we stayed in is right in the heart of Florence and itâs a piece of history.
All good things must come to an end, so now itâs time to say goodbye to my beloved Florence, but sure, Iâll be back!
P.s the host of the studio where I stayed was just so nice and he even explained what my name meant in Italian. Very positive meaning and suits me just great (!!!!!) while my friend always teases me about it đđ
I usually write down some of my blurry thoughts at the beginning of the year so I collect them here to read later đ
Follow #notesthroughouttheyear to read some of my blurry thoughts throughout the year đ
Another amazing year has passed!
I canât say thanks enough for all the things that happened to me in 2017. I am grateful to be reminded that I am still able to work, learn, contribute and improve.
Targets are set and I am having another 365 days to complete them. In 2017, I tried to improve some aspects and fields, including Vietnamese history, Vietnamese eating habits, interesting facts about some states in the USA + some European countries, and the cradle of western thought starting with the wine-drinking philosophy of the Greeks.
2017 was the year of my first time to Ha Giang, to Chiang Mai, to Sihanoulk Ville, to the hidden temples in Siem Reap, and to many ânewâ corners in Saigon.
2017 was a year of meeting new and interesting people: a new friend from Switzerland who introduced me to South Park, a mentor (also) from Switzerland who inspired me so much and followed every single step in my career path, a client who took a 38-day trip I planned and gave me many pieces of wise advice, and so many so many other people and travelers I have met along the year. They are all incredible and add reasons for me to love my job.
2017 was a year of really learning about leadership aka having someone in my team to take care of. People say to be a great leader is not an easy task and I totally agree. I still find myself struggling and confused sometimes but life teaches us through examples and small things. You know, itâs difficult to be tough and soft at the same time, to speak and listen at the same time, to agree and to disagree at the same time. And all of these things make you feel like you are spending your life going way around and around. Thatâs why I am still learning. I am a happy learner.
2017 was a year of stepping out of my comfort zone and trying things I had never thought I would / could do. And it was good.
2017 was a year of saving. I am not rich but I did learn how to manage my money (to be honest, sometimes, itâs very messy)âŠwith baby steps.
2017 was a year of tolerance and letting go. There were days, I felt so depressed that a tiny thing could make me explodeâŠbut luckily, I am still here. I learned how to let go which was easier said than done. It took me almost a whole year to start understanding it. I changed my way of looking at things / people. Believe me, everyone has something special.
I am grateful for so many things and I have always tried to express my gratitude throughout the year. I want to take this moment to review my 2017 and canât wait to explore what life is throwing at me in 2018. It might give me some challenges, but still, itâs me to decide whether to face them or run away from them. No matter what life has to offer, donât waste any opportunity to be a better version of yourself.
I usually write down some of my blurry thoughts at the beginning of the year so I collect them here to read later đ
Follow #notesthroughouttheyear to read some of my blurry thoughts throughout the year đ
First Day Of The Year Of The Rooster â 28/01/2017
The first thing I have done today is to reply to two emails and find something to eat. I was sleeping from 1000 PM till 1200AM with an empty stomach. Now after finishing a big watermelon and as I am still awake, I decided to write something for New Year.
2016 has been a year of ups and downs, but mostly ups for me. I could not ask for more. I have worked with amazing people around the globe â that is the most exciting part of the year, talked to people I really admire and adore, got interesting books from friends and bosses, and many many other things that all together make 2016 an unforgettable year to me.
So far I still believe âTravel is my life.â I could not live a day without thinking of the next destinations and you know the best part of working in the tourism industry is that you will never feel alone because you are always connected. Pardon me if I am wrong but to me, people working in the hospitality industry are the most interesting people on earth. They always smile, they are so inspiring, and they are just great partners. If beautiful scenery, an incredible food scene, and a unique resort style sound like the perfect ingredients for a getaway, then a travel partner needs to be on the list. Trust me, traveling with people working in my industry will be a great experience. Anyone traveling with me knows this right?
2016 is not the year that I read too much. 5 books completed. But lots of valuable lessons left. I have started appreciating small things. Sometimes I felt like the time to sit on a rock and ponder a spectacular view, and the time to reflect on the meaning of life was more important than anything else. Being to new places, to the countryside, to the mountainous areas, to the poor countries, far away from things I see everyday, far away from the traffic jams, and far away from the life in the office. Thatâs when I start to appreciate things and people. I find peace of mind. I easily get angry but when I travel, I feel calm and my heart is pure. It is there is learn and absorb.
There were moments in 2016 when I was saddened and heartbroken. I collapsed into bed every night. But I do believe things will be fine again and yes, itâs true. Every issue is born with a solution. You can definitely solve it if you want to.
For anyone who wants to get a better job in 2017. This is my advice. First and foremost, take charge of your own lot and be fully responsible for anything you do. Support more. Create more. As I read somewhere âwhen you help someone cross the river, you will get there yourself.â If you are not happy with your current job, letâs try by helping people around you. When they achieve something, you achieve something. But choose the ones who are willing to go where you are going. I had a chance to enter a bigger company, but I chose to stay. You do not need to leave your current job to create a better one. Love what you do, good things will come.
2017 will be an unafraid year for me. I planned more trips. I must go to Burma. Chiang Mai should be on the list as there is someone who is too interesting not to travel with. And I will be back in Siem Reap. Letâs go Sihanoulk in the summer. I am still thinking about re-visit Phu Quoc or simply leaving it for Con Dao?
2 lines in my companyâs Tet poem that I love too much:
âAll life is a journey
So choose one thatâs worthyâ
In 2017, one thing I would definitely try to do is to frown less just to avoid aging so fast. I will try to keep my standards high. I will try not to âcreate a hard timeâ for my colleagues. I will try to be more relaxed. I will practice more yoga and start learning meditation. I will spend time with my family more. I will learn to be a better person.
I do believe 2017 is going to be a wonderful year. Wish you and your loved ones a year of Peace, Hope, and Abounding Love.
Three years ago, I started reading about Quantum Physics. Schrödingerâs cat experiment shows me that an object could exist in different states simultaneously. This leads me to question whether there would be any âtruthâ in the world as everything could be right or wrong or right and wrong at the same time. What is considered the truth for one person might not be the truth for others.Â
We are living in a world where we try to define everything. The world of definitions. Humiliation or being insulted comes with negative connotations. We feel angry, sad, or disappointed when being insulted. There have been occasions when telling the truth or what one thinks hurts the otherâs feelings. We use our reasoning to find the âtruth.â And if the purpose of reasoning is to come up with the right judgments, why do we tend to disagree and argue over the supposedly defined âgoodâ? Why is it so difficult to reach a consensus nowadays? Why do people believe that being insulted is bad and is it necessary to apologize for telling the truth?Â
I find being insulted a beautiful thing. It makes me think. I could be sad but at the same time, I am happy that something could make me feel that sad. It makes me feel alive. It makes me feel human. And the only way I could feel that sad is if I felt something really good before. It reminds me of the diversity of this world. Every person has an ecosystem within themselves. If we have to put every single experience that a person has lived in their life together and how it shapes their worldview, we could have endless scenarios. If we want to create an understanding environment to nurture the relationship between individuals, we have to put all of the factors and experiences that happened during their lives into consideration. I believe itâs impossible to obtain âwholenessâ or to understand something completely â we could learn about the brain but it is difficult to learn about the mind. We could learn about facial expressions, the gestures but we could never understand what the other is thinking unless they convey it.Â
Living in the world of logic, thereâs always been an urge to reach conclusions so that we could take further actions. Conclusions are drawn from reasoning, yet are framed by assumptions. Being insulted is the result and further action is an apology. The moment I feel humiliated, I lose a piece of my self-pride. I do not feel better when getting an apology after being insulted. Still, why do I want that?
It would be ideal to live in a world without âforced communications.â Silence is beautiful. Explanations could be good but unnecessary. When misunderstanding in communications happens, we need explanations from others to merely confirm our thoughts – confirmation bias. When it comes to communications, itâs not our mind that functions alone â communications create a web of connections that affect our judgments and the way we reason. With the same content, we might feel less insulted if it is spoken by a stranger than by someone we know. Personal reasoning is eventually a âgroup activity.â Reasoning helps us build connections, collaborate, and socialize; it also makes us overthink and generates more problems.
There are several ways to extend our brain capability. What about expanding our empathy?
No relationship has zero misunderstandings. Then how to achieve collaborations on an international scale? The first step is to accept the complexity and not try to fix it but instead, learn how to live with complexity and uncertainty. Someday we will be ancient but we can choose what our history should look like.Â
Hi, I'm Dai and I'm from Vietnam đ 