UCHANU 2010: A BIG PRESENT FOR MY STUDENT LIFE

A visit to a primary school in Con Cuong, Nghe An province

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the last blog of UCHANU 2010, a course that left so many wonderful memories in my mind and made part of my student life up to now.

Joining the course is a good way to equip myself with a lot of good habits and skills. First one is keeping writing regular blog that is very useful in improving my writing skill, a habit that I hardly did everyweek before the course time. Though it is advised that writing diary regularly is a good way to enlarge our English vocabulary and the same time a way to review what you have done for a scheduled time, I haven't been able to get used to that for some reasons: too much attention to other activities and probably laziness also. However, from now on I would prefer to write something about main achievements and non-achievements weekly to just sitting silently and keeping everything in mind. It's a good way to improve writing skill as well as giving my mind a quick break.

Second is the skill to make good observation at every small daily situations and senarios. As a result of what I gained from studying about "development" in UCHANU class, almost any small daily situations convey certain meaningful messages in our life that can hardly been recognized if people don't try to dig deep into those. I learn a lot by observations through many wonderful field trips to factories, far and poor central areas... And I understand that development process in Vietnam is occuring at a very rapid rate, partly of that come from development of just small and ordinary activities in daily life.

Another very important skill is to make interviews to people. As part of our project, I had chance to take the role of an amateur reporter who conduct several interviews to different job holders in society. Interviewing people with high-ranking as well as low-ranking jobs, both require me to be able to equip myself with good communication skill and ability to pose the right questions at the right time. By doing this, I have opportunity to practise a little bit journalism skill which is one of my hobbies that I probably can follow up in the future.

My lovely team Cucumber:X

Around 3 months being a member of UCHANU and having chance to work in a group with nice+kute+funny cucumber members, I have learnt a lot of great lessons.

In terms of group work, it seems not easy at all to make a project in my major class with members who are Vietnames friends of the same age. And it even turns out to be more challenging when you work with people from different culture, different perspectives and different languages. However, team cucumber has been able to function well thanks to the great dedication of all members. And the lesson that I think the most important factor contributing to group efficiency is how we together can maintain high team spirit and cohesion. Each of us has our own schedule with parttime job, service class, major class and so many other stuffs in our time table. And too busy with these stuffs sometimes make us forget about group progress. Hence, we've decided to set up a specific day for group meeting and then meet regularly each week to discuss about what has and has not been done. This is not just for project reason, as it seems to be a straint that links all members together through food, drink and so many other interesting sharing +chitchat.

Second lesson I can learn is about time-management and self-adjustment. Planning time for making interviews to us is not easy as some are busy at beginning of the week but the others just free at weekend. And the problem is that all members would like to come to the interview to have chance understand more about another job in Vietnamese society. And in order to find out the best option, there were many times I need to change my own working and personal shedule to match with the others. That's a necessary part of group work.

Additionally, group work also teaches me a lot of communication skill. Somtimes we've to debate about how to conduct the interview most effectively and also make real comments about each other contribution and quality of others' products. That definitely helps me improve my communication skill in English.

I myself have tried a lot to be a responsible member and devote effort to cucumber group. Frequently update and respond to group suggestions and request through email, mobile and othet channels, I always want to contribute as much as I can to group success through finding contacts and persuading people to help us conduct the interview in a most comfortable way. However, recently several misfortunes have made me lack of time to attend group meetings to enjoy wonderful moments with cucumber kids. Yet, my enthusiasm to cucumber has never reduced.

Cucumber Kids: Son, Lena, Van, Miki and Lan (from left to right)

HIV CONTROL THROUGH CREATIVE DAY

It is approaching the national month for calling actions to prevent and act against HIV/AIDS. Vietnam has been a country putting significant effort for the past years to attract attention and participation of all people in the community to fight against HIV/AIDS. It is a millenium disease taking life of so many people in the world and causes immeasurable losses and negative inpact on our society.

By September 2010, the total number of people infected with HIV in Vietnam has exceeded 180,300, including more than 42,000 developed to full blown AIDS.

A big day called "The Vietnam Creative Day on HIV/AIDS prevention" is going to take place at the beginning of December this year as a campaign to call on individuals and organisations to present proposal on HIV/AIDS control method.

Personally, I believe that such a big campaign has been done year by year but infected people have not been given many chances enough to raise their voices in society to help community understand better about the way how to prevent the dissemination as they themselves have to endure that epidemic and have the strongest desire to take actions to fight against it than anyone else.

Promotion Month

This month is a good time for Hanoians as they are well treated with good and appealing promotion strategy. This campaign has been launched at the beginning of Nov as "Hanoi Promotion month", giving chance to me and other domestic comsumers buy both normal and high-end products with reasonable and cheaper than normal price.

This is a very good news to a regular consumer like me and my family members as we often make regular purchases of necessities for family consumption  every week. I and my mother often go to supermarkets at weekend and this is a good way for us to obtain goods at lower price.

This is believed to be a good campaign to attract domestic consumers to buy and use domestic products, encouraging and assissting domestic manufacturers in generating higher revenue and increasing competitive advantage.

However, I hope that the quality of products offered through this campaign is closedly maintained at good and acceptable level, as this has not been strictly monitored in previous campaigns when old, unfashinable items or even fake/faulty ones were offered at low quality level.

LESSONS FROM FACTORY FIELD TRIP

Last week, we had an interesting field trip to a textile and garment factory named Hanosimex. It's located around 2 km from my living area yet that was the first time I have had chance to have a thorough view around such a big factory like that.

We received warm welcome from the board of management and one among them was a graduate from Hanoi university around 20 years ago.

At first, we watched a nice introduction video clip about the development and achievements of the Corporation. Then we were taken around the premise of the factory, visiting 3 main working areas: thread and fibre production, sewing area and finished-product exhibition.

My first impression when looking around the fibre production area was its bad and noisy working condition. All female and male workers have to wear masks and there are a huge number of big machines running and operating. We have to shout or at least speak loudly if we want to be heard. From my observation, workers there are quite hard-working and it seems their working attitudes are quite positive, reflecting by their facial expression. 

FEMALE WORKERS IN FIBRE PRODUCTION AREA

However, the dust and noise from such working comdition may result in some kinds of occupational hazards like skin irritation, deaf, back pain (as most of them have to stand or walk along the aisle to do some repeated tasks).

Leaving the first area, we visisted the sewing area where female workers accounted for around 80% of the labor force. The working condition here seems to be better with adequate light and fan systems and everyone have their own tables with sewing machines.

They sat in line and rows and concentrate well in their job except some curious eyes turning to our crew to see what's happening.

And I tried to make a quick interview to a very young and beautiful female worker about her feeling of her job. She is only 19 years old and has been working there for just around 3 months and in her traning period. Salary for an apprentice during training time is just VND 950,000. But after deduction for the 2 meal expenses provided by the factory, she only gets VND450,000 left for her daily living expenses. I asked her the reason why she chose to work in a factory but not another kind of job, she told me about her failure to get higher education to University and College and the decision to work in a factory as a way to contribute financially to her family. "I plan to work here for a long time as human resource policy of my factory is quite good and I can manage my living expenses with the salary I earn. It's going to increase soon after I finish my traning period."

The field trip has provided me with more real knowledge of what I learn from the text book about the life and working condition of factory workers. It's true that working condition in a factory is not good enough for female workers and if company does not have good policy to protect rights and provide approriate compensation to their employees in case of occupational hazards, company may have more difficulty in hiring labor force in case of need.

ECO-FASHION, AN ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FASHION TREND

A BEAUTIFUL ECO_FASHION SHOW

Is what we wear everyday causing harm to our environment?

Not exactly, it is the process of manufacturing these clothes or the way they are discarded when wearing out directly cause the harm to environment.

That is what I remembered most after the exciting and intereting workshop we organized last week as a regularly weekly activity of my "Talking Green Club".

"Eco-fashion, a trend or a must" is the main topic of our discussion that is aimed at making participants and members be more aware of the effect of what we wear on our environment and the recent trend that more and more international famous fashion designers are trying to produce garments made from natural fabrics and by responsible production techniques.

The workshop is sponsored by several celebrated textile and garment companies in Vietnam like Viet Tien or Thai Tuan.

Interestingly, most participants expressed that they hardly pay attention to the eco-fachion trend emerging for the past years and have little idea about what eco-fachion really means.

 In fact, eco-fachion is about making clothes tha take into account the environment, health of consumers and working condition of people in the fashion insustry. Eco-fashion are often made using organic materials, such as cotton grown without pesticide and silk made by worm fed on organic trees. Also, they are often made from recycled and reused textiles.

However, participants were rasing their confuse about how to identify these eco-clothes easily when going shopping. Many retailers selling their products are still claiming them to be eco-friendlywhile in reality only a small part such as cotton is organic and the other manufacaturing processes are ruthless to the environment.

Hence, sponsors like Viet Tien expressed their approval of raising ideas to the Government and other agencies of textile industry about the need to giving licence to stamp a label on any garments containing eco-credentials.

Thanks to this workshop, I become more aware of my own clothes purchase habit and behaviour, especially paying more attention to buy such clothes that can last long and made from natural fabrics instead of easily being worn out.

A THOUGHT ON THE JOB OF PROSTITUTES

Last week, we discussed at class about prostitution as a kind of job making people who do that easily being excluded from society.

I just have some additional thoughts about this kind of job as it is quite available aroud my living area almost every night. Whenever coming back home a bit late because of parties with friends or some other reasons, I often drive through the small lane leading to my living area, seeing many young call-girls with colourful make-up and sexy dressing standing along the way.

When I was small, I did wonder a lot of time about the reason why this type of job has been so long-lasting in our Vietnamese society where the moral culture and tradition is always well preserved. And why prostitutes are committed to do that job while there are thousands of other jobs that still can provide them with income?

Growing up, I understand that this is such a complicated question to have a perfectly single correct answer. Primarily, the major reason prostitutes enter the trade is due to unemployment and poverty. Many girls are engaged in prostitution at a very young age and a recent trend that some students even use prostitutes as a means of supporting themselves through college. However, it is also true to accept a fact that prostitute is related to real need in life. it is because there are many people who don't marry or are widowed but they have the need for sex.

Also, this kind of sex industry tends to grow up with the development of society. Richer men want to spend their extra money for some relaxation purposes and may find having sex with some employees of massage centers and karaoke bars. And tourism industry develops that make it easier for transnational call-girl rings to be set up in collusion with tour guides.

Nevertheless, prostitution is still needed to put under strict control as a way to preserve community health and order. Hence, I believe that a red-light zone should be set up, granting certificates to prostitutes and enhance decriminalisation against prostitutes. As this is an indispensable need for humans, banning it is impossible and harsh prohibition law undoubtedly will encourage disguised prostitution.

Hanoi with Mid-Autumn

This week has been signaled by one of the most wonderful festival for Vietnamese children: Mid-Autumn Festival. It is one of the most important festivals in the year of Vietnam when family members gather for a feast and children dance and parade with colorful lanterns and cakes in the moonlight. The atmosphere of Hanoi has become warmer and excited even several weeks before the main day of festival. Everywhere local cake shops selling Moon-cakes of different brand names such as Kinhdo, Huu Nghi, Hanoi, Bibica… have made Hanoi streets full of brilliantly red color. Streets turn out to be more crowded, even not in the peak hours because there are more commercial activities supporting for the Mid-Autumn business transaction, and also people are busy with visiting friends, relatives, family members and even current and potential corporate partners with a set of delicious moon cakes to strengthen relationship.

Last weekend, I and my close friends also decided to make a quick travel around Luong Van Can and Hang Ma street, two busiest areas in Hanoi famous for children toys to have a look at recent trends and design for children toys during this special occasion. Although shops on Luong Van Van are flooded with Chinese toys of various types and designs, those nearby Hang Ma display more made-in- Vietnam toys. Its seems that now Vietnamese parents favor traditional hand-made toys for their children  compared with Chinese imported ones because of the safety, reasonable price and the historical value that local bring about. Traditional toys such as drums, masks of various shapes and lanterns in the shape of 5-star, rabbit, lotus still dtand out to be the most preferred items among Vietnamese parents and children. Walking along a shop in Hang Ma street, we heard the voice of a father explaining to the shop owner for his choice of a drum as Mid-Autumn present for his children: “ I choose this because I’d like my son to know about what my parents, my wife and I used to play when we were small. Also, Chinese imports are dangerous. Who knows which harmful substances can affect our children”.

I felt extremely happy to in accident hear that comment. This prove that traditional toys still have their own position in heart and mind of our local, approving that traditional beauty and customs are still considered as an important part in this modern life with so many rapid and unbelievable changes.

Traditionally, when the moon is at its fullest and roundest, there are often a procession with 5-star shape lanterns and lion and dragon dances which are held almost every provinces and local area. In my local living area, The Youth Union combined with local authorities organized a very big celebration with star-shaped procession and a competition on fruit and moon-cake decoration. All kids of all ages participated and it made a very joyful and bustling atmosphere with sparkling lights of candles around the whole street. Members of 13 local Youth Union gathered and prepared for the fruit decoration and carving competition. 

Outstanding product for fruit decoration competition among local Youth Union

Outstanding product for fruit decoration competition among local Youth Union

S-shaped of Vietnam made by fruits and flowers

The area was has become a big meeting point full of joyful laughter and talk. It reminds me of by wonderful childhood moments, and also the portrait and image of President Hochiminh everywhere around the place make me think of 2 sentences in a poem depicting the enormous love of our president towards Vietnamese children:

“The Autumn moon shine as bright as a mirror

  Uncle Ho thinks of children as the Uncle gazes as the moon”

A thought of Poverty

To prepare for class discussion related to the topic of poverty, each student’s required to ask several local people about their opinions and viewpoints regarding to this problem. I did try to approach to two people with different income level to see whether their ideas have any common as well as conflicting points to comment about that. In fact, it turned out that both shared the similar thought on poverty in terms of material life, expressing that poverty is a condition that almost everyone wants to escape from because of the lack in fundamental living conditions. Nevertheless, the woman who is department head with monthly salary counted in US thousand unit seemed to focus more on the access to social capital and social exclusion point when comparing between the poor and non-poor aspect. With the conception of a banker, she expressed: “Poor people in society never have chance to borrow a certain amount of money from the bank because of their high probability of default risk”. That’s a typical fact, with the exception of just few social policy that guarantee provided by Bank of Social Policy can become the reliable source to release limited funds to help the poor. Additionally, she also pointed out the non-monetary disadvantages that the poor have to suffer like powerlessness, lack of self-representation and freedom.

 In fact, poverty is a very complex social issue and it differs from people to people in terms of definition and characteristics. Some people, though full of everything needed to support for a luxurious life yet still claim that they haven’t enjoyed the happiness of life because of their poor spiritual life. And people have mo limit for satisfaction, once they got something yet looking to others around them and found out that they haven’t achieved what the others have, they become jealousy and do everything to be as equally fashionable and successful as the others.

To me, poverty is a multi-dimensional conception and if I have to make a short definition by myself, it would be said that poverty is both a monetary and non-monetary problem that lead to consequences everyone in society has to pay the price, no matter personally whether you have experienced a poor life or not.

I’ve read a recent news that Vietnam and Gana are the two nations in the world that have gained a lot of success in the campaign implementation of poverty reduction, with significantly high rate of people literacy. That’s a happy news, yet we still have many things to do if we want this achievements continue to be developed and received powerful progress in a long term schedule.

Reflection from Hochiminh's thoughts class

Hanoi 1000 year anniversary is coming in just a few weeks with the exciting and joyful atmosphere widespread almost everywhere. Deeply involved in the process of preparation for numerous festivals and celebrations, people also cannot forget to talk about the brilliant and proud history of Hanoi in association with the process of nation protection and construction. On the occasion of this special event, I am interested in writing something about Hochiminh’s thoughts system that have guided Vietnam through the war time as well as the innovation era.

          Hochiminh’ thoughts has become a compulsory course in almost any university and college nowadays in Vietnam, as a way to remind the Vietnamese progressive youth of the wonderful and excellent school of thoughts created by our admiring president Hochiminh and a way to increase the national pride and patriotism. I’m taking this course every Monday afternoon and my teacher is so knowledgeable about this topic as well as the History of Communist Party of Vietnam. Teaching methods and Lecturing skills of her are quite attractive that give me provoking inspiration to write something about what I’ve learnt from this class.

The term Hochiminh’s thoughts has been popular with almost any  Vietnamese citizen no matter what age, gender and social class. And that has been mentioned almost anywhere in historical books, newspapers, TV programs, broadcasting networks. Yet until taking a course about this topic have I gained a deep and profound understanding about the main features and contents of that excellent ideology.

In fact, Hochiminh’s thoughts cover a system of comprehensive viewpoints of fundamental issues related to Vietnamese revolutions. His thoughts belong to Marxist-Leninist ideology, then with combination of positive ans progressive elements of Vietnam tradition and revolution to creat his own. He believed that in order for the revolution to gain success, there need to exist the combination of all class strengths (especially the alliance of worker and peasant class), a wise leadership of the powerful party and the creative application socialism into really current conditions of Vietnam.

Seven among the most important and fundamental viewpoints of our president with regard to the roots of national revolution, liberation and construction strategy can be summarized as followed:

1.     Hochiminh thought on national Questions, relationship between nation and class, national liberation and revolution:

  Core idea is that class interest and liberation must be attached to those of national interest and liberation

2.     Hochiminh thought on socialism and transitional path toward socialism

It’s believed that social transformation is necessary for building a new society that improves both material and cultural life of people. He set forth and pointed out clear strategy: “Jobs for all”, “healthcare for the sick”, “welfare for the old &n weak”, “education for all”, “backward customs & habits to be gradually abolished”.

3.     Hochiminh thoughts on great national unity

He concluded that: “Unity, unity and great unity; success, success and great success”

In order for the revolution to gain more success, we must unite party, all classes in society, unite between believers and non-believers to build a harmonious and comfortable life and Motherland.

4.     Hochiminh thoughts on the combination ò national strength and era strength

For him: “All lands are under one roof, all proletarian are brothers”

5.     Hochiminh thoughts on Vietnam Communnist party:

Founder of Vietnam Communist Party, HCM built and trained the party to become truly revolutionary with the strong affirmation that our party is a decisive factor in leading people to carry out work of national liberation and the unity of the country.

6.     HCM thoughts on building a state of people, by people and for people.

In the State, every interest, power and force belong to the people and people are the main force to bring about a happy life for themselves.

7.     Last but not least, Virtue and Ethics is the basis of Revolution but must go hand in hand with talent and good capability. Without one among them, great achievements are difficult to be obtained.

These old lessons have become long lasting for the past decades as a big mirror for generations of Vietnamese people to look at and follow. And the young generation like us nowadays have been trying a lot to live, study and work following the lessons from these excellent school of thoughts developed and nourished by our wonderful national great father!