A hard time
Sunday, 4. May 2008, 13:02:02
The good news came on a summer day while I was struggling with the penetrating heat at home. I was accepted to Hue College of Education. Of course, my mom and I were glad that many years of my hard studying bore fruit at last. However, the estimated fee that my mom had to pay for my studies turned the newly arrived happiness into worry.
Although my school fee was free of charge, my mom still found it hard to earn enough money for our living and for my books. Her small business became worse as more shops were growing in the neighborhood.
Although my school fee was free of charge, my mom still found it hard to earn enough money for our living and for my books. Her small business became worse as more shops were growing in the neighborhood.
She ran her modest store by day, and she sold baluts (incubated duck eggs) at night to make ends meet. She was hard-working so she became thinner and more tired. Who can ignore such a poor mother? I decided to help her one way or another.
In the dim light, under a dilapidated hut, a thin girl was reading a thick book. From time to time, she left her eyes from the book and looked at the basket of baluts. That girl was me.
Passers-by sometimes saw me helping the buyers to choose the baluts from a big basket placed on a low plastic stool. Some other times, I sat on the bench with a sad face as there remained many baluts that had not yet been bought.
Needless to say, I was all alone and bored. I started to read a book named “Resurrection” by Lev Tolstoy. A neighbor gave it to me as he knew that I needed more English books to read. I forget what the book said; I only remember that I was so absorbed in it that I didn’t even notice the fearful darkness haunting around me or the rain keeping falling relentlessly until someone stopped to buy baluts.
Accompanying me every night were tiny insects that always hid themselves in the darkness. Only their sound was heard from the bushes next to where I was staying.
As it got later and later, my eye lids became heavy, and I fell half asleep. I lay on the bench, huddled up to avoid the bitter cold. In the dream, I saw the sun shining brightly on the green meadow. So peaceful and warm...!
“Are you sleeping, my dear?” My mom gently woke me up. She was back from selling baluts in the neighborhood.
“Have you finished all of the baluts?” I asked, yawning.
“Yes, dear.” She answered. Her voice sounded blissful.
All has passed, only the memory remains. I’m now working for a foreign company, and we can live quite comfortably with the amount of money I earn each month. “More happiness will come as I experience enough poverty and hardship,” I always reason to console myself.
(Mom and Huong Lan)
By Des An, # 4. May 2008, 14:10:39
By ombolan, # 4. May 2008, 14:32:22
Ansoo, it sounds like a good idea but I don't think my English or Vietnamese is good enough to write a book.
By Huong Lan, # 4. May 2008, 14:32:40
of cause, this is a very, very short story,
but realy good style of writing.
it has something living in it.
a longer story is much more work, yes.
mais, bon, si tu pens ca ne marche pas...
By ombolan, # 4. May 2008, 15:16:51
By AlexFrozen, # 4. May 2008, 19:50:46
Thanks for your praise. However, I'm not a strong girl but a lucky one. I have so many people care and love me, which encourages me to overcome every obstacle I encounter...
Wish you a nice day.
By Huong Lan, # 5. May 2008, 14:35:23
you want to move ...your dancin feet.....
By Donut123, # 5. May 2008, 23:16:41
" Khat vong vuon len phia truoc, do chinh la muc dich cua cuoc song!" M. Gorki:wizard:
By Dothuyhang, # 6. May 2008, 01:40:07
@Hang, thanks for your encouragement.
By Huong Lan, # 6. May 2008, 04:16:03
By thienbao05, # 8. May 2008, 05:42:56
By Huong Lan, # 8. May 2008, 07:02:18
Your are looking nice and i want know in which field you are interested to do job
By anonymous user, # 9. May 2008, 08:33:07
Thanks for your comment. I'm working as a PR coordinator and writing is my favorite. I love expressing myself in words. ^_^
Wish you a nice weekend!
Best,
Lan
By Huong Lan, # 9. May 2008, 09:26:34
By ombolan, # 9. May 2008, 10:00:06
and you do, very well. I am glad for your prosperity.
By Unasia, # 10. May 2008, 02:06:36
Thanks for your praise. I feel comfortable to express myself in Vietnamese but have so many difficulties with doing it in English. Wish that I'd have a chance to travel to an English speaking country to better my English and write in English more naturally.
Wish you a nice weekend!
Regards,
Lan
PS: if you have time, why don't you travel to my country - Vietnam? You will find many things interesting here. Of course, I'll warmly welcome you if you travel to Hue - my hometown.
By Huong Lan, # 10. May 2008, 03:04:50
By cameron_en, # 10. May 2008, 04:34:41
Thanks a lot for your encouragement. Also, I really appreciate the info that you sent me earlier.
Cheers,
Lan
By Huong Lan, # 10. May 2008, 04:49:04
By nguyenmaitrangpro, # 10. May 2008, 13:24:05
By Huong Lan, # 10. May 2008, 14:38:00
By sukku, # 11. May 2008, 18:13:43
By bhv_binhminhmua, # 12. May 2008, 03:33:39
People love you. It always nice to see happiness. Even when i get stuck in insomnia like now :-). Amazing...
By anonymous user, # 13. May 2008, 21:14:54
By honeyparedes, # 14. May 2008, 06:23:30
@Honney: I got to know the word "balut" when talking to a Fillipino friend that I met in Bandung, Indonesia. It seems that balut also exists in Indo.
By Huong Lan, # 14. May 2008, 06:45:20
By honeyparedes, # 14. May 2008, 06:52:32
By budisantoso, # 15. May 2008, 12:53:43
By Huong Lan, # 15. May 2008, 15:14:57
By thahuong, # 19. May 2008, 05:21:23
By Huong Lan, # 19. May 2008, 06:52:32
The main thing to keep people reading your stories or experiences is the FEELINGS you create in their hearts. I think that you can see by other comments that you are very good at this.
Certainly I would encourage you to write, then re-write until you have what you think is a piece others will want to read. Then try the publishers.
You have much to learn, but I feel that you can be published now, if you would only try.
"A farmer sold his farm because the fields were so full of stones his crops would not grow well. The buyer of the farm became very rich because he looked at the stones and found that they were all diamonds."
So, look at what you have NOW, but look at it from a little different perspective.
Much regards,
Steve:up:
By sgf468, # 3. July 2008, 15:29:34
I really appreciate your kind comment. You might not know but your comment has encouraged and given me so much strength and joy to continue writing.
Wish you a nice evening. (It's Friday morning here in Vietnam.)
Best,
Lan
By Huong Lan, # 4. July 2008, 01:03:37
we never know what will happen in future.
today people look you as a poor man
maybe yesterday people will look you as a rich man
live is like a wheel
round and round
Hope u will finish your life with smile that shining from the edge of your lips..
happily ever after..
By ryleeryan, # 4. July 2008, 17:59:08
By Huong Lan, # 5. July 2008, 01:04:04
may i know one thing:
bahasa indonesia kamu bagus..
dari mana belajar?
By ryleeryan, # 5. July 2008, 16:26:23
Sampai nanti yah.
Lan
By Huong Lan, # 6. July 2008, 02:29:44
thats great effort!
bahasa indo kamu bagus banget..
tapi masih ada yang kedengarannya lucu..
but i think thats good enough.
what kind of language that you learn?
By ryleeryan, # 6. July 2008, 03:34:23
You're correct. My bhs Indo is a little bit funny. If you hear me speak bhs Indo, it's even worse. heheheheh
My major at uni is English. How about u?
By Huong Lan, # 6. July 2008, 04:02:37
i am also same with u..
i graduate from uni of english literatur 3 years ago in jakarta
now i am in kupang, province of nusa tenggara timur.
its near with timor leste..
i am a rescue in SAR Department..
do you have any plan to go back to Indonesia?
By ryleeryan, # 6. July 2008, 05:00:54
By Huong Lan, # 6. July 2008, 08:06:02
tahun berapa terakhir di bandung?
By ryleeryan, # 6. July 2008, 16:15:54
Wish you a nice week ahead, Ryan.
By Huong Lan, # 7. July 2008, 00:50:34
bukan selama-lama , lan
yang benar:
sudah lama sekali
kalau pakai slang: uda lama banget
would u like to improve your indonesian?
its my pleasure if you choose me as your teacher..he5
free
no charge
however, can you also teach me vienamese?
how do say in vietnamese:
How are you today?
What are u doing now?
is everything ok?
By ryleeryan, # 8. July 2008, 10:15:29
About helping you with Vietnamese, I think I should start with "chào bạn" (hello). Many people ask me to help them to study Vietnamese but then they give up. Vietnamese is too difficult.
Any way, as your wish, here are the phrases that you may need:
- How are you today?: Hôm nay bạn khỏe không?
- What are u doing now?: Bây giờ bạn đang làm gì thế?
- Is everything ok?: Mọi việc đều ổn cả chứ?
- Thanks: cảm ơn
And tạm biệt (bye)
Lan
By Huong Lan, # 8. July 2008, 13:08:09
By ky su xay dung, # 15. July 2008, 03:09:50
Wish you a nice day.
HL
By Huong Lan, # 15. July 2008, 04:30:05
you know that i feel i got headache..!!
just kidding my friend..
let me try..
chao ban..huong lan..??
--is that true?--
yeah...but how i should to pronounce?
apa dibaca seperti bahasa indonesia?
should i read like in indonesian?
By ryleeryan, # 15. July 2008, 10:45:49
Well, speaking Vietnamese is not easy at all because there are tones. Hmm, I think I help you to speak VNese when we can chat online.
Sampai nanti yah.
By Huong Lan, # 15. July 2008, 14:52:23
baru online ya?
selamat bergabung teman...
By ryleeryan, # 15. July 2008, 15:36:11
Tidur nyenyak yah, Ryan.(Chuc Ryan ngu ngon.)
By Huong Lan, # 15. July 2008, 15:47:45