Catch Up

Hi all,

It's been quite a while from the last time I've written in this blog. In no way did I entirely forget about it; I have just been swamped from juggling many things on my plate at the moment and haven't really found the time to sit myself down to write up a decent enough post.

So, what exactly have I been up to this past month? Between the span of August and now, I have been continuing a summer job I acquired in May as a Community Development Worker for the Vietnamese Women's Association of Toronto (VWAT). This association is a non-for-profit organization who provides free social services for those who require it (you need not be Vietnamese). Embedded in these services include, but are not limited to: community housing, immigration papers, counselling, translation, adjustment for newcomers (immigrants), etc. Moreover, aside from these services, VWAT strives to foster the growth of the Torontonian community, reaching out to children, youths and seniors with the hopes of one day becoming a nationally--and possible an internationally--recognized association. For more information, please feel free to visit: http://vwat.org/ and their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/VWAToronto

During my summer employment position there, I was responsible for numerous tasks: writing letters to funders and politicians, asking for their continued support; leading a senior group in their community gardening project, taking them to different places including the Toronto Botanical Gardens; planning and teaching the weekly Canadian Citizenship Classes for anyone who wishes to obtain permanent residence in Canada both in Vietnamese and English; planning and leading a summer Day Camp for children between the ages of 5-15; and performing other administrative duties including the planning of the annual Mid-Autumn Lantern that just took place less than a month ago on September 17, 2011 at the Harbourfront Center.

Albeit only a temporary position, I've learned a lot through my working experience at VWAT and had the fortunate opportunity to develop quite a repertoire of skills whilst working with individuals off different age groups. It was undoubtedly a rewarding experience and if given the chance, I would not mind returning next year. I've met a lot of new faces, some of which I've established a close bond with and that's what makes working fun--being around people who bring enjoyment both into the job you do and into your day overall. I would add quite a bunch of photos, but for privacy purposes, I'll have to reserve photos of individuals.

Aside from this, with the coming of September, University returns once again and I am back for my third round out of five. Instead of the common five, I am taking six courses and they are proving to be a mouthful. There are a multitude of readings, assignments, and upcoming midterms that finding some breathing room is quite rare and difficult. Nonetheless, I am still kicking and I am excited to see what this year has in store. With that being said, it's evident that I have less time to write leisurely so my novel has been somewhat put on a hiatus. I have been intermittently writing and ideas are still pouring through, but it will take a much longer time before anything new gets posted. I hope to get a couple more in before the New Year.

On a final note, I have been asked to do an article soon so do keep an eye out for this. I have promised the person that after my mid-terms I'll work on the piece. I will also try to write more often even if it's a minor blurb. Anything is better than nothing, right?

I hope all of you are doing well and I thank you for popping by from time to time.

My best wishes to you all,


Nhan

Brand New Decade

"...A birthday is a gift within itself, a blessing; a present of a new year filled with new hopes, dreams, accomplishments, and memories.

A few of days ago, I had the privilege of turning twenty, the end and the beginning of a decade of a life. I say it is a privilege because there are many out there who do not even live to see a few years let alone twenty.

A birthday is a gift within itself, a blessing; a present of a new year filled with new hopes, dreams, accomplishments, and memories. I remember as a child, the coveted part of birthdays would stem from seeing a large, colorful birthday cake followed by an array of presents. Now as the years have unfolded, such things prove insignificant and instead, what replaces them are wishes to spend your special day with loved ones, wishes to see the smile on their faces and have the exact expression plastered and mirrored on your own. Needless to say, a birthday cake and presents are always nice, but materialistic possessions no longer take precedence over human presence and memories; the latter simply has far more meaning and greater longevity. After all, the greatest gift of all now, for me, is the gift of a friend.

Many who have reached this milestone before me disclosed an infused feeling of finally growing up. As for my own experience, I really cannot vouch for the same sentiment. Either this is in part due to me "being quite mature for my age" (as quoted verbatim by others) or it's simply the fact that we are constantly growing up with every day that passes us by. I'll admit this much: my perspectives on life, values, and people have changed significantly. I would delve into details, but that would subject this post to be an unreasonably tedious length to read, so, in a nutshell: quantity has been blissfully exchanged with quality. Less is the new more and this will be the philosophy I'll carry with me in this new decade.

The 20s--it really is arguably the most important decade in one's life, well for me at least. I see my post-secondary graduation looming in the distance; I'm also entertaining the possibility of securing a solid career, the meeting of meeting a significant other and the potentiality of marriage and kids further down the line. This doesn't only apply to me, but for those I know as well. It's exciting more than anything; I'm dead beat curious to see how things will unfold, but at the same time, I'm in no rush at all.

So to conclude, the question everyone asks me on this day: What do I want for my birthday? I think I've answered the question indirectly already, but I'll do it again. What I want for my birthday is a solid body of friends, or friend who will remain by my side and love me for who I am rather than what I can give. One that will meet me halfway rather than allow me to traverse the distance on my own; one that will treat me like a dignified human being deserving of their time, thoughts, and care. On a more tangible scale, my one birthday wish remains the same as it had throughout the years that have passed: to see you once again and to welcome you back into my life, my long, estranged and lost father.

Book Review: Sing You Home

Book Review

Sing You Home - Jodi Picoult

Rating: 5/5

I don't know if I have mentioned it before, but Jodi Picoult ranks herself as one of my all-time favourite authors; it is actually because of her, after reading My Sister's Keeper, that compelled me to attempt to become a novelist myself.

Sing You Home is Picoult's latest work (she's written so many books that I've lost track of what number this one would be) revolving around a music therapist, Zoe Baxter, who after ten years of experiencing difficulties in trying to get pregnant due to infertility complications and multiple miscarriages, might finally receive what she has desperately longed for--though not without a price to pay. After a horrible turn of events, her marriage with Max disintegrates; an unexpected friendship then blossoms into love, one that is frowned upon by those closest and dearest to Zoe; and Zoe finds herself in a myriad of strife on both religious and legal fronts revolving her potential child.

Sing You Home explores the present potent issues surrounding the world today about Religion, Love, Marriage, Family, Alcoholism, and Parenthood, all notably in the context of homosexuality. It is a book that makes readers question what really constitutes the concepts of "right" and "wrong", if there really is such a black and white answer or rather, a continuum of indistinguishable shades of grey instead. The overall tone and diction of Picoult's latest work proves to be an thoroughly engaging, realistic and an easy read. Readers will find themselves immersed in this story from the get-go and will find it slightly difficult, if not very difficult to put down for this is one of those stories that captivates and transport readers to a different world of fiction. The plot and story line of Sing You Home is also very well developed and the legality theme that predominates most of Picoult's works serve to be similar yet distinctively engaging in its own way.

I would definitely recommend this book for others to read. Presently I have flipped through a few pages of The Postmistress by Sarah Blake and I am taking my time with it. I also have to begin Jodi Picoult's previous work before this, House Rules, which I highly look forward too. After this, I might settle down and write some more of my own work if not head out to the bookstore and peruse around for another good read. My eyes are set on Lisa See's new novel, Dreams of Joy and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. What do you think?

As usual, thank you for reading! Wishes for a good day!

Book Review: Lake of Dreams

Book Review

Lake of Dreams - Kim Edwards

Rating: 3.5/5

Lately I've been taking some time out to read a couple of novels to gather inspiration and insight into the writing style of other established authors in attempts of refining my own for my debut novel, hence the reason for the lack of posting. The more I write, the more serious I am with my work and the more compelled I feel to make it an astounding piece of work.

In any event, Kim Edwards is best known for her phenomenal #1 New York Times best-seller, The Memory Keeper's Novel, a debut novel that I thoroughly enjoyed reading a few years ago. Lake of Dreams is Kim's second and latest effort--a story about a woman's--Lucy Jarrett's--homecoming and her journey there as she discovers family secret that changes the way she envisions her family, her surroundings along with the people around her, and her very own self; it leaves her with an adamant desire to seek out the truth once and for all because with this truth, Lucy feels she can finally bring her unstable life back on track. Amalgamated with this revelation is the conflicted emotional battle Lucy experiences between her present and past lover, the former currently away on work in another country and the latter, an unresolved flame that has yet to be burnt out completely.

Lake of Dreams highly draws upon and revokes the Suffrage Movement notably during the First World War--a movement by women in fighting for their right to vote in state elections. The overall diction of Kim's second piece is very detailed and refined, however, can prove difficult to understand at times; there are sections where the story feels a bit stretch and the vocabulary used might not be the easiest to read. Moreover, the story can be a bit hard to follow given the vast number of characters that are involved (which Kim was kind enough to add a genealogy tree at the end of her novel for those confused, like me). With that being said, the emotions and development in Kim's characters are raw and genuine. The personal conflicts each character faces reflects the commonplace ones we experience in our very own lives, which contributes a great deal to the relatability of this novel.

This review might be a bit biased given my indifference--or at times lack of interest-- to historical novels, but nevertheless, Lake of Dreams was a good read. I definitely learned a thing or two, but for me, The Memory Keeper's Daughter felt like a more compelling piece of work. I am still a fan and I look forward to what future novels Kim Edwards has in store for the mass population.

See you in the next post, everyone and as usual, many thanks for reading!