lilygracies

[lilygracies]

My first-day writing diary

First, I would say that I decided to create a Tumblr account because I want to record my journey as a normal college student together with finding someone to help me with my writing skills on this platform. This is the place where I used to share my experiences, what I have faced throughout the day, and the whole 4 years of college or you can just simply think that you are reading a silly diary of a Vietnamese girl..hehe... Then give me some feedback about my writing... I'm willing to receive your feedback. Right now, I'm gonna tell you about my 1st day as an English tutor for sixth-grader.

I woke up late in the morning at 7A.M. Then as normal, I grab my phone and surfed Facebook. In Vietnam, we usually do it, that's why the old generation always calls us "The lazy Gen Z". In ancient English, they will call this "Dysania" which is used to describe someone that doesn't want to get out of his/her bed in the morning. I know this is a bad habit but I'm trying to get rid of it recently. At 9AM, I used my motorbike to go to my student's house. His name is Hai. Unfortunately, Hai is busy in his piano class... well actually, I was misheard the day for tutoring him. It was on Thursday but I mistook it for Saturday.... I was waiting for so long that his parent asked Hai's friend to come and study for him instead. The girl is the same age as Hai. She is so elegant, charming, and cute. Because I was prepare my lesson plan carefully and neatly, I was so confident to tutoring her... we learn about the Solar system, doing quizzes and game..that was just so Amazing...We talk to each other and she told me that her sister was studying in Finland at Aalto University in Espoo. I thought her family is rich and the special thing about her family is they love to study, discover new things, and go outside the world. That is what I wish my family could think about. My family is in the countryside of Vietnam. My parents are both farmers so they did not encourage me to go to university. They just want me to go to Japan or somewhere in the world to work as a manual worker for earning money. But I know I love studying, seeing my sister at college, a wonderful horizon for a study that I never stop dreaming about made me suffer from stress for a long time. My parent says that going to university cost so much money and they can't afford it. At that time, I was crying a lot, I won't tell anybody and stop talking to my parents..... But one day, I don't know why I made a call for my uncle and convince him to talk to my parents to persuade them to allow me to go to college. Then he agrees and there you go... I'm here as a college student. Sometimes, thinking back about that interval, I criticized my parents for that a lot. But it was just not the case right now. I think I've made some small changes recently, reading books (my favorite one is Atomic habits by Jame Clears), learning IELTS, preparing lesson plan and enjoy the world, working in Ho Chi Minh city is a different life from the countryside. I love Ho Chi Minh city sometimes charming, sometimes appealing and dynamic but also lonely. This place give me the opportunity to discover myself, and teach me how to be mature and better day by day even with some stumbling blocks (or a-knock- out I thought). ... I will try 200% effort not for anybody but just for myself... I promise, this is my commitment...

Back to the story of tutoring, when Hai's sister came home after her Pre-IELTS class, she want to learn IPA so I teach her and Hai's friend at the same time. I also play Dan Hauer Video On Youtube for them to learn English and I was so surprised that they like that a lot. Hai's sister is 14 years old but she is so intelligent, she has learned Chinese, piano, extra-math-class, swimming, martial art, etc. I discovered that she like reading books and learning Chinese like me so I will have to teach her these fields as her mother asked me to do.....(sigh...). At 11 AM, the class finish but unfortunately, it rained outside a lot... I went to the dorm in my motorbike with a soggy look.. But I'm still happy... I know I love teaching and I'm enjoying it...

Ho Chi Minh City, Sat 8th July 2023

--Lily Gracies--