1. Who gave you your name?
Traditionally, in Vietnam, the names of new-born children are given by one of their relatives, usually their grandparents. However, in my case, an acquaintance of my parents came up with my name, and mom and dad just instantly agreed, because neither of them had any idea what to name me.
2. Does your name have any particular (or, special) meaning?
Most Vietnamese names do, I suppose, and mine is not an exception. My name can be interpreted as a river in Autumn. In my country, anything related to Autumn is considered beautiful and calm, since this season is the most comfortable one out of the four. So, I assume my parents did have somewhat an expectation when they named me that.
3. Do you like your name?
Answer 1: In the past, no. I used to blame my parents for giving me such a boyish name. I even had a deep, warm voice, just like a mature man, which is why all of my classmates made fun of me back in primary and secondary school. However, as I’ve grown older, I just don’t take these jokes so serious anymore, so I guess it’s fair to say yes.
Answer 2: Yes, of course, I do like the name my parents gave me. It’s not only a part of my identity but also symbolizes the love from my beloved parents.
4. In your country, do people feel that their names are very important?
There’s no doubt about it. In Vietnam, names are not only a means of identification. They also deliver parents hopes and expectations when a new child is born. Besides, many Vietnamese believe that names are blessings for newborns, so most people would consider their names a lucky charm for them.
5. Would you like to change your name?
No, I wouldn’t do that, because there are tons of things I would have to do and all kinds of forms to fill in to get a new name. Besides, this thing makes no sense to me. Unless somebody’s a criminal and wants to change their whole identity, there’s no point getting a whole new name.
6. Is it easy to change your name in your country?
I would say you can change it, but I’m not very sure if the procedures are easy because I’ve never known anyone who tried to do such a thing. However, I do think the paperwork required would be quite complicated and the whole process may cost you a lot of time.
7. Who usually names babies in your country?
As I’ve mentioned earlier, in most cases, grandparents would name their children’s babies. Sometimes, a name is also given by a person who’s done a special favor for the baby’s family, or a close relative.
8. Do you have any special traditions about naming children?
Well, I can’t come up with anything, honestly. Maybe there were some in my grandparents’ generation, but we millennials don’t seem to acknowledge any of these traditions.
9. What names are the most common in your hometown?
I’m definitely not an anthropologist, so I have no statistics on names. But I would say names that start with an M are, for sure, very popular. It’s easy to explain. The first word a baby can make is, in most cases, ‘momma’, so I bet the M sound is very easy to pronounce. That’s why people tend to unintentionally name their babies like that.
10. Is your name common or unusual in your country?
If someone shouts my name on any crowded streets at any time of the day, I’m sure more than 5 people will turn their heads back to find out who’s calling them. So, basically, my name is very popular in Vietnam.
11. Does your name have any special meaning?
Yes, it does. Well, you know, almost every name in Vietnam has a meaning behind it. Mine is the South. My father named me after the loss of the Southern Vietnam regime. Besides, it can be also used for someone who is really manly.
12. What kinds of names are popular in Vietnam?
I don’t know much about preferences when giving names to babies in Vietnam, but I guess some neutral names that can be used for both men and women are pretty trendy these days.
13. Are there many Vietnamese people who have the same name as you?
I guess so. You know, since my name is very easy to think of, it is suitable for some parents who are struggling to find the perfect name for their offspring.
14. Is there any tradition about naming babies?
Well, normally the father will name his child, but in some cases, grandparents also want to join in the process of naming. Apart from that though, the family name of newborn babies must follow their father’s family name.
1. Tourism:
- Tell me about the kind of foreign visitors or tourists go to your country?
A good number of foreign visitors come into my country, India. Though there are no age groups among the visitors, I have noticed that the middle-aged people are more in number than other age groups. They come from almost every part of the world including Australia, Russia and US. - In what ways has tourism changed your country?
Tourism, in India, has expanded greatly. Earlier, people used to pay visits to some specific tourists spots but now they go almost everywhere to enjoy the beauties. The numbers of facilities and activities around the popular tourist sports have been enhanced. Apart from that the transportation facility, the security is now far better than they used to be in the past. - What part of your country do most people live in?
Well, the entire country is moderately populous. But I think the density is more in the urban areas like Delhi and Mumbai. - Tell me about the main industries there.
A good number of industries have been formed in India, and among those, the most notable are automobile industry, agriculture industry, banking industry, copper industry, cosmetics industry, fashion industry, jewellery industry etc. - How easy it is to travel around your country?
Yes, it is easier to travel inside the country. The communication system is developed in every region. Besides, the transportation modes are also different and comfortable. Anyone can take a flight or a modern train to visit different parts of the country and that has made travelling easier in India. - Has your country changed much since you were a child?
Yes, there are lots of changes. The use of technology has increased. The country has also marched ahead in several fields like medical science, agriculture etc. We now have better education, healthcare, and job facilities. The export and foreign remittance have increased and most importantly people are more conscious these days than they used to be in the past. - Could you tell me something about your hometown?
I live in Mumbai, previously known as Bombay. This is actually the city that accommodates a good number of Indians. The city is also famous for some other issues and living place of many of the Bollywood legends. It is a beautiful place to live in and offers all the modern facilities someone can expect from India.
2. Happiness & Hobbies:
- Do you like making other people laugh? Why/ Why not?
Not usually. I do not like to make other people laugh through my activities. Making someone else laugh seems inappropriate to me. It appears that I have turned into a joker. Thereby, I cautiously keep myself away from performing such silly things. However, sometimes people laugh because I tell them an interesting and humorous story or news. - Do you think it’s important for people to laugh? Why/ Why not?
Yes, I do. Laughing has several benefits and mostly help to get relief from mental stresses. Besides, people look nicer when they laugh. - Is laughing the same as feeling happy, do you think? Why? Why not?
Yup! Laughing is the same feeling to be happy. In fact, when people become happy, they laugh. So, being happy and laughing has some connections, I believe. There are few exceptions like laughing to conceal the sadness or out of courtesy. - Could you tell me a typical day of yours?
Well, I get up early in the morning, take a walk, then go to the office, return in the evening and spend some time with my kids and family. Finally, I go to bed. - What are good hobbies and bad hobbies? Why?
The good hobbies are like reading books, spending time with plants or participate in sports while the bad hobbies include playing more video games, spending more time in virtual life instead of real one etc. Good habits are good for our physical and mental health while the bad habits are annoying to others, detrimental to our health, relationship and psychology.
3. Magazine & TV:
- Which magazines and newspapers do you read? Why?
I actually do not read magazines rather I prefer to read newspapers. I like to read a Russian and an English newspaper daily in the morning, they are – the Moscow Times and the Moskovskij Komsomolets. I prefer the two because they provide the exact news that I need. - What kinds of articles are you most interested in? Why?
Well, travelling is my hobby and so I am mostly interested in the articles related to travelling, newer places, historical places or travelling tips etc. Apart from that, I read recent political news and editorials part. - Have you ever read a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language? When? Why?
Yes, I have read the English language. English is the second language in Russia and without reading the English newspaper, I will be unable to complete my knowledge. Apart from that, I once read an article written in the German language with my poor German language skill. - Do you think reading a newspaper or magazine in a foreign language is a good way to learn the language? Why? Why not?
Uhh! I believe this is one of the most effective ways to learn a foreign language. Whenever you are reading the foreign language newspaper, you will meet some unfamiliar foreign words and by knowing the meaning, your vocabulary will be enriched to a great extent. Apart from that the expressions and sentence used in this article will enhance someone’s reading and writing skills. - How often do you watch television?
Usually, I watch television in the evening. I cannot manage time to watch in the daytime for my occupational engagement and other business. - Which television channel do you usually watch? Why?
I usually watch the state-owned channel, Russia 1 and some notable other channels are Russia K, Russia 24, Moskva 24 etc. I watch some of the channels for news, while the rest other for entertainment. - Do you enjoy the advertisements on television? Why? Why not?
Yes, I do. There are several reasons for the preference but the top one is it publicises products among the viewers which are necessary for them. Without the advertisement, it would not have been possible to know about the product and its benefits. But too many commercial breaks while watching a favourite programme are often annoying. - Do you think most programmes on television are good? Why? Why not?
Well, I believe all the programmes are not good. Many of the programmes are made to make people entertained only which have no educative value. Some programmes have political influences while others have partial truth in them. Such programmes are not good in my opinion.
4. Festival:
- Tell me about the most important festival in your country.
Pakistan is an Islamic state and so, Eid is the biggest important festival here. Besides, some other national holidays are also celebrated as a festival in the country. - What special food and activities are connected with this festival?
During the Eid, most of the citizens prepare rich foods kebab, paratha, oven baked bread etc. Usually, the meats are prepared with or without soups during the festivals. Among the activities prayer, visiting people, meeting friends and family members are most important. - What do you most enjoy about it?
Well, I enjoy the gathering of people during the festivals. Almost all the people come to the street and meet each other and sometimes invite the near and dear ones at their respective homes. - Do you think festivals are important for a country? Why?
Yes, certainly festivals are important for a country. It helps to strengthen the internal bond among the countrymen. - Do you like to have flowers in your home? Why? Why not?
I like to have flowers at home and in fact, there is a flower garden before my house. I believe that flowers help to beautify a place naturally, and thus I like flowers. - Where would you go to buy flowers? Why?
There are some floral shops near our house who sell different kinds of flowers and, when necessary, I buy flowers from them. - On what occasions would you give someone flowers?
Usually, flowers are offered on different occasions like birthday, marriage anniversary, to show respect or propose etc. I would give flowers to someone on any special day to wish him/her luck or to congratulate. - Are flowers important in your culture? Why? Why not?
Of course, the flowers are important in my culture. Flowers are generally offered to someone to show our love and respect. Sometimes the flowers work like decorative materials at home as well. In our country, flowers are the symbol of beauty and purity.
5. Cooking:
- Do you like cooking? Why/ Why not?
Yes, I do like cooking. It is an art and I want to establish myself as an artist. Everyone cannot cook and the tastes differ from person to person. However, when I cook, the foods become delicious – says, everyone. - What was the last meal you cooked?
In last week, few friends came to visit me and I cooked the traditional French dishes for them. I made several dishes including chestnut soup, potato dishes, Salmon and Shrimp Quiche better known as Quiche au Saumon et Crevettes and Confit de canard. - What kind of food do you like to eat?
It’s a privilege to answer such a pretty question. Well, I eat all types of foods and prefer to have freshly cooked meals. Besides, I also like to have roasted meats. - What kind of new food would you like to try? Why?
Well, I would like to try seafood. I haven’t ever tried the seafood. Some say that the tastes are a bit different from the cooked foods as those are eaten raw. So, I want to try some fresh seafood. - What are some kinds of food you never eat? Why?
I’m not much selective in food, thus the list of foods that I do not take is very short. But I avoid meats from carnivorous animals. It may also sound weird but pork appears less tasty to me, so it is on the discard list. There are some other foods which I can’t recall now and most importantly I do not take any uncooked foods. - Do you prefer home-cooked food or food from restaurants? Why?
Uhh, it is a bit tougher for me to take foods from restaurants. I have some digestive disorders to out of home foods. So, I prefer home-cooked foods. - Describe a popular food in your country? Why do people like this food?
Salade Nicoise is one of the most preferred foods in France. It is made with several ingredients including canned tuna, boiled egg, tomato, olive, lettuce etc. Most of the people like to have it on their lunch as it is nutritious and tasty. - What are some reasons that people eat at a restaurant?
There are lots of points to argue in favour of preference of restaurants. But I believe most of the people go restaurants to save time and avoid cooking hassles at homes. Besides, they may also go to celebrate some private events.
1. Weather & Environment:
- Have you ever been in very cold weather? When?
Yes, I have experienced severe cold weather in the UK. I went to meet my brother, who studies there, last winter and experienced the cold. It also snowed there. - How often is the weather cold where you come from?
Well, in Vietnam, winter is not so cold like the other western countries. Winter is quite comfortable here and we really enjoy this. The cold season lasts about 4 months each year. - Are some parts of your country colder than others? Why?
I should reply in negative here. The country is located in a moderate climate. So, the summer is moderately drier while the winter is not so much cold. As a small country, the temperature is pretty much same all over the country and that is true for the cold weather as well. - Would you prefer to live in a hot place or a cold place? Why?
Interesting question! I would like to live in a moderately cold place. I am in fact unable to tolerate too cold or hot temperature since my childhood.
2. Games and Sports:
- What games are popular in your country? Why?
Well, in Malaysia, different games are found and a majority of those are played by kids under 10. They prefer to play Marbles, Eagle Catching Chicken, Airplane Jump etc. But the adults like to play Push the Wheel with a Stick, Hit the Can with a Slipper etc. The games are popular for their entertaining capacities. - Do you play any games? Why? Why not?
Yes, I participate in games. I like the indoor games most like chess and table tennis. I like the indoor games as those require less physical labour. - How do people learn to play games in your country?
In fact, the learning of games begins at the early stage of their life. When people are in their childhood, they participate in different games and sports with their friends and mates, and they learn to play the games. - Do you think it’s important for people to play games? Why? Why not?
Oh, yes. It is highly important for people to participate in games. There are a large number of benefits. Firstly playing games makes you fit and keep healthy. Then it also helps to bring you a relaxed mind. Some games are challenging and require brainstorming and these type of games are helpful for the cognitive development of children. - Are you good at sport?
Yes, I am very good at sports. In my childhood and even today, I like to participate in different sorts of sports. I played in our school and college football team. I also won few prizes for my performance in the tennis tournament. - What sports do you play?
I like to play football, tennis and cricket mostly. These days I like cricket very much. During the play, I am assigned to bowling for my special bowling skills. - What sorts of sports do you play? Why?
I also participate in badminton and rugby. When I need to have some exercise, I start participating in the sports and the movements help me getting the desired result. - How often do you participate in sporting competitions? Why?
Usually, I participate in sports for twice in a week. Ummm, actually I cannot manage enough time to participate in the sporting events due to my hefty schedules despite my passion for sports. - What is the most popular form of exercise in your country?
Walking is the most popular form of exercise in Malaysia. A good number of people walk in the morning. Playing football is also a popular form of exercise there. - Do you think most people consider exercise a chore or do they find it fun?
I think most of the people do it for fun because all of them participate in the exercises happily. If it was considered as a chore, they would not have been so happy. - What are the best ways to keep fit?
Taking regular exercise, walking each morning and participation in games and sports are the best ways to keep fit, I think. A balanced diet and healthy lifestyle are also required for a healthy body and mind. - What do you do to keep fit?
I always walk in the morning and participate in sports for two days. Whatever the situation is, I do not miss the morning walk. I also maintain a balanced diet and avoid foods and drinks that contain high cholesterol and artificial ingredients.