{{{ PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

If you are serious about staying at my place, dedicate an adequate amount of time to reading MY HOME section. I have written pretty meticulously there. }}}

I was born in 1998, indigenous to HCMC, enrolled in BBA at Foreign Trade University.

https://www.facebook.com/pham.hoangthinh.7
Email: phamhoangthinh1998@gmail.com

Above is my Facebook and email for detailed contact

Actually, I created this account in August 2017 but then abandoned it (and even deleted CS app). I have just re-activated the account in late February 2019. Therefore, please don't be taken aback or allow any kind of suspicion to take over if you have omitted to find any references on my profile !!!

P/S: I'm not really drawn to things like wild partying or night clubbing, so don't get offended or disappointed if I reject your clubbing offer 😀😀

P/S: I'm the one who privileges enduring camaraderie over come-and-go acquaintances. Therefore, I'd be immensely appreciative if we could forge a lasting friendship (if compatible) rather than just hanging out together for a while and waving goodbye for good 😃

I'm a protagonist of this motto: "It's QUALITY that matters more, not QUANTITY". Whilst you might befriend a lot of people and end up going gaga about how extensive your network is, I wonder how many of them would really stick their necks out for you once you've been in an all-time low.

I know that you have LOTS OF friends but I also know that you have VERY FEW BEST friends.

*** One last note for the lazy people *** 😂:

If you happen to be reading these lines, I sincerely advise you to go EMBELLISH your profile MORE. It seems to me that there are some coming across as way irresponsible to their personal information. They listlessly put some short clichéd lines on their profile such as "want to meet new people, experience new cultures, learn something new and blah blah :))". They don't even commit some time to clarifying their personal preferences and revealing the inner self. Why so timid (and lethargic), you guys? If travelling is all about possessing an open mind, then why not try opening your heart too?

What goes around comes around. Should you be whole-hearted in disclosing who you really are to the world, then as a payback, the world will commence to grant you what's best!!! How could you expect the world to give you a lot when you refuse to give yourself to the world first?

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

In all honesty, I haven't had much opportunity to set foot abroad (owing to perhaps budget constraint or pure spontaneous indolence :)))) ). Still, I hold a conviction that if I cannot afford to travel but possess a willingness to welcome surfers far and wide with open arms, it could be perceived as indirect travelling rite? :)))). That also accounts for my affinity towards CouchSurfing

[ DISCLAIMER - some wild thoughts about CS ]:

To all CS sisters and brothers,

I am saddened to realize that there are quite a few untruthful people on this platform. The main reason for using CS, for me, is because as backpackers, we crave to seek for an immersive experience in the distinctive culture and in the general way of living of locals of the host country. Presumably, establishing intimate relationships is also a second objective of many CS-ers after the stay.

With that said, I don't think I have a soft spot for those claiming to be keen on insightful explorations but find it comforting to stay in (deluxe) hotels and to have themselves securely guarded by the hotel people (or by tourguides).

There might prevail bad and deceitful locals but at the same time there are also GOOD ones. Never allow the bad images to get you paralysed. Nothing is as excruciating as a loss of faith in the essential goodness of human nature. I might sound like an irrational optimist but spare some thought to this: "Humans are inherently good. Heartless murderers and eminent politicians, they used to share an innocent and affectionate childhood. It is extrinsic circumstances and the lack of proper guidance throughout upbringing that result in the destitution of humanity".

It's OK if you stay in hotel for work, I cannot blame you then. However, for those exhibiting such fore-mentioned sort of hypocrisy, yet still like to be dubbed "adventurous backpackers", then I'd say that they're not altogether solemn with the ultimate aim of travelling. Therefore, they'll run a possibility of being a come-and-go acquaintance.

* Sorry if it's broad generalization because "no one is the same" but it's still my very personal stance and hopefully, you will to a certain extent relate to what I said 😃. And in case you find it way too preachy, simply feel free to push what I wrote to the back of your mind. 😀 *

Interests

- Books are supposedly my sounding board 'cause they without fail get me to think twice about things I think I'm greatly certain of.

- Music enthusiast is what I would describe myself. My undisputed idol is none other than Madonna - the (in)famous Queen of Pop. I'm convinced that at some point, her music did mark a radical alteration in the way I conceive of things in general and in the way I perceive human nature. "More than rich, more than famous, Madonna is great (at least in my perception)".

+ To truly grow as an artist of considerable stature (not just an entertaining one-trick pony), your music has to yield great impacts upon the ever-changing dynamics of contemporary society. And I would say that's a sort of status Madonna has admirably attained over her four-decade spawning career. From sexuality-driven albums such as "Like a Virgin" and "Erotica" to the introspection-inspired album "Ray of Light", Madonna gracefully evolved from being a vigorous antagonist against social stigma attached to sexual expression of females (in order words, pioneering feminism) into being a mature mother who takes "love and affection" as a core principle in treating every single individual (from her own little daughter to ordinary people in society).

+ Back in the 80s, Madonna proclaimed herself a provocative performer whose daring spirit to push orthodox boundaries on stage did even give rise to several public outcries. In the late 90s, she toned down her image and began to embrace philosophical studies as part of her daily spiritual activities. The result of such embrace was a more contemplative and introspective Madonna who was solemnly attentive to societal issues. In the early 2000s, she and her fellows teamed up to produce one of the most club-friendly party anthems ("Music" album and "Confessions on a Dancefloor" album), all of which aided to ensure her contemporary commercial appeal amongst a multitude of new talented artists.

- It'd be monotonous (and lame) to repeat myself that I love talking to people :))))) since if I state otherwise, I'll be undoubtedly kicked off from Couch Surfing. Just kidding !!!!!:))))

- In the summer of 2017, it was within my luck to forge a binding relationship with a Singaporean buddy. We met one another in Asean Youth Exchange on Education (AYEE) conference. Needless to say that this occasion offered a real melting pot for a person who has never sensed such a cosmopolitan and intercultural atmosphere before like me. Obviously, I talked to lots of people, made lots of promises regarding attempts to stay in touch with the new acquaintances. But after all, the only person I still contacted up to date is Charleston - my first and closest international buddy from Singapore. I think it would be troublesome to pick a word to describe our bond 'cause we appear to understand each other much much much better than our parents understand us. We all have trouble talking things over with parents (due to generation gap or atrocious communication skills or something else, we don't know :))))) ). All in all, we do enjoy each other's company !!!!!!!

- The thing is that recently, I haven't given him a call because I'm currently having some psychological burdens that need addressing.

• books
• music
• languages
• philosophy
• language exchange
• spirituality
• buddhism
• deep conversations
• cultural exchange
• talking to people
• culture sharing

Music, Movies, and Books

- One recent book leaving an indelible impression on me is "Journey to the East". The book might possibly appear tough at the first attempt since it draws upon knowledge from a variety of fileds. Nonetheless, it doesn't deliberately rely on such to get readers bewildered. That is to say, perplexing concepts in the book are illuminated in the simplest possible manner. Now I could go on forever to share my passion for the book but I'd love to summarize all the main points for reference purpose. It concerns a group of renowned scientists in Britain taking on the assignment of venturing to the East with the aim of chronicling the so-called age-old Eastern mythologies. They ventured into India along with their personal bias and fixed stereotypes about what really rendered India poverty-stricken as a colonized country. They stumbled across many absurd showcases of magic and superstitions such as chewing burning sticks or hypnotizing rattlesnakes (phenomena that are not uncommon in India back at that time). However, the timely appearance of some Eastern Masters caused their previously held opinions to be wholly changed. The British scientists eventually had to admit that despite all the remarkable leaps within science at that era, the Western world should also cast their attention to the Eastern world in search of supplementary explications of universal phenomena. East and West cannot be estranged from one another. There gotta be a fusion. The content of the book is profuse but the primary points concluded are:

+ Stay humble and modest because we only learn new things when we willingly dare to challenge or question or abandon (if necessary) our long-held perceptions

+ Treat one another with love, benevolence and generosity in lieu of doubts, stigma and coldness.

- Oh my god, words apparently fail me when it comes to having a chance to talk about Madonna. She has released a total of 13 studio albums (up to 2019) and I would proudly admit that I didn't miss out on any of them (even though her era was way before my time, I still managed to research and download her music). It's too grueling a job to opt for the best album of her career because when you're strongly infatuated with someone, every simple thing of that person becomes immaculate, rite? ("Love is blind" :)))) ). Even so, her most universally accoladed work must be none other than "Ray of Light (RoL)" - a single album reflecting a whole lot of things, ranging from the sweeping change in her musical perceptions to a mind that is invariably open wide for absorbing new things. This record reportedly paved the way for the massive popularity of electronic music (a genre nowadays known as EDM), successfully bringing this genre from its underground status to mainstream pop music scene. So if you happen to be an avid fan of the so-called raving EDM, it is advisable to pay tribute to Madonna for having set such a prototype, right? :)) In this recording package, there's a song for everyone:

+ "Frozen" represents a mastermind of electronica sound, with its lyrics condemning apathy and indifference of human beings toward one another ("You only see what your eyes want to see / How can life be what you want it to be? / You're frozen when your heart's not open / If I could melt your heart / We'll never be apart") - Lyrics !!!!!

+ "Nothing Really Matters" might get you pumping on your feet on the strength of its toe-tapping EDM sound while stressing the critical importance of spreading boundless love and compassion ("Nothing really matters / Love is all we need / Everything I give you all comes back to me" - I'm super into those chorus lines). Some music critics would even go further by entitling this song "an anthem of motherhood"

+ "Drowned World/Substitute for Love" articulates her deep loathing for superficial relationships and hypocrisy, thus emphasizes a need for true love and in-depth understanding. Sorry I forgot the lyrics :))))

+ And a lot more songs to mention but I don't want to turn this sharing corner into a PR article for Madonna 😂😂😂😂

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

This may seem so trivial an achievement when compared to those of experienced surfers but I still like to recite!!! Just last August 2018, my closest Singaporean buddy visited HCMC the second time (the 1st time was during a conference). This time he offered to be hosted in my family to get to know the local Vietnamese lifestyle much more fully. Honestly, I was extremely anxious at the outset because of not having any sort of first-hand experience in hosting any foreigner before. Amazingly, things turned out so smoothly since that guy is genuinely adaptable and culturally conscious :)))). Here, I don't want to go on and on about what kind of good things our family did for him because such act only helps to consolidate my narcissistic imagery :)))). All in all, you just need to know that he did have a good time with our family, which is evidenced by some photographs taken of him and my family in goodwill !!!!! (If you wanna see those pics, go on my Facebook wall :))) )

Teach, Learn, Share

"Everything I give you all comes back to me" - I opted to pick that deliberately random chorus from the song "Nothing Really Matters" by Madonna. Super concise thought it might seem, it masterfully summarizes and prompts us to mull over what we need to do to hope for a better world than the world of yesterday.

"When you give kindness and affection, kindness and affection go after you. When you give stigma, cynicism and discrimination, all of them will come back to you one day" - a vicious circle.

Another familiar way to say this: "GIVE FIRST, TAKE LATER (or even much better NOT to DEMAND to TAKE at all)".

"The give and take relation would be most comprehended once you've had children. Maternal love needs no payback. It's simply unconditional GIVING and NOT asking for RETURN" - said my mom

The world would become a DYSTOPIA if every single person insists on TAKING FIRST.

What I Can Share with Hosts

My mom is a really kind-hearted person. The first time I put up a Singaporean buddy in our home, do you know what she said?

"It's so sad that he just stayed with us for 4 days. If he ever shows any intention of prolonging his stay at our home, let's say, to 1 month, then it's gonna be no problem at all. I'll cook some Vietnamese cuisines I know and buy him gifts until he gets bored. This is the 1st time I've met a foreigner; that's why I wanna go the extra mile for their comfort and ease so that once they've returned to their home country, they'll have all the good images of Vietnam carved in their hearts!" - said my mom :))

Countries I’ve Visited

Viet Nam

Countries I’ve Lived In

Viet Nam