Blitz magazine, issue 3

Supervisor Pham Ngoc Hoang Phuong Editorial Department Nguyen Hoang Vu (Editor-in-Chief) Le Do Thuy Tu Pham Hung Hau Tran Thanh Giang Design Department Pham Cong Danh (Art Director) Nguyen Vinh Hien (Design Manager) Van Ngoc Thanh Le Thu Trang Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Uyen Nguyen Hoang Anh Nguyen Minh Huy Nguyen Nguyen Quang Le Thi Thanh Duyen Marketing Department To Bao Tran (Marketing Manager) Le Pham Minh Tue (Research Manager) Nguyen Bich Ngoc Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Linh

Contributor Dang Minh Tuan Daniele Moretti Dao Ngoc Tuyet Nhung Do Nguyen Thanh Truc Doan Khanh Linh Doan Thao Vy Doan Tran Anh Thu Hoang Nam Phuong Kim Thuy Vy Ly Thao Anh Nguyen Cong Thanh Nguyen Hanh Minh Chau Nguyen Luong Cong Thanh Nguyen Minh Ngoc Nguyen Pham Xuan Quyen Nguyen Phuong Uyen Nguyen Thu Ha Pham Ngoc Bao Thoa Phan Dieu Hien Tran Thi Xuan Tra Trieu Hoang Giang Trinh Le Dung Truong Bich Nhat Ha Tu Phuong Vy Vo Song Ngoc

Finance Department Huynh Thi Nhu Ngoc Stylists Nguyen Thi Phi Yen Chu Nguyen Phuong Thao Nguyen Ngoc Thanh Phuong Nguyen Trung The Phiet Pham Thanh Nhu Tran Phuong Anh Trinh Ai Nhi Cover Model Nguyen Le Hong Ngoc A huge thanks to all the people who have joined in to make this edition possible!

EDITOR’S LETTER Dear Readers, In some Vietnamese families, there’s a well-preserved custom that I find intriguing: on the very first birthday of the infant, the parents will propel her (imagine it’s a girl) to an Everest of random stuff, from mime mask, toy microphone, Doraemon manga to clippers and scissors. Let’s say the baby picks the mike, her Gagacentric daddy will probably yell out a prophecy like this: “Teehee!

My daughter’s gonna live for the applause, applause, applause when she grows up!” Hmm, now take a step back. What’s the implication of such quirky superstition?

Inside every adult lies a playful child. World-renowned psychiatrist Carl Jung once put it: “The creation of something new is not accomplished by the intellect but by the play instinct.” Childhood games, willy-nilly, weave the inaugural threads into our identity tapestry, which is constantly sewn until our last breath.

So after a hiatus, Blitz Magazine is back to give your hibernating play instinct a wake-up call. Stir and follow Miss Possimpible to win big in a dog-eat-dog wrestling match with Procrastination. Turn to The VhenatordSaur for a loaded pistol and shoot Final Phobia dead in its own Russian roulette. Better still, dive headfirst into the fantasy world of ageless Peter Pan, amiable Lunch Lady, vibrant ‘magic troupe’ Twenties, and ebullient fish jugglers at Pike Place Market.

The game has just begun, Nguyen Hoang Vu Editor-in-Chief Special thanks to our Silver Sponsor

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GOOD MORNING, MELBOURNE! 12-13 RMIT VIETNAM C E S E I A T U TS ABO 11 FAC

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LIKE IT OR

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NOW YOU SEE US

LAYGROUND P O N IS IA D E NOT, SOCIAL M 18-20

DEADLINE RACING SYNDROME AND ITS SECRETS 21-24

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7 TIPS TO H 26-27

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SET IT UP, SPIKE IT DOWN. CTURER...

LE 28-29 BACK TO NEVERLAND

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CODE SWITCHING: HOT OR NO

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32-36 GUNS FOR HD HU NT

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TO TH GOOD THINGS COME

GROUP WORK WITH G 42-43 RACE MONGERS

FINEST TIPS FROM W

ADVENTURE

ORLD FAMOUS FISH 43-45

Society & Culture

OF A COMMERCE ALUMNUS 46-47

FAMILY - PLACE TO BE BACK CH MEETS FUN

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HERE LUN THE LUNCH LADY - W 50 “ANYWAY, THAT’S NOT MY FAULT!”

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MORE THAN JUST AN ENTERTAINER

THE HALLIWELL SISTERS WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

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RGENT & THE DIVE

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Health & Fitness A L L !

64-69 fat loss - myth & truth

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Bo x f u l

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Words Pham Hung Hau & Le Do Thuy Tu

Have you spotted the green crocodile heads and the funky newsboy around our campus recently? Don’t be scared – they are friends, not predators or aliens!

The Green Crocodiles

Boxful of Engagement

The Green Crocodiles are our lovely cardboard mates, whose mission is to enhance the habit of saving and recycling papers within the student community at RMIT Vietnam, SGS Campus.

These eye-catching cartons are part of Student Council’s project “Green Heritage”.

This is how they work: you come feed them with one-side used papers or old academic materials, and then they will help you turn these papers into handy sketchbooks or small accessorystorage boxes.

The “Green Heritage” project is run from week 5 to week 7 in three consecutive semesters, starting from semester B 2013. Since the very start, 21 crocodiles have collaborated with 111 RMIT volunteers to produce roughly 1,000 sketchbooks, which have been given back to the students. On average, each crocodile has gained its weight by 10.5 kilos so far, thanks to your generosity.

6 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

Each semester, the Funky Newsboy will appear in front of Highlands Coffee and stand there for a whole week, hungry for your inputs to the upcoming magazine issue. It only takes less than 5 minutes to make your voice heard, so don’t hesitate to jot down the up-worthiest and shape the magazine to your own liking!

The Funky Newsboy

Let’s say you have a brilliant idea and want to share it. Previously, this was merely possible for the contributors of Blitz Magazine. But from now on, being the author of your own magazine is now a piece of cake for you, me, and everyone.

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enga ge me nt

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Tokyo Crepes Project: Story of Unstoppable Heartbeats

Tokyo Crepes Project Story of Unstoppable Heartbeats

Words Enactus RMIT Vietnam Enactus RMIT Vietnam is a community of students, academics and business leaders who are eager to use the power of entrepreneurship to benefit society. Lately, Enactus has successfully conducted a project aimed at improving the marketing strategy of Tokyo Crepes, a food service business that had been experiencing financial problems for years.

With 3 appointments per week during the last 4 months discussing the future of the business, Enactus and the owner of Tokyo Crepes have built up a relationship closer than mere partnership. The barriers walling them all collapsed – it’s no longer a matter of “us” or “them”, but of “we”, who spent time, energy and business knowledge to ship this business through the storm.

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Stress, failures and disappointment hit both parties hard in the first 2 months of the project. They had to constantly assure themselves that there would always be a way out, and they just had to find it. This self-belief, amazingly, acted like a dose of doping that stimulated them to keep walking.

After a few months, the “Tokyo Crepes” project has succeeded in reconstructing Tokyo Crepes’ business structure, marketing strategy and financial management.

“Sometimes we’re weary to death.

This initial attainment is like a raindrop to our year-long drought.

Like a ray of light that urges our feet to move until the end of the tunnel.”

- says Phu, “Tokyo Crepes” Project Manager of Enactus.

With unstoppable heartbeats, mighty courage, and ceaseless perseverance, Enactus will surly bring about a flourishing future of the “Tokyo Crepe” project, reflecting its two core values: sharing and professionalism.

For further information, visit Enactus RMIT Vietnam’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/EnactusRmitSgs

Campus & Career

Good Morning Melbourne!

All of the buildings in this photo belong to RMIT Melbourne

, g n i n r o M ! d e o Go ourn lb e M

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one ery es like v E . go am ogr nd me r p ea ge han lbourn c x e e fM m’s tna tory o e i es IT V RM dy. Th g n uri bud ne d all her r u lbo .Ic t Me a city e I m her s call ... this

An everyday view of the city centre.

The area behind the tram is Federation Square

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 9

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Flinders Street Station

Melbourne is a typical lady, lovely but erratic. She could get to 25oC like a warm heart on Monday and then fall below 10oC on Tuesday like a terribly cold war. Sometimes she is moody, dropping tears for no good reason.

Yes, the weirdest friend of mine ever!

My biggest fear when befriending Melbourne? Waking up at 8 am to prepare for morning classes during the whole winter period. Here’s the process: I woke up, trembled in the icy arms of Melbourne and bargained for a couple more minutes to sleep. I went to RMIT half-dreamy and wondered where my class was. “Is it 9.2.31 or 10.10.02 or 8.9.41 or what?” A school with too many buildings sometimes is not that good, isn’t it? I opened my note, checked the room and rushed to class like a hungry cheetah. That cycle kept repeating, and I kept begging Melbourne to stop torturing me with those frozen mornings. Hah! Melbourne also introduced me to many interesting friends of 10 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

hers. Some passed by like a wind, some stayed forever. One of the unforgettable was my male classmate, a Cambodian man in his 40s, whose bluish striped shirt fit in well with a pair of grey trousers that reveal the curve of his overwhelming belly. His English was funny: “It tak me tu hour go tu school”. At first, I didn’t like him at all. What made that old man enrol in a class full of people at half of his age? I only knew the reason when the semester was about to end, when there was a writing assignment requiring everyone to share a personal story. And here’s his story: he was a politician in a collapsed party that guaranteed him no life left in Cambodia. After eight years of struggle, he was accepted

by Australian government as a refugee. All the sufferings gave him the motivation to wake up at dawn to catch a two-hour train. To go to class.

To start all over again for a bachelor degree. I didn’t like him. I admired him instead.

Melbourne propelled international

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Colourful houses at Brighton Beach

students like me to a triangle love: studying – working – travelling. If you study and work part-time, you wouldn’t have time to go around. You love travelling? Then you wouldn’t be able to fully commit to any work.

Notwithstanding, I chose the latter.

When talking about Australia, people put the spotlight on Sydney and its Opera House so often that they forget about other cities. Melbourne has its own beauty, humble yet dynamic: Federation Square with colourful festivals, Fitzroy Garden with exotic flowers, Yarra River with its serene

cascade, or open lanes with vibrant shops and ubiquitous graffiti drawings.

Even more exciting are the beaches there: Brighton with colourful houses, St Kilda with paragliding, or Williamstown with a lively harbour and breath-taking sunset.

Six month passed by, and Melbourne gave me more than I’d ever expected.

I found it hard to say “Goodbye” to her, so I chose to pack my “See you very soon!” promise with a wink instead.

The exchange program is a strength of RMIT Vietnam. The aim of the exchange program is to offer RMIT Vietnam students a chance to live and learn at RMIT Melbourne for one or two semesters with the same tuition fees as at RMIT Vietnam, while not extending the total length of study.

Since 2005, there have been around 250 RMIT Vietnam students joining this program.

If you wish to join the exchange program in July 2014, please kindly submit your exchange application to the Student Administration Office at RMIT Saigon South Campus by 5 January 2014.

For further consultations, you can make an appointment with Ms Trung Vo, Assistant Registrar (Student Administration) or email her at trung.vo@rmit.edu.vn.

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 11

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11 Words Doan Tran Anh Thu

11 Facts about AIESEC RMIT Vietnam

facts about AIESEC RMIT Vietnam 1 AIESEC RMIT is the sixth oldest nonsports club at RMIT Vietnam.

2 The first president ever of AIESEC RMIT

Vietnam, Ms. Le Mai Thao, enjoyed her two years at Deloitte Vietnam, a well-known global brand providing audit, consulting, financial advisory, risk management, and tax services, after graduation. She is now pursuing a Master degree at Hult International Business School, a partner of AIESEC International that offers 10% tuition fee discounts to all AIESEC members worldwide.

AIESEC is a global youth network impacting the world through leadership development experiences.

That’s one of the most basic facts about AIESEC that many of you may know. But believe me, you’ve missed a whole bunch of more exciting secrets - at least eleven of them indeed!

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Dancing is not a marketing tool of us - it’s part of our culture! If you plan to be an AIESECer, you’d better prepare to dance a lot and even get addicted to it.

4 One of the founders of

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The very first conference that AIESEC RMIT Vietnam delegates joined was the National Leadership Development Seminar in Singapore, 2008.

5 AIESEC RMIT has the weirdest

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The vision of AIESEC is “Peace and the fulfillment of humankind’s potential” by developing more and more “Change” agents around the world through the Exchange programs. Until now, AIESEC RMIT Vietnam has successfully sent its members to 6 countries: Brazil, Finland, China, Japan, India and Malaysia; as well as welcomed students from 15 countries: Austria, Poland, Switzerland, Mexico, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, The Philippines, India, Japan, Germany, UK and Spain. Quite a long list, huh?

9

One in five RMIT AIESECers are male. It’s time to sing Beyonce’s “Run the World”.

charge any membership fee. Yes, it’s free. All you need to do is to go through a three-round and one-month-long recruitment.

Accounting Club was an AIESECer, holding the position of Vice President of External Relations back then.

HD student ever. During his time at RMIT, Le Minh Triet, cofounder of AIESEC RMIT Vietnam and scholarship student, got HD grade for none of his courses except for Commercial Law. He’s now the Chief Office Manager at Cogini, a regional consultancy service specializing in software development and systems integration.

10 If you happen to befriend an

AIESECer, don’t be shocked at the way he/she talks after coming back from an AIESEC conference. Every crazy memory and initiative starts there!

11 There’re millions more cool facts

about AIESEC RMIT Vietnam. Join the club and explore them yourself!

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3 AIESEC RMIT Vietnam does not

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Now You See Us

NOW YOU SEE US Words Dao Ngoc Tuyet Nhung & Do Nguyen Thanh Truc Once again, RMIT Vietnam students took home 2 awards in the national finale of CIMA Global Business Challenge (CIMA GBC) - annual business competition for undergraduates around the world - with “Twenties” from SGS campus as second runner-up and “Alpha” from Hanoi campus as champion.

Blitz had a little conversation with “Twenties,” a team of young and ambitious individuals: 1

Nguyen Phuong Quynh My (Commerce)

2

Nguyen Huynh Anh Ngoc (Business Information Systems)

3

Pham Huu Hong Ngoc (Economics & Finance)

4

Tran Phung Khanh Lam (Commerce)

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“On a rainy day, the four of us bumped into each other at Beanland Library.

We were all in our twenties and wanted to do something big before it flew off. All of a sudden, we came across a Facebook post about CIMA GBC and decided to give it a try. We picked “Twenties” as the team’s name to represent our enthusiasm and youthfulness. Unbeknown to us, from that moment we embarked on an incredible journey.”

True friends don’t let you do crazy things… alone

“During the preparation time, we encountered countless stress due to assignments and time pressure. Yet, we were lucky to have My to amuse us by her crazy stuff. With the same spirit, after the presentation round, we went back to our room - we prayed, cheered, sang and danced like there was no tomorrow.”

Lessons learnt along the way 1

2

3

4

Make sure to look at the big picture because “The closer you look, the less you see” (our favorite quote in the blockbuster “Now You See Me”).

The more you look at one side of the issue, the fewer solutions you’ll find.

In-class knowledge is very useful in competitions like this and for our future career.

It’s best to apply and combine knowledge from different majors.

Such a nerve-racking competition like CIMA GBC demands a strong team spirit to keep calm and overcome hardship.

Experience as the biggest prize

“We think it will be great if RMIT Vietnam students can join these kinds of competitions, where you can transfer all the arid in-class theories into real-life practice. They will also open up a window of opportunities for you to challenge yourself in a competitive environment before entering the real workplace. You can unleash your previously unknown abilities, too. Experience is the biggest prize, and you know what, one of the judges told us that he didn’t want to hire people who always won because they would never know the bittersweet taste of failure.”

“

The closer you look, the less you see.

From Twenties with love

”

To team Alpha: “We’ve learnt so much from you guys.

Thanks for representing RMIT Vietnam as the national champion to compete in the global finale in South Africa.”

To the advisors: “We want to send our sincere thanks to our lecturers. Mr. Melvin wholeheartedly supported us mentally during the competition. Mr. Kevin Nguyen instructed us on how to give a good presentation. Mr. Truong Mai, Mr. Jaime Calbeto and Mrs. Jis Kuruvilla, with their exceptional expertise, helped us a lot in improving the overall quality of our work. Thank you guys so much!”

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How they departed

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Like It or Not, Social Media is No Playground

Like it or not, social media is no playground Words RMIT Vietnam Career Centre

Like , love, dislike, and hatred - it’s all about how we feel and how we wish to be perceived. Social networks, professional sites, blogs, posts and updates are all there for us to express our opinions.

But when love turns to hatred, like turns to dislike, the fallout can be permanently devastating and lifechanging. And while it may seem hard to secure yourself online, it’s an action you can’t ignore.

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McAfee, an international computer security company, found in a recent survey that between 10% (Australia) and 77% (India) of adults have had their personal content leaked to others without their permission – in many cases by their disgruntled ex-boyfriends or ex-girlfriends.

And it’s not surprising that 11% of respondents had been confronted by potential or current employers about their social media content. McAfee sent out the following advice: Lock your lips - Do not share password with anyone Lock your devices - Use password protection on your phone and other mobile devices Love the ‘Delete’ button - Take the time to delete personal or intimate text messages, emails and photos from your phone Share the Love, not the Info - Once you share private information with those you love, that data is out of your hand, and out of your control

Campus & Career

We asked employers and students to share their career-related stories about Facebook errors in judgment, and here are the top 10 real life Facebook mistakes: 1

Posting a status about your new salary.

2

Posting the boss’ recent email praising your latest project’s success and including his/her identity information or mobile phone number.

3

Checking in on the beach when you have called in sick.

4

Posting photos of your new romance during work hours.

5

Posing as a drunk in your friend’s photos at last night’s networking event, not realizing that he has some friends who are also your colleagues.

6

Posting on your wall about a forthcoming job interview while you are currently employed.

7

Criticizing your internship or current colleagues online.

8

Using negative or foul language in any online discussion or forum including Facebook, RMIT Confession, and blogs.

9

Telling the world you are bored when at work.

10

Accidentally posting a private message about your workplace on your friend’s wall for all to see.

In case you have overlooked many tips about this issue, RMIT Vietnam Career Centre Facebook page has been opened as a useful tool to remind everyone about the importance of managing your virtual reputation, preserving a positive identity and creating a lasting impression. Don’t be caught out!

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 17

“Red alert! Four hours before the deadline! Four hours before the deadline!”

I woke up at 3 AM with a burning head. Even the sun was still sleeping. A 1000-word essay was awaiting and I didn’t want to miss this date. Pulling my hair in four directions, I stared at the white hollow screen. Right, another deadline rush for diet today!

Deadl in

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Deadline-Racing Syndrome & Its Secrets

o m r e d n y S g cin a ts e r c e S R s e- & It

Why do we have deadline rush?

Everything starts with this word “procrastination”. Now, take a look at our little friend. “Procrastination” in Latin is a combination of pro-, for “forward”, and crastinus, for “of tomorrow”. See the picture? So the oft-repeated cliché of every procrastinator would be “I will surely do it tomorrow!”

But tomorrow is another day, and thus another story.

Why do we put off work till tomorrow?

Many of us just don’t have a tendency to do the most important things in our To-do list. There are many reasons for this: “It would take a whole day to finish but I have to meet my friend in the afternoon.”

“I have other less important work and they don’t take much time. I will start working on them first.”

“That work is so important, I feel so nervous thinking about it.” ...

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Words Miss Possimpible & Truong Bich Nhat Ha

I remember reading quite a naughty metaphor about postponing work: “Procrastination is like masturbation. At first, it feels good but you are just screwing yourself”. Well, I’ve undergone this tricky sensation so many times that I think it’s high time to get out of the trap.

So, how to eliminate procrastination?

Below are some mighty weapons to defeat the procrastination enemy. Each has its pros and cons, so I would recommend a synergistic combination of them for a grand victory.

The Paranoid Approach: Think of horrible results you would get. A PA or even an NN. Also give yourself an imaginary deadline, which is 1-2 days before the real deadline.

The Opportunist Approach: Maximize the profit from your time bank. Bath time can also be relaxation time. Bus time can also be exam-revision time.

Another key to success is to go through the most difficult parts of your assignments when your energy is high.

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As humans, we avoid anything that throws us out of our comfort zone. This reminds me of my best friend - call her Ginny, or Ginny-the-professionalprocrastinator. After several days delaying her major assignment, Ginny finally sat down in front of her computer. The fun part is that she sat there for almost half an hour, doing nothing but staring at the blank screen and moving the mouse around. No words were type down. She told me that she totally focused, nothing distracted her. It was the feeling of starting to work that made her feel so demotivated. She said “I would do anything, even the housework, as long as it’s not my assignment.”

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The Strategist Approach: Create a To-do list, but only include really important items. Alternatively, add to this list everything you need to complete, but categorize them as follow: I: Important S: Semi-important U: Unimportant If you choose this method, remember to practice it every day, look for patterns, find out which parts of the day you tend to be most/ least productive, and constantly revise your list based on this self-evaluation.

The Striver Approach: Figure out exactly what you’re trying to accomplish.

Come up with both short-term and long-term goals, as vivid as possible, then break them down to SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound) objectives. Here’s a good example: “To get an HD for Commercial Law at the end of this semester” Is it Specific? Yes, it’s about obtaining a particular grade for a particular course.

Is it Measurable? Sure, we all know 80-100 marks equal an HD, right?

Is it Achievable & Realistic? Dear Business & Commerce students, I know what’s on your mind when it comes to Commercial Law (evil laugh). But believe me, many friends of mine did achieve it, and I believe the same thing will happen to you if you can make the most of your study time.

Is it Time-bound? “At the end of this semester” - obvious enough.

The final step of this approach is to list out all the tasks you have to do in pursuit of fulfilling each objective (don’t forget to number them in a logical priority order).

Do you have any more tips? Join our FB page and share you “bloody” experience in overcoming procrastination: www.facebook.com/the.blitz.magazine

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SEVEN TIPS TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR INTERNSHIP Words Tu Phuong Vy An internship is your chance to ’test the water’ before actually entering the workplace.

Sure you have to take it seriously and prove your competence. But wait, there’re still many ways to have fun with it!

Enjoy being a newbie My internship position at Bayer Vietnam came to me very unexpectedly. In the first place, I applied to be a Marketing Executive for one of the subgroups of Bayer Vietnam - which specializes in 3 businesses: Bayer Healthcare, Bayer CropScience & Bayer MaterialScience - but it turned out that the employer needed someone with knowledge of agricultural products. I knew nothing about this area; however, instead of losing confidence, I asked them lots of questions about their businesses. The conversation gave me an internship slot in Bayer’s Communications Department - it was a pure beginner’s luck, though.

The saying ‘what you do in the real world differs vastly with what you have studied in university’ is especially true in my case, a marketing student doing a communication-based internship.

But as a newbie, I was not expected to know it all. I was free to explore the real world, where my learning wasn’t really related to what I did. It’s strange for a marketing student to design standees, write PR materials and edit movies, isn’t it ?

But I myself was impressed by how much I had learned just after sixmonth at Bayer Vietnam.

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Learn the rules If you make mistakes in the beginning, it’s likely that you’re pardoned as you’re new. Nonetheless, try not to violate the rules, especially unwritten ones. In your first week, you should get a list of your colleagues’ contacts.

Problems arise when people overlap each other’s jobs, so try to avoid this as much as possible.

Don’t be afraid to ask your colleagues for help. In my case, I talked with my boss quite a lot because communicating with her would help me get the job done more quickly than trying to figure things out on my own.

Accept all kinds of tasks The most important thing interns should do is asking for work proactively and accepting all kinds of tasks. We have just graduated (or about to graduate), so we must seek as many opportunities to learn from our work as possible.

I was startled when asked to do “physical” works at first. The nature of communication jobs is varied: today

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you may have the honor to meet celebrities, but tomorrow you’ll be standing on the top of a mountain of mails to be enveloped and sent.

My office only had 3 people, so we had to share all the work. Gradually, I found doing the “physical” works together was sometimes even more joyful than sticking to the computer screen.

Campus & Career

Be nice If you want to be treated nicely, you must be nice first. Pay a little extra attention to your co-workers’ looks.

Praise their new dresses, flatter their hairstyles. It’s not the compliment that

matters, but rather the fact that you care for people around you.

And always go the extra mile when helping your colleagues.

Bring snacks Snacks can build relationships! Whitecollar workers often need something to nibble during long working hours, so a few cookies can bring people together.

Likewise, ideas can be discussed more effectively during friendly conversations than on the cold meeting table.

Think about improvements Evaluate your work on a weekly basis, keep track on improvement and discuss them with your boss and/ or co-workers. Try to get as much feedback as you can, but filter them to

your own situation. Being able to see your own self-improvement is the best way to boost your confidence and performance.

Listen, listen, listen Keep in mind that you’re still young and inexperienced. The approaches you’ve learnt in RMIT - no matter how good they seem to be - are not always applicable to your particular workplace. Take a look around and discuss your ideas with co-workers before raising your voice. During meetings, do you best to listen rather

than to talk. This doesn’t mean you have to follow directions mindlessly.

Think about what you’re doing while you’re doing it. How can you work faster, with fewer resources?

Remember, positive changes start from nowhere else but you.

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Volleyball Club: Set It

SET IT UP, SPIKE IT DOWN Words Dang Minh Tuan

What’s the first thing you have in mind when you think of volleyball players? “Height”, right?

Well, that isn’t the case when it comes to our Volleyball Club at RMIT SGS Campus.

I was sitting down with some members of Volleyball Club on a Friday afternoon for an informal chat.

They all laughed their heads off when I asked whether it was necessary to be tall to play volleyball. “Having a decent height may be an advantage in this sport, but it’s rather the team’s effort and solidarity that determine the result of a match”, a member explained. With 6 different positions in a team, each having different characteristics and responsibilities, 24 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

volleyball requires a whole lot of mutual understanding among the members to attain harmony, and of course, victory. It doesn’t matter how tall you are, as long as you know how to use your own strengths to compensate for your fellows’ weaknesses. Quite often, every member is encouraged to play in different positions, so that he/she can fully develop into a well-rounded player.

Established in 2012, RMIT Vietnam Volleyball Club is still very young; indeed, most of its members had no experience in playing volleyball prior to joining the club. As they learn along the way, bruises and injuries have become more and more common.

No pain, no gain – even the newbies understand that motto and thus hardly make any complaint on their first days.

“We believe the next generation will bring volleyball to a new height - a sport that represents RMIT Vietnam,” said the president, whose sparkling eyes made me regret not taking up volleyball.

Campus & Career

Up, Spike It Down

“When I become an alumnus, I hope to play in a friendly match with the successors of the club.”

Following up the Volleyball Internal Tournament during week 7 and 8 this semester, the club is organizing the External Tournament, which commences on November 26th, 2013.

This challenge is set to see how far the club has come and how far they’ll have to go forth. Visit RMIT Vietnam Volleyball Club’s Facebook page to get updated news about their upcoming tournament:

http://bit.ly/RmitVClub

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If I Weren’t a Lecturer

#LecturerSecrets

If I Weren’t a Lecturer…

Interviewers Dao Ngoc Tuyet Nhung & Do Nguyen Thanh Truc

With #LecturerSecrets, you’ll see your lecturers are more interesting than you might think. So just start off this brand new section with a simple question: What would our lecturers do if they weren’t lecturers? nication

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“If I weren’t a lecturer, to be honest, my ideas change every day. But at this stage, I think I would like to be an artist or an arts teacher, fine arts. At high school, there were 2 subjects I excelled at: Arts and English. So I decided to myself that I wanted to either pursue journalism or arts. I ended up choosing journalism and I have no regrets.

I love what I do, but I would like to try studying some arts subjects next year.

Some of my favorite artists are Van Gogh, Picasso, Miró, Brett Whiteley Nguye and Dali.” nH

“ I guess ung Gi ang (Des if I weren’t a lecturer, ign lec turer) I would still be doing design. And if I weren’t to do creative things like design, I would end up doing IT. I almost went for an IT school in Singapore when I was in high school, just so you know. I also love to be a musician in a band and sing in the bar.”

“I might go back to my previous job, being a police officer, but I enjoy being an educator more. My idea for being a policeman was influenced by movies, not reality. I wanted a job that enabled me to help people and society, so I thought policeman was the best job for that. But after being a policeman for 1 year in America, I realized it wasn’t the job I wanted. Education seemed like a better fit for my raison d’être.” r, Interme

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“If I weren’t a lecturer, I would be a Buddhist monk. It’s a very good life and happy life. I was a monk in India last year. The temple in this photo on my desk is in Myanmar. Being a monk is my personal interest. I want to know more about the teaching of the Buddha. My first time knowing about Buddha was 15 years ago.

Now I teach meditation at RMIT Sports Hall every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday to pursue my hobby.”

rer)

g lectu

“I would be, n hmmm (laughing) a Caroli gym instructor or a firefighter.

I like helping people and physical activities as well, so I think I would be a firefighter. I practice lots of sports, but I’ve never been a firefighter.

There’re other jobs that can help people, but as for firefighters, most of them are men. So I think as women, it’s another big challenge. That’s why I have this in mind, but just a dream.” tin n (Marke

ye e Ngu

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“I would actually like to design jewelry and have my own jewelry brand. It’s because I love jewelry. I always like buying jewelry, shopping for jewelry and just really fascinated by all the different kinds of designs. I could think about going for businesses or anything that I love, even like opening a cupcake shop. I love cupcakes. My sister is a good baker. I have a dog. I love dogs, so I might even open up a pet shop.” turer)

“I would Chris S mith (M be a marketing consultant. arketin g lectu That’s a bit boring, isn’t it? That’s what I rer) was before I was a lecturer. Besides marketing, I have no other interests. My love for marketing started in my first job. I was 23 and worked at the marketing department of Barclays Bank in London. I have my own marketing consulting business but I’m not doing it now. Yeah, I used to run my own marketing consultancy.”

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Back to Neverland

Words Hoang Nam Phuong

“Everybody grows up, except one” - J. M. Barrie Raise the Curtain is an annual event that RMIT Vietnam Drama Club has been working on to bring musical theater closer to the students. Throughout this event, RMIT Vietnam Drama Club aims to create a creative atmosphere composed of acting, singing and dancing, all in one play.

Peter Pan is the very first play to match with the theme of Raise the Curtain this year: Forever Live Young (FLY). Childhood’s dreams never die. And being able to fly and soar from place to place is one of them. Basing on the classical story of Peter Pan, RMIT Vietnam Drama Club brought the audience back to where dreams and hopes all began, to the life of an aspiring child, and more importantly, to their inner land of imagination.

I got myself a seat at 6pm in Melbourne Theater. The whole setting of the Darling’s bedroom in the dim light was right in front of me, and it almost felt like I was at the heart of London. As the curtain was raised, the Darling kids appeared, immersing 28 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

themselves in a fierce imaginary sword fights. Then Peter Pan came, carrying such a carefree and devil-may-care attitude, which inspired the Darlings to embark on an adventure of a lifetime. They landed in Neverland, a place where kids don’t have to worry about grown-ups’ things. Bad luck for them, Captain Hook and his evil crew took over the land in revenge for his lost hand. And that’s when the whole adventure began.

I was awed by the play. I would never expect such stunning visual effects of the sparkling night sky embracing the flying kids. The music was emotional and reminiscent of my childhood; and the vocals throughout the play were like precious gem on the colorful theatrical mosaic. Everyone remained silent as the narrator wrapped up the play: “From that moment on, Wendy had never seen Peter again. But by the windows, every child is waiting for Peter Pan to appear and take them to Neverland.” This may sound ridiculous, but I don’t want to grow up ever again after watching this spectacular work. Gigantic applause and consecutive standing ovations were the priceless rewards for all of the crew’s hard work during 6 months full of sweat and passion. I witnessed a few members shed tears of bliss and joy for have completed such a wonderful journey. I did cry a bit, too!

Peter Pan has become an icon for freedom and imagination to each and every one of us, including myself. To be able to fly high, you’ve got to have faith, trust and some pixie dust for sure!

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CODE SWITCHING: Code Switching: Hot or Not?

HOT OR NOT?

Words Nguyen Pham Xuan Quyen

English is long known as the lingua franca in the global business environment, and Vietnam is no exception. However, there is a growing trend amongst young Vietnamese people to intermingle English and Vietnamese in daily communication. Are they really aware of this so-called “code-switching” phenomenon?

TRINH TRAN It’s not a severe problem that more and more people tend to mix two languages in their communication.

However, we shouldn’t use Viet-lish, which translates Vietnamese slangs into English literally, like “No four go” (Vo tu di), “Know die now” (Biet chet lien), or “Like is afternoon” (Thich thi chieu). The tricky part of practicing English is that it should be done in appropriate places and time, otherwise, it would backfire.

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If a student really wants to improve their skills in a foreign language, he/she can join English clubs or Englishspeaking cafés. Code switching is only for show-offs.

TRANG NGUYEN It depends on the situation you’re in and the people you’re talking with. For Vietnamese students who study overseas or at international universities, it’s acceptable because they’re used to using English on a daily basis.

For the other groups, however, I think most of them just want to show off.

LOC HUYNH Code switching impacts negatively on the mindset of the speakers. It does not only deplete the beauty of Vietnamese culture but also diminishes the values of Vietnamese young people in the eyes of surrounding people, especially the elderly and foreigners. There should be a clear distinction between the two languages – anything in between will make the listeners feel uneasy or confused, which affects the quality of communication.

NGOC NGUYEN It’s a good thing. When we speak a foreign language besides our mother tongue, we can improve our speaking and listening skills. Don’t think of English merely as Britain’s or America’s language – it’s the world’s language! So the more we practice, the better.

ANH NGUYEN “It’s normal to use English at an international university like RMIT. It’s difficult not to occasionally throw some English words to the conversations with our Vietnamese fellows, as there’re terms we’ve learnt that just can’t be translated into Vietnamese. However, when it comes to chatting about personal and non-academic stuff, I think we should choose only one of the two languages: either English or Vietnamese, not both. It’s a sign to show that you respect yourself and the listeners.”

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QUANG NGUYEN

Campus & Career

Guns for HD Hunt

Guns for HD Hunt

Words The Vhenatord-Saur

Week 12 is finally here – one more week until the grand hunt for HDs (high-distinction grades). To make your life easier, Blitz has tracked down some superb accessories to help you upgrade your guns and defeat the final exam battles. Time to dig up the secret weapons of our HD warriors, who survived 5 of the fiercest exam battlefields ever at RMIT: Practice & Theory of Creativity, Investment, Commercial Law, Macroeconomics 1 & 2.

SMART WAYS TO UN-FAIL CREATIVITY Exam Battlefield: Practice & Theory of Creativity Commander: Melanie Casul HD Warriors: Luong Tuong Vi, Vuong Duy Khanh, Nguyen Minh Ngoc, Trieu Hoang Giang & Dang Minh Tuan

Slides and textbook are your best friends

 Read the textbook, set readings and class materials throughout the whole semester, not the night before the exam. This helps you critically think about the key points covered so far.

Remember, cramming is the biggest enemy of HDs. (Tuong Vi & Minh Ngoc) 32 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

 Look at and analyze all the examples in the textbook using theories learnt in class. Believe me, you’ll have some fun along the process. (Hoang Giang)

Go beyond the textbook

 Because you have to analyze a real campaign in the final exam, you should have some foundational knowledge about the advertising industry, society’s situations, and insights into different target audiences. Reading newspaper, watching TV commercials and keeping up with recent advertising campaigns around the world will be helpful.

(Tuong Vi)

During the exam

All the warriors agree that:  Write in paragraphs, not bullet points. Link your response to as many theories in the course as possible, and provide relevant examples for each question.  Be creative with your answers. After all, the course is here to celebrate creativity.  Always keep in mind there’s more than one way to answer the questions.

Sometimes, the answers are much simpler than you might think.  Use Leo Burnett’s and David Ogilvy’s quotes in the exam to support your ideas where applicable.  The exam is long; therefore, try to allocate your time wisely, don’t waste too much time on one question.

Commander’s words

Melanie Casul: “The key to passing the final exam is to read the textbook within various contexts: economy, politics, society, culture, and technology. Not simply to memorize the context but after reading it, look at current examples available in the media. See how the theory in the book is seen or not seen in everyday advertising.”

INVESTMENT

MINIMIZING RISKS, MAXIMIZING GRADES Exam Battlefield: Investment HD Warriors: Dinh Trung Hieu, Nguyen Thuy Van, Nguyen Vuong Tin & Pham Hoang Anh

“Every route leads to Rome”. Every great deal of effort leads to good results. These HD students have different methods of revision, but they all target a fruitful outcome in Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 33

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 Thinking off-book is essential. Never learn parrot fashion for such exam.

Understand the key concepts (brand personality, brand image, brand value, single-minded message, etc.) and then try to remember them in your own words. (Tuong Vi & Duy Khanh)  Try to expose yourself to different case studies and understand the context where they taking place.

Likewise, when learning new theories, try to relate to at least one example for each. (Hoang Giang & Duy Khanh)  Imagine an ad campaign/project and give it some strategies and ideas using the theories. Also explore the ‘External links’ on Blackboard because they may sharpen your creativity. (Hoang Giang)  Learn from your own notes as well as your friends’ notes. There could be information that was discussed in class but wasn’t included in the slides.

Of course, studying with friends is always more fun and motivated. (Minh Tuan)  Participate in the Discussion Board; try to answer all the questions to get feedback from the lecturer. (Hoang Giang)

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the final exam for Investment.

Dinh Trung Hieu

 Study with a group of friends so that they can give you feedback.  Update news on the stock market and apply theories learned in class to analyze the current market situations. This will make it easier for you to memorize and understand the concepts.

Nguyen Thuy Van

 Practice multiple choice questions on Blackboard.  Re-read the textbook thoroughly.

Use highlight memo paper to underline the important content and to mark the textbook pages so that it will be easier to find out the matters

required during the exam.  Looking at your previous assignments in the course and reviewing all the feedback will help you know what your lecturer expects from you in the exam.

Nguyen Vuong Tin

 Pretend you’re in the real exam and re-do the tutorial exercises within a set time limit.

Pham Hoang Anh

 A quick revision on previous courses like Business Statistics, Quantitative Finance, Business Finance, and Accounting may be necessary to get a good grip of the concepts presented in the Investment courses.

COMMERCIAL LAW

WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU MAKES YOU STRONGER Exam Battlefield: Commercial Law HD Warriors: Hung Ai Dung, Nguyen Kim Vu Linh, Nguyen Thi Kim Khanh & Tran Thi Hong Nhung.

Prepare your confidence

 It’s good to have friends to learn together, discuss law rules (their connection, their application in reality, etc.) and practice answering questions before giving your paper to the lecturers for feedback. (Ai Dung)  Read all the cases in the PowerPoint slides. (Ai Dung)  Re-do all the weekly practice questions in tutorials. Make appointments with your lecturers to 34 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

revise them. (Ai Dung & Vu Linh)  Say no to intensive revision on the day right before the exam, because if you realize you don’t understand something, you’ll feel scared and lose confidence. Instead, relax on the day right before the exam. (Kim Khanh)

Prepare your skills

 Be careful of the questions and interrelated rules. For example, you must be able to distinguish consumer goods from services contract when applying “offer & acceptance”. (Hong Nhung)  Manage your time. There are 4 questions, so you should only spend

Prepare you materials

 Create your own cheat sheets. Even though this is an open-book exam, having the knowledge in mind will help you to save time and be more confident. (Vu Linh)  Bring a dictionary to the exam. This is not to translate from Vietnamese

into English, but in case there are some English words in the questions that you have no idea about. Even when it comes to unimportant words, you can panic if you don’t have a dictionary in hand. (Vu Linh)  Bring highlighters to the exam.

Read the questions carefully, and highlight important information.

Particularly, for questions regarding ‘Offer-Acceptance’ with more than two parties, highlight the information of each party with a different color.

This will make the analysis easier. (Vu Linh)

“MACRO 1”

IS NOT HARD AND YOU KNOW IT Exam Battlefield: Macroeconomics 1 HD Warriors: Hoang Ngoc Thao Ly, Tran Huu Tri & Pham Thuy Ny Practice sounds boring, but it’s always the best weapon indeed!

Hoang Ngoc Thao Ly:

 Summarize every topic learnt since the first week.  Listen to free lessons on Youtube.

Here’s a good example:

bit.ly/JWelker

Tran Huu Tri:

 Re-do every single piece of homework that was assigned before the exam day.

Pham Thuy Ny:

 Practice to understand the economic principles. Don’t wait until you clearly understand the principles to do the exercise. You can start doing the exercise even when you just have a little understanding. By practicing and comparing answers, you’ll find out why you were wrong and understand how the principles work in reality. Practice helps you gain experience, and experience helps you understand the principles to the max.  Practice to get used to the questions.

Like math and other situation-related subjects, one principle may vary when applied in different situations. You need to do exercise to experience and get used to all those situations. If you can do that, I’m sure you can quickly respond to any question in the exam.  Practice to know the common tricks.

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roughly 30 minutes each. If you don’t know the answer for a question, just skip it and come back later. (Hong Nhung)  Know your cheat sheets well - you should know where to find the rules.

(Kim Khanh, Ai Dung & Vu Linh)

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Multiple choice questions often have some traps that you won’t be able to detect if you either don’t have a deep understanding or haven’t experienced them before. Practice the multiple choice questions is a good chance for

you to get into these traps without affecting your final mark. This is the key element that will help you get good marks in every exam, not only in Macroeconomics 1.

“MACRO 2”

IS HARDER AND YOU KNOW IT TOO Exam Battlefield: Macroeconomics 2 HD Warriors: Nguyen Thi Phuong Trinh & Nguyen Thao Vy

Reload your bullet…

 Carefully examine the in-slide examples of some special cases and interpretation of the theories. (Phuong Trinh)  Review your own notes. The slides are not detailed enough to get all the information. There’re many things the lecturer explains in class that may help you understand the slides better.

The notes also help you systematize the information and thus remember them better. (Thao Vy)  Reading book is critical. The textbook will give you a deeper understanding of each theory.

There’re some aspects that the slide don’t cover as precisely as the book does. (Phuong Trinh)  Last semester, lecturer Ye Kluegel Cleo opened many extra classes, in which she covered everything from the beginning, gave extra materials related to each topic and answered the students’ questions. We found

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them extremely helpful - so if there are any extra classes this semester, we strongly suggest you attend them.

(Phuong Trinh & Thao Vy)  Practice drawing diagrams and interpreting chain reactions from these diagrams. (Phuong Trinh)  Write full answers for the sample questions on Blackboard. Then, give them to your lecturer to check and point out your mistakes (if any). As you come up with these answers, please comply with the solution requirements below each question.

(Phuong Trinh)  You only need to answer 6 out of 10 questions with respect to 10 topics, so prepare 6 topics that you’re best at.

(Phuong Trinh)

…and fire!

 Try to finish all the 6 questions as missing one question means losing 10%. You should spend roughly 15 minutes on each. (Phuong Trinh)  Find pens that could make you feel comfortable and write fast. Don’t let this trivial stuff bring you trouble.

(Phuong Trinh)

RMIT Vietnam Football Club (SGS)

ON THE MOVE Officially re-established in Semester A - 2013, RMIT Vietnam Football Club has been making university life more vibrant and unforgettable with its youthful vibrancy.

Within a short time , RMIT Football Club (RMIT FC) has achieved much sound success, including the third place at the Vietnam University Games 2013 (HCMC Regional Round) and the second place at the recent Open Futsal Tournament.

These awards have strengthened the club’s belief that they are on the right track.

It takes determination and effort to get to where the club is now. At the beginning, RMIT FC faced a “manpower” problem: even though football is the king of sports, it didn’t seem to be appealing to RMIT students. This challenge has spurred the members on to revive the football passion in RMITers’ hearts with innovative strategies.

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RMIT Vietnam Football Club (SGS): On the Move

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Training Program

By implementing this regular program, RMIT FC aims to offer the trainees professional training conditions with football experts and cutting-edge practice facilities. The club divides its members into the small teams undertaking scientific schedules to maximize the training effects and satisfy the trainees’ self-development demand.

Team Building

RMIT FC also organizes trips to Vung Tau each semester in order that the members can practice physical exercises and strengthen their bonds as a team.

The club’s vision, however, is not only to gather people who can play football, but also to create a frenetic playground that connects students inside and outside RMIT Vietnam via their common passion for this sport.

7on7 Football & Futsal Tournaments

The internal football tournaments have attractted more and more participation and attention, not only from the students but also from the staff. In the matches, the players can be competitors but off the field, they are brothers. Although not having a rich history like other clubs, there is no doubt that RMIT FC has tremendous potentials and a promising future ahead.

Again, they’re not here to train anyone to be football stars. Their sole and only mission is to make your university experience more enjoyable and memorable.

In semesters to come, RMIT FC’s next projects are going to take place on a larger scale, full of surprise and excitement. Stay tuned for their move!

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Good Things Come to Those Who Try Words Trinh Le Dung Although I met Nguyen Chi Hieu while he was busy marking piles of assignments, this enthusiastic lecturer was still willing to share his motivational stories, accompanied by a welcoming smile.

Before coming to RMIT Vietnam, you had received many scholarships from world-renowned universities, which I find impressive. Can you share with the students some experience in getting these scholarships?

Very interesting question. Well, to get to where I am today, I had marked out three steps for myself and thought them through one by one. First, I chose the degree that fit me the most. This way I can prove to the examiners how passionate I was. Frankly to say, it was my passion and vision that counted, not the GPA. Second, I tried to find my own answers for these questions: What is the scholarship looking for? Which type of student is suitable for this scholarship? And how will it complete me? Third, I didn’t put myself under any pressure. Lucks come to everyone, but miracles only come to those who try. If you don’t succeed right from the first time, keep trying. If you still fail in the next time, keep trying harder. The thing is, the second failure is always better than the first one because you’ve learnt something valuable.

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Chat with Mr. Hieu

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What do you think about RMIT Vietnam students? Is there any strength/ weakness that you spot from them?

RMIT students are really active. You guys are self-confident and you know how to deploy your strengths very well. I’ve seen many activities made by students around campus. I think that is so great because activities will give you more practical experience which you cannot learn from the book. Just like you guys, when I was studying abroad, I often took part in many activities related to my homeland, Vietnam. I participated in Vietnamese cultural festivals as well as fund-raising events, the most prominent of which was a Trinh Cong Son music concert. I’ve learnt a lot from these extra-curricular activities indeed.

However, I think RMIT students should try to study more independently. You guys shouldn’t depend too much on your lecturers. We’re here only to provide you with the knowledge, you yourself need to do further research and explore more related materials after class. That’s the meaning of tertiary education, especially in such an international learning environment.

I heard it through the grapevine that you’ve travelled around 20 countries. Is it true? How has travel affected your perspectives on life?

Yes, it’s true. Travelling across different countries, I’ve gained new insights into people, myself, as well as all the inevitable ups and downs in life. When you travel alone, you have to be independent, and that’s what I like about it. I love making new friends during my trips and I like challenges.

I used to drive across America. I went to China, Greece, Africa, and all over Southeast Asia. There were some trips in which I had to leave behind all my gadgets such as cell phone or iPad. Sometimes I even had no clean drink, no food and no shower. So I see travel as a good way to challenge and improve myself. Above all, travel allows me to discover my deepest identity.

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I love photography, hiking, dancing and Vietnamese street food (not necessarily in that order). I enjoy standing on a high mountain, treating myself with the splendor of the landscape. It gives me a sense of freedom and reminds me that nothing can stop me from doing what I want. I also fancy watching sunset at a deserted beach. It’s so peaceful.

Many young people admire you and want to lead an interesting life as yours.

What do you think about that? Is there any moment that you feel regretful when looking back to the old days?

I guess my life is interesting because I’ve found its meaning. I never regret what I have done, because if I didn’t do anything wrong, I wouldn’t know that I didn’t like it at all. Simply put, I’m happy with what I did, what I am doing and what I will do.

But hey, don’t try to be like me! Hell no! You are the best when being yourself!

For young people, you can make the best of your life step by step: explore, dream, and then act. Don’t be daydreamers, though. If you don’t work towards your ambitions, then dreams will always be dreams.

Thank you for the conversation, Mr. Hieu!

Full name: Nguyen Chi Hieu Highest qualification: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Economics Achievements: - Best student of the United Kingdom (2004) - Top 100 best students in the world (2006) - Top 3 students with the highest grades at Institute of Economics and Politics London, UK - Best lecturer at Stanford University (5 times) - PhD scholarship winner at Stanford University and the International Monetary Fund

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Wow, that sounds great! Besides travel, what are some of the things you fancy doing in your free time?

Campus & Career

Group Work with Grace

GROUP WORK WITH GRACE Finest Tips from World-Famous Fishmongers Words Doan Thao Vy

A big part of study at RMIT involves group work. Admit it, we all know group work is a useful preparation for the workplace, yet we shy away from doing it.

Why? Because more often than not, it goes down a bumpy road of conflicts, misunderstandings, and frustrations.

No matter what attitude we hold towards group work, we need to work on it. For something as tricky as this, we need worldclass instructors. Meet the world’s most credible experts in the field - the fishmongers at Pike Place Fish Market!

Once a quiet local fish stall, Pike Place Fish Market nearly went bankrupt. An extreme “makeover” was then applied: attentive fun with the customers is now the centerpiece. With this approach, the “fish sellers” bid farewell to their old ways.

They would instead throw their fish, play games, tell jokes, and deliver special performances, all for the customers.

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Such joyful vibes not only pulled these Seattle-based fishmongers out of bankruptcy but also turned their shop into what could be called a sizzling circus, a heaven of fun, and a far-from-common fish market worthy of world’s fame. Customers make frequent revisits, and fishmongers make a living out of their laughter. Morale is at its highest.

So, what do these fishmongers have to do with group work?

Group work is all about human interactions.

Looking at the way our fishmongers treat their customers you would know our fishmongers have found the key to satisfying human interactions among a group of people: attentiveness and joyfulness.

Choose Your Attitude: The fishmongers chose to have some fun despite their repetitive and boring “fish-biz”. When it comes to group work, try to think and respond positively to every circumstance. As thoughts drive behavior, they are not to be underestimated. Bear in mind “group work is not impossible, it just requires my extra effort, we are stronger together“.

Be There: The fishmongers perform tricks with their fish to amuse their customers. Similarly, when people need you, they need all of you – yes, the whole package. Give your partners your undivided attention. Also endeavor to be mentally and emotionally present: volunteer to do stuff, talk to each member, look them in the eyes, sympathize with their personal issues, and do your fair share of the work.

Make Their Day: I can’t stress this tactic more.

A good team player knows how to make his/ her fellow partners happy. Smile at them. Tickle them. Include them all in your conversations. Ask if you can help them with anything. And bring some snacks to the group meetings (believe me, this trick always do wonders!) Small thoughtful stuff like these goes a long, long way…

Play: Play with what you’re doing! Spice up the atmosphere. Have fun. Urge the birth of ideas and mess with them. Enthusiasm and creativity would push teamwork to high appeal and fruitfulness, because when you enjoy the work, others will, too. Why so serious?

Group work can be grueling or great; your effort may suck or succeed. Attitude makes the ultimate decision. Come what may, try your best to connect with other people and have fun. Joy is contagious, so keep calm and be a jolly fishmonger.

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A few years ago FISH! Philosophy – one that got introduced in a best-seller book, enjoyed huge media coverage, and inspired a whole lot of souls – came about.

Basing on the practices of Pike Place Fish Market’s staff, it sums up what should be done for good interpersonal dynamics, which are perfectly applicable to group work at university:

Campus & Career

ADVENTURE OF A COMMERCE ALUMNUS Studying at university is not just about getting the degree. University is a place where we learn about ourselves, unlock our possibilities and live our dreams,” says Nguyen Minh Long, the Business Analytics Manager at HSBC Vietnam, former Senior Consultant at KPMG, and RMIT Vietnam alumnus.

Be brave enough to change your life

abroad, but only when joining in a real class like this did I really see how inspiring it was.”

Long graduated from high school when Information Technology (IT) was a very popular university program, particularly among male students.

With his parents’ encouragement, he entered an IT major in a Vietnamese university though having little passion for it. After the first school-year, Long soon realised it was not what he wanted to pursue. “I needed to find a new pathway for myself,” he says. One day, after attending a demonstration class of the Commerce program at RMIT University Vietnam, the IT student reached a turning point of his life.

After that class, Long decided to quit IT and pursue the Bachelor of Commerce program at RMIT. This is a decision that he calls “a big change in life” as it not only changed his major and school but also renewed his way of learning, self-improvement and personal development.

“I was really surprised seeing how the class was organised. Students were discussing ideas with their lecturers very confidently and enthusiastically,” Long recalls. “I had known about this learning style from books, newspapers and friends studying 44 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

Make the most out of every moment After one year studying English at RMIT, Long quickly improved his language skills and entered RMIT’s dynamic University life. Not only studying hard, he also participated in many extracurricular activities and community programs. Long became the first president of the Aikido club, and together with other members developed the club with numerous

“From a management perspective, operating a student club is like running a real enterprise because it requires certain knowledge and skills in various fields including marketing, finance, human resources, accounting and strategy development. Thanks to RMIT’s educational environment, which always fosters students’ selfreliance and independence, my club members and I had the opportunity to apply what we had learned into the operation of the club.”

A true book lover, Long found the University library to be his favourite place to relax after class. Indulging himself with this treasure trove of knowledge was his self-reward after hours of working and studying.

Determined on his chosen path Right after graduation, Long began working for KPMG, one of the world’s largest accounting and auditing firms.

Two years later, impressed by his excellent academic achievements and work experience, HSBC Bank welcomed him on board.

In the role of Business Analytics Manager at HSBC, Long is responsible for analysing customers in terms of financial status, market trends and competitors’ actions to provide effective plans and manage risks. Just like in the years he spent at University, everyday at work Long is filled with excitement.

“Every day I have the chance to work with colleagues and clients from around the world. My work is challenging but the feeling of overcoming a challenge is very rewarding. And that is the motivation for me to never stop trying,” Long says.

Nguyen Minh Long has found his true calling in the field of finance and economics. More than that, he has also been able to become the inspiration for other young people to believe in themselves and follow their passions.

Nguyen Minh Long - Graduate from the Bachelor of Commerce, RMIT Vietnam - First prize winner of “Enrichment is not hard” program (2007) - Former Senior Consultant at KPMG – one of the Big Four auditing firms - Currently the Business Analytics Manager at HSBC Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 45

Campus & Career

activities for the student community at RMIT.

Society & Culture

Family - Place To Be Back

FAMILY

Words Pham Ngoc Bao Thoa

PLACE TO BE BACK The author of this true story is not a girl who used to obey or take good care of her parents. She, instead, was a childish kid who would take her family for granted…

I wasn’t born into a happy family. My parents divorced when I was at an early age. All the unexpected adult conflicts and upheavals suddenly flooded in my innocent childhood like an intense wave. My beloved father went away, leaving a scar in my heart. The image of a big daddy driving his little daughter around the city and singing her dozens of songs didn’t appear in my dreams anymore.

What’s left was the image of a 46 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

frightened girl chasing after her dad, crying “Daddy, come back! Please don’t leave me…”

It killed me inside, painfully.

“

It had been such a long time since I last fell into his arms, full of affection and warmth…

”

During my teenage years, the apologies from my parents would never satisfy me. Although mom had always taken good care of me,

The author and her parents

and dad had visited me regularly, the sense of loss and separation wasn’t depleted. I went through devastating torments and couldn’t help blaming my parents for that. But I was too young to realize that they were too stricken hard by that breakdown.

Eighteen years old, I experienced my first time away from home. Standing at the airport’s gate, I gazed at dad’s wrinkled face and realized that he had worked hard to strive for a happy family, but then ended up with nothing. I held him tight and sobbed like a child. “If only I could tell you how much I loved you, dad!” It had been such a long time since I last fell into his arms, full of affection and warmth…

After several months feeling homesick, I finally got used to the overseas life. Like a rubik cube, relationships have their bright and dark sides - easy on the surface but complicated when people stay under the same roof and get involved in each other’s daily lives. Coming back to auntie’s house from school, I had no choice but to befriend unwashed dishes, dirty clothes, and slothful

The independent life overseas made me appreciate the importance of family. To make ends meet, I had no choice but work non-stop and digest insults every day. I had to deal with many types of people – from benign to malignant, from easy-going to hottempered. The only thing that would ease me, then, was the painstaking image of my parents every time I got sick – mom would take care of her only daughter all night long, while dad would anxiously ask the doctors about my health state. Even when I was in a hospital overseas, they gave me courage with their distant calls.

“You feel better now?”

“You make me worried, dear.”

That moment, I realized who would stay with me till the end. Neither my first love nor my best friends. My parents.

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 47

Society & Culture

cousins playing video games day and night. “Help me out a little bit. I’m kinda busy with the shop and the kids are too small to do the housework!” – said auntie. Those duties had become my daily responsibilities ever since.

I was troubled not only with the chores but also with the relatives’ unreasonable complaints, judgments, and control. Mom would never treat me that way. But all that I gave mom in return was a repeated blame: “Why didn’t you treasure our happiness?

Why did you do that to daddy? Give back my childhood!” I didn’t know letting her only child study overseas was the hardest decision she had to make.

Society & Culture

Every Lunch is a Playful Meal

THE LUNCH LADY where lunch meets fun Words Nguyen Thu Ha

She loves teaching her foreign customers to use chopsticks, and has been doing this job for more than 18 years. Meet the Lunch Lady at her petit stall under the shadow of the tropical almonds.

Putting on her signature gigantic smile, the Lunch Lady seemed to me like a gentle breeze easing the heat of a typical Saigon’s noon.

I found it surprising that inside this chubby woman’s little stall, there was a diverse cuisine mosaic, with lots of specialties like ‘bun mam’, ‘bun bo nam bo’, or ‘banh canh’ (Vietnamese noodles and soups) – each was tailored for a specific day of a week.

First featured in a Vietnamese magazine by a close customer, the Lunch Lady has been attracting a great deal of media coverage throughout the globe, including the reality show No Reservations

by Anthony Bourdain, renowned American chef, author, and television personality.

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As a result, more and more people, mostly foreigners, are coming to her stall, both for lunch and for fun. As I sat down interviewing her, this caring woman told me some of the unforgettably awkward situations she had with her diners. Time was when the Lunch Lady couldn’t communicate with her foreign customers at all, and thus she had to learn some basic English expressions from her relatives and friends.

She also told me that many of the foreigners didn’t know how to use chopsticks, some even used 2 spoons simultaneously to pick their food, or more ridiculously, some used forks to eat the Vietnamese noodle as if it was Italian spaghetti.

So she gave them wooden chopsticks,

Society & Culture

It seems like my customers would like to have their meals served under these tropical almonds, sit on the plastic chair, and wait for some sudden winds rather than to eat in a fancy air conned restaurant which, as she said, were not as fancy as other types of chopsticks but made the customers’ lunchtime much easier.

To this dedicated lady, preparing flavorful lunches for the customers brings her bliss. Internationally endorsed, the foods here are still served at an affordable price, only about 30,000 VND per dish. For those of you who doubt the quality of street foods, here’s the good news: you don’t have to worry about this hygiene issue anymore - the ingredients are always fresh, clean, and carefully chosen by this time-tested “chef”.

At the end of our conversation, the Lunch Lady told me she used

to dream of owning a bigger restaurant with electricity and an air conditioner.

“But you know what?

It seems like my customers would like to have their meals served under these tropical almonds, sit on the plastic chair, and wait for some sudden winds rather than to eat in a fancy air conned restaurant,” she said.

“It’s the unique street food culture that makes them want to come back.”

That’s why she’s still here, right behind her makeshift stall, after 18 years serving luncheons for generations of diners. If you happen to wander around the city not

knowing what’s for lunch, then seek the Lunch Lady at 23 Hoang Sa St, Dakao Ward, Dist 1, HCMC.

Excerpt from Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations:

bit.ly/NoReserv More interesting videos about the Lunch Lady:

bit.ly/LunchLady1

bit.ly/LunchLady2

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 49

Society & Culture

Anyway, That’s Not My Fault!

“ANYWAY, THAT’S NOT MY FAULT!” I

was on my way back home after a tiring day at university. As my motorbike driving skill had never been good enough, I drove with nearly a snail’s speed to avoid incidents, making it safe for me and for others.

I was on Nguyen Chi Thanh Street (near Cho Ray hospital), a hot spot where people took advantage of the pavements to sell stuff. I was crossing the street when a small truck came out from an alley. The truck stopped just in time and the driver gave me a signal to keep going. All of a sudden, a motorbike behind me squeezed through the inch me and a pedestrian.

My motorbike felt off the street, and so did I. Before I could realize what had just happened, I heard the accident-maker’s furious shout “Why don’t you look around carefully?” He made off on his luxurious SH, leaving me stunned.

I’m sure some of you have been in the same situation, when somebody hits your bike and then blames it on you. To me, I was surprised when that seem-to-be well-educated man could act in such irresponsible and senseless manner, which left me clueless until I’ve recently noticed many people around me tend to say “Because of…” instead of “I’m sorry” when making mistakes. Refusing responsibility has become a habit, if

50 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

“

Words Doan Khanh Linh

Refusing responsibility has become a habit, if not a human nature.

”

not a human nature. Making excuse has come to be perceived as the easiest way to protect oneself from punishment. This phenomenon should be considered seriously by individual, as it would trigger terrible consequences. Specifically, it can detach yourself from your community by turning you into a dishonest and coward person in others’ eyes. Even worse, when you’re new in a social group, people may judge you on every littlest gesture to determine what kind of person you really are; hence, they’re unlikely to forgive you for any irresponsible behavior.

No one wants to make a bad impression on others, especially given belongingness is one of our basic emotional needs in life. So why don’t we stop making excuse and be ready to take the heat of our wrong-doings?

Henna Tattoo

When Culture is Wearable Words Nguyen Luong Cong Thanh

I was on a trip to Batu Cave in Malaysia when I saw an Indian man perform a ‘Tea Tareak dance’ to vie for the passers-by attention to his kiosk. After having a thirst-quenching cup of Tea Tareak made from milk and tea leaves, I visited a Henna drawing booth nearby. A woman in a colorful sari showed me a catalogue full of decorating motifs from peacock, bird, lotus bloom to sun, moon and star.

The curiosity button at the back of my head was pressed.

Henna is actually a plant grown in arid lands in Africa, Southern Asia, and Northern Australia. Henna leaves are dried and crushed to olive drab powder.

After getting mixed with other ingredients, henna powder can be used to dye skin, hair, nails, and clothing. Meanwhile, its flowers are used to make perfume.

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 51

Society & Culture

Henna Tatto: When Culture is Wearable

Society & Culture

Henna tattoo or Henna drawing is a kind of body painting using the Henna powder. Originated from India, this practice has been performed for over 9,000 years as a pre-wedding tradition in Hindu and Muslim cultures. It is considered one of the sixteen crucial adornments for Indian brides. Without Henna, the beauty of the bride is not complete. Before the wedding, a bride is supposed to have her hands, arms, feet, and legs covered with Henna tattoos. Besides being ‘jewelry’, Henna tattoos also signify ardent love, luck and elegance.

Legend has it that the darker the Henna tattoos are, the longer the couple will stay loyal to each other.

After the wedding, the bride needn’t do anything until her Henna tattoos fade.

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Henna tattoos are designed not only for weddings but also for holidays. It’s popular for males in their benchmark occasions such as in birthdays or stag parties.

Recently, Henna drawing has waded across Vietnam and set a trend here.

Taking on these temporary body paintings, Vietnamese teenagers don’t have to be afraid of their parents’ fury.

What’s more, the feeling of waiting for the Henna tattoos to dry is as anxious as waiting for New Year’s Eve. Many Henna wearers, however, have no understanding of these tattoos’ meanings apart from an on-thesurface interest in their visual appeal and removable feature. Keeping up with a trend is great, but absorbing its underlying meanings is even better.

It’s time to get to know a little bit more about this enticing cultural practice:

Society & Culture

Henna Pattern

Meaning

Peacock Beauty Bird

Messenger between heaven and earth

Butterfly Transformation, conversion Dragonfly Rebirth Parrot Messenger of love Fish Women’s eyes Flower Joy & happiness Tree & vine leaf

Longevity, dedication, persistence & vitality

Sun, moon & star

Long-lasting love & eternity

One last note, some fake Henna powder out there can cause allergy or even scars to your skin. Be mindful and look for credible places such as Flea Markets or Henna drawing clubs if you want to try out a Henna tattoo.

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 53

Arts & Entertainment

VLOGGER

Vlogger: More Just an Entertainer MORE THAN JUST ANThan ENTERTAINER Words Phan Dieu Hien

“I posted a video on Youtube over 5 years ago thinking no one would see it,” said Nigahiga, famous vlogger with over 9.2 million subscribers.”

Little did he know that this seemingly innocuous act would change his life forever. Ryan Higa, or Nigahiga, is a 23 year-old Japanese-American comedian from Hawaii. Ryan was your typical kid, who would love to play basketball, do Judo and immerse himself in computer games. It was not until 2006 did he decide to make his first Youtube video, simply with a digital camera and simple editing software, which he regarded as “pure boredom”.

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“Keeping an eye on popular tags and stop making videos people didn’t want.”

Nigahiga’s vlogs are in form of humorous sketches, rants and music videos. He addresses things that everyone thinks about but is afraid to speak out, in a comedic and hilarious way, yet trying not to be offensive.

He does a great job in making fun of current trends or subject matters like his ‘Bromance’, ‘Milking’, ‘End of the world’, ‘Why Selena broke up with Justin?’, ‘Worst boyfriend ever’, etc.

His videos, no matter how nonsensical and ridiculous they might be, always receive million views as well as huge support from loyal fans around the globe.

Aside from Nigahiga, there are many other well-known Youtube vloggers, and JVevermind - a Vietnamese student studying in America - is one of the prominent local ones. Making his first vlog one year ago, JVevermind now has 41 videos with about 950 thousand subscribers. Like Ryan, JVevermind has created a variety of different characters that he uses in comedy sketches such as: keyboard hero, young girl in love, parents… His videos are not only funny and satirical, but also have a huge influence on young people - some of them would even imitate his ways of talking and adopt his perspectives on pressing social concerns like overwhelming examinations, school bullying, or even racism.

“A world without weird people is like vanilla cream without sprinkles.”

Not all of Nigahiga’s videos are funny, but they’re all weird in their own ways. In ‘Violence’, Ryan imagines a world without human conflicts, but in a way far different than John Lennon did in 1971. Boys, instead of playing Call of duty, Gear of war, Street fighter, would only play Call of duty: Modern peacefare, Gear of love, Street hugger. Instead of travelling to Mordor to destroy the Ring, Frodo and Sam would travel to the legendary Brokeback Mountain. And in his ‘Saw’ series, we would learn to say no to every bloody game but Farmville.

“My main focus is always to make my loyal Youtube fans happy” The main purpose of vlogging is to entertain the audience with ironic, unexpected messages, but for many famous vloggers, believe it or not, they can earn a living from their work.

According to Nigahiga, enjoying what you do and putting serious effort into it is the key to becoming a successful Youtube figure.

Watch Nigahiga’s inspiring story about his own struggles in life: bit.ly/HigaLife Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 55

Arts & Entertainment

“Without YouTube, I wouldn’t have any of this.”

Arts & Entertainment

The Halliwell Sisters: Where are THey Now?

The Halliwell Sisters:

Where Are They Now? Words Nguyen Cong Thanh

To the 9x generation, hardly did anyone forget about Charmed - a supernatural drama following the story of four sister witches: Prue (Shannen Doherty), Piper (Holly Marie Combs), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), and later, Paige (Rose McGowan). Do you want to know what has happened to the actresses we once adored since the series ended seven years ago?

Shannen Doherty

Doherty left in 2001 after three seasons on Charmed, citing the work being no longer fulfilling and constant drama on set as the reasons for her exit. Media dictated that this ‘drama’ referred to the mounting tension between her and co-star Alyssa Milano. After a twelveyear hiatus, Milano acknowledged during a talk show that ‘there was definitely some rough days between us’.

The two publicly made up via Twitter this July, though.

Now speaking of her post-Charmed life, Doherty hasn’t landed any major role except for guest starring in two series North Shore and 90210. She then directed her career towards hosting and producing reality shows. Notable works included Scare Tactics and Breaking up with Shannen Doherty. In July 2011, Doherty announced a new project called Shannen Says, which documented her and her fiancé, photographer Kurt Iswarienko, planning for their wedding. The couple finally tied the knot in Malibu later the same year.

Holly Marie Combs

The sisterly bond between Combs and Doherty does not only exist on screen - the two actresses are frequently spotted hanging out together. Combs also revealed in an interview that she still considered Milano a close friend and had dinners with McGowan several times a year. Contrary to her happy friendships, 56 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

Alyssa Milano

Rose McGowan

Among the four, McGowan is probably the ‘sister’ most blessed with the acting career. Following Charmed, McGowan was casted as the main character in Grindhouse - an action-horror, double-feature movie that received critical acclaim. Her big-screen journey continued with various productions like Dead Awake, Conan the Barbarian and Rosewood Lane. Fans that don’t go to the cinema can still catch McGowan easily in popular TV series such as Nip/Tuck and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Her latest role was in ABC’s Once Upon A Time where she acted as young Cora, mother of Evil Queen.

In 2007, McGowan was injured in a car accident which left serious damage on her face. Having undergone several reconstructed surgeries, she now looks drastically different from herself in the Charmed heyday. Besides acting, McGowan is a well-known LGBT activist, having participated in various campaigns and protests demanding for gay rights.

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Arts & Entertainment

Combs decided to end her seven-year marriage with David Donoho, former Charmed key grip, in 2011 after having three sons with each other.

Comb’s toughest career period was from 2006 to 2009 when she appeared in only one low-budget movie, Panic Button.

However, 2010 marked her comeback with a cast of ABC Family’s hit show Pretty Little Liars, which is currently in its fourth season. In the series, Combs portrayed a mother whose daughter involves in a mysterious disappearance of the school’s “queen bee”.

After closing a Charmed chapter in her life, Milano took a number of initiatives to diversify her career.

In 2007, she launched her own clothing line Touch, which targets female baseball fans. In 2008, Milano became the spokesperson for PETA’s ad campaign that aimed to promote vegetarianism. The following year, she published a book called Safe At Home: Confessions of a Baseball Fanatic and lent her voice to Ghostbusters: The Video Game, which belonged to the Ghostbusters film franchise.

In 2009, Milano’s personal life was in an exciting development as she married Hollywood agent David Bugliari. In August 2011, the couple welcomed their first child and Milano withdrew from the showbiz for a while until 2013. The actress currently plays Savi Davis in ABC’s new drama Mistresses, which revolves around four female friends engaging in complicated and even illicit relationships.

Steampunk: The Odd, The Whimsical & The Divergent

Steampunk the Odd, the Whimsical & the Divergent Words Nguyen Hanh Minh Chau

‘Frankenstein’s grotesque creature and Doraemon’s magical machines – what do they have in common?’

‘Future?’

‘Nope, but nice try.’

‘Sci-fi?’

‘Almost there.’

‘I give up. Just tell me the answer.’

‘So impatient, dude! Anyway, it’s Steampunk, an uncanny art genre that will surely blow your mind!’

Steampunk - Art of Western Industrialization When the industrial revolution first erupted in the 1800s, Europe rapidly turned into a state where man labour was substituted by machines; paintings were killed by the invention of mass paper production and cameras.

Romantic artists, then, showed objections against scientific technology, claiming that the society had lost its connection with nature and human emotion. However, they couldn’t behold their stand any longer when modern art movements such as Surrealism, Cubsim, and 58 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

Futurism emerged under the pressure of the era of machinery. As a crossbreed of these movements, Steampunk came in.

Basically, “steam” signifies the impacts of technology on human life, whereas “punk” refers to the expressive attitude of a rebel. Art Donovan, an art director and Steampunk enthusiast, once put it: “This attitude in Steampunk manifests itself in the form of a lone wolf artist, the DIY (Do it yourself) craftsman, and the amateur engineer, who are not beholden to any contemporary style or ideology.”

Steampunk treasures the harmony between the feminine delicacy and the masculine roughness of industrial engines. The playful nature of Steampunk distinguishes itself from other serious art genres. Here are some famous works that will give you a clearer picture of the genre:

Arts & Entertainment

For fashion fans: Thomas Willeford’s sci-fi costumes, Viviene Westwood’s dresses, Topsy Turvy’s hats, Amanda Scrivener’s jewellery.

For movie fans: E.T, Wild Wild West, The Time Machine, Edward Scissorhand, Frankenweenie, Steamboy, Laptuna: Castle in the sky.

For game fans: The Chaos Engine, BioShock Infinite, Dishonoured.

For fiction fans: Frankenstein, The Time Machine, Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea, The Difference Engine, Five Weeks in a Balloon.

Steampunk – Experiment Playground or

Superficial Kitsch?

For more than a century, Steampunk has warranted its impact on almost everything, from fine art to product design and fashion. Ironically, the reason is that many academics regard Steampunk solely as kitsch – depthless, garish recreations of iconic art or design. Specifically, Steampunk artists often blend this category with other themes and genres. Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhand featured artificial man Edward (Jonny Deep) who has scissors for the hands; as the movie revolves around this unfinished android and his personal discovery in the journey of love, hate and sympathy. The film has received much praise for its brilliant combination between cold Steampunk elements with heart-wrenching moments, enough for a classic love tale.

Similarly, leading Australian children book illustrator Shaun Tan invented

his own mechanic creatures and a whole alternative industrial planet to express loss and isolation. In The Lost Thing, which was adapted into an Oscar-winning short animation in 2010, Tan just spontaneously collaged random photos and elements in his creation process to form a creature made out of industrial boilers and an octopus. As the story unfolds, the creature reveals itself as a symbol of loneliness and abandoned memories.

This is when Steampunk becomes a game of profound creations.

Steampunk, as an art or just recreation, hence is up for you to decide. Pick up your old shoes, some unused chains or cogs and turn them into superpower speed-engine! Let your Steampunk shoes take you to unknown adventures that cherish all the littlest mechanical inventions in your daily life.

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 59

Arts & Entertainment

Studio Ghibli

GhiBLi stuDi

GhiBLi Words Vo Song Ngoc

Well-known for iconic animes like ‘Spirited Away’ or ‘My Neighbor Totoro’, Studio Ghibli is now shifting its scale further to the global entertainment industry.

With the very first movie Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (1984), director Hayao Miyazaki gave birth to Studio Ghibli, a Japanese animation film studio based in Tokyo, Japan. This resounding kick-off, as a result, has led to many animated masterpieces later on.

What is Studio Ghibli made of?

Creative story plots are a defining factor of Ghibli Studio.

Spirited Away (2001) is a good example.

Revolving around a sullen 10-year-old girl’s adventure into an exotic world ruled by gods,

60 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

witches, and monsters, the anime has become the highest-grossing film ever in Japan, generating approximate 275,000,000 USD worldwide. In the same vein, Princess Mononoke (1997), which narrates

hero Ashitaka’s journey towards the cure for a curse and the war he happens to confront, was rated sixth on the “Top 10 best movies in 1999” by American film critic Roger Elbert.

As the anime comes to an end, you will realize that home and family always exist in your heart wherever you go.

Whisper of the Heart (1995), likewise, will bring you a sweet, fresh and pure taste of love.

The message is simple: happiness is not far; it’s rather close you, sometimes too close to realize.

Ghibli Museum: Hub of magic Located at Hyogo, Japan, Ghibli Museum has attracted millions of global visitors and become a must-see for anime fans. It takes around two hours to

go through the whole museum. As you arrive, you’ll see a huge Totoro standing at the ticket counter. On the first floor, there’s a large theater called “Saturn Theater”, where visitors can take a seat and enjoy short movies of Ghibli Studio. The second floor is separated into two sections: a gallery displaying watercolored pictures from the artists at Ghibli Studio, and a model of the real studio with weird production tools and undone sketches. Here you’ll have an opportunity to discover the process of producing an anime from scratch. Hey, don’t forget to get on the huge Bus Cat and buy some souvenirs for your friends on the third floor of the museum.

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Arts & Entertainment

The diligent artists are another asset of Studio Ghibli – they wouldn’t mind spending time on in-depth discussions, elaborate concept research and tests, or even day-long observation on animals’ body movements to every single detail, so that they can ensure the authenticity of the characters and reach a high level of expression and story-telling.

Ghibli Studio’s animes embrace not only the great and powerful, but also the grassroots and ordinary around us. Under every frame lies the ultimate human dream of a world immersed in peace and happiness. In Only Yesterday (1991), the serene countryside will drive you back to your childhood, just like a time machine.

Arts & Entertainment

!

p U h s a M l l A m e Th

Words huong Hoang Nam P

Mash-up has been blooming within the music

industry lately, especially under the palms of DJs. But do you know what it really means, how it gets popular and, if there’s any particular secrets of mash-up that we haven’t come to discover?

Mash-up is a

general term for putting bits of media contents to form a complete piece of work. For example, a DJ can take bits of different tracks and mash them all up together to create a single hit. Or, an amateur film maker can take fragments of different video sources and scenes from various movies to create their own videos. Sounds kinda cool, right? Besides this well-known term,

62 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

there are different names for these mixedand-matched pieces: mashed hits, bootlegs, blends, power-mixing, cut ups and many other.

DJ Earworm,

who uses his own computer software to mix stuff together, is a household name for this emerging ‘genre’.

In 2007, DJ Earworm created a phenomenal music video called “United State of Pop”, which immediately reached a surprisingly high number of listeners within days.

This contains a total of 27 hits featured on Billboard in 2007. Or even more familiar to you Gleeks, the Glee series has also explored mash-ups in some episodes. For instance, I will Survive/ Survivor creates such a tremendous piece that speaks for a woman’s strength, or even Rihanna’s hit of wonders Umbrella is blended in beautifully with Singing in the Rain, iconic (and wet) classical Broadway hit

by Gene Kelly.

Arts & Entertainment

Mash-up , in my opinion, is a transformative kind of music that truly reflects the artist’s personality. It’s almost like adding different flavors to a Thai hotpot - the spicier it tastes, the yummier. With their transformative power, the following mash-ups will surely knock your senses.

1

bit.ly/75KPOP

hot kpop

All of the K-pop hits that took Asia by storm in 2012 are re-created under the bewitching skills of DJ Masa. The background music is… you guessed it, “I love you” by the glittery girl band 2NE1. K-pop lovers, brace yourselves!

Top of the Pops 2011 bit.ly/Pop2011 Top of the Pops 2012-2013

top of the pops Get ready for a splashy pool party by having these huge collages of poppy songs that dominated the Billboard chart in 2011-2013. Fun, bright, and full of energy – they’ll pump up your adrenaline.

So what are you waiting for?

2

bit.ly/Pop2012

I Will Survive/Survivor [GlEE]

3

bit.ly/SurvGlee

If you ever get dumped by a guy, or demolished just by failing to do something that you could have done better, these hard-kicking duo songs of being a survivor will lighten up your mood. Get out there and fight hard like Santana and Mercedes!

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Health & Fitness

Fat Loss: Myth vs. Truth Words Daniele Moretti

It’s time to debunk some of the myths that the fitness industry likes to perpetuate.

1

Myth: Losing weight and losing fat are the same thing.

Truth: They’re totally different. In fact, muscle tissue is denser,

and as such, heavier than fat – this essentially means that our obsession with what the scale says is unjustified.

Caloric deficit is required for fat loss. In other words, you must burn more energy that you consume. It doesn’t necessarily mean to eat less food; rather, it means to consume fewer calories. You’re not going to lose fat unless you fuel your body in the appropriate manner. As far as food selection is concerned, I would recommend eating: • Protein: chicken, fish, pork, crab, lobster, shrimp and eggs.

• Carbohydrate: beans, lentils, fruit, pumpkin, squash, sweet potato and rice.

• Fat: cheese, nuts, olives, avocado, olive oil and dark chocolate.

Also watch these 2 fantastic videos that break down nutrition in an easy to understand way.

Calories bit.ly/PCalories

Macro nutrients bit.ly/MacNutrients

2

Myth: In order to lose fat, you need to take endless bouts of

cardio.

Truth: Weight training, when done in the proper fashion and in accordance with your particular genetic background, is a fantastic way to alter your body composition (build muscle and burn fat).

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General program

Weeks 1-3 (light weights) • 15 reps per exercise x 3 sets • 30 seconds rest between supersets

Weeks 4-6 (moderate weights) • 10 reps per exercise x 4 sets • 60 seconds rest between supersets

Weeks 6-9 (heavy weights) • 5 reps per exercise x 5 sets • 90 seconds rest between supersets

Notes Note 1 The exercises include: A1) Deadlifts A2) Bench press B1) Squats B2) Rows C1) Military press C2) Dumbell swings

They must be completed in a superset fashion, meaning you are to complete all the repetitions for the first exercise in the superset and then immediately proceed to the next exercise without rest. Upon the completion of both exercises, take a break before repeating the superset 2 more times.

Note 2 Complete the weight training protocols Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Engage in some sort of cardio such as tennis, high intensity interval training or steady state cardio on Tuesday, Thursday and weekend.

Note 3 It’s important to perform the exercises in the correct manner in order to avoid injury. Please take the time to watch the videos I have included.

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Health & Fitness

While I tend not to prescribe new trainees the exact programs I follow due to the high levels of metabolic stress placed on their body, I generally like to tailormake training blueprints for them, with less physically demanding variations, decreased overall work volume and light loads weightlifting, so that their bodies internalize correct movements patterns.

Below is a nine-week program that will help you get in shape quickly and effectively.

Health & Fitness

DumBBell Variations Dumbbell Deadlifts

bit.ly/DDeadlift

Dumbbell Chest Press bit.ly/ChestPress

Goblet Squat

bit.ly/GoSquat 66 Blitz Magazine Issue 3

Health & Fitness

Single Arm Dumbbell Rows bit.ly/DBentOver

Dumbbell Overhead Press bit.ly/ShoulPress

Swings

bit.ly/KSwings Issue 3 Blitz Magazine 67

Health & Fitness

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Issue 3 Blitz Magazine   69

Health & Fitness

LOW-CARB DIETS

WHY NOT? Words Tran Thi Xuan Tra

With low-carb diets, fat loss has never been so sexy!

Low-carbohydrate diets or low-carb diets are dietary programs that restrict carbohydrate consumption, often for the treatment of obesity. To apply them successfully, you have to understand the metabolism process of your body. Carbohydrate and fat are the two main sources of energy.

When you eat high-carb foods, the carbohydrate amount they contain will immediately convert to glucose.

As blood glucose rises, insulin will be

released to moderate your glucose level. If this is the case, then your body will stop burning off fat as your insulin is too busy dealing with the tide of blood glucose. Eventually, obesity and related syndromes will rule your life.

The good news is low-carb diets are here to help you get rid of that nightmare. Below are some easy lowcarb recipes that allow you to enjoy your meals without any guilt.

FLAXSEED BREAD (BANH MI HAT LANH) Although bread is a big capital C (carb), it isn’t true for flaxseed bread. This kind of bread is easy to make; plus, the flaxseeds, which are rich in fiber and omega-3, are extremely beneficial for your health.

INGREDIENTS:

250 ml flaxseed flour 250 ml Amande powder 180 ml water 1 teaspoon (tsp) of dry yeast bread 1 tsp of diet sugar 1/2 tsp of salt 1 chicken egg

INSTRUCTIONS:

1

Add water, yeast, sugar and egg to a bowl. Stir until there are bubbles on the surface.

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Add flaxseed flour, Amande powder and salt to the mixture.

3

Stir well until the mixture becomes soft and elastic.

4

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and leave it at room temperature for an hour until it doubles in volume.

5 When the dough has risen, punch it down, divide and shape it into 2 smaller logs. Heat the oven to 225 o C. Bake the bread for 25 minutes until it has a golden brown color. Leave the bread to cool down before slicing it.

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BEEF BURGER WITH FETA & TOMATO (CHA BO PHO MAI) This yummy burger can be served with flaxseed bread in a convenient manner, especially if you feel like some wholesome snacks when at school.

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 pound of ground beef 1/2 green onion, thinly sliced 1/4 cup of chopped baby spinach 1/8 cup of chopped tomatoes 1/8 cup of crumbled Feta cheese 3/4 tsp of fresh dill 1/2 tsp of Splenda 1/4 tsp of salt 1/4 tsp of black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS:

1

Mix ground beef, green onion, spinach, tomato, feta, dill, salt and pepper together.

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2

Form the mixture into some flat round patties.

3

Grill or pan-fry them with medium-high heat for 6 minutes on each side. Serve with flaxseed bread and salad.

Just because you're going on a low-carb diet doesn't mean you can't enjoy a cocktail. Raise a glass to this frozen margarita recipe.

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 cup of frozen strawberries (36g /1.3 oz) 1/2 cup of watermelon, diced (60g /2.1 oz) 1/2 lime, juiced 3-6 drops of liquid Stevia extract (or a pinch of powdered Stevia extract) 1 shot of gold tequila 1/2 cup of ice Lime & salt for garnish

Instructions:

1 2

3 4

Put an empty cocktail glass in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. This will keep your drink cool for longer.

Place diced watermelon in a refrigerator for at least 3 hours and blend until smooth with lime juice and Stevia extract. Take it out of the fridge, leave at room temperature for 20-30 minutes.

Put all the ingredients in a blender and blend the mixture until smooth.

Remove the glass from the fridge and spread some lime juice on the edge of the glass.

Also rim the glass with salt.

5

Decorate the glass with a slice of lime and serve immediately.

Issue 3 Blitz Magazine   73

Health & Fitness

FROZEN MARGARITA

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