Author: meaningfultea

I’m Huong Nguyen, a headstrong woman who is a passionate advocate for raising compassionate, brave, smart, open-minded, globally-aware children through travel. I’m married to a very smart man named Ryan Nabors who loves me very much and I have an adorable opinionated little girl named Sophia. My family of three travel both internationally and domestically. We have family and friends all around the world and we plan each trip to be a blend of educational, cultural, and culinary experiences with the goal of making real meaningful connections with other people.
Food

Last US Meal

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Sophia and I had our last US meal at Olive Garden before our flight to Vietnam.  I wanted to reward her for being a trouper with immunizations.  She got her shot first, and when I asked if she need me to hold her hand, she responded, “No Mommy, I got this!”.  She then came over and held my had while I got shots, and then I went white in the face after one of them, to which she proceeded to take care of me.  It’s amazing how much of an adult she can be sometimes.  Makes me so proud.  I told her she was brave and she took the opportunity to ask to go to Olive Garden, and so I happily obliged. Being my daughter, she felt the Band-Aid was too plain and decided to make it more colorful by coloring it with crayon.IMG_00124

We then proceeded to have a blueberry limonata which was “mine” but Sophia pretty much drank most of it, so I had the water and taste of the limonata.  She also took advantage of my proud moment to ask me for dessert and of course I said yes.

Our meal started with the chicken and gnocci, with a ton of cheese.  The waiter did a good job of catering to her wishes and then we had the tour of Italy and finished our meal off with a s’more cake, which was absolutely delicious.  We must do that again when we are back in the states.

 

 

Travel

Downtown Olympia

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YesterdayIMG_0311 I spent time with my baby girl, whose not much of a baby anymore. She has grown up to be a very opinionated, strong, sassy little girl. I don’t mind sassy with manners and a brain.  I’m introducing her to photography, so we decided to go to downtown Olympia, to take advantage of the soft warm light of the setting sun which casts a very warm glow in pictures.  I think this picture is one of my favorites for this very reason.  My daughter seems to like to model rather than photograph.  IMG_0295

Our other motive was Pokémon Go.  My daughter loves to catch them, and secretly I play too, but just for her sake, wink – wink.  There is an abundance of Pokémon and someone is always putting lures. Yesterday the docks were booming with Pikachu ready for the beach in sunhat and glasses.

The marina is full of picture opportunities, and I was not the only one there taking advantage of them.  The boats are good photography subjects, especially against the gradient background of the setting sun.   IMG_0323The rustic wear of wood and rusty nails, along with the blooming flowers are perfect subjects for random pictures.  I love close-ups because they show details of the intricateness of nature’s handiwork, and the vibrant colors of nature itself.

We finished the peaceful day with some chicken fettuccini alfredo and a crab and artichoke dip at Budd Bay Cafe.  What a better way to spend a random July Thursday?  Especially knowing that these random little moments are the most important moments in life.  Its these little moments that make up life, and I plan to enjoy each and every one.

Travel

Countdown Begins!

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10! 9! As the day of departure draws near, feelings of anticipation grow.  As the summer sun shines upon me here in the US, I am reminded of how hot it will be in Vietnam.   Memories of the past resurface in my mind.  I have been to Vietnam five times in my life, and each of those five times was spent at home.  I did not travel and I did not go see the landscapes of Vietnam all that much.  I spent my time with my aging grandparents, so this is the first time that I am going to Vietnam where they are not there.  Vietnam will not be the same without them.  My grandmother passed earlier, I have always said that my grandfather will not be around forever but the scenery of Vietnam will.  While I’m very excited to explore the beauty of my birth home, it is with bittersweet emotions that I go.  The fact that I can go to Vietnam and have full freedom to explore also means my grandparents are no longer there.

Quê Hương…since my name is Hương as in the word Quê Hương. When I think of Vietnam those two words come to mind.   Quê Hương means homeland, native land, or place of birth.  While I was raised in the US, Vietnam will always be my homeland.  Vietnam is the warmth, and nurturing place that I think of.  I have fond memories of my grandparents, and the because it was a small town everyone knew each other. Images of my smiling grandparents wash over me, and a twinge of pain knowing they will not be there.

Then I feel the anticipation with my camera and new laptop ready for the adventure. Anticipation is part of the excitement of the trip.

Equipment

Reading List

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My reading list for my month long trip to Vietnam and other parts of Asia consists of:

Online Learning: Pluralsight.com

Work Books:

In my new job as an Enterprise Architect, this Melissa Cook book has been recommended to me as a very good book to introduce the topic.

Operational Excellence is about motivating employees to map their own flow of business fix things without management interactions.

Personal Growth:

The book is about the timeless secret of living a prosperous, healthy, and successful life.

A classic that I just need to re-read.

This book I picked up because it seems interesting.

About

What’s in a name?

meaningfultea

Meaningful Tea?

Why is this travel blog called meaningful tea?  First of all, I love Tea!  My mornings start with a cup of tea while I sit and enjoy life.  Tea is not just a beverage to me, albeit a delicious one.  It is an insight into cultures around the world, its memories with friends, it’s the start of a meaningful conversation, which for me is what traveling is about.

Legend says that tea was started in China when a few leaves fell into the emperor’s boiling water.  Tea has spread to multiple cultures over the span of thousands of years with each culture putting their own spin to tea.  Today tea is the second most consumed beverage only second to water.  The tea itself embodies various aromas and tradition unique to the culture it comes from for example the fascinating Japanese tea ceremony that I liken to a performance, not unlike a ballet for tea and the British high tea with its formality true to British culture.  Like music, art, and smiles tea is synonymous with sharing and friendship.   There is nothing that beats the floral aroma of Turkish herbal tea paired with the sweet and nutty flavor of baklava.  Indian Chai tea is an introduction to the explosion of spice used in the traditional cooking of India.  The ginger and cardamom in Chai with the sweet and smoothness of the milk are indicative of dishes like Chicken Tikka Marsala.

Beyond just the consumable tea, the tea accessories, pots,  cups, and saucers are a look into the artistic values of each culture.  From the shape porcelain or the glass that make up the vessel for tea deliciousness the added wonder is the art.  The intricate paintings of flowers, or animals in the style of the culture it comes from.  The delicate gold and vibrant colors are true art.