Faces & Stories Archives - Danchi Studio

Friendship

Danchi — Sun, 29 Dec 2024 14:49:00 +0000

I’m so grateful that I’m still in touch with my university friends. This post is for the friends who stood by me during some of my craziest times, who know me in ways most people don’t. They always bring positive energy to my problems. Imagine having friends who can turn any stressful difficulty into a humorous story – your life is full of laughter, right?

Tùng is an artist, a design expert and a dad. He has this amazing ability to see things from multiple angles, and his perspective is always full of depth. Whenever I’m dealing with a problem, especially when it involves communication-with-human, he’s the first person I turn to for advice. He always breaks things down into different layers and suggests a few solutions to consider.

Đạt is an art director, and he’s pretty well-known for his sexy/nude photography (The professional terms are erotic photography or sensual art). He’s the kind of friend who, whenever I ask about a topic, ends up giving me all useful keywords and references to check out. Even when no one else cares to ask, he’s always sharing random topics, especially when it comes to Nude Art and Horror movies. Now, his hobbies are more about archery and composing music with AIs.

Vinh is a business owner and gym enthusiast, living a healthy lifestyle with a focus on his physical health, appearance, and mental well-being. To me, he’s the most creative comedian in our group. His storytelling skills are on another level – he has this unique way of telling stories that always cracks me up. I often find myself thinking, ‘Damn, why didn’t I think of that?’ His energy and sense of humor are so refreshing.

Here comes my ladies! Nhã, Thư, Đoan, and Bình. They’re all married and busy with their families (I’m the only single lady in the gang – living the dream, right?) But seriously, they’re always there when I need them. They’re ready to hang out and keep me company whenever I need it. Whether it’s for a chat, a laugh, or just to listen, they always show up when it matters.

This is such a gift to me, and I’m lucky to have friends who’ve been there for me through the years. Whether it’s to lift my spirits or to bring laughter or to have deep conversations, I’m grateful for their support and the memories we’ve made. We’re all busy and have our own lives, but our bond always stays strong!

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Ba

Danchi — Sat, 17 Feb 2024 08:32:56 +0000

It was a calm, windy afternoon. I sat on a couch behind a gentleman I call ‘Ba’ – the Southern Vietnamese word for Dad. We were at our local bank, taking care of some paperwork. Since we needed to stay in a queue due to COVID-19 precautions, we had to maintain some distance from each other, which gave me a rare chance to watch my dad from a short distance.

I’ve often seen my dad’s back, but today something felt different. It reminded me of when he’d ride my sister and me to school on his Honda 67. I’d lean forward, trying to peek over his shoulders at the streets. It feels like it was just yesterday, but now, I noticed his hair had turned grey, while everything else – his shoulders, his posture – remained the same. Time moves quietly, until moments like this make you feel it. But those shoulders still bring me the same comfort and peace.

My dad is 70 now, retired but never idle. He keeps himself busy with his small farm in Long An, about 40 kilometers from home. There, he raises chickens and tends to fruit trees. Every time he visits, he brings home a bounty of fresh produce – plums, guavas, papayas, jackfruits, grapefruits, and coconuts. Sometimes, it’s chicken eggs or even fresh meat. As much as he loves farming, we love eating the fruits of his labor.

As I sit here, watching my dad, I realize how much he’s shaped who I am, even without us needing to say much. In our culture, we don’t always express our feelings, but there’s an understanding between us that doesn’t need words. I’m grateful for all the quiet ways he’s been there for me – supporting my career choices, offering his care through actions, not just words. The older I get, the more I see how these small, everyday moments hold so much meaning. I may not always express it, but I’m proud of him.

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The afterglow

Danchi — Sun, 02 Apr 2023 05:23:40 +0000

It was my escape to Tà Năng – Phan Dũng in February 2019. At the time, I was a lost soul, and fate led me to meet this remarkable gentleman during one of the most challenging periods of my life. This person, and the journey itself, inspired me to keep moving forward. My time-spent with him helped me see the simple beauties of everyday life.

His name is Hoàng. He was one of the trekking guides from Tổ Ong Adventure, leading a group of 12 people on a 30km hike through the mountains, from Lâm Đồng to Bình Thuận. Hoàng was slim, average height, with short dark hair and tanned skin. The first thing I noticed about him were his eyes – full of joy as he shared stories of navigating and surviving in the wild. At the end of each story, he’d always say, “You can ask me anything about trekking.”

It was a colorful journey. It wasn’t just about the physical challenge, but the emotions, perspectives, and survival skills that unfolded with each step. The landscape changed, so did I, my thoughts shifted, I grew stronger, and each moment added something new to the journey.

My first steps on the trail were GREY. My feet were moving, but my mind was still stuck at the office, carrying all the stress with me. I was totally burnt out from work – I left it all behind, but I just couldn’t let go of the tension. Luckily, Hoàng’s voice pulled me back to the present. He pointed to a landmark with rolling hills and said, “Hey sis, look this way, it’s like a Microsoft Windows wallpaper”

I stared at the hills for a while, I slowly began to move my feet. And surprisedly, everything around me seemed more GREEN than I’d noticed before. I became more mindful of my steps, more aware of my surroundings. I could feel the calmness of the trees, the leaves, the flowers, the rocks, even the animal tracks in the dirt. It was as if everything had a presence, a stillness.

As I walked on, the sun grew stronger, beating down on me from above. The terrain became more desolate, and my skin started to turn RED from the heat. The high altitude made me dizzy. I wasn’t good at steep climbs, and my steps grew heavier. I started to feel nervous, like I might not make it to the end of the journey, like I might have to give up.

Then I heard Hoàng’s voice again, echoing behind us “Keep walking forward, everyone. Rest if you need to, but don’t give up just yet!” He guided me on how to breathe, how to pace myself, and how to sip water carefully. With those tips, I felt a new sense of capability and started to keep pace with the others, pushing forward in ways I hadn’t thought possible.

When I told my family and friends I was heading off on a trek with strangers, they looked at me like I was crazy. But I was looking for an escape, so I honestly didn’t care who I was traveling with. What I didn’t expect was that in addition to guiding us through the wild, Hoàng and his team helped me see just how enjoyable it could be to walk with strangers. Some of the group members opened up right away, sharing their life stories, while others gave only small glimpses of who they were. Listening to their stories, hearing about their experiences and perspectives, helped me recognize, appreciate, and empathize with our differences.

After all, it was a chance to reset, find new strength, and appreciate the beauty around me, both in nature and the people I met along the way.

The sunset, the afterglow, and the quiet moments of reflection will stay with me long after the journey ended. Sometimes… the toughest paths lead to the most rewarding experiences.

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Miss Mật Ong

Danchi — Fri, 07 May 2021 15:37:00 +0000

I met this young lady at an art workshop. As we were all waiting for it to begin, I heard a soft voice from behind me, “Hey sis, do you want to draw on your shoebox? I have lots of pencils” I turned around and saw her sitting in a corner, pencil in hand, focused on sketching on a black shoebox. She didn’t even look up, just lost in her drawing. I mumbled, “Mmm, yeah…” I wasn’t sure what to draw anyway, so I figured I’d just add a few random lines to my shoebox.

I sat down next to her and grabbed a blue pencil. As she leaned in to see what I was drawing, I felt a little nervous. I quickly sketched a few lines and some dots on my shoebox. She glanced back at hers and said, “Alright, I’m going to draw a flower.” I smiled and thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Without skipping a beat, she started giving me instructions while working on her own shoebox: “Draw a flower here… like this… then color it like this…” I just sat there, watching her completely immersed in her world of drawing and responding to her with a quiet “Mmm, okay…”

We carried on like this for almost five minutes, just chatting and drawing, until the actual workshop started.

Her name is Mật Ong, which means Honey. She was about 7 years old, with big black eyes that were always hiding behind her hair bangs. At first, she came across as quiet, but once you got close enough, she’d open up and start telling you all about the dogs and cats that lived in her dad’s backyard.

She was also really into climbing. Once she showed me her secret spot near the studio – a scrapyard where she practiced climbing every weekend. It was her little hidden world, and she was so excited to share it with me.

It was such a beautiful time spent with this young lady. She surprised me with the way she saw the world around her – her thoughts were so full of wonder and creativity. It felt like she was always finding new perspectives in the most ordinary things. I walked away from that day feeling a little more open to the small, hidden joys in life, thanks to Mật Ong.

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