One moment with HAO Reporter: What do you think is the most attractive thing about HAO? Cows like grass, lions like meat. There is, of course, no concurrence in people’s interest. I can say that: to girls, the most attractive thing about HAO is young and talented guys. To guys, that would be talented and graceful girls. Reporter: You imply the girls are not beautiful? Or you don't care about beauty, do you? Some people say beauty is inferior to personality. Others support the opposite. To me, beauty does not simply lie in girls’ rosy cheeks but in eyes of those in love. As you can see, HAO has changed its interface four times and always received good praises: “Cool!” Reporter: Some people say that Hanoi-Amsterdam students have been worse lately as fewer kids have been sent to International competitions. Do you think that’s too pessimistic? Optimists think about an airplane while pessimists think about a parachute. Both are useful to humankind. If student’s ability is evaluated o­n the basis of academic achievements. Bill Gates and Michael Dell would definitely stand in the second rank in comparison with Amsers. Reporter: So what makes success: money or certificates? There is a number of ways to evaluate success. To soldiers, success is living longer than enemies. To Hanoi-Amsterdam, successful students are those Hanoi-Amsterdam is proud of. To me, you would be successful if you dare to think you are successful. Reporter: What do you want to say to young o­nes? As we all know, HAO is 4 years old. I would say to young o­nes that do the things that o­nce you grow up, you cannot do: eat more, play hard, watch more cartoons, listen to fairy tales and set an example for your parents. Reporter: No, I didn't mean 2 or 3 year-old kids. I meant the youth. Ah, the youth? You reminded me of a story: One Monday, a guy came to make a confession to a priest. Though the priest had a shift-switch meeting, he tried to find time to listen to the young guy as the young guy seemed so upset. - My priest, I’d like to make a confession. Last weekend, I met a girl. We hanged out together. And… and…and we slept. - Oh, sleeping is not something to blame. Here is my advice: you are still young. You shouldn’t sleep. Saying “ Have a dream!” seems so heavenly, but “Make a contribution” sounds impractical. I don’t want anyone to oversleep. As you guys are talented, you’ll know what you need to do if you are not indulged in oversleeping. Reporter: Thank you. Nguyen Huu Cau Class: Other ********************************* What we think of HAO Nguyen Minh Trung, Physics 1 - Class of ’03“ … What I most expect from HAO is to “see” my friends through so familiar names, through lines asking after about each other though we are miles apart, and through memorable photos of our high school life! HAO, which has become a real place bonding people, is o­ne of the connectors for us to open our hearts, to share happiness and sorrow, to send love to friends, teachers and our beloved Hanoi-Amsterdam. Thank you so much, HAO” Pham Minh Ngoc, CS1- Class of ’06“ … Endless things to talk about HAO. Since that day, if I hadn’t typed ... http://www.hn-ams.org, I would not be who I am now, there wouldn’t be that so many friends, and there wouldn’t be what HAO has given me. Without HAO, I’m afraid that I could not become who I am now. HAO has given me everything.. oh memories…On the way finding myself, to change, to become the real me, HAO has helped me answer all my self-questioning. Memories of those days…sigh… As I have been here with HAO…for nearly 2 years, probably longer than many other people, even those from Classes of '04 and '05… can I say with confidence that: “I'm a 'long-standing HAO member' though there are lots of people who came to HAO earlier.” Ha Chi, Chemistry1- Class of ’00“ It may be said that we ourselves have changed then what HAO appeared to us has changed. Or has HAO changed so we have changed? When I was tentatively standing at the front door, to me HAO was a forum, a temporary stop for busy people. There were hardly long and enthusiastic topics, partly because almost all the posts were scattered and covered with random happiness, sorrow like throwing a stone into the sea. HAO members met each other through computer screens and some short writings. But HAO is not o­nly so. The strange guest at the party gradually realized a HAO young soul when she visited boards designed for different classes. She realized HAO was a vital part in its members’ life. She found herself smiling, feeling thankful to those strange young people who had rejuvenated her old memories… but so sorry for herself, for worries about the future… and she even found the happiness shared whole-heartedly with friends. Then all memories of the past came back to 'her'. When I come closer to HAO’s heart, HAO now is not a vague image behind hasty lines. It is something of deep affection; me-and-me has reached HAO-and-HAO towards what we cannot see from the surface. That is when we see HAO, the destination of friends with an enthusiastic fire, who love Hanoi-Amsterdam, HAO and who have been giving HAO their silent but invaluable contribution. And o­nly when we help building HAO with others can we understand those simple things. So don’t wait for the door to open before our eyes. But do walk inside with confidence. Be a person among many others who are helping to build what they love. When we open our arms, it means opening our hearts to join other hearts sharing the same beat with HAO…” Tran Chi Trung, Chemistry- Class of ’03 I don’t remember exactly when I joined HAO, probably a long time ago. It was when I was surfing the Internet, I heard some friends talking about some website of my school. I searched and found it. HAO was quite deserted at that time, not so crowded as today. There were 2 or 3 topics in Board 00-03. A reply might o­nly appear after some months I wrote a post. In the eyes of a tenth grader like me, Hanoi-Amsterdam School was something really big and HAO (the name it hadn’t taken then) was a place for famous ex-Amsers. Some people may now think I myself, an ex-Amser, is boasting about my school. Probably! Because people have the right to show off what they are proud of, don’t they? Then things changed. “Where dreams begin”- the name I still remember- was a show carried out by ex-Amsers. At the end of the show, it was there were lanterns launched up to the sky. Some lanterns got stuck in the trees and burned. But most of them were launched successfully. They flew high up to the sky, shining brightly. Dreams, yeah, they were dreams. They remained there even after the show. My first impression of ex-Amsers was like that! 3 years was not long, but visiting HAO every day for the last 3 years has probably helped me feel so close to HAO. What I think the most wonderful thing about HAO is its warm and friendly atmosphere. I’m not trying to be mawkish or boastful. Believe me. Even if you are a tenth grader or a non-Amser, you are always welcomed here at HAO, probably even by those who are years older than you. Sister Giao, brother Ha, brother Hai are the three people that have made the most impression o­n me. How did a 15-year-old boy and a 30-year-old Ms. call each other? Sis and Bro are what we use, though we are of quite different generations. A meeting o­ne day (I don’t remember the date) was the first time I met “HAO”. A naïve and nervous eleventh grader entered the room where everyone was like …his uncle. But it was those people that befriended him, wiping out the common gap between new acquaintances. I was so surprised, really surprised by that atmosphere. I felt something so close to these incredibly friendly people. Wasn't it something called “Ams style” (which I used to doubt). - What is the “Ams style”? Creative and original? Talented academically or enthusiastic in extracurricular activities? I can o­nly see that style clearly here. Generations of Hanoi-Amsterdam alumni, after leaving our beloved school, have gathered here and helped build an association. There are many people who are now living in different countries, holding different positions, but we all grow up from a family. Then I know I have been part of this “Ams style” with no hesitance or reluctance. Do you believe me? Time has passed and now I am labeled “an alum”! Boxes 01-04, 02-05 and 03-06 were established. Sometimes I wonder how the chain 0x-0x+3 will be like! I would like to send my thanks to HAO, to sisters, brothers, to my friends there. HAO has always been a familiar address in the Favourites menu in my computer. Each time I surf the Internet, I am so used to clicking it that I can do it without even having to look at. Vietnamese version by HAO Translated by Nguyen Thanh Huong A1 01-04 Edited by Quynh My Posted by Nguyen Thu Hien, V 98-01