Contributor Introduction – Arius 🇻🇳

Hello everyone!

My name is Ngoc, but since most of my international friends can’t pronounce it, I’ve been using the name Arius for years. It is now a cherished part of my identity, so feel free to call me that. I was born in Ho Chi Minh City, a bustling metropolis that embodies the constant expansion of industrial life in Vietnam. More than nine million people live and work here, just like me, consumed with our busy lives. Raised as a city boy, I was always curious about other cultures and values outside my own community, so I decided to venture out into the world.

In 2010, I left Vietnam and lived in Finland for 6 years, at which time I acquired my MSc in Information and Knowledge Management. I stayed in 3 different cities, the most crowded of which contained only 500,000 people. The quiet individual lifestyle of Finnish people, nearly the polar opposite of my frenetic, communal Asian one, gave me an instant dose of perspective. Despite the intense culture shock, I really enjoyed the Finnish way of life. My journey has taken me also to Iceland, Hong Kong and Singapore. Through these experiences, I have come to realize that my identity is not tied to any one place or culture, but rather a collection of experiences and perspectives that have shaped me into who I am today. When I finally returned to my homeland, part of me felt like a stranger there, but thanks to the experiences I had abroad, I realized that home isn’t a piece of land; home is where the heart is. Upon being awakened to that axiom, I find myself with even greater freedom to travel and explore.

Even though I write, I’m more of a movie person than a reader. Through my writing, I’m always trying to conjure an image that is somewhat cinematic in nature. People have told me that I’m great at putting complex concepts into words, so I’m really excited to be part of the ReSee Family and to hopefully describe how my favorite movies make me feel. In terms of my taste, I like many different genres: I’m definitely a fan of watching all my sci-fi, horror, and action movies at the cinema, where I can take advantage of the best image and screen quality. Meanwhile, for aesthetic, deep, or sad movies, I require a whole space to myself only to really dive in and unlock my emotions. And when I’m with friends or family, I love watching comedies or romances to bring the positive vibes and ignite those post-movie conversations. There really is a movie for every occasion!

Above all else, I view myself as an authentic, sincere, and empathetic person. As a traveler, I learned that I don’t even need to understand someone’s words to understand their feelings. I try to be a reliable friend who can offer not only support, but also inspiration and love to everyone I interact with. That includes you, my fellow movie lovers. I hope to bring you a little bit of love and inspiration with each post.