Day after day, for almost eight hours straight, the nonverbal communication was cold and dry…
I want to try my hand at a new field – office work. I must say right away that this is a very sudden decision for someone entering middle age and having an ideal job in every respect.
According to my family, my job is the envy of many. The youngest even set a goal: "I'll try to get a job like yours someday, not in terms of expertise, but with the freedom in every aspect, from time to space." The oldest added, "Do you think it's that easy? You must be a very responsible and efficient worker to get that kind of freedom from your company!"
However, I felt no joy; on the contrary, I felt extremely worried. This was because they didn't know how strictly I had to control myself to achieve that freedom.
In reality, having an incredibly free time, without the pressure of fixed office hours or the constant urge to submit daily work reports, is a sweet trap for anyone, especially for busy women who care for children, manage household chores, and are constantly bombarded with tempting invitations to social gatherings with friends.
Without proper organization and planning, sometimes I have to work from day to night, and the total time spent might even exceed 8 office hours. In such a situation, it would be very difficult for me to ensure I complete my tasks, which require both meticulousness, accuracy, and timeliness, as well as a keen sense of reality. There have been many times I've spent days racking my brains trying to find a new topic amidst a sea of old ones.
There were times when I was too focused on trivial tasks, only to end up working through the night. Of course, at those times, my mind was like a sleepwalker, floating on cloud nine, and I easily lost my temper. Initially, the kids thought I was joking, but after witnessing my outbursts many times, they learned to avoid my anger. However, they still didn't give up on their dream, saying that sometimes distractions are perfectly normal!
So, when I announced that I would be doing a trial period in a field completely opposite to what I had been trained for, the kids looked at me as if I were... an alien. They shook their heads frantically, unable to understand why. They also didn't want to listen to my explanation, as they were already picturing their daily routines: coming home from school to a well-prepared meal by their mother, and her always ready to escort them to school whenever needed.
Never mind them, I'm still incredibly excited about the days leading up to officially going to the office to try focusing on work for 8 hours, occasionally chatting with my colleagues, and then returning home without having to stay up late, wake up early, or agonize day and night over new topics. Every time I imagine that, I feel so content. Seeing my dreamy expression also melts the hearts of the younger generation…
And that day finally arrived. I began to integrate into a completely new world , not just the work itself, but also my colleagues. As soon as I entered the office, I greeted everyone enthusiastically and chatted, but strangely, all I received in return were hesitant glances and hushed greetings.
An hour passed, then two, even the whole morning went by, but the office remained silent. I wasn't used to this kind of conversation, so sometimes I'd try to speak up, only to hear my voice fade into the noisy chatter of keyboards. Then, even though we'd just been exchanging messages on the screen, when we met in the office hallway, our faces were expressionless; the truly polite ones might offer a forced, awkward smile.
It wasn't just that first morning; the following days were the same. I tried to force myself to fit into the environment for countless reasons, the most important of which was that the work was very simple, didn't require much thought, and that it was a trade-off.
I stubbornly tried to convince myself to abandon my habit of gazing at the expressive faces and listening to the melodious sounds of familiar voices—deep and clear; sweet and rough; soft and loud—in order to accept the monotonous, clicking-clack-like communication from the keyboard. But strangely, my usually restless mind became increasingly uncomfortable and heavy. Clearly, the work didn't require much brainpower, yet it created a feeling of exhaustion and frustration.
Hearing my complaints, the kids laughed loudly and said that this was perfectly normal in the digital age. I was startled and looked back. That's right, nowadays, even within families, people often "communicate" and give orders via social media messages while sitting next to each other, let alone in the workplace.
I recall my childhood years, after conversations around the dinner table, my family would continue sharing stories and confidences while sitting over a cup of green tea. That close-knit tradition has continued to this day within my family. But that was my small family; now, communication doesn't require speaking, just typing on a computer or phone.
Clearly, the virtual world is increasingly becoming reality, and reality is becoming virtual. Amidst the hustle and bustle of making a living, where genuine care and sharing between people are already limited, and now further amplified by keyboards, will we still be able to recognize each other in real life?
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/tan-man-khoang-cach-ban-phim-post781994.html
![[Image] Ho Chi Minh City: Ma Lang area, Chicken-Rice Market about to change its appearance](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/25/1782377698627_ndo_br_m1-jpg.webp)
![[Image] Schools organize meetings and introduce teaching models to students admitted to grade 10.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/06/25/1782368077271_ndo_br_z7970052192242-1ec8daeb77a6eed1a4e9f58c564ddd3e-jpg.webp)
