Speaking
Practice

Something I was given that I really needed was a power bank. My brother gave it to me before a short trip last year.

At that time, my phone battery had become weaker and I often had to charge it during the day. When travelling, I use my phone for maps, tickets, messages and photos, so running out of battery can create a real problem.

My brother knew about the issue because I had borrowed his charger several times. Before my trip, he gave me a compact power bank that could charge my phone about twice. It came in useful almost immediately. On the second day of the trip, I spent many hours outside using maps and taking pictures, and by late afternoon my phone dropped below ten percent. I connected the power bank while walking and could continue using the phone without searching for a café or wall socket.

I was very pleased because it was just what I needed. The gift was not expensive or decorative, but it solved a practical problem. I still carry it on long days and trips. For me, a practical present can be more valuable than something impressive if it fits a real need.

Something I bought but found difficult to use at first was a smartwatch. I bought it from an electronics store about two years ago because I wanted basic fitness tracking and phone notifications.

The watch looked simple, but the setup was more confusing than I expected. I had to install an app, create an account and sync the watch with my phone. Several settings were hidden inside menus that were not very clear.

During the first evening, I accidentally changed the screen display and could not find the original one. I also received too many notifications because everything was turned on by default. Instead of giving up, I checked the user manual and watched a short tutorial. I learned how to choose which apps could send alerts, set a daily step goal and check heart-rate information. After a few days of experimenting, I finally figured out the main functions. Within a month, using the watch had become second nature.

I felt frustrated at first but satisfied once I understood it. The smartwatch is now useful because it reminds me to move and helps me see simple activity patterns. The experience taught me that a device can be easy to use only after spending some time setting it up properly.

On special occasions, I usually wear smart-casual or formal clothes rather than anything extremely fashionable. My typical outfit is a formal shirt, dark trousers and a pair of dress shoes.

I usually buy these clothes from department stores or reliable local clothing shops because I can try them on and check the fit. I prefer simple colours such as white, navy and black because they are easy to combine and can be used for different events.

I wear these clothes for weddings, graduation ceremonies, formal dinners and some work events. The main reason is that I want to dress appropriately and look well put together without attracting too much attention. At a wedding last year, I wore a white shirt with dark trousers and a navy jacket. Several relatives said the outfit suited me, and I received a few compliments in family photos. The clothes were also comfortable enough to wear for several hours.

People generally seem to think the style is neat and suitable. I like that because I do not want special-occasion clothes to feel like a costume. I would rather look polished in something simple that still feels like me.

Something important I once lost was my identity card. It happened a few years ago while I was travelling across the city for several appointments.

The card was important because I needed it for banking, official forms and some travel-related services. I normally kept it in a small section of my wallet, so I assumed it was safe.

That day, I took the card out twice to show identification. At some point, it must have slipped out of my wallet when I was putting it back. I only noticed that evening at home. I searched my bag, clothes and every pocket, then called the two places I had visited, but nobody had found it. The next morning, I reported the loss and started the process of applying for a replacement. I also checked my accounts because I was worried someone might misuse the card.

I felt stressed because replacing an important document takes time and creates extra paperwork. I learned the hard way to be more careful. Now I keep important cards in a secure wallet section, store a photocopy separately and check that everything is present before leaving official places.

A time I was shopping in a street market was during a weekend trip to Da Lat. I visited an open-air market near the city centre with a friend one Saturday afternoon.

The market had food stalls, clothes, flowers and small handmade products. It was crowded but enjoyable, and we were not in a hurry. Our plan was mostly to browse casually and see whether anything caught our attention.

After looking around for a while, I found a stall selling simple canvas bags with printed local designs. I chose a dark-green one because it was light and useful for shopping. The seller quoted a price, and I asked politely whether there was a small discount because I was also buying one for my friend. We negotiated the price for a minute and reached an amount that felt fair to both sides. Afterwards, we bought hot soy milk and continued walking around, stopping to look at flowers and snacks.

I enjoyed the experience because street-market shopping feels more lively than buying the same kind of item online. I liked talking directly with a local seller and being able to examine the product before paying. More than the bag itself, I remember being able to soak up the atmosphere of the market.