In this edition of the CEStafette Thao Tran is interviewed by BELINDA LEUSINK
Welcome Thao! Thank you for having me here for this interview. Can you tell us something about yourself?
Hi, I'm Thao Tran, 28 years old. I come from Southeast Asia, Vietnam. It's a country where the price of a bowl of noodles can vary dramatically depending on where you are - from 1 euro on the street to 100 euros in a luxury restaurant. I grew up surrounded by my mother, her siblings, and my grandmother in our family home. Despite my parents' separation when I was young, I was enveloped in the love of my extended family.
I decided to pursue my dreams by studying Events Management in Leysin, Switzerland, eager to explore new horizons and distance myself from the places where I didn't feel at home. An unexpected twist of fate occurred when I missed my flight from Hong Kong to Zurich and ended up seated between what would later become my husband and his colleague on a flight to Amsterdam.
Feeling a pang of sadness about leaving behind my parents and my homeland, I struck up a conversation with "my husband" and we exchanged phone numbers on the 12-hour flight. Little did I know, that this chance encounter would blossom into a beautiful relationship. Fast forward to July 2023, we celebrated our wedding, surrounded by loved ones including my mother and aunts.
Upon moving to the Netherlands, unsure of my next steps amidst the pandemic, a friend suggested I explore a career in education. Despite initial language barriers, I found my footing and landed a role in SAS, a job in which I could learn a lot about the Dutch education system. In my free time, I indulge in creative pursuits like oil painting, playing the piano, and practising aerial silk.
