Author Archives: awksome

'A Perfect Guide to Applying for an Irish Student Visa from Laos

A Perfect Guide to Applying for an Irish Student Visa from Laos

It’s June 17, 2024, and today I received my passport with my student visa. This journey has been a roller coaster ride—from applying to schools, taking English exams, collecting documents, and finally sending everything to Hanoi. There aren’t many guides on the internet for perfectly applying for an Irish student visa, but I hope this article helps everyone.




The Dream Begins

My dream of becoming an international student began before the pandemic in 2020. It was a mix of deciding which country was best for me. I considered Australia, Canada, and Germany, but I ultimately chose Ireland. My sister has lived there for over 20 years, and after talking to her, I realized Ireland was the best choice. This narrowed down my options, and I began searching for schools.

Finding the Right School

In February 2024, I started looking for schools, which felt like shopping for the right clothes within my budget. I had to consider many factors, especially my budget and long-term goals. I applied to three schools: Dublin City University, University College Dublin, and the National College of Ireland (NCI). These schools seemed like they would help me achieve my goals, especially with their IT courses, which I was excited about. Some schools also required application fees of 40-60 euros before assessing your application.

Choosing NCI

Eventually, I chose NCI because they offered me a scholarship of up to 4,000 euros and had great reviews online. I advise taking the time to research and weigh your options before deciding on a school. It’s very important. In the same month, NCI responded with additional requirements, including an English exam. Luckily, they accepted Duolingo, so I took the exam and scored 130/160. After submitting my results, NCI sent me a Conditional Offer, which would become unconditional after paying the tuition fee.

Paying the Tuition Fee

In March 2024, I collected my funds and paid my tuition fee via BCEL (Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public). The process was smooth, and after sending the required invoices to NCI, they quickly replied with my Pre-Registration status as “place accepted without condition.” That’s when I started gathering documents for my student visa.




Gathering Documents and Applying for the Visa

My journey felt like a marathon. I needed patience and perseverance, especially since some documents had to be collected from the Philippines. I recommend reading the requirements on the Irish embassy website as it is very helpful: Irish Immigration. NCI also referred me to IDP Education, which helped me prepare my documents before lodging. They provide free assistance, and I highly recommend contacting them.

Submitting the Visa Application

By May 2024, I had completed all my documents and was ready to pay my visa fees. I found this website helpful, although it suggested calling the embassy in Hanoi. Communicating with the Vietnamese speakers due to phone signals in Laos was a bit challenging, but persistence paid off. I paid my visa fee at Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) near Patuxay Monument. To avoid issues with fluctuating exchange rates and fees, I paid 70 euros instead of the required 60 euros.

Final Steps

After paying my visa fee, I contacted the embassy in Hanoi for further instructions. They advised selecting a courier to lodge my visa, and I chose DHL to track my application status. I organized all my documents in a labeled A4 Large Capacity Transparent File Folder for easy access by the immigration officer. Following the instructions on the [Irish Immigration website], I sent my documents, which weighed 2.5 kg, via DHL in mid-May 2024.

Approval and Final Thoughts

In mid-June 2024, I received an email that my visa application was approved. They advised me to book a courier to pick up my documents. I requested the embassy to return only the important documents, such as my passport, original diploma, and transcripts, to lighten the return package. No biometrics or police clearance was required, making the process smooth.

I hope this article provides the perfect guide for applying for an Irish student visa from Vientiane, Laos. Best of luck on your journey!




'The Power of Collaboration and Creativity in the Workplace: A Personal Journey from the Classroom to the Office

The Power of Collaboration and Creativity in the Workplace: A Personal Journey from the Classroom to the Office

In my years as an educator, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the incredible benefits of collaboration and creativity. These experiences in the classroom have profoundly shaped my understanding of their importance in the workplace.

When I think back to the many group projects I assigned, one particular memory stands out. It was a project on animation where students were tasked with creating their own short films. At first, the students were hesitant, unsure of their abilities and how to work together effectively. But as they began to brainstorm and share ideas, something magical happened. The classroom buzzed with energy, and the creative synergy was palpable.




The Magic of Collaboration

Collaboration, I realized, is more than just working together; it’s about leveraging each person’s unique strengths. In the classroom, I saw students take on roles that suited their skills—some excelled at drawing, others at storytelling, and still others at technical editing. This division of labor not only made the project more manageable but also allowed each student to shine in their own way.

Translating this to the workplace, collaboration fosters a similar environment of mutual respect and shared goals. When team members are encouraged to contribute their unique perspectives and skills, the result is a richer, more dynamic approach to problem-solving. It’s this blending of diverse ideas that can lead to innovative solutions and more efficient workflows.

Sparking Creativity

Creativity is the fuel that drives innovation. In the classroom, giving students the freedom to explore their ideas without fear of failure was crucial. I encouraged them to think outside the box and try new techniques. Some of the most brilliant ideas emerged from this safe space where creativity was nurtured.





In a professional setting, fostering creativity can lead to groundbreaking advancements and keep the company ahead of the curve. Encouraging employees to experiment, think creatively, and take calculated risks can transform the way problems are approached and solutions are implemented. It’s important to remember that creativity isn’t just for the “creative” roles—every employee has the potential to contribute innovative ideas if given the opportunity.

Lessons from the Classroom

The lessons I learned from my students are directly applicable to any workplace. Here are a few key takeaways:

  1. Embrace Diversity: Just as my students brought different strengths to their projects, a diverse team brings varied perspectives and skills that can enhance creativity and problem-solving.
  2. Encourage Open Communication: Open lines of communication are essential for effective collaboration. Create an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing their ideas and feedback.
  3. Foster a Safe Space for Creativity: Just as students need a safe environment to experiment, employees need to feel that their ideas are valued and that failure is seen as a learning opportunity rather than a setback.
  4. Celebrate Collaboration and Creativity: Acknowledge and celebrate the collaborative efforts and creative solutions of your team. Recognition can boost morale and encourage continued innovation.

Bringing It All Together

Reflecting on my experiences in the classroom, it’s clear that the principles of collaboration and creativity are not confined to educational settings—they are vital components of a thriving workplace. By fostering these qualities, companies can unlock the full potential of their teams, drive innovation, and achieve greater success.

Let’s take a lesson from the classroom and apply it to our professional lives. Embrace collaboration, spark creativity, and watch as your workplace transforms into a hub of innovation and productivity.




Maity Adeventure at Hanoi Vietnam





I am currently sitting in a coffee shop, jotting down my thoughts about my experience in Hanoi, Vietnam. As I sip on my egg coffee and nibble on a croissant, I eagerly await the arrival of my train. Overall, it was an extraordinary trip, albeit short, but filled with special moments. Hanoi is a city that offers easy accessibility and is sure to captivate every traveler.

While some areas may have narrow streets and motorbikes whizzing by without a care in the world (haha), the scenery was absolutely perfect no matter where you looked. Coffee shops, spas, trees, and a fusion of food shops were scattered everywhere, adding to the city’s charm.

One particular highlight for me was the Hanoi Train Street, where you can find a wide variety of food options and witness the incredible sight of a train passing by at such close proximity—it was truly shocking. Another memorable experience was strolling around the lake with my partner, Margarita, (thank you for this trip baby) enjoying the picturesque views and breathing in the fresh, oxygenated air.

I also fell in love with the stunning architectural history of St. Joseph Church—a must-visit spot for anyone in Hanoi. If you’re considering a trip to Vietnam, I highly recommend adding Hanoi to your bucket list. It offers a unique and enriching experience that you won’t want to miss.




'Watch Survivor Online: Season 45 Episode 1-15

Watch Survivor Online: Season 45 Episode 1-15




Watch Survivor Online: Season 45 Episode 1-15

*FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT NOT INTENDED.* // DISCLAIMER: This is a fan-made blog post and I will upload every episode once it is done airing on television. All files are from eztv torrent site and if Jeff Probst will email me to remove this fan-made blog post I will remove this. Thank You!

'Apple Unveils Exciting Features in iOS 17 Update, Set to Revolutionize iPhones and AirPods

Apple Unveils Exciting Features in iOS 17 Update, Set to Revolutionize iPhones and AirPods




Apple Unveils Exciting Features in iOS 17 Update, Set to Revolutionize iPhones and AirPods

While all eyes were on Apple’s highly anticipated “Wonderlust” event, the tech giant quietly revealed the release date for iOS 17, the latest update to its operating system. With a scheduled launch on September 18, iOS 17 promises to bring a plethora of new features and enhancements to iPhones, including the soon-to-be-released iPhone 15. Additionally, AirPods Pro users can also look forward to exciting updates that will enhance their audio experience. Let’s delve into the details of what iOS 17 has in store for Apple enthusiasts.

Revolutionary Features for iPhones:
iOS 17 introduces a range of innovative features that will transform the iPhone experience. One notable addition is the ability to put the phone in standby mode while charging it on its side, effectively turning it into a clock or photo slideshow. Users can also access widgets in this mode, offering convenience and versatility.

Another exciting feature is the live voicemail screening, which allows users to read transcriptions of voicemails in real-time, giving them the option to decide whether to answer the call or not. FaceTime enthusiasts will enjoy the ability to project calls to an AppleTV device, providing a more immersive video calling experience on larger screens.

In terms of connectivity, the new NameDrop feature allows iPhone users to effortlessly exchange contact information by simply holding their phones close to each other, building upon the convenience of the existing AirDrop feature.




iOS 17 further enhances the FaceTime experience by enabling users to leave video messages if the recipient doesn’t answer the call. These messages will support an array of video effects, making communication more fun and engaging. Additionally, users can customize their FaceTime settings to automatically silence calls from non-contacts, ensuring uninterrupted focus.

For those who rely heavily on their iPhones as phones, the update introduces visually enhanced call alerts for incoming calls from contacts, making it easier to identify and respond to important calls promptly. Autocorrect and predictive text features have also been refined, resulting in improved accuracy and efficiency while typing.




AirPods Pro users will be delighted with the Adaptive Audio feature, which intelligently adjusts media volume and noise cancellation based on the surrounding environment. This ensures an optimal listening experience, regardless of the user’s surroundings.

Additionally, iOS 17 introduces Conversation Awareness mode, which enhances the audio playback by customizing the volume of what’s playing and amplifying the voices of individuals in front of the user. This feature is perfect for those who frequently use AirPods during conversations or while in public spaces.




With the imminent release of iOS 17, Apple once again demonstrates its commitment to enhancing user experiences. The update brings a host of exciting features to iPhones, revolutionizing the way we interact with our devices. From versatile standby mode and live voicemail screening to improved FaceTime functionality, iOS 17 offers a multitude of enhancements that will undoubtedly delight Apple enthusiasts. Meanwhile, AirPods Pro users can look forward to Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness features that will elevate their audio experience to new heights. Stay tuned for the official release on September 18 and prepare to embrace the future of Apple technology.

'Watch Survivor Online: Season 44 (All Episodes)

Watch Survivor Online: Season 44 (All Episodes)




Watch Survivor Online: Season 41 Episode 12

*FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT NOT INTENDED.* // DISCLAIMER: This is a fan-made blog post and I will upload every episode once it is done airing on television. All files are from eztv torrent site and if Jeff Probst will email me to remove this fan-made blog post I will remove this. Thank You!

“Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.”

'Looking for resources on artificial intelligence?

Looking for resources on artificial intelligence?

Looking for resources on artificial intelligence? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, you’ll find valuable information and tools to help you stay up-to-date in the field. Keep an eye out for items marked with fancy golden stars (🌟), as they generally indicate higher quality products or superior offerings. Items with simple golden stars (⭐️) are also good, though perhaps not quite at the same level.

AiTuts:
https://aituts.com/
A platform that provides free, high-quality prompts for various art forms such as game art, 3D photography, illustration, character design, and more.

AI Content Detector:
https://ai-content-detector.online/
A tool used to evaluate text and determine if it was written by a person or generated by AI, including ChatGPT.

ChatGPT:
https://chat.openai.com/chat
A chatbot that uses machine learning to hold intelligent conversations with users. It has been trained on a large dataset of text and is able to generate relevant responses. :star2:

Doctrina AI:
https://doctrina.ai/
A company that offers educational tools for students, including an Essay Generator, Exam Generator, and Quiz Generator.

FindYourNextBook.ai:
https://www.findyournextbook.ai/
An AI-powered book recommendation service that uses OpenAI to generate personalized recommendations based on a user’s search criteria, including their desired mood and emotion.

ipso.ai:
https://ipso.ai/
A virtual assistant that uses artificial intelligence to draft email responses for scheduling meetings. WAITLIST

LUCI:
http://askluci.tech/qa
An AI Super-Intelligence capable of answering just about any question, however, it doesn’t cite sources nor is it HTTPS.

OSS Insight:
https://ossinsight.io/
A tool that provides valuable insights into the open source world by analyzing GitHub events and supporting user engagement.

Perplexity AI:
https://perplexity.ai/
A demo inspired by OpenAI WebGPT, powered by large language models and search engines. It offers a Twitter search interface and uses OpenAI Codex to translate natural language into SQL. :star2:

Play.ht:
https://play.ht/
An AI-powered text-to-voice generator that helps users convert written content into spoken word audio. FREE TRIAL :star:

Prompt Extend:
https://promptextend.com/
A text generation tool that generates extended prompts for use in creating AI art, optimized for stable-diffusion but still works well on other text-to-image generation tools.

Replicate:
https://replicate.com/
A platform that offers connectors for creating predictions based on models and input and a template repository for training and publishing custom Stable Diffusion models.

Rytr.me:
https://rytr.me/
An AI writing assistant that helps create high-quality content quickly and cost-effectively. In terms of price, ease of use, quality of output, and features it is decent.

SlidesAI:
https://www.slidesai.io/
An AI-powered Text to Presentation tool that can summarize a large piece of text and create beautiful presentations out of it.

VazyData:
https://www.vazydata.com/
Allows users to access their data quickly and easily through an ultra-intuitive chat. WAITLIST

You.com:
https://you.com/
A search engine that summarizes web results using website categories, rather than showing a list of links. It allows users to customize search results, discover answers at a glance and has an AI that helps users find the most relevant results. It also has various other AI tools. ⭐️

'2023: A Breakthrough Year for General Hyper-Automation

2023: A Breakthrough Year for General Hyper-Automation

2023: A Breakthrough Year for General Hyper-Automation

This year is set to be a game-changer for the 8 billion people living in 2023. With the arrival of General & Intelligent Automation, we are on the cusp of freeing ourselves from monotonous and unfulfilling jobs and instead dedicating our time and energy to pursuits that truly inspire and engage us.

Hyperautomation is set to revolutionize the way we live and work, and its benefits will extend to everyone. This technology will enable us to tackle more challenging and creative problems as a team, and its strategic implementation through advanced conversational AI like Athena will result in a state of hyperautomation for our organizations, making them self-sustaining and almost lifelike.




Hyperautomation is akin to a person undergoing a ketogenic diet, as it burns the fat (outdated systems and processes) and transforms the organization into a highly efficient machine. This technology has been around for a long time, and staying stagnant is nothing short of a death sentence.

In an organization, if it doesn’t evolve, it dies, and this is why change is an inevitable part of progress. Bureaucratic organizations and countries that don’t keep up with the times will soon find their value proposition being questioned. With the rapid pace of technological advancement, many of the current systems will soon seem obsolete.

Conversation will play a crucial role in the operational systems of the future. The ability to simply speak with our technology will enable us to accomplish much more than clicking buttons on a keyboard or screen. This is how we have evolved over the past thousands of years, and AI and intelligent software are set to take this to the next level, allowing us to turn our aspirations into reality with ease.

Traditional interfaces have been clunky and complex for over 40 years now, requiring us to understand the interface map, its limitations, and its capabilities. This is not only inefficient but also uneconomical. With HyperAutomation, however, this is set to change. Starting small, by automating individual tasks and skills, is the first step towards realizing the full potential of this technology. The easier the starting point, the sooner you can test and iterate to find what works best for your goals.

The automation hierarchy can be broken down into tasks, activities, systems, and foundational pillars of a business. Tasks are the simplest workflows in a business, such as adding new leads to an email list or signing contracts. Activities are strings of tasks performed on a weekly basis, such as launching a new feature or onboarding a new customer. Systems are like organs, stringing together multiple activities, and usually take a month or quarter. The major components of an organization include Legal, Marketing, Operations, Financial Analysis, Data operations, and more.

In conclusion, 2023 is set to be a landmark year for HyperAutomation, and the sooner organizations embrace this change, the better their chances of thriving in the future. So, take that first step towards activating your own golden age and start automating things internally. The future is yours to shape!




Celebrate the Day of Love With These Fun and Unique Ideas

Celebrate the Day of Love With These Fun and Unique Ideas

It’s that time of year again when couples around the world celebrate their love for each other. Whether you’re single, in a committed relationship, or somewhere in between, here are some fun and unique ideas for celebrating Valentines Day this year.

Have A Picnic

Pack up your favorite foods, grab a blanket, and head out for a romantic picnic. If the weather isn’t cooperating, you can also have a picnic indoors. Whether you’re in a park or in the comfort of your own home, this is a great way to spend some quality time together and show your partner how much you care.

Create A Scavenger Hunt

This is the perfect way to get creative and show your partner how well you know them. Prepare a list of items your partner needs to collect or tasks they need to complete. The prize can be something special, like a homemade dinner, a romantic movie night, or a thoughtful gift.

Take A Staycation

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life by planning a staycation. Spend some quality time with your partner and treat yourselves to a nice dinner, or check out the local attractions.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, Valentines Day is the perfect opportunity to show your partner how much you care about them. With these fun and unique ideas, you’re sure to have a memorable and romantic day.