Author: maavn

Beyond the hype, a dirty side of Da Lat

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Trash is left at Lam Vien Square in the heart of Da Lat. Photo by Paul Olivier I was pleased to see VNExpress International publish this article by Paul Olivier. The dire situation that he describes applies to many cities and towns throughout Vietnam. Be sure to have a look at the comments. Paul criticizes … Continue reading Beyond the hype, a dirty side of Da Lat

Thanksgiving: A Bittersweet Holiday

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This image accompanied a message I received from the General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD), of which I'm a member: The Mayflower Society wishes you a healthy and happy Thanksgiving! It's an idealized view, glorious rays of sunshine and all, of a ship that brought saints and strangers, Puritans who came to be known as … Continue reading Thanksgiving: A Bittersweet Holiday

Happy 13th Anniversary, IEinVN!

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Happy Anniversary with WordPress.com! You registered on WordPress.com 13 years ago. Thanks for flying with us. Keep up the good blogging. It’s no coincidence that I started this blog two months after co-founding Capstone Vietnam, recently rebranded as Capstone Education, a full-service educational consulting company with offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC). It was a … Continue reading Happy 13th Anniversary, IEinVN!

A Poem About the Passage of Time

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The poem below is by Ricardo Gondim, a Brazilian theologian and progressive pastor. It is often misattributed to Mário de Andrade (1893-1945), poet, novelist, essayist, musicologist, and one of the founders of Brazilian modernism. Check out this 2020 post “My Soul Has a Hat” by Mário de Andrade Is Fake News for more information. (I'm … Continue reading A Poem About the Passage of Time

Chi phí của sự tăng trưởng không giới hạn

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This is a Vietnamese translation of my 8.9.22 article entitled You can't eat money: the cost of unlimited growth that originally appeared in VNExpress International and was subsequently reprinted by CounterPunch. Translation by Nhã Uyên. (Cảm ơn đồng chí!) Shalom (שלום), MAA Ca-na-đa, một trong những quốc gia giàu có nhất, hoạt động trên một nền kinh … Continue reading Chi phí của sự tăng trưởng không giới hạn

US Student Visa Update for FY2022: That’s a Wrap!

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This is a continuation of a post from 8 August 2022 that includes information for the entire fiscal year, i.e., from 10-1-21 to 9-30-22. The good news is that the Vietnam market for US-bound students is making a strong recovery in the new normal era. Student visa issuances are inching up to pre-pandemic levels. This … Continue reading US Student Visa Update for FY2022: That’s a Wrap!

Vietnamese Enrollments in the US Holding Steady

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Here are the latest Vietnam-related stats from the September 2022 SEVIS update. (You can also access these data for Vietnam and other countries using this interactive map.) There was a modest 4% decrease from May to the new school/academic year, which is to be expected as a short-term legacy of the pandemic. The good news is that … Continue reading Vietnamese Enrollments in the US Holding Steady

“Graffiti is visual pollution, an eyesore Vietnam can do without”

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Here's my latest essay for VNExpress International. Below is the unabridged version. Shalom (שלום), MAA Graffiti as Visual Pollution Graffiti vandalism as seen on walls of buildings in HCMC's District 1. Photo by MAA In addition to the usual types of pollution afflicting Vietnam and affecting our quality of life, including air, water, and noise (e.g., … Continue reading “Graffiti is visual pollution, an eyesore Vietnam can do without”