Photo by MAA This is a common sight at restaurants in Vietnam, especially outside of the city, which I've always found amusing. The guy in corporate orange is trying to wave people over to eat at his employer's phở restaurant. This sales tactic must be successful - never. 😀 Ladies selling guava on the side … Continue reading Drumming Up Business or Spitting in the Wind?
Author: Mark A. Ashwill
The Life of a Caged Bird
Photo by MAA I saw this and other imprisoned birds at a phở restaurant near Hanoi. Full disclosure: I was once one of them. No, not the birds - at least in a literal sense - but their owners. As a teenager, I had a small parrot who spent most of his time in a … Continue reading The Life of a Caged Bird
Aaron Bushnell, Requiescat in Pace
LinkedIn Screenshot Many of us like to ask ourselves, 'What would I do if I was alive during slavery? Or the Jim Crow South? Or apartheid? What would I do if my country was committing genocide?' The answer is, you're doing it. Right now. -Aaron Bushnell, on the morning of 25 February 2024 From the moment I learned of … Continue reading Aaron Bushnell, Requiescat in Pace
“PITY THE NATION” Lawrence Ferlinghetti (After Khalil Gibran) 2007
Photo by Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Images Pity the nation whose people are sheepAnd whose shepherds mislead them Pity the nation whose leaders are liarsWhose sages are silencedAnd whose bigots haunt the airwaves Pity the nation that raises not its voiceExcept to praise conquerorsAnd acclaim the bully as heroAnd aims to rule the worldBy force and by … Continue reading “PITY THE NATION” Lawrence Ferlinghetti (After Khalil Gibran) 2007
Vietnam’s US friend Merle Ratner dies in traffic accident aged 67
Merle Ratner (Photo: VNA) It is with great shock and sadness that I learned of the death of Merle Ratner, who was hit by a tow truck in New York City on the evening of Monday, February 5th, in the days leading up to the Lunar New Year (Tết) celebration. Several articles about her death … Continue reading Vietnam’s US friend Merle Ratner dies in traffic accident aged 67
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Tết!
Photo by MAA It's beginning to look a lot like Tết, everywhere you go. Take a look at the kumquat trees flying in the breeze, peach and other flowers sold on the road. It's beginning to look a lot like Tết, traffic jams galore. Appeasing the Kitchen God, welcoming in the new, cleaning up, and … Continue reading It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Tết!
Guest Post: “Erasing Palestine”
This is a guest post by Mike Hastie, a veteran of the US war in Vietnam whose tagline is "I was born in America, but my heart is Vietnamese." Erasing Human Rights Erasing Human Beings Erasing Hospitals Erasing Medical Supplies Erasing Oxygen Erasing Doctors and Nurses Erasing Ambulances Erasing Food and Water Erasing Electricity Erasing … Continue reading Guest Post: “Erasing Palestine”
Alcohol as a Social Lubricant & Form of Bonding
WAVEBREAK MEDIA/THINKSTOCK A Case of "When in Vietnam, Don't Do as Vietnamese Men Do" I've never been a big drinker even in my younger days. I never acquired a taste for hard liquor but will occasionally drink expensive vodka or Scotch in small amounts, especially when it magically appears in the form of a gift. … Continue reading Alcohol as a Social Lubricant & Form of Bonding
What Are the Problems with Education Agent Aggregators?
Image: Courtesy of AgentBee I asked ChatGPT 3.5 this question. Below is the answer I got in 22.06 seconds and put a smile on my face much faster than that. And, yes, some of this falls into the "No shit, Sherlock" category, including the disclaimer: ChatGPT can make mistakes. Consider checking important information. At any rate, I give ChatGPT 3.5 … Continue reading What Are the Problems with Education Agent Aggregators?
Other Responses to “Culture of Silence” Article Inquiry
mage: iStock Photo I sent the following email to a select group of international education colleagues. Below are two responses I received after the article was in its final draft. The first gave me the green light for attribution and the second asked that I share her/his comments on background. Dear Friends & Colleagues, Happy … Continue reading Other Responses to “Culture of Silence” Article Inquiry
An International Educator in Vietnam 
You must be logged in to post a comment.