One of her/his distant cousins. Recently, a rather well-fed toad found its way into my car, a first since I began driving a lifetime ago. I was transporting a couple of plants and trees to my Hanoi office and the critter must have been hiding in one of the pots. When my wife came to … Continue reading The Toad That Lived to See Another Day
Author: Mark A. Ashwill
Not All Phở is Created Equal; That’s Phở Sure!
Phở Thìn's Hanoi Location It's not often that I write a restaurant review. I think the last one was about a hole-in-the-wall noodle shop in downtown Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), long since relocated to the suburbs, that had the best wonton noodles I've ever had. This one is about Phở Thìn, a veritable Hanoi … Continue reading Not All Phở is Created Equal; That’s Phở Sure!
“When HE internationalisation operates as an industry”
There is a facade of higher education internationalisation that paints an idealistic picture of providing students with a global experience, stressing collaboration in research and strengthening ties among universities worldwide. Image: iStock This spot-on article by Philip G. Altbach and Hans de Wit asserts that internationalization primarily refers to revenue generation through international student recruitment. … Continue reading “When HE internationalisation operates as an industry”
Reflections on a Dirty Industry
No, not that industry, which is literally dirty and a major contributor to global climate change. I'm referring to international student recruitment, which is often a figuratively dirty industry. A US higher education colleague who has been around the block a few times recently asked me this question: "At the risk of sounding like a … Continue reading Reflections on a Dirty Industry
“Is Gun Violence Scaring Off International Students?”
Image: iStock The author of this 10 April 2023 Inside Higher Ed article requested an interview with me because he had read some blog posts and a 2022 University World News article I wrote about gun violence and international student recruitment. The result is one reason why I ask to see a draft, as I … Continue reading “Is Gun Violence Scaring Off International Students?”
Working for the Man: Part II
Think of this post as a follow-up to the original, which appeared in August 2020. In that post I described some of the part-time jobs that I held as undergraduate as a way of supplementing my income. Mainly, they were rich - figuratively speaking - learning experiences. (For many, they are way to make a … Continue reading Working for the Man: Part II
“Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”
This quote, attributed to Mark Twain or "unknown," is one of my favorites. I think of it often, including whenever people complain about growing older in youth-obsessed cultures and even those that have traditionally revered and respected the elderly. To find examples of people denied that privilege because of illness or accident, look no further … Continue reading “Do not regret growing older. It is a privilege denied to many.”
Top 10 Overseas Study Destinations for Young Vietnamese
These countries host 90% of all Vietnamese studying abroad, over two-thirds (67%) of whom are in Asian countries. The USA is still the leading English-speaking destination. Vietnam ranks 6th among places of origin. Source: Chào Hanoi S. Korea: 70,212 (2023) Japan: 37,405 (2022) USA: 25,198 (2-23) Australia: 21,316 (1-23) Taiwan: 20,000 (2022) Canada: 16,140 (as … Continue reading Top 10 Overseas Study Destinations for Young Vietnamese
Overseas Study as a Stepping Stone to Emigration
Verywell/Alex Dos DIaz At a recent Capstone StudyGlobal Education Fair, I spoke with two girls who asked for recommendations about where to study. Both were high school students, one in the 10th grade and the other in the 11th. Their initial focus was on the US but, after further discussion, they said they were willing … Continue reading Overseas Study as a Stepping Stone to Emigration
“This is a crime against our planet.”
Indeed. Three words that immediately popped into my head after glancing at this disturbing photo were fetid, macabre, and surreal. It is both sad and infuriating, yet another depressing example of ecocide. The oversized teddy bear is Brown of LINE (chat app) fame. Maybe a child or someone's girlfriend got tired of him. What better … Continue reading “This is a crime against our planet.”
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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