Author: Mark A. Ashwill

Study and Stay™ in Nova Scotia

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I like this trademarked slogan. This is a province that knows what it wants and needs, and is willing to go the extra mile to achieve the goal of attracting more young immigrants who study at a local educational institution and then make the life-changing decision to remain and work. Nova Scotia's proactive, pro-immigration strategy … Continue reading Study and Stay™ in Nova Scotia

Christmas in Vietnam: bookending a long festival season

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Here's my latest essay for VNExpress International. Even though the percentage of Vietnamese who celebrate December 25 as the birth of Jesus Christ is in the single digits, Christmas has evolved into a full-fledged secular holiday in recent years. A sure sign Christmas is approaching is when elaborate and colorful holiday displays at banks and … Continue reading Christmas in Vietnam: bookending a long festival season

From New England to Vietnam: Settler Colonialism in Cross-Cultural Perspective

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I've been working on a long-form essay that combines my interest in history and genealogy. Since so many of my ancestors arrived in what became British Colonial America and later the USA, starting in 1610 and 1620, the historical is intensely personal for me. I write as a direct and collateral descendant of Jamestown settlers … Continue reading From New England to Vietnam: Settler Colonialism in Cross-Cultural Perspective

Imagine a World Without Education Agents (I Wonder If You Can)

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Here's my latest essay for University World News. The title is intended to be provocative but tells only part of the story. The spotlight is on what many of us refer to as the fatal flaw in commissions-based international student recruitment. Read the entire essay to find out the rest. Start with the above summary … Continue reading Imagine a World Without Education Agents (I Wonder If You Can)

Dogs as Best Friends & Restaurant Dishes

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This poor dog probably either ended up at a dog meat (thịt chó) restaurant or was resold. Purebred dogs fetch a higher price. Other dogs invariably end up at the former. I've driven by many of these restaurants men chowing down on dog meat and consuming large quantities of alcohol in what one website described … Continue reading Dogs as Best Friends & Restaurant Dishes

More Data on Vietnamese Students in the USA

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Here are the latest Viet Nam-related stats from the SEVIS October 2021 update. (You can also access these data using this interactive map.) The picture is decidedly mixed with equal portions good, bad, and ugly. There are currently 24,011 students from Viet Nam at all levels, mostly in higher education. Viet Nam ranks 6th among … Continue reading More Data on Vietnamese Students in the USA

The Transformation from the Old to the New Continues Unabated in Hanoi

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This is a building that I've kept an eye on ever since I moved to Hanoi over 16 years ago. It was a pharmacy back in the day. It also happens to be located in the Hoan Kiem District, a short walk from the lake, one of the most expensive areas of the city. Don't … Continue reading The Transformation from the Old to the New Continues Unabated in Hanoi

The Pentagon as Pentagod

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I highly recommend this spot-on essay by William J. Astore, a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF) who earned his D.Phil in Modern History from the University of Oxford. He blogs at Bracing Views - Making Sense of a Vexing and Perplexing World. Astore is one of a growing number of former insiders who has turned against … Continue reading The Pentagon as Pentagod

The Lasting Legacy of Good Teachers

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The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. -Mark Van Doren Teacher’s Day is a special day for the appreciation of teachers, a once-a-year opportunity to remember, honor, and thank them for their contributions to the education of our young people and to society. For me, it’s one of many times throughout the … Continue reading The Lasting Legacy of Good Teachers