“What International Students Should Know About EducationUSA”

This is a 5 October 2023 U.S. News and World Report article in which I was quoted. Below are my complete responses to the journalist's questions: How does EducationUSA in general help prospective international students who are interested in applying to and attending university in the US?  EducationUSA has over 430 international student advising centers in … Continue reading “What International Students Should Know About EducationUSA”

Oz Trades Places with the US – Again

Australia has surpassed the US as the world's leading English-speaking host of Vietnamese students, according to the Australian Department of Education. As of July 2023, there were 27,764 Vietnamese students in Australia, 4% of the total international enrollment and a 39% growth rate compared to the same period last year. As in the US, which … Continue reading Oz Trades Places with the US – Again

The People of Palestine or Gaza?

A couple of weeks ago, I did something I don't do very often; I looked at my Instagram feed. (Full disclosure: It's one of the most boring Instagram accounts in the world because I only use it to follow my company, Capstone Education, and a few other accounts of interest.) Lo and behold, I found … Continue reading The People of Palestine or Gaza?

Let’s ditch the binaries and join the ‘all of humanity’ club

This is my latest essay for University World News. It builds upon some previous articles I've written about nationalism and global citizenship. It's not my original title but I like it. I know my work is always in good hands with UWN editors. I was inspired, so to speak, to write it after reading a … Continue reading Let’s ditch the binaries and join the ‘all of humanity’ club

Vietnamese Enrollments in the US Holding Steady

When it rains, it pours. Being the wonk that I am, I have been checking periodically for a SEVIS update since the last one was uploaded in March 2023. At that time, there were 24,865 Vietnamese students in the US at all levels, mostly in higher education. I recently checked and saw there were numerous … Continue reading Vietnamese Enrollments in the US Holding Steady

Hail The Scrap Collectors and Scavengers!

Photo by MAA. Taken in early October 2023 in Hanoi. These are people most of us ignore or worse look down on. They roam the streets of Hanoi and other cities on their rickety bicycles or aging motorbikes looking for recyclable material they can sell at a very modest profit. When I saw this woman … Continue reading Hail The Scrap Collectors and Scavengers!

Micro-Illustration of a Linear Economy in Action

I took this photo near my Hanoi office. No, this is not litter, although there's plenty of that to go around; it's one way that garbage is disposed of in the nation's cities. Throw it to the curb and the street cleaners will pick it up and put it in their mobile bins. From there … Continue reading Micro-Illustration of a Linear Economy in Action

Death by System: A Two-Generation Tale of Loss and Betrayal

I always wondered about the fate of the man buried next to my father, knowing he died a year earlier in Vietnam at the age of 23. This is the story of what brought them to their eternal resting place. Writing it was a labor of love, sadness, and regret, the imagination of what could … Continue reading Death by System: A Two-Generation Tale of Loss and Betrayal

International students are so much more than cash cows

Image: iStock Here's my latest article for University World News. My original title was Towards a More Inclusive Approach to International Student Advocacy. Truth be told, the tone and direction of the essay changed after some email exchanges with Fanta Aw, the new CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Her perspective is a breath of … Continue reading International students are so much more than cash cows

Vietnamese American Poet’s Slide Down the Slippery Slope of Hatred

LD's Official Substack Photo Below are some excerpts from the beginning of an essay about Linh Dinh, a self-described "canceled" and "anthologized poet and fairly prolific author..." It's a sad but important story that I took no great pleasure in writing. I thought of the many acquaintances, friends, colleagues, and the millions I will never … Continue reading Vietnamese American Poet’s Slide Down the Slippery Slope of Hatred