One of the benefits of living in a tropical country are the dramatic summer thunderstorms, sometimes with only a few drops of rain. This is what I witnessed on a recent evening in Hanoi. I heard the thunder off in the distance and went outside to enjoy the show. It's what's known as heat lightning. … Continue reading A Storm Without Rain
Commentary
Global citizenship is about more than intercultural skills
Here's my latest essay for University World News. It's a long-awaited follow-up to a 2016 article about US nationalism. Below is the unedited version. Shalom (שלום), MAA Intercultural Competence and Global Citizenship: Expanding the Debate The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. -Thomas Paine The international … Continue reading Global citizenship is about more than intercultural skills
The Intersection from Hell
The silver SUV and the red motorbike in question. The other day a motorbike collided with an SUV at a busy intersection near my Hanoi office. I heard about the accident, looked out the window, and saw the vehicle, a motorbike none the worse for wear, two shoes, blood on the street, and a cop … Continue reading The Intersection from Hell
Miracles in Our Midst: An Ode to the Trees of Hanoi
This expanded version of an essay I wrote last month was published by Soha.vn in its new WOW VIETNAM series. The translation of the title, 'Niềm tự hào Ấn Độ' trên vỉa hè Hà Nội is 'Pride of India' on the sidewalks of Hanoi. Here's the teaser: All a tree requires is that we create … Continue reading Miracles in Our Midst: An Ode to the Trees of Hanoi
An Excerpt from “Then The Americans Came”
Then The Americans Came: Voices from Vietnam is a 1994 book written by Martha Hess that consists of over 100 interviews conducted by the author in Viet Nam during 1990-91 involving atrocities committed by US forces above and below the 17th parallel. The eyewitness report below is about Khâm Thiên Street in the Đống Đa … Continue reading An Excerpt from “Then The Americans Came”
Safe Vegetables!
As seen at a Mega Market store in Hanoi. I always chuckle when I see these signs promoting "safe" vegetables or whatever not because food hygiene is a laughing matter but because grocery stores use it as a selling point. Presumably, safe means the growers haven't overused pesticides, a problem in Viet Nam and other … Continue reading Safe Vegetables!
International Student Inclusion and Success: Public Attitudes, Policy Imperatives, and Practical Strategies
According to the results of a survey conducted by Robin Matross Helms and Sarah Spreitzer on behalf of the American Council on Education (ACE), The American public has high expectations for international student success. They recognize international students’ academic, cultural, scientific, and economic contributions as vital members of their communities—on campus, locally, nationally, and globally—both … Continue reading International Student Inclusion and Success: Public Attitudes, Policy Imperatives, and Practical Strategies
Capstone Vietnam (Hanoi) & Lê Quý Đôn: Honor by Association
Photo courtesy of the Le Quy Don High School in HCMC It’s fitting that the Hanoi office of Capstone, one of Viet Nam’s premier educational consulting companies, is located at 2 Lê Quý Đôn Street in the Hai Bà Trưng District of Hanoi. There are many streets, schools, and even a university named after him … Continue reading Capstone Vietnam (Hanoi) & Lê Quý Đôn: Honor by Association
Vietnamese Secondary Enrollments Record Modest Increase in US
Like most people, I welcome good news whenever and wherever I can find it. In this case, I noticed that Vietnamese enrollments in US secondary boarding and day schools experienced a slight 4.71% increase from December 2020 to March 2021, exceeding the figure from last September, which represented a 33.15% decrease since the beginning of … Continue reading Vietnamese Secondary Enrollments Record Modest Increase in US
Missing in Action
This poem was sent to me by Gabriel Rosenstock, who lives in Dublin. It's based on a recent essay of mine entitled Of Class Rings, Bone Fragments and Fish Ponds: the Interminable Search for US MIAs in Vietnam published on 21 May 2021 by CounterPunch. Look below for information about Gabriel and his work, including … Continue reading Missing in Action
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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