I liked most of this recent Time magazine essay by Viet Thanh Nguyen (VTN). (The title is the very definition of patriotism, by the way.) I was, however, troubled by the parts in bold italics in the following statements. It's as if he's trying to sugarcoat his message in an effort to make it more … Continue reading “I Love America. That’s Why I Have to Tell the Truth About It”
Commentary
A “Patriotic” Education Study Abroad Program in Viet Nam: God Bless America, Right or Wrong!
This is an essay I felt compelled to write about a US American study abroad program to Viet Nam that reinforces and indeed celebrates US nationalism. It is a textbook example of how not to structure such a program. The country of Viet Nam is but a sideshow, a prop that enables students and veterans to … Continue reading A “Patriotic” Education Study Abroad Program in Viet Nam: God Bless America, Right or Wrong!
Water Torture, DC-Style
While the US president lurches from one shit storm to the next, his mouth a fount of filth and lies, his mind a roiling cauldron of chaos, and The White House in a perennial state of (crazy) crisis, there are some nameless yet busy little beavers working in the trenches of the vast federal bureaucracy … Continue reading Water Torture, DC-Style
Financial Aid for Vietnamese Students?
If your institution awards financial aid to Vietnamese students, I hope your approach is of the "trust but verify" variety. Not all parents and students are honest, and Viet Nam is no exception. Many people of means are happy to game the system and accept financial aid, if they can get it. I remember a … Continue reading Financial Aid for Vietnamese Students?
US Visa Overstays: Is the Sky Falling?
The Trump administration recently proposed (yet another) new rule related to nonimmigrant, including student, visas. This one, if approved, will establish a maximum period of authorized stay for international students and other holders of certain nonimmigrant visas. Why? Is there something broken that needs to be fixed? Are the overstay rates breaking new records? Do … Continue reading US Visa Overstays: Is the Sky Falling?
Proposed Change to Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility
Yet Another Obstacle in the Path of Obtaining a US Student Visa? Sadly, YES, if this proposal becomes law. From the horse's mouth: Section 212(a)(4) of the INA: Any alien who, in the opinion of the consular officer at the time of application for a visa, or in the opinion of the Attorney General at … Continue reading Proposed Change to Public Charge Ground of Inadmissibility
Vietnam Hangs Out the Welcome Sign for International Schools
The Vietnamese government is keen on attracting more FDI and expanding educational opportunities for its young people. Decree 86 covers both bases. In the spirit of giving credit where credit’s due, it is an example of good governance, a smart and timely decision that will pay off in the long-term for both individuals and society. … Continue reading Vietnam Hangs Out the Welcome Sign for International Schools
#YouAreWelcomeWhere? A Call to Action
This is a post I wrote for The World View, a Boston College Center for International Higher Education blog hosted by Inside Higher Ed (IHE). It is as much a wake-up call as it is a call to action. One of my main points, which obviously went over the heads of some readers who commented, … Continue reading #YouAreWelcomeWhere? A Call to Action
Gun Violence & Study in the USA
I spoke to some students last Friday at a top private high school in Hanoi about overseas study. Among the small group that was planning to study overseas, they mentioned Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand as potential destinations. Not one expressed interest in studying in the US. When I asked why, they … Continue reading Gun Violence & Study in the USA
An ethical approach to commissions-based recruitment
Below is the unabridged version of an article with the above title that Eddie West and I wrote for University World News (UWN). Follow this link to read that version. Incentive-Based Compensation & International Student Recruitment: Is There a Better Way? By Mark A. Ashwill & Eddie West The agent issue in the US is reminiscent … Continue reading An ethical approach to commissions-based recruitment
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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