They are legion and ubiquitous, these.. dispensers of disdain, guardians of the gutter, helpers of the haves, keepers of the gate, monitors of the masses, movers of the motorbikes, protectors of the pavement, rulers of the realm, supervisors of the street, takers of the tickets. You know who - the bane of many people's existence, the guys … Continue reading An Anti-Ode to Security Guards
Commentary
Ingroup, Outgroup, or Caught In Between?
My last post of the 2013 Lunar Year... Vietnam is a highly homogeneous society. I'm reminded of this whenever I look in the mirror and see a white guy staring back at me. For those who are not Kinh, or ethnic Vietnamese, it's pretty cut-and-dried. We look different and therefore are different. There is a … Continue reading Ingroup, Outgroup, or Caught In Between?
Vietnam: Fastest Growing Facebook Market in the World
The number of Facebook (FB) users has doubled over the past year to over 22 million, which amounts to 61% of all netizens in Vietnam. As one post pointed out, "Global brands are definitely eyeing the Vietnamese Facebook market." The implications for student recruitment are also obvious. If you want to reach out to young people, you need … Continue reading Vietnam: Fastest Growing Facebook Market in the World
The State of Vietnamese Higher Education: Point/Counterpoint
Below is a recent exchange on the Vietnam Studies Group (VSG) listserv between a Vietnamese-American professor and a young Vietnamese who recently graduated from a U.S. institution of higher education. The original post is in reference to an article by Roy J. Nirschel, president of the American University of Vietnam (AUVN), entitled "Picking Up the … Continue reading The State of Vietnamese Higher Education: Point/Counterpoint
Of Emigration, Brain Drain & Brain Gain: Some Reflections
Over the years, I’ve known and helped many young Vietnamese who have studied overseas. Some I knew in passing; others became friends. Quite a few made the decision to remain overseas either in the country in which they studied or a third country. By doing so, they slowly but surely began the transformation from Vietnamese … Continue reading Of Emigration, Brain Drain & Brain Gain: Some Reflections
“Vietnamese Americans should come and live in Vietnam full time”
Interesting, insightful and heartfelt post by Minh, a HCMC-based blogger at Tech In Asia. Introduction: I’m a Vietnamese American. I’ve been living in Vietnam for seven years now. And in that time, I’ve only come back to the States a total of four times. Each time was less than a month. In other words, I’ve been living in … Continue reading “Vietnamese Americans should come and live in Vietnam full time”
Countries as Positive & Negative Role Models: The Link Between Education and the Economy
In the spirit of comparative studies in general and comparative education in particular here is yet another example of what countries like Vietnam can learn from countries like the United States in terms of what road(s) not to take - with ap0logies to the American poet Robert Frost. The American work force has some of weakest mathematical … Continue reading Countries as Positive & Negative Role Models: The Link Between Education and the Economy
“Review” of Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam
Haunting. This is the title of a "review" I recently posted on Amazon about Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam by Nick Turse, which is available in paperback today. Actually, it's not so much a review as it is a rebuttal to every criticism - or at least all of the ones … Continue reading “Review” of Kill Anything That Moves: The Real American War in Vietnam
98% of Vietnamese Students Prefer English!
According to the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), 98% of all students want to learn English. While I knew that English was the most popular foreign language, I didn't realize it was THAT popular. This popularity, however, is a double-edged sword. While it makes it easier to focus resources on one area, it is exceedingly … Continue reading 98% of Vietnamese Students Prefer English!
Education Companies in Vietnam: Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Part II)
Note: Follow this link to read the first post in this two-part series. Due Diligence Some advice to my foreign higher education colleagues: don't trust any of the come-ons or be seduced by the slick lines in (sometimes) passable English that arrive in your inboxes on a regular basis. Do your homework, check references, and find out who's really behind … Continue reading Education Companies in Vietnam: Take a Walk on the Wild Side (Part II)
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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