Coming Back - Not only to work and otherwise continue their lives but to convert the heathens to Christianity. Exhibit A, this post of the same name (my bold) about a young Vietnamese woman who earned a Master’s degree and accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior in Australia. Ly just returned to Vietnam after two years … Continue reading Southern Baptists Bearing Gifts? The Trials & Tribulations of Proselytizing in Vietnam
Commentary
When Nationalism and Militarism Become One
Note: This HuffPo blog post is not related to Vietnam, at least directly, but is directly related to the field of international education, especially in the U.S. This image, captured in a Macy's Department Store, is a not-so-subtle appeal to American consumers' national pride (read nationalism) and respect for the military in a nation in which mindless … Continue reading When Nationalism and Militarism Become One
Hail, the Street Cleaners!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve observed – with great interest, admiration and respect - street cleaners doing their thing: picking up, sweeping, and hauling the refuse du jour away in their little carts, thereby restoring a measure of order and cleanliness to what are usually very messy days. The World Is Your Trash Can? … Continue reading Hail, the Street Cleaners!
Vietnam Happier Than The U.S.? Morning Ramblings
Here’s a recent exchange on a Vietnam-related listserv of which I’m a member: Act I: US-Based Vietnam Scholar (DF) Perhaps you have seen the feature in Time this week on happiness, which notes that in the (2012) World Happiness Report (PDF), published by the Earth Institute of Columbia University, the US ranks 23rd out of 50 countries, … Continue reading Vietnam Happier Than The U.S.? Morning Ramblings
Visit With University of Houston Students
I recently had the opportunity to meet with a group of University of Houston (UH) undergraduates who were in Vietnam on a two-week study tour. My task was to speak to them about the work of my company, Capstone Vietnam, and what it's like running a small business in Vietnam. I mentioned some of the challenges facing all employers in … Continue reading Visit With University of Houston Students
Vietnam and the 2013 Intel Science & Engineering Fair
I recently had the opportunity to work with a group of academically talented 10th graders from Chu Van An High School, one of five magnet schools in Hanoi, who were preparing for participation in the 2013 Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (Intel ISEF) from 12-17 May in Phoenix, AZ. Vietnam sent five teams to the fair, including four … Continue reading Vietnam and the 2013 Intel Science & Engineering Fair
Guest Post: MOOCs for Vietnam?
I first familiarized myself with MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) in 2009 as an undergraduate student. Since then, I’ve been a fan of sites like Coursera, iTunes U and edX, where I can hang around doing additional reading, submitting essays and listening to lectures by top professors from Harvard, Yale and MIT. Something I haven’t … Continue reading Guest Post: MOOCs for Vietnam?
Yes, No, Maybe? NACAC Straddles the Proverbial Fence
A special commission studying the use of commission-based recruitment of international students has urged the National Association for College Admission Counseling to lift a ban on the practice, while at the same time discouraging it. (Shift on Agents, Inside Higher Ed, 13.6.13) Jekyll & Hyde Approach to Policy Statements How much time and money were invested in … Continue reading Yes, No, Maybe? NACAC Straddles the Proverbial Fence
Corruption Sans Borders: U.S. Visas for Sale in Ho Chi Minh City
Say it ain't so, Mike! Michael Sestak, the former NIV (Non-Immigrant Visa) chief in the US Consulate General in HCMC, got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. To paraphrase a verse from the The Good Book: greed and arrogance goeth before a fall. Apparently, his generous foreign service officer salary and the various goodies that … Continue reading Corruption Sans Borders: U.S. Visas for Sale in Ho Chi Minh City
The College of St. Scholastica Comes to Vietnam
Omnes semitae eius pacificae, which means All Her Paths Are Peace. (From the CSS College Crest) It’s unusual for a US institution of higher education to send a delegation consisting of its president, a dean and a director of international education to Vietnam. For an entire week. But that’s exactly what The College of St. Scholastica (CSS) … Continue reading The College of St. Scholastica Comes to Vietnam
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