so you want to be a writer?

This verse by Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) is the finest explication of writing I have ever seen. If you write, this will resonate with you. Writing is one of those precious times when I experience flow, described as "the melting together of action and consciousness; the state of finding a balance between a skill and how challenging … Continue reading so you want to be a writer?

“Disappointed, violated and disgusted with poor treatment from Vietnam locals”

Below is a comment I stumbled upon in the Travel/Du lịch section of a Vietnam Reddit thread. It received 535 comments within 20 hours. As someone who has lived here for nearly 19 years and whose first trip was in 1996 in another lifetime, everything she describes rings true, especially for a first-time "female solo … Continue reading “Disappointed, violated and disgusted with poor treatment from Vietnam locals”

Biến cuộc sống thành tác phẩm nghệ thuật cao nhất

Ảnh: Erik Rittenberry Tác giả: Erik Rittenberry/Dịch: Nguyễn Thái Hồng (Cảm ơn cháu!): To Make Living Itself the Highest Art Bên trong mỗi người chúng ta đều tiềm ẩn những khả năng, dẫn lối đến những thế giới cao đẹp hơn. -Rudolf Steiner Hành trình sáng tạo... là sự tự khám phá bản thân trong … Continue reading Biến cuộc sống thành tác phẩm nghệ thuật cao nhất

Bystanders No More.

Helping people speak up about human rights in Palestine. Screenshot Once there is seeing, there must be acting. Otherwise, what’s the use of seeing? -Thích Nhất Hạnh (1926-2022) To be a Jew means always being with the oppressed, never with the oppressors. -Marek Edelman (1919/1922-2009) – last surviving leader, Warsaw ghetto uprising I love this … Continue reading Bystanders No More.

Homelessness in the Wealthiest Country on Earth

Photo by MAA How a society treats its most vulnerable is always the measure of its humanity. Statement by Ambassador Matthew Rycroft of the UK Mission to the UN at the Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict I saw many scenes like the above in the major US cities I visited earlier … Continue reading Homelessness in the Wealthiest Country on Earth

Recent Meeting with University at Buffalo’s President & Vice Provost for International Education

I had the pleasure of meeting with President Satish Tripathi and Vice Provost for International Education Nojin Kwak, their wives, Kamlesh and Heesook, and Sherene Cheah Milizia, Director of Overseas and Intercultural Programs, during their recent visit to Vietnam. Full disclosure: I'm a Ph.D. alumnus of SUNY's flagship institution, where I had the honor and … Continue reading Recent Meeting with University at Buffalo’s President & Vice Provost for International Education

Chess as a Substitute for Real-world Conflict: A Fantasy

I've been known to play the occasional game of chess, especially the fast variety, e.g., bullet and blitz on Chess.com. It's exciting and it's (duh!) quick. Your fate and your opponent's can be decided within seconds if one of you makes the wrong move. It's more about reaction time and anticipation than it is about … Continue reading Chess as a Substitute for Real-world Conflict: A Fantasy

What Educational Consulting Companies Expect from Partner Institutions: A View from Vietnam

Here's the unabridged version of my most recent University World News article, published last weekend under the (editor's) title Student recruitment: What a good partnership looks like. Peace, MAA Image: iStock Last December, I participated in a webinar as part of a virtual book tour for Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education – A … Continue reading What Educational Consulting Companies Expect from Partner Institutions: A View from Vietnam

Indian Education Agents Selling Canada-Bound Students a Bill of Goods

I came across this story on LinkedIn. It's yet another example of an education agent cheating a client in its headlong pursuit of profit. This is one of the issues that contributed to the crisis affecting Canada and its higher education system. Met with a 30-year-old man from India today. He is working in Canada … Continue reading Indian Education Agents Selling Canada-Bound Students a Bill of Goods