Happy 15th Birthday, Capstone Education!

Hanoi and HCMC staff off- and online after speeches and a party. Earlier this week, my staff and I celebrated our 15th anniversary. Here's a message I shared on Capstone's social media channels in text and video form. HCMC and Hanoi staff on- and offline after speeches and a party. On the auspicious occasion of … Continue reading Happy 15th Birthday, Capstone Education!

Lies, damned lies and statistics: Overseas study edition

Here's the original version of an article I wrote for University World News. Mark A Ashwill 20 July 2024 “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” – Mark Twain As someone whose tagline is “an academic by training and an international … Continue reading Lies, damned lies and statistics: Overseas study edition

Seeing the World Through A Child’s Eyes

In 1901, Austrian poet and novelist Rainer Maria Rilke (1875-1926) sent the following letter (and poem) to Helmuth Westhoff, a German painter and the brother of Clara Westhoff (1878-1954), a German sculptor who had recently married Rilke. Those who are primarily introverts know "how beautiful the world is and how much splendor is revealed in … Continue reading Seeing the World Through A Child’s Eyes

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