On another lighter note, I'm pleased to announce the release of a song I wrote during the pandemic. I had the music in my head and worked it out on a piano but never recorded it. This music is AI-generated. Not bad for a computer, eh? 😉 https://youtu.be/3k38yqbpfwM?si=0MZIwCQ7fJKLiGda Here's a direct link to the version … Continue reading Got the COVID Blues (Lord, Have Mercy on Me)
COVID-19
Vietnamese American Poet’s Slide Down the Slippery Slope of Hatred
LD's Official Substack Photo Below are some excerpts from the beginning of an essay about Linh Dinh, a self-described "canceled" and "anthologized poet and fairly prolific author..." It's a sad but important story that I took no great pleasure in writing. I thought of the many acquaintances, friends, colleagues, and the millions I will never … Continue reading Vietnamese American Poet’s Slide Down the Slippery Slope of Hatred
A Trip to the COVID Capital of the World
Status: 2.7.22 (Mayo Clinic) It's deliciously ironic that I had to submit a negative COVID test result as a precondition for traveling to the country that is #1 in the number of coronavirus infections and deaths. I religiously wore my fashionable black mask on flights, a requirement on Japan Airlines but not American Airlines, in … Continue reading A Trip to the COVID Capital of the World
Successful Student Recruitment in Vietnam: Stories from the Field
Wednesday, June 1, 2022 from 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM MDT Some institutions currently active in Vietnam are achieving their recruitment goals with impressive results. This session takes a look at a U.S. high school with a boarding option, a community college, and a four-year university that have been successful recruiting high performing Vietnamese students and … Continue reading Successful Student Recruitment in Vietnam: Stories from the Field
Maskless US Colleagues Roll the COVID-19 Dice
I was scrolling through my LinkedIn feed when I saw this photo, taken at the recent AIEA conference in New Orleans, and a colleague's comment: First time in my 40 year career to ever comment on how great it is to see maskless intl educators at work at a conference. My first thought was, Has … Continue reading Maskless US Colleagues Roll the COVID-19 Dice
Another Year of Living (and Dying) with COVID-19
As 2021 draws to a merciful close, I thought this would be a good time to glance at the latest COVID-19 stats in Viet Nam, including the ones that give me and others hope. While most people tend to obsess over the daily number of infections, I periodically check the number of vaccinations because a vaccinated … Continue reading Another Year of Living (and Dying) with COVID-19
Vietnamese Student Enrollment in the US Drops by 9% in 2020/21
The US experienced a dramatic but not unexpected decline of 15% in its 2020/21 international student population bringing the total to under 1 million. The primary reason cited is the COVID-19 pandemic. Another important reason is the Trump administration. IIE probably didn't introduce this rather large (orange) elephant in the room because Open Doors (OD) … Continue reading Vietnamese Student Enrollment in the US Drops by 9% in 2020/21
The latest chapter in Vietnam’s valiant battle against the Delta variant
The good news is that most Vietnamese and expats are beginning to bask in the light at the end of tunnel. Hanoians getting exercise after the COVID-related restrictions were lifted in September 2021. Photo: Khanh Huy/ The Hanoi Times A revised and updated version of this article, originally published on 28.10.21 by CounterPunch, appeared in … Continue reading The latest chapter in Vietnam’s valiant battle against the Delta variant
The Latest Chapter in Vietnam’s Valiant Battle Against the Delta Variant
Here's my latest essay for CounterPunch. Reading time: ~17 minutes. The hectic, sun-drenched streets of the capital have fallen silentIn the middle of the dayThe empty parks surrounded by yellow ribbons that exclaim,Keep out! Shuttered stores and barricaded neighborhoodsLivelihoods diminished; plans put on hold; dreams deferredMasked people shuffling around like otherworldly figuresWaiting patiently, resolutely, and … Continue reading The Latest Chapter in Vietnam’s Valiant Battle Against the Delta Variant
Covid-19 silver lining: overseas study opportunities abound for Vietnamese students
Here's my latest essay for VNExpress International. Looking forward to seeing the Vietnamese version for my target audience. Educational institutions in key host countries, most of which bore the brunt of Covid's fury last year, are reopening their doors to international students, including those from Vietnam. One silver lining of Covid-19 and its impact on … Continue reading Covid-19 silver lining: overseas study opportunities abound for Vietnamese students
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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