Got the COVID Blues (Lord, Have Mercy on Me)

The fourth wave of COVID-19 in Viet Nam "inspired" me to write the lyrics for a song called...wait for it!... Got the COVID Blues. Think uptempo, piano, saxophone and/or electric guitar, bass, and piano. Can you feel the beat? I'm workin' from home in my gilded cageDreamin' of travel in the post-COVID ageCoronavirus on the … Continue reading Got the COVID Blues (Lord, Have Mercy on Me)

Hà Nội in the Fourth Wave: A Heartfelt Wish & a Hopeful Prediction

Hoàn Kiếm Lake in the heart of Hà Nội during the lockdown. My hopeful prediction came true! Earlier this week, the lockdown ended, barricades were removed, and people were out and about. Like flipping a switch, Hanoi was back in business! We've returned to the crazy traffic that is the old normal. This capital city … Continue reading Hà Nội in the Fourth Wave: A Heartfelt Wish & a Hopeful Prediction

US Expat Whines About the 4th Wave of COVID-19 in Danang

I expected to be enlightened by a thoughtful article about the impact of the latest wave of COVID-19 on Danang in the August 2021 issue of Mekong Review (Asian Literature). Instead, it was another entitled expat complaining about the inconveniences of a lockdown designed to prevent the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. Here … Continue reading US Expat Whines About the 4th Wave of COVID-19 in Danang

In the Midst of a Fourth Wave of COVID-19 in Viet Nam

Source: Worldometer, Vietnam Viet Nam is facing its greatest public health challenge yet since the global pandemic began. As of this writing, the country logged 81,328 active cases of COVID-19. Keep in mind that there were fewer than 200 active cases in April. The total number of deaths stands at 499, which is expected to … Continue reading In the Midst of a Fourth Wave of COVID-19 in Viet Nam

Number of US-Bound Vietnamese Students Continues to Inch Upward

As of June 2021, there were 25,816 Vietnamese students in the US, most enrolled in the nation's colleges and universities, according to the latest SEVIS update. That's an increase of 5.23% over March 2021. There are now nearly as many as there were last September, a positive sign. If you add language training (802) to … Continue reading Number of US-Bound Vietnamese Students Continues to Inch Upward

Hội An Visit a Bittersweet Experience

Photos by MAA Strolling around Hội An on a recent sunny afternoon, classical music playing softly on the omnipresent speakers, the tropical breeze wafting through the trees and alleys, was both a sad and peaceful experience. For the uninitiated, this charming little town, a short drive south of Danang in central Viet Nam, is a … Continue reading Hội An Visit a Bittersweet Experience

“Will Vietnamese student numbers in the US recover post-COVID?”

This photo is from one of Capstone's fall flex-fairs. This is my latest essay for University World News, uploaded yesterday. The (editor's) title is a rhetorical question that I'm pleased to answer in the affirmative, assuming institutions act accordingly. I address some possible steps to take in the last section entitled A time to rebuild. … Continue reading “Will Vietnamese student numbers in the US recover post-COVID?”

Vietnamese Student Numbers Down Slightly “Down Under”

Vietnamese enrollments in Australia declined by 6% from January to October 2020, according to the Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment. Viet Nam ranks fourth among sending countries after China, India, and Nepal. The total number of young Vietnamese at all levels was 23,943, as of October. (The total YOY decrease from 10-19 to … Continue reading Vietnamese Student Numbers Down Slightly “Down Under”

“Things we are grateful for in 2020”

Leonardo (His smile puts a smile on my face.) I feel compelled to share this message of hope with you. It was written and posted on 31 December 2020 by my friend, Huong, and her husband, Enrico, who live in Singapore. For them, last year was the pinnacle of happiness and the dark depths of … Continue reading “Things we are grateful for in 2020”

Wishing Everyone a Happy, Healthy, & Peaceful Solar New Year!

As I stated in my holiday message to friends and colleagues, 2020 was certainly a year to remember and, in many respects, one to forget. While there have been some professional silver linings to COVID-19, innovations that we will continue in the post-COVID-19 era, it has been a year of pain and loss for so … Continue reading Wishing Everyone a Happy, Healthy, & Peaceful Solar New Year!