I rarely respond to Facebook or LinkedIn comments. My view is that whatever I have to say of substance I'll say in a blog post, essay, or interview. There are times, however, when I'm willing to make an exception. This comment by "TS" was one of them. It was in response to an Atlantic article … Continue reading Criticism of the US as Anti-American?
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Viet Nam & the USA in the Time of COVID-19: A Study in Contrasts
These sketches are by Hanoi-based artist, George Burchett. iPad art, 5.4.20, © 2020 As of this writing, Viet Nam has 245 confirmed cases, 95 recovered, and 0 deaths, while the US had 336,906 confirmed cases, 17,977 recovered, and 9,624 deaths, as of yesterday. Stay Strong, Viet Nam! MAGA!
Return to the US? From the Food Warmer Into the Fire
The US Embassy in Hanoi recently started sending me and other US expats in Viet Nam whose email addresses happen to be on file daily updates with the subject line: Health and Travel Alert. I was struck by this "reminder" in the 3 April edition: On March 31, U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo … Continue reading Return to the US? From the Food Warmer Into the Fire
Protected: From the Mayflower to Viet Nam: Confessions of a Native Son
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
US Student Visa Issuances Up in May-July 2019 Over 2018
As US international student recruiters know all too well, these are tough times for most institutions for a variety of social, political, and economic reasons. Viet Nam, however, remains a bright spot on the recruitment horizon. As of March 2019, there were 30,684 young Vietnamese studying in the US at all levels, most in higher … Continue reading US Student Visa Issuances Up in May-July 2019 Over 2018
Guns are US(A)
A Vietnamese version of the article below appeared on 6 August in the Voices section of Zing.vn, a major media outlet in Viet Nam. This is the unabridged English version with photos. Postscript: Here's an irony for you. Delaware is an open carry state but it doesn't permit online orders for wine. On the other hand, … Continue reading Guns are US(A)
Of “Summer” & Concentration Camps
The drawing on the left was done by a child held at a what is euphemistically called "a summer camp" (detention center) in the U.S. I see a cage. The physical impediment that keeps her prisoner. The drawing on the right was also created by a child. Except this child's drawing was made while being held … Continue reading Of “Summer” & Concentration Camps
Another Make-Work Job for ICE
Set thine house in order... 2 Kings 20: 1 It's as if the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) branch of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has nothing better to do than to create yet another faux university to entrap more people like so many flies to honey. Enter the University of Farmington in … Continue reading Another Make-Work Job for ICE
Fake News: “Australia ‘first choice’ for overseas Vietnamese students”
This is presumably an editor's mistake. Fact-checking is important and really easy these days. Is Australia the world's leading host of Vietnamese students, meaning their "first choice"? As of 10-18, there were 23,803 young Vietnamese studying in Australia at all levels out of a total of 673,296 international students, according to the Australia's Department of Education and … Continue reading Fake News: “Australia ‘first choice’ for overseas Vietnamese students”
Viet Nam Once Again Ranks 5th in US International Student Enrollment
According to the August 2018 SEVIS by the Numbers update, Viet Nam once again ranks 5th among places of origin with 29,788 active students at all levels and in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, inching past Canada, which had displaced it in June 2018. (One always has to take summer statistics with a grain … Continue reading Viet Nam Once Again Ranks 5th in US International Student Enrollment
An International Educator in Vietnam 
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