In Memory of John Pilger (1939-2023)

03/01/2024 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary cambodia, john pilger, khmer rouge, kissinger, nixon, vietnam, year zero

A quote that appears on John Pilger's website. I was saddened to learn of the passing of John Pilger, whom I have followed for years. Noam Chomsky described him this way: "John Pilger's work has been a beacon of light in often dark times. The realities he has brought to light have been a revelation, … Continue reading In Memory of John Pilger (1939-2023)

Season’s Greetings from Vietnam!

24/12/202329/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary christmas, lunar new year, solar new year, tet, vietnam

For your reading pleasure, here's the English version of a December 2021 article I wrote about Christmas as the kickoff to a long holiday season that culminates in Tết, the Vietnamese Lunar New Year celebration: Christmas in Vietnam: bookending a long festival season. Even though most Vietnamese identify as Buddhists, Christmas has become a popular secular holiday in recent years, which is why … Continue reading Season’s Greetings from Vietnam!

One of My Role Models

20/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary exercise, role models, staying active, vietnam

Photo by MAA While recently shopping for flowers, I noticed this old woman, bamboo cane in one hand and broom in the other, sweeping up around her family's business. My guess is that she's in her mid to late 80s, perhaps even 90s. I was reminded of Dick Van Dyke's 2016 memoir Keep Moving, something … Continue reading One of My Role Models

The “Made in the USA” Addiction Business Model

12/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary addiction business model, obesity, USA, vietnam

Good for the Corporate Bottom Line, Bad for Consumers' Health A loud and clear message from Robert Lufkin, MD, a medical school professor (UCLA & USC) whom I follow on LinkedIn whose lengthy tagline is helping people prevent/reverse chronic disease, cultivate consciousness, and live life to the fullest. 'Envision a world of love, abundance, and … Continue reading The “Made in the USA” Addiction Business Model

Canadian Public Schools Remain Popular Destination

11/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Updates boarding schools, canada, day schools, public schools, USA, vietnam, Vietnamese students

Here's a useful update I received via email from the Canadian Association of Public Schools - International. During the 2022-2023 school year, over 33,000 international students from 139 different countries studied in Canadian public schools. Here’s a look at the top 10 source countries of students who studied in a one-semester or academic year program. … Continue reading Canadian Public Schools Remain Popular Destination

Zero Tolerance, No Exceptions

08/12/202307/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary delaware, drunk driving, fines, license revocation, USA, vietnam, zero tolerance

"If you drink beer or liquor, don't drive. Safety for you and society." On my drive home the other night after an evening event, I chose a route that I figured would have a police checkpoint at that time of night on the lookout for drunk drivers. Let me modify that: drivers who had even … Continue reading Zero Tolerance, No Exceptions

Mary, Queen of Peace, in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)

07/12/202306/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary catholicism, christianity, ho chi minh city, mary, queen of peace, vietnam

This is one of the nicer "Marys" I've seen in a HCMC taxi or rideshare car I've seen. I immediately know if my driver is Catholic, a legacy of French colonialism and pre-colonial influence, or Buddhist, based on what's on their dashboard. (7% of Vietnam's population identifies with the former. About 1% are Protestant.) My … Continue reading Mary, Queen of Peace, in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)

A Small Business Role Model: Kudos to Pizza 4P’s!

05/12/202304/12/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Commentary cambodia, india, Pizza 4Ps, vietnam

I've eaten a lot of pizza and related dishes in my time and I can say without exaggeration that Pizza 4Ps is the most delicious I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying. I'm impressed by the consistent quality across locations and over time. It's one reason why Pizza 4P's now has 31 restaurants in Vietnam, … Continue reading A Small Business Role Model: Kudos to Pizza 4P’s!

The Bloodstained Legacy of Henry Kissinger (1923-2023)

30/11/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary anthony bourdain, cambodia, genocide, kissinger, us foreign policy, vietnam, war crimes

Or serving on the board of trustees of a former employer... (Read the linked article below to find out which one.) Coincidentally, I recently returned from a trip to Cambodia, a country I first traveled to in 1999, to visit a friend, one of the truly good ones, who lay dying of cancer. (He passed … Continue reading The Bloodstained Legacy of Henry Kissinger (1923-2023)

The Little Darlings Are Still Hard at Work

29/11/202330/11/2023 Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary graffiti, hcmc, street art, tagging, vietnam

Defacing Public and Private Property as a Form of "Personal Expression" These two photos, which I took on a recent trip to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), are examples of graffiti/tagging and street art. In the first example, young people run around at night, spray paint cans in hand, "expressing themselves" wherever they find a … Continue reading The Little Darlings Are Still Hard at Work

An International Educator in Vietnam

Information, Insights & (Frequently) Intrigue

vietnam