Thang Nguyen 555

Cultures on Collision Course

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With some short-term relief work in Asia/Africa and long stint in Telecom, Thang also earned a B.A. at Pennsylvania State University. M.A. in Communication at Wheaton Graduate School, M.A. in Cross-Cultural Communication at Gordon-Conwell Seminary, Boston. In addition, he earned a CELTA – classes taken in Hanoi for cultural re-immersion.

Author: Thang Nguyen 555

  • House of Rising Sun

    One of my first guitar solos was House of Rising Sun. Chu Van An High School music room, with two electric guitars, one bass guitar and a drum set. Long was on bass, Son counted the beat and Hung, son of a dancing instructor, played rhythm. And one, and two: Am, C …. And so we…

  • Place of Death

    Patricia Conwell has made a chunk of change with her Medical Examiner (Kate) character. Manner of death . In Vietnam, it’s the place of death that matters. If one dies in a street accident, the casket will be placed out on the sidewalk for the three-day mourning. You can always learn something new here. Meals…

  • Mobile books

    I was waiting for my scooter ride outside Cho Ray Hospital when a peddler approached me. “Want to pick something to read?”. Turned out, she was selling used books, in a box: Cu Chi Tunnel, My Lai Massacre, When Heaven and Earth Changed Places, Sorrows of War, Understanding Vietnam… Those subjects are now as old…

  • instant noodles, orange and sandwich

    38 years ago I ate those three items not in one day, not in one vessel, and not in one country. Instant noodles out in International Waters under firing rockets, oranges aboard a USS vessel and finally, a sandwich in Subic Bay, Philippines. After that hellish trip, plane foods, hotel foods, cafeteria foods all taste better.…

  • Trust again

    People with bad experiences go through various phases in recovery. Some need a lifetime. Others could trust again in no time. All depends how the mind plays tricks. If pain recedes deep into long-term memory, then it takes longer to process pain. Short or long-term memory, bad experiences stay. They surface on unsuspected occasion (Murphy’s Law).…

  • Leaving your heart behind

    Home for the holidays. For my students at least. For me, 37 years ago, I was feeling on edge. One-way with no return. Yet, it has been possible for me to return and work here in Vietnam. To see students prepared for studying abroad. But their leaving has a promise of a return (two-way). Many…

  • Speaking one’s mind

    She came back today to visit the school, accompanied by her Dad. Forthcoming, confident and spoke her mind. After all, to her, “time is money”. Up to 19 AUD per hour, doing what natives wouldn’t otherwise do: taking care of old folks. Another day at work. Another day of plugging away, but not without occasional…

  • Get ready

    When seeing the opening act of mainly 60’s-looking folks, my young friend was about to dismiss them. I said “Hold it”. After all, the Rolling Stones still commanded a packed audience. So give them the benefit of the doubt. Turned out I had been right. Rare Earth, Cream, CCR and Eagles were all featured in that one…

  • What a start!

    A close friend just had a baby. That little boy arrived last week. Same hospital where I was born (Tu Du). I joked that he and I came from the same factory. Innocent, peacefully sleeping in the rocking arms of mother, aunt and grandma. What a start! Wonder if all of us got that same…

  • I love

    Our own Duc Huy has sung “Toi yeu…nhung loi noi thanh that, toi yeu ly ca-phe buoi sang” (I love sincere comments, .. morning cup of coffee). So do I. Especially when it’s cappuccino prepared with care and passion by our UVT Hospitality students. They even brought it up to my office (perk!). I love…