Thang Nguyen 555
Cultures on Collision Course
about
Author: Thang Nguyen 555
-
Joan Didion‘s latest book about the death of her child has landed in the top ten of TIME magazine. Her earlier book, “the Year of Magical Thinking” recalls the death of her husband. By penning these experiences, she invited us, readers into her private chamber of grief (saving his shoes, wishing he would come back).…
-
While waiting for my next appointment, I heard a man whistle. He carried a tune while being oblivious to outsiders. Maybe he just try to pass the time in between classes. Maybe we should whistle too. We are all passing the time. Some of us are doing time. Stephen Hawking wishes he could hear his own…
-
We always rushed through dinner to claim our living room space, or call it a stage. Daddy’s mandolin, brother’s violin, and my guitar. But we never played with one another, being from three different generations. So “Du Am”, “Em Toi” and “Le Da” in mandolin. Then “Serenade”, “Guitare D’Amour” either by violin or guitar. Finally…
-
David Brooks of the NYTimes had a piece about the US economy which he coined as “mid-life-crisis economy that needs to be rejuvenated”. That’s oil. Here in Vietnam, I found quite a contrast. Young demographic, young economy that goes no where but up. Community Colleges, Trade and Vocational schools, English classes. One by one, they…
-
In Vietnam, don’t be surprised when you are placed next to a complete stranger, who knows someone who knows your host. It happened to me at Christmas party this year. Next to me was a Vietnamese-American returning from multiple tours in Iraq. He was here to fly his wife out. She had flown in as…
-
Mark Zuckerberg is here for Christmas vacation. http://english.vietnamnet.vn/en/science-technology/16933/facebook-s-ceo-visits-vietnam.html Perhaps he would find a striking difference between the way people celebrate the Holidays here as opposed to Northern California. In the US, the joke is “if you got tired of the Turkey, you can always order Chinese”. McDonald’ s and KFC‘s are closed. One culture withdraws…
-
My friend had a square jaw. When he laughed, his features became more pronounced. Already taller than most, he carried himself above the fold. Not all kids in my school went to the Conservatory. You had to have talent. For that brief year in 7th grade, he joined us at music practice. “Can you play…
-
Coconut, sugar cane and other tropical blend to your liking. http://www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn/Business/2011/12/99081/ POM(agrenade) has made a blast as new entry into the American juice shelves. Morgan Spurlock of Super Size Me got around to make a movie about brands. His VIP sponsor: POM juice. Branding is both mystical and magical. It helps institutions and companies thrive…
-
Instead of “I woke up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me…” like Paul McCartney, I woke up to strange sounds these days: peddlers who use “low tech” au parleur (bull horn) mounted on bicycles or tri-cycles (selling boot-legged CD‘s). In fact, it was my first time got chased by pleasant sound from…
-
It’s a norm here in Vietnam that a certain market, after being moved to a new location, still has its old location called “cho Cu” (Old Market). My Dad and I used to go for breakfast in Cho Cu, which no longer does brisk business despite its prime location near the harbor (people are shopping at SuperMarkets,…
Thang Nguyen 555 