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

  • Alternate Dream

    American Dream has undergone a makeover of late (maybe because the Chinese economy itself was heading for a cliff, so it needed to apply a break on lending). Whatever the underlying reason, America middle class is contracting not because of shrinking population , but mostly because of declining income and consumption. In short, the good old time…

  • Heart and Soul

    The intangible qualities. We can only recognize them when we see them. How can we put a measure on that which makes us human i.e. mortal yet full of life versus a machine whose sole existence is to carry out instructions and perform repetitive tasks without getting bored (the sad thing is when the machine gets…

  • On being an influencer

    Like it or not, we all are either on the receiving or giving end of Influence. But few understand what constitute sphere of influence. A study on the subject, by Cialdini , lists below elements: – Like (ability). This is self-explanatory. When you like someone or are liked by someone, nothing can go wrong. This explains the “a…

  • 30 years on

    USA Today celebrated its 30th anniversary issue, with bolder graphics and fonts (thanks! we can use larger fonts now). Those papers we pick up outside our hotel rooms when traveling on business  (to be left behind at airport lounges). Anyway. This issue features some “futurists” in each sector: urban architecture, space travel, transportation (Ford), internet (Twitter’s…

  • We can do better!

    We all campaign for our own survival and decency. Our term limits are long, and the road is hard. It was still dark when I got to the park. A guy with backpack barely crossed the street. That early! Then it hit me: the street is his home. He never got out of any house. So…

  • Social boosters

    We stand on the shoulders of giants: wheel, movable types, steam engines, electricity and the internet. Now Iphone 5. Larger screen, one extra row of icons, aerial and panoramic view. Information on the go. I can rattle on. We are at a point when our ways (technology) are growing faster than our use (apps). Because…

  • Time as equalizer

    Presidential terms last four years.  Our life expectancy, used to be much less, now stands in the mid-70’s depends on the air quality near you. It’s an allotment. Non-negotiable. Except for a few variables e.g.unique gene pool, diet, exercise, stress level and accidents. Some people even wish they were dead.  If you drag on day in and day…

  • Ennobling

    You don’t have to be rich or poor.  Nobility is a choice. A willful act of service. A realization that your words, which might injure someone, be best left unsaid. WWII servicemen, having seen and heard all there was to be experienced, have put themselves through school (GI Bills) and affected the change we see…

  • Socially connected

    The inner ring then the outer ones. We learn to trust, to collaborate. Great things cannot be achieved alone. That’s why the President tweets. That’s why we tweet. Do you know someone who needs our services? Or some place who is hiring so our students can apply. We need those links and those leads. People…

  • Ma Belle

    She hit all the right notes. Struck the chords. Evoked the emotion. Great speech arouses. Got the audience on their feet. They were waiting to hear, not for a hand-out but for a herald. Together we can. But the disconnect is when it comes to action: People simply don’t believe either side i.e. the propaganda, the…