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.

Tag: New York

  • Two front teeth

    Tom Wolfe in one of his quirky observations mentioned that “New York got knocked out of its two front teeth” (in reference to 9/11). It was a dark day for all. Even today, as we remember it. It jolted us our of our slumber. Neighbor comforted neighbor. Don Dillon mentioned “the jumpers” in his novel.…

  • Same river twice

    This is not about going back to your prom night, or re-entering the job market. It’s about locality and landscape that have been gentrified and occupied by new comers as time passed. I happened to be by the old neighborhood where I used to live 30 years ago: same Peking Duck restaurant, same Post Office. Even a bunch…

  • 2012 Bookmarking

    I used to rely on researchers like the Tofflers (Future Shock) to “see” into the future. For instance, the pro-sumer trend, the mismatching speeds among various sectors ( IT, Financial, Educational, Governmental…in that order). Lately, all I came across in Futurism was 2012 prophecy . Like it or not, this year will have come down as a…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • Humble dreams

    Here at UVT, students wear chef uniforms to school. Dressed up for the part. They are to finish their last leg in Hospitality and Tourism at one of the Australian Universities. Humble dreams, yet tangible outcomes. I respect young people who knew what they want to be when they grow up/old. At their age, my family…

  • Re-occupy yourself!

    When I boarded my flight to Vietnam, Penn State was losing to Nebraska. And after I landed in Vietnam, I read about New York “tent city” had been re-occupied by the Mayor. Here in the land of motor scooters, and kids try to conjugate in English, I can put those problems  in perspective. It’s true…

  • Just the chips, mam!

    The speed of microprocessors keeps doubling every 18 months or less. We know that. But what we don’t know is how things play out, from upending the music industry (Napster) to future mobile payment and games (Amex virtual currency). When you asked people in New York, wallet or phone?  the answer was they preferred to lose their…

  • two-step back

    A laid-off Coca Cola delivery man gave a bank teller a note, demanding one dollar so he could go to jail and get healthcare. A Florida retiree robbed a bank to pay his mortgage. New York sex workers told investigative reporters they went on-call to pay back college tuition. Something is not right with our…

  • Summer setback

    That summer in Jr High, I experienced a setback: Hapkido went wild, leaving me with a broken arm. The Kung Fu Hall already had my parents’ release, so even if it had been the fault of the visiting Red-Belt Master (who held up the brick, but moved it unexpectedly when it’s my turn to kick),…