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: United States

  • Inter-group problems

    At work or in life, people are bunched together “us vs them”. No way around this. Shared values and “group DNA“. I am glad to see titles like Chief Cultural Officer. It’s about time we see how group think, group problems and group competition affect the bottom line. As we move away from the Command-Control management…

  • People-people problems

    Technical issues can be dealt with, even if we have to farm it out. People problems, especially when it’s personal, and potentially embarrassing, tend to linger on, and if unresolved and cancerous. We simply wish they go away. And they will. When the people died. Those of us who stand one foot in tech and the…

  • Use it

    Hard times push people to diversify, retrench or change. My friends turn organic farmers. I have tried the road less traveled (although there were many scooters on it) and early morning gym (also less popular).  Honing and toning. Just another way to react to hard times. It will make us stronger, wiser and more creative. I…

  • V for valley

    Silicon Valley that is. Palo Alto. The hype, the anticipation and burst. Dream and dread. It’s here for the taking. You game? Pine trees and even banana trees. Years ago, one would see Vietnamese technicians and Indian engineers. Now, the work is mostly outsourced and off shored. The design and creative work are still here. But…

  • This side of the curtain

    It would have been stuff taken from” The spy who came in from the cold.” For three months now, I have lived in the alley behind the local police station. My big brother would have fainted just to learn about it. He is a pharmacist, retiring, but still goes to work per diem. He was…

  • toss-up

    Theme from Mahogany has a line “so many dreams just slipped through our hands”. Then “do you know where you’re goin to, do you like the things life is showin you”. I first heard that while drifting on Wake Island  summer 75. Back then, I had one thing in mind: departure for the US. Now, the table…

  • My edu-tour to Vietnam

    When you are on a tourist visa, you have to keep renewing it every three months. Each stamp was like a certificate of completion of my self-education. I learned that: – my friend’s music students, blind or bright, respected and adored their dead teacher – dead people, in casket, still get his/her last chance to bow…

  • Rain and rhythm

    Chewing gum jingle, and it seems to work:  “looking for a brand new start”. Each day, we woke up to a start. Just like that first day out of our mother’s womb. Not knowing what to expect. Not knowing who to trust. Not knowing the future. Will it rain today? Or same ole sticky heat? Rain and tears…

  • Parting

    Chicago‘s If you Leave Me Now is easy to listen to,but  hard to sing. “You take away a part of me”. Changes are necessary. Progress and modernity. More convenience, more amenities. Full service. One-stop shop. Once we have upgraded to some fancy levels, our memory muscles kick in full gear. Gotta get back on top.…

  • Little space lots of room

    Saigon wasn’t built or planned for 10 million (back in the 50’s, its population was 1 million). And certainly not when scooters are on fire as happened lately. Raging hot. World in flame. Flashback of Monk Thich Quang Duc protesting dictatorship (Tunesian’s style). I fight for my jogging lane, negotiating between the sidewalk and the drainage. It’s a…