June 2012
15 posts
All you did was sightsee and eat!
It has been a very exciting, and reflective, time here, stateside. Naturally, social media is alive with photos that my colleagues have uploaded to their Facebook profiles, and we have been asked to complete a post-tour reflection/survey. People unrelated to the tour—unrelated to MSU, in many cases—have many questions. I think that, much like our typical greetings (i.e., “How are...
Home!
Eight of us arrived home Monday, after 30 plus hours of traveling from Ho Chi Minh City. Others are going on to visits home or to other places in Southeast Asia and will be joining us later in the summer or fall. Madhur’s spouse graciously provided a number of us with transport home, thus avoiding another two hours on yet another bus. Thanks to them for the generous offer. The ride provided...
Our Return
We are, indeed, on our way home, with a several hour layover in Tokyo before boarding a plane for the U.S. Eight of us left our hotel, and six others who are staying on for varying lengths of time, about 7:30 last night. Our departing flight to Tokyo was at 11:40 and only partially full, so it gave us an opportunity to spread out a little.
Sunday was another fascinating day, with a visit to Can...
Tokyo, Japan
And the adventure continues! Travel day!!!!
Cu Chi Tunnels
Most of my life, I have felt as a fairly average sized woman…that is until today. Waddling my way thru the Cu Chi tunnels, I realize my enormity in comparison to the people who fascinatingly survived in a world under ground. My shoulders brushing the walls on both sides and my knees scraping the ground underneath, I silently prayed that Dr. Dirkx would not stop up ahead leaving me wedged...
May 2012
137 posts
Active Learning, Indeed
Each time I cross the street in these busy cities, I am amazed that I make it across safely. But there are two realities here: one, I am big, white, and very noticeable…and two, there is a chaotic, but sophisticated, way of moving in such cities that keep people, surprisingly, safe. You may recall that before our trip, someone posted a video of a person crossing the street, and it is highly...
Anonymous asked: I am so glad that you had a good time in Nha Trang, where I worked before I left for the States. All your reflections and pictures make me want to go home. And, I have been following you guys. Hoa
Our final days - Ho Chi Minh City
Tomorrow (Friday) we conclude our technical visits with meetings at Hoa Sen University and Open University. The former is an interesting example of a private university and the latter an effort to provide access to those who may not score high enough in the general entrance exam to qualify for regular university admission.
Over the past two plus weeks, we have explored a wide range of...
Floating market
3:45 am. can Tho is sleeping but we are up and off to the floating market!
An Apology
For all our followers out there - and we so appreciate that you are following us - we apologize for the lack of posts and that all the photos are not showing properly. Our current hotel has weak internet. We are moving to a new city - Ho Chi Minh City - tomorrow night and (hopefully) will be able to do all our updates and corrections. Stay tuned…
Kindergarten Graduation
Yesterday morning, before we left Nha Trang city limits for a day of adventure on the high seas, I took a walk around the neighborhoods away from the beach. Like many communities situated along a beautiful shoreline, most of the activity (at least that which is directed at tourists) is concentrated along “the strip.” And most of the daily life takes place in the areas perpendicular to...
Leaving Nha Trang
Today is our last day in this beautiful city. We will tour the islands, engage in some R&R, and then head back to the hotel to change and clean up for our 15-17 hour bus ride to Can Tho. We are heading into our last week in this amazing country.
We hope the pictures and the posts help to reflect some of our wonder with this country, its cities, and its people. The “teachable...
High Hopes
I ask your forgiveness in advance for this long, and probably incoherent, post.
A couple of days ago, we – how shall I put it – endured a 10-hour train ride from Da Nang to Nha Trang that was for most of us a rather jarring cultural experience for different reasons. Whether it was the stress of trying to quickly load and unload ourselves and our luggage before the train departed, the multiple...
Language Triangle
This morning, I decided to take a walk along the beach, since our hotel is just across the street from the sandy beaches of Nha Trang. When I left my room at 5:30 a.m., the beach was already quite busy, hundreds of people were swimming, and more were walking along the beach, exercising, chatting, or otherwise enjoying the sunrise before the heat set in.
As I walked, I was approached by a very...
