Today is my Vietniversary
I arrived a post exactly one year ago today. Time has flown by, even faster than my last tour. Only one more year in Vietnam before I have to leave for my next tour. 😢
Foreign Service
Job title
“Eye Professor”
#ActualJobTitles
Reason #736 why I love my job
The Indian consulate in Ho Chi Minh City sponsored a performance of Indian classical dance last night. The consulate invited the consuls general of the various consulates in the city. Our Consul General had a time conflict, and so another officer got to accept the invitation. I was the fastest to hit the “reply” button on the email, so I got the honor of representing America.
I know nothing about Indian classical dance (and after seeing the performance, I still don’t), but it doesn’t take expert knowledge of art in order to appreciate it. I was absolutely stunned by the performance. The dancing was athletic, but with very intricate and strictly controlled movements and gestures as well. The dancers used their eyes to express emotions, it was like their eyes were speaking. The costumes were gorgeous, and I was seated close enough to the stage to see everything in detail.
A few of my counterparts from the Indian consulate sat next to me. After the first act, one leaned over and asked what I thought. For some reason, the dancing made me emotional. I wanted to jump up and down, and break down and cry, at the same time. I was literally speechless. “Oh my God,” I managed to squawk out. I think he smiled. I hope he knew that that was a good “Oh my God.” Because it was.
Curtain call. I was so enthralled during the performance that I didn’t even think about taking a photo.
The show was amazing, and it was such a treat to represent my country there. Before the show started, I met and talked with a number of Indian diplomats, and several members of the Indian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam. It was also fascinating to witness international relations between two other countries. The protocol was very similar, the structure of the diplomatic part of the event would be familiar to any American diplomat. Dignitaries from both countries said nice things about each other’s country, and praised the great relationship between the two nations. But the content of the remarks was very interesting, too, in what they did and didn’t talk about. They emphasized cultural exchange, but not some areas that the U.S. emphasizes in our diplomatic work, like education and security. The nature of the relationship between Vietnam and India is just different from the relationship that we have with Vietnam.
So this was another terrific experience. Next time I see my boss, I’ll have to thank her for being so busy that I could take her place at the event. And I’m very grateful to the Indian consulate for being so graciously welcoming at the event, and for sharing some of their culture.
In Memorial
To mark Memorial Day, flowers by the plaques honoring the five servicemen who died during the attack in the Embassy in 1968, and the last two soldiers killed in action in the Vietnam war. The plaques are on the grounds of the Consulate, the site of our former Embassy.
What I do changes lives
Today, I talked with 87 different people who wanted to go to America. To some of them, I had to say: “no,” and to some, I could say: “yes.” This story from NPR, about a visa interview 25 years ago, and where the applicant ended up, is a reminder that my decisions can have a huge impact on people’s lives.
Christopher Francis prayed in earnest before arriving at the U.S. Embassy in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 1973.
It was 2 o’clock in the afternoon and the course of his life depended on this moment. He needed to make a case to a man named David C. Harr about why he deserved a visa to the United States.
…
About a half-hour later, with his visa stamped and signed, Francis and Harr shook hands. Harr wished him the best. It was July 20, 1973.
A month later Francis traveled to the U.S. to train as a nurse. As years passed, he climbed the ladder to become director of inpatient and outpatient services of his hospital department. Today, he’s a U.S. citizen with a wife and two daughters.
The rest of the story is amazing. It’s worth a read:
https://www.npr.org/2018/04/29/606859276/how-a-half-hour-in-a-u-s-embassy-changed-a-life
Talking to high school kids
Instead of a bell or a buzzer to signal the start and end of classes at this school, someone beats this drum. No, really, I swear to God that’s what happens.
On a recent trip to a city in Vietnam, I got to talk with some high school students about studying in America. The focus of my talk was the wide range of choices that American colleges offer. I told them that they should really think about what they want out of life, and then decide if studying in America is the best choice for them.
When I talk with high school kids in another country, who don’t really have a strong concept of the American college experience, I like to show the number of majors that a typical college offers. One of the most popular majors that Vietnamese students choose is business administration. That isn’t surprising, given the focus on economic development in modern Vietnamese society. But I like to choose a medium-sized American college, and then list all of the majors that the college offers. It usually blows their minds. Which is the point.
I managed to hold the attention of a room full of really smart kids for at least 33% of the time.
During the Q&A, their questions focused on the three topics that people usually ask: safety, cost, and the Trump Administration’s policies. I wore my diplomat hat and answered the questions truthfully and tactfully.
I really like talking with students, especially students at this kind of high school. This is what they call a “gifted” high school. Students here are on the fast track to the best universities in Vietnam. They are smart, advantaged, and are clearly the upper echelon of Vietnamese society. They will be the leaders of their generation. I’m proud to have shared with them some American values and what our educational system has to offer.
Business travel is not a vacation
Even though I really like visiting other places, and I enjoy meeting up with colleagues from different posts, and it’s fun to be in a new environment, business travel is a different experience from leisure travel.
I my previous career in academia, I traveled a lot for work. Academic conferences are held in different places around the country, so I went to a lot of big and small cities around America (and a couple of times in Canada). But when I was there, I usually saw the inside of hotel conference rooms more than the local sites. I’ve been to most US states, but have probably missed out on what each state has to offer. Business travel is for business, not pleasure.
My recent trip to Thailand was an eye-opener. I spent four days in Bangkok, and this was about all of the city that I saw:
Hi, Bangkok. You look interesting. Wish I could have gotten to know you better.
Don’t misunderstand: the trip was valuable. I learned a lot. The government got very good value for the cost of sending me in the trip. The trip was great for me, professionally. In addition to exchanges with colleagues about our respective experiences and activities at posts, we got some valuable guidance from higher up the hierarchy.
Extra credit if you know what “IO” stands for.
Personally, though, it was disappointing. We spent a lot of time in a dark conference room looking at a screen:
Not only did I not have time to enjoy the city, but I had to leave a little early in order to get back to Vietnam and prepare for my next trip.
This is not the right way to live. If I’m going to have to put up with the nonsense and inconvenience of travel, I should take some time on one side or the other of the trip, and do some touristy stuff.
In case you were wondering, the answer is yes, Vietnamese feet can be just as stinky as American feet can be. Thanks for demonstrating that for me, inconsiderate fellow traveler.
So here’s my resolution: from now on, I’m going to carve out some time for myself every time I travel for business. I’ll pay for my own hotel room, pay the additional air fare as needed. Since I’ve endured the journey, I might as well get some enjoyment out of it. Life’s too short. It’s time to mix in some pleasure to the business. I did that a few times in the past. My wife and I enjoyed a great afternoon scootering around British Columbia while there for a conference several years ago. I’m going to try to do something like that on every trip from now on.
Stay tuned.
It’s student season again
Over 150 people came to hear me blather on.
Vietnamese version of my talk
I love to talk. And I love talking with students. They’re idealistic and full of dreams and their futures are full of promise. I love hearing about their big plans for their future. So I love student season. That’s the time of year students decide on which school to attend in America, and to prepare to apply for their student visas. To prepare for the upcoming rush, we do a lot of outreach.
This weekend I had two opportunities to diplomat about applying for a student visa. There are a lot of misunderstandings and myths about getting a visa. A lot of students think that the visa interview is the hardest part of studying abroad. Our outreach is intended to give them accurate information. I try to tell them that this should be the easiest step in the process. They usually don’t believe me, though.
On Friday night, I helped to staff the Consulate’s booth at a big study abroad fair in a downtown hotel. I was scheduled to be there for an hour. I stayed almost two hours. I had a lot of great conversations, and heard about a lot students’ plans. Afterwards, I had to go back to the office, and I wound up working there for another two hours, before the energy wore down enough to go home.
On Saturday I returned to give a formal presentation to students and parents. There were over 150 people in the audience. They asked really good questions that showed that they are already knowledgeable about the process and the regulations.
Talking with people about America, especially about studying in America, is one of my favorite parts of this job.
Trying to dispel the myths about getting a visa.
Happy women’s Day!
March 8 is the international women’s day. Vietnam has jumped on the bandwagon.
However, there’s a little problem with the wording. That sign actually says “happy day of the international woman.”
So, for all of the international women out there, this is your day! Make the best of it.
I got to diplomat in Chinese
The U.S. Consulate recently held a small reception for the diplomats who work in the Chinese consulate. Several officers at post speak Chinese, and we were recruited to be part of the reception team. The evening was definitely work, not play. It was what we call a “representational event,” meaning that it was a party, but our job was to be the host, not a guest.
Still, it was a fun evening. I like to schmooze. Plus, my Chinese is much better than my Vietnamese, and diplomatting in a language that I’m comfortable in felt great. Plus we had a nice meal, al fresco, overlooking the beautiful Ho Chi Minh City skyline.
My job usually isn’t elegant and glamorous,. but sometimes I get a small perk.