It was a bittersweet departure today. We are incredibly proud of the American and Vietnamese students who not only worked hard to bridge cultural differences but to embrace and accept them. The students sang all night and the faculty watched with great joy. We could not have imagined a better end to our Vietnamese experience. … Continue reading Bittersweet Celebration of our Time in Vietnam →

After two weeks of rigorous study the students presented their final group projects. The topics included a plethora of issues from dental care to water quality to environmental protection to educational reform to government structures. The students were well prepared and handled difficult questions with ease. The professors were very impressed!  

We had the amazing pleasure of meeting beautiful Vietnamese children at an orphanage here. The system is more beneficial to children then the one we have in the United States. The orphanage is a village with 15 homes. Each home has one mother and nine children. The children live there as a family unit. They … Continue reading Happy Homes at the Orphanage →

As an SPC student, I am honored to have a part of this experience with USF Tampa and USF St. Petersburg. Hanoi, Vietnam is a feast for the senses, hundreds of cars and motorbikes zooming by you driving fast and slow all at once. Our group of 14 students and 3 staff take adventures every … Continue reading Vietnam in Transition →

Over the weekend we took a bus south to Phong Nha to travel to a beautiful area and explore caves. When we arrived I was surprised to find that the area, while remote, had many tourists from Europe and Australia. The area is know for its beautiful caves, specifically “Paradise Cave.” The Vietnamese are accustomed … Continue reading The Beautiful Caves of Phong Na →

Arriving in Hanoi on July 11th with two of eleven USF students on our connecting flight was comforting and exciting. It’s a sensory overload as you are welcomed by a cloud of humidity. A drive through the streets of Hanoi is full of bustling mopeds, cars, and pedestrians and vendors. The people of Vietnam are warm and welcoming ,ensuring … Continue reading SPC and USF in Vietnam – July 2016 →

Today, we had our first official visit at Vinh University. The structure is quite impressive and the classrooms are modern and designed for teacher-centered instruction. The students are extremely respectful and deferential to their instructors. Dr. Khoa, President of the University, was more than gracious to us. He discussed his great pride and appreciation for … Continue reading Friends at Vinh University →