Strong

For Hiền, who is strong. You’re so strong, they say. But did she ask to be this strong? Did she ask to be presented with the option of becoming strong or being trampled? Would she rather be weaker, yet blissfully unable to recognize the faces of exclusion and betrayal?

At An Intersection In HCMC

I sat on a yellow plastic stool at an intersection. Traffic buzzed, beeped and blared around me. I’m a block and a half into a journey to discover new street food. In front of me I had two bbq pork kebabs and my tried and true deep fried banana snack (Chuoi Chien). I was the…

Courage

Short timelines work as a forcing function. Obstacles that would have been absorbed and simply delayed a longer timeline are success threatening and must be cut out. There’s no time to delay. But to ring the alarm and cut the grand to the practical takes courage and boldness.

Why Are You Learning English?

In sales you’re taught to drill to the why. Both to motivate yourself when faced with repeat rejection and when working with clients to understand their motivation. Why did they reach out to your company? Why are they having challenges with documentation? Why is documentation important to them? The same applies to your students. As…

6 Months Abroad

I’ve spent 6 months abroad! Visited a country and continent unexpectedly, love you Taiwan and Australia. Experienced life as a farm hand and English teacher. Become an airport lounge connoisseur. Read more books on my phone than I have in my entire life. Encountered dazzling fruit. Became one with motorbikes. Developed a deep appreciation for…