Introduction

As part of the US State Department Professional Fellows program, I was invited to go to Vietnam.  I am part of a delegation of "Vietnam and USA mid-level professionals exchange program: Mutual learning for economic empowerment in the context of business and government partnerships."  Professionally, I am focused on international educational exchange programs.  I am personally interested in better understanding the students and their interests.  I am also interested in seeing if there are opportunities for Portland State Students and/or faculty to participate in the program.  Through my participation in this program I have learned a lot about the rich relationship between Oregon in general, and PSU in particular, and the country of Vietnam.

The trip is my first visit to Vietnam, and only my second visit to Asia (the first having been a trip to Japan for a conference in Kyoto).

I am keeping this blog as a personal record, and as a means of communicating with close friends.  I would ask that the blog not be shared broadly until after the trip is over.

I am beginning this blog on my second day in Vietnam.