I thoroughly enjoyed my first day in Vietnam! Culturally, UEF’s hospitality was extremely heartwarming and wholesome. Each of the students and staff treated us like apart of their family. I appreciated how graciously they corrected my improper chopstick form and how interested in conversation they were with each of us. During the city tour, I was caught off guard by the vibrance of the architecture all throughout the city. The diversity of color in the environment was refreshing compared to the limited color palette of the architecture back home.

A signal of globalization that stood out to me was during the performance at UEF. As my friend Huy (UEF student) pointed out to me, the traditional Vietnamese music had a twist that incorporated electric guitar and heavy drums that comes from other cultures. This twist shows Vietnam’s effort to globalize by adopting parts of other cultures in their own.

Overall, I found myself frequently pleasantly surprised by Vietnam’s vibrant and welcoming culture and I’m excited for tomorrow.