The last day in-country was the closing ceremony. The day started by heading to UEF to finish making and practicing our company presentations. After we were done, we headed to lunch and then came back and changed into our Áo dàis. Just like the welcoming ceremony, the closing ceremony was unforgettable. The five different groups…
Tag: Hiwot Wisotzkey
Day 11- The Last Company Visit
Today was the last company visit which is the company that Lili, Claire, Sydney, and I have been assigned to. Saigon Newport Corporation (SNP) is a company that specializes in port operations, logistic services, and shipping/sea services. SNP is state owned by the administration of defense and was founded in 1989. They manage a 16-port…
Day 10- The Long-Awaited Trip to the Mekong Delta
After months of learning about the Mekong Delta region, it was finally the day we hopped on the bus and drove to two hours to it. My initial reaction when we got out of the bus was how wide and long the Mekong was. Also, the color of the Mekong Delta was brown which also…
Day 9- The Pagoda Temple & The War Remnants Museum
Today did not consist of a company visit, but rather religion and history. I have grown up Protestant all my life, so learning about Buddhism was extremely interesting to me. I have always enjoyed learning more about religion, but actually getting to be in the country surrounded by people who practice a religion that is…
Day 8- Coherent & Saigon Hi-Tech Park
Our second and last Monday in Vietnam was a long one. Today we went on two different site visits to the companies Coherent and Saigon Hi-Tech Park. Coherent is a world class American company that develops and manufactures laser equipment and related products. Saigon Hi-Tech Park is one of three national hi-tech parks in Vietnam….
Day 6 & 7- The One and Only Weekend
This weekend was our first and last weekend in Ho Chi Minh City. To say we made the most of it would be an understatement. My favorite part of the weekend was on Sunday when we stopped at Lang Viet Lacquers. I initially was so hot and tired that the last thing I wanted to…
Day 5- First Week of Classes Done
The first week has been absolutely incredible. From getting off the bus for the first time at UEF and being celebrated to having unforgettable experiences and conversations, I wouldn’t change one thing about how this week went. The last company visit of the week was to GreenViet who established themselves in the sustainability market that…
Day 4- Vina Capital Foundation
Day 4 was in the reverse order of the previous days. We started the day off with a site visit to Vina Capital Foundation, then lunch, and then attended language class and lecture at UEF in the afternoon. Vina Capital Foundation was a particularly interesting site visit. As stated in my introduction, I am not…
Day 3- PECC2
Our 3rd day in Vietnam followed the same routine as yesterday. However, today during language class I was challenged by the girl I worked with named Nhi in a way I wasn’t yesterday. Learning new languages has never come naturally to me. I especially struggle with the tonal sounds of the Vietnamese language. I have…
Day 2- A Great Lunch & The First Site Visit
Today started off at 8:45am as we all got on the bus and headed to UEF. At UEF we had a guest lecture focused on the Mekong Delta and the problems that the farmers and region currently face. At the end of the lecture, we had the opportunity to brainstorm solutions with students from UEF….
Day 1- An Unforgettable Welcome Ceremony
After a long 30+ hours of travel, we finally arrived at our hotel in Ho Chi Minh City last night at 2:30am. I couldn’t have been happier to go to sleep in a bed instead of on an airplane seat. My first impression of Vietnam was the humidity. I knew it was going to be…
Introduction- Hiwot Wisotzkey
About Me Personally: Hello! My name is Hiwot Wisotzkey, and I am a freshman from Lancaster, PA. I am one of the youngest of five siblings, so I find that I tend to thrive in fast pace and chaotic environments. I grew up playing soccer and running track, but I stopped my junior year of…