I am beyond honored to have had the opportunity to journey to Vietnam. The trip exposed me to the raw beauty and sheer size of our world. Whether I was trying new fruits or attempting to learn the Vietnamese language, I was able to experience new adventures everyday. I am so grateful to have received…
Tag: Mark Novales
Plus3 Vietnam 2017 Student
II-VI for I
Today, our group visited two companies located right outside of Ho Chi Minh City. This morning, we woke up happy and excited to be in Vietnam. We journeyed on the bus for about an hour. We first visited the entrance of Vietnam Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP). One the chief marketing directors of VSIP led us…
The Port and the Palace
Today, our group visited one the largest sea ports in Vietnam. We woke up and took a 45 minute bus ride to the sea. The port, Cat Lai Terminal, was full of shipping crates and giant cranes. The seaport offers numerous services to numerous clients like storing and distributing goods in shipping crates. This information…
Markets and Temples and Museums! Oh My!
Today, our group journeyed to three very different sites that were central to the Vietnamese way of life. First, we started our day at the Ben Tanh Market. The Ben Tanh Market is comparable to an oversized flea market in the US. There shops full of colorful scarves, knockoff brand purses and typical souvenirs. What…
Can’t rest when you gotta invest
Today our group visited a large investment firm in Ho Chi Minh City. Our group was able to sleep in this morning. I was able to relax this morning and eat lots of mangoes for breakfast. We left for our site visit this morning. After a short bus ride through the city, we arrived at…
The Other Perspective of War
Today, our group visited the Cu Chi Tunnel System. Our group left the hotel, bright and early, at 7:15am. We napped, talked and laughed our way through the long two-hour bus ride to Cu Chi. There in Cu Chi is the historic tunnel system that the Viet Song used during the Vietnam/American War. (The Vietnamese people…
I ate some coconut candy, drank honey and held a snake.
Today we ventured to the great Mekong Delta. The Mekong Delta is Vietnam largest water resource. In it are century old communities, lots of vegetation and even an entire coconut religion. The Delta represents the soul of Vietnam as it has helped sustain the country’s livelihood and culture, but it currently at risk. After an…
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam the place where my life changed.
Okay, so maybe the title is a little intense but I do think that today’s events might have altered my future career path. I’ll touch on that later. Our day started back at the University of Economics and Finance (UEF). There we were given a lecture on the history of Vietnam. I have always loved…
Just another day at the beach with Jesus.
Today, our group went to the beach. Yes, I said it. The beach. (We also went to the Jesus statue which I touch on at the end of this post.) We started our day early in the morning at 6:00am. Our journey was filled with small breakfast bags with Vietnamese ham and a banana. The food…
I’ll have a Glass of peach tea with those Ph(o)tastic Eggs
Today in Ho Chi Minh City, our group visited our most exciting company yet. We visited a video game developer by the name of Glass Egg. They are a video game art developing company that mainly focuses on certain art components of video games like cars and the environment. The company’s main and only headquarters…
That moment when you get an anime portrait of yourself in Vietnam.
Day two in Vietnam has been characterized by many surprises. Our day began at the University of Economics and Finance once again. Our group was receiving a lecture on Urban Development. I was giddy with excitement as this is a topic that I have always been very interested in. Last semester, I even had a…
Fancy Flowers, Famished Faces and Fantastic Food
Today was the first time in my life that I had ever stepped foot on Asian soil. Soil of a changing land. A land where one could see a bustling street market filled with shirtless vendors and fried pig testicles on one city corner; then see a high end fashion shops and trendy coffee nooks…
From Me to V(ietnam)
Hello! My name is Mark Novales and welcome to my blog post. I am extremely excited to be adventuring to Vietnam. I can’t wait to experience a whole new country and learn important information at the same time! I am currently a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh’s College of Business Administration. I am pursuing…
Meet Plus3 Vietnam 2017!
Welcome to the Vietnam Plus3 Study Abroad Program! During their two weeks in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, students will experience a dynamic mix of educational and cultural activities. Plus 3 participants will have the chance to be immersed into Vietnamese culture during the trip. The main academic portion of the Plus 3 program…