How #BLM shifted conversations in Asia
The Black Lives Matter movement that re-emerged in the U.S., following the murder of George Floyd, spread internationally within just a few days. Scores of people began protesting outside embassies in London, Berlin and Toronto, and many marching protests were held around the world. The…
Vietnam, worried about its birth rate, pushes women to marry before 30
Tam Phan is 26. She had just returned to Vietnam after earning a master’s degree in English linguistics in the United Kingdom. Now working as a lecturer of English at a university in Ho Chi Minh City, Phan plans to pursue a Ph.D. in education…
International students face extra challenges with online classes
Most college students across the U.S. experienced some form of virtual learning this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. International students who returned home after dorms closed faced an additional set of problems, and the time difference was just one of them. “The biggest thing…
Reopening Rio amid the coronavirus pandemic
Two weeks ago in Brazil, I went on my first drive after about 90 days of self-isolation. As I drove by the beach, I noticed a family of five with a little child, none of whom were wearing masks. It was late in the afternoon…
India’s daily wage workers cope with pandemic through public support
India’s immediate enforcement of a nationwide lockdown since March 24 has left vulnerable communities in the country scrambling to sustain their livelihoods. Among those are India’s “daily wagers” — house helpers and street vendors who have lost their already insecure jobs and are now becoming…
Starting a new school year in the middle of a pandemic
As U.S. universities struggle to decide whether to start their fall semester online or in person, Japanese universities have already started their instructions online for the first semester of the year. The Japanese school year begins in April. However, with the government declaring a state…
Podcast: Two tales of moving out during a pandemic
Tale 1: From Boston University By Delong (Andy) Ye Sitting in a near-empty room with two large suitcases, I contemplated my decision to move off-campus. Boston University was closed for the semester because of the coronavirus restrictions. Will I get along with my temporary suitemates?…
Chinese international students: Struggles to get home in a pandemic
The coronavirus epidemic sent thousands of Chinese students abroad scrambling to get home in March. Instead of a month spent attending classes, studying in the library and preparing for exams, they had to deal with canceled plane tickets, long days in isolation, and an endless…
Reopening Wuhan: Life after 76 days of lockdown
After 76 days of lockdown, the city of Wuhan reopened on April 8. The Chinese government announced that there had been no new cases in the six days leading up to April 28. The city, which used to be the epicenter of the coronavirus, is…
Brazil’s young female entrepreneurs step up to create jobs
Brazil has a high rate of unemployment and few job opportunities. But a new generation of young, female entrepreneurs and artists in the country are taking their future into their own hands by creating their own businesses. A family business Yamê Villas, 19, alongside her…
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