monkey hands

Hanoi: Teaching, the Old Quarter, Vietnamese Embroidery

I stayed in Hanoi's Old Quarter when I taught at the Foreign Trade University last month. 

Views from my room at Hoabinh Palace Hotel, a modest, well-located hotel in the heart of the Old Quarter.

Hoan Kiem Lake is less than two short blocks from Hoabinh Palace. It's a beautiful, quiet place to walk or read, as well as a gathering spot for couples and groups of all ages.

One of the High Quality classes I taught at FTU. This picture was taken on my last day at the school. The class presented me with a lovely traditional Vietnamese hand embroidered landscape (pictures below). They are a motivated, gracious group of intelligent young scholars. The course is taught by a skilled, personable professor.  It was a rich, rewarding experience, and I hope to return to teach there again next semester.

Mt. Fuji

Mt. Fugi, as seen from the roadway.  These photos were taken from the second seat of a moving van on my way to Yamanashi to see the Itchiku Kubota Art Museum. 

Two days ago I returned to Beijing after spending two weeks in Japan, where I visited family before heading out on an incredible 10-day fiber arts tour run by  Quilter's Express. I’ll share highlights about the tour, including a day spent at the Yokohama Quilt Show, over the next few days. 

Meanwhile, I’m now in Hanoi (yes, it was a very quick turn-around), where I’ll be teaching at a local university for the next two weeks.  More about that later, too!