Vietnam! My father served in Vietnam and was inspired by the people he actually met DURING the war- crazy to think that people would be caring and welcoming while their country is in mass chaos. To say the least it was obviously not an area being heavily influenced by the war, but in war nonetheless. My father gives Vietnam and the nearby Phillipines credit for making him the man he grew up into being- and I think it would be such an incredible experience and honor to go to the country who made my father my father.

so you say you saw most of the application vids, which ones did you like the best?

I’ve seen a few I really like. The one by Michael Ales that I commented about, the ‘Carmen San Diego’ spoof and one I can’t recall the name for that began with a montage where she was riding bikes in the Caribbean. The videos were solid all around and I noticed that we’ve all taken different approaches to the project. You had the kids who went straight for experience and played up their photos, those who chose to rely on the power of words and even one video done entirely in song. For my part, I tried to mix in a bit of everything and demonstrate technical skills through my videos and photographs, instead of talking about them outright.

Everyone seems to have found their own way to make their video persuasive and unique. It’s all up to STA now, but I know I had fun making my video and I am glad I took the time. Hopefully, everyone else feels the same way and will follow the STA intern this summer, whoever is chosen. For my part, the experience of making the video has at least introduced me to STA, which I hadn’t known about before I went to get a quote at ASU’s outlet and found out about this internship. So, it will open up new travel opportunities either way. Fingers crossed I suppose.

‘Twas a mistype, his name is Michael AlAs, not Ales.

As you can see, I like to say ‘for my part’. But regardless, I think Vietnam is one of the more intriguing spots on the itinerary. My course load last semester was actually a bundle all related to the Vietnam war, both from the American and Vietnamese perspectives, so I learned a lot about the lives of people actually on the ground in Vietnam, instead of in Washington. Vietnam, like Latin America, is another culture that Americans forget about because of the ideological split between our nations and the desire to forget what happened there.

Vietnam, along with other Southeast Asian countries and China, is one of the oldest persistent cultures in the world. They managed to maintain that identity through almost a millenium of Imperial Chinese occupation and the tragedy of American involvement. Something there is well worth fighting for.

Well-written post, and thank you for the correction on my name. Though I do think that Michael “Ales” is pretty nifty.

As for me, or for my part, I am looking forward to the Adriatic leg. Croatia, Albania, Montenegro… places I never thought I would be able to visit in the next few years as I try to pay off college loans. Also, places whose cultures/languages/landscapes need more exposure to the general travel community. Then there is the China/Vietnam portion, as well. Being Filipino-American I constantly have to navigate between two very distinct, and yet sometimes very similar, cultures. It would be exciting to really take the time to explore other parts of Asia that aren’t as linked to the Western world.

Just curious: in the written portion of the application, what did you put as your ideal destination?

And lastly: how much do you think the written portion plays in their selection process? I worry about mine because I wrote it in a groggy, sleep-deprived rush to a concert.