I can’t say what made me fall in love with Vietnam - that a woman’s voice can drug you; that everything is so intense. The colors, the taste, even the rain. Nothing like the filthy rain in London. They say whatever you’re looking for, you will find here. They say you come to Vietnam and you understand a lot in a few minutes, but the rest has got to be lived. The smell: that’s the first thing that hits you, promising everything in exchange for your soul. And the heat. Your shirt is straightaway a rag. You can hardly remember your name, or what you came to escape from. But at night, there’s a breeze. The river is beautiful. You could be forgiven for thinking there was no war; that the gunshots were fireworks; that only pleasure matters...And then, something happens, as you knew it would. And nothing can ever be the same again. 

 

-- Graham Green, The Quiet American

 

Long before the recent “pivot” to Asia, the United States has played a major role in the evolution of history and politics of Southeast Asia, one of the world’s most dynamic and intoxicating regions.  

 

This course explores first-hand these developments through an interdisciplinary lens.  In it, students will:

 

--Meet with local officials, senior U.S. diplomats, intergovernmental officials, and nongovernmental activists

 

--Learn about the “American War” in Vietnam, from multiple perspectives, including visits to the “Remnants of War” museum and the Hoa Lo prison (aka the Hanoi Hilton), and intimate meetings with those who fought it (as featured on a front page article in the Oregonian)

 

--Explore the comparative legacies of colonialism and history of U.S. bilateral relations in Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand (which was never colonized) through literature and experience.

 

--Examine issues of contemporary political relevance, including the rise of China and conflict in the South China Sea, efforts to combat human trafficking, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a controversial free-trade agreement.

 

The course also provides students with the freedom to experience the vibrant local culture including: floats down the historic Mekong river, discussion of historical novels in the location where they were written, bike rides in the countryside, Thai massage, optional karaoke, and experimentation with local cuisine. 

 

The itinerary will combine a "greatest hits" from past trips, including Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Chiang Mai, with new opportunities in the Philippines and Central Vietnam.

 

As this course promotes the liberal arts and civic engagement, students of any major or discipline are encouraged to apply.  To provide critical background for the January 2016 course, we ask that students take either POLS 384 U.S. Foreign Policy (VP) or ENGL 301: War and Literature, which will be taught in tandem and offered on MW from 235-415pm in Fall 2015.