Featured Blogs & Columns
Back to School — Dateline Seoul, Korea
Written by
It has already been seven weeks since summer break started, and now I’m left with just seven more days of this holiday. I have entered the ‘panic stage’ of the holiday as I — along with all the other teenagers in the world — have finally noticed the large pile of summer reading and projects that I had hidden in the corner of my memory. While lamenting the misfortune of the ‘return of school’, somewhere very deep in my heart a small speck of relief and comfort sparkles.
Summer Internship
Written by
Summer, just a few years ago, was a time of beaches, islands, palm trees — or, when not taking on any outdoor activities, eating in bed and generally being lazy. It was the time of ‘fun’, a whole two months of the fun and freedom that we yearned for all year. But our lives changed as we passed through middle school, through ninth and tenth grades, and so has our summer. Its ‘fun’ has now dressed itself in a work uniform.
Earning a Living in Vietnam
Written by The Word
Despite the decreasing number of ‘expat packages’ and a lower wage differential than in the past, foreigners in Vietnam still earn a higher salary than locals. How is this justified? Words by Siobhan Smith. Illustration by Øyvind Sleivdal
The Right Type of Cardio
Written by Phil Kelly
When most people decide to get into shape and become fitter they generally turn to heart healthy ‘cardio’ exercise — running, swimming, cycling and more. In recent times the new craze in the fitness industry has been the insurgence of High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT).
For years the fitness world has prescribed Steady State Cardio (SSC) as the preferred method for burning fat, losing weight and getting into shape. But now it all seems to be about HIIT. I constantly get asked what is the best form of exercise for burning fat and losing weight? Is it HIIT or SSC? This can be a complicated question to answer, as really it is about application. To help understand cardio training more, you need to know about fuel systems.
Social Media Blunders
Written by Nicola Connolly
Social Media is a powerful tool… for good and for evil. As quickly as it can boost your presence, it can also tear it down. What you post on your social media profile can put you out of the running for a job you want, or even cost you one that you already have. Simply put, most recruiters and headhunters will check your Social Media profile. 78 percent of recruiters will type your name into a search engine to see what comes up, and 63 percent will look into your social media sites as well.
Balancing Energy
Written by Karen Gay
This month, Karen Gay, holistic health practitioner, discusses the need to balance male and female energies
Demolition Derby
Written by Margaret Smith
If there’s one thing anyone who knows me can tell you, it’s this: I’m not a good driver. Motorbikes are fine, but put me behind the wheels of a car and it’s a much different story.
Staying Healthy in the Heat
Written by Dr. Brian McNaull
As the thermometer climbs, we need to remind ourselves how to stay healthy in the heat. The danger for some is heat exhaustion, which is a condition whose symptoms may include weakness, headache, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea or vomiting and rapid heart beat. All of this is a result of your body overheating.
The Costly Typo
Written by Shane Dillon
One thing that really annoys me is typos (I cringe at the mistakes in people’s resumes and online profiles everyday) and before any of you come banging on my door, I know I make them, too. That annoys me most of all. And while I think typos do cost the maker some money in lost opportunities and credibility, the following are the most expensive typos ever.
The Cholesterol Myth
Written by Phil Kelly
I am constantly asked how many eggs are safe to eat per day or week. The myth that cholesterol causes heart disease and because eggs contain cholesterol and fats therefore are bad for us, is just plain wrong.
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Tablet Schools
Written by
When I was 13, I got my first-ever cell phone — a tiny black Nokia phone, with a screen as big as my thumb. Four years later, I’m sitting here with a 4.5-inch screen full-touch smart phone, an iPod containing my favourite 347 songs, and a Fujitsu tablet, its screen capable of spinning 180 degrees.
It's All in the Cow
Written by Phil Kelly
For years we’ve been told red meat is bad for us, that it is unhealthy and the cause of cancer. Is this really the case? The simple fact is that animal products are only as healthy as the animal they come from.
What to Say in an Interview
Written by The Word
It’s not just what you say in a job interview but also what you ask that matters. Answers tell an interviewer what you know, but questions tell them how you think, which is arguably more important. By asking insightful and engaging questions you can separate yourself from the pack and demonstrate more effectively your true value. It also provides you a chance to learn more and really make sure this is a place you want to work.
Travel Notes: Scams and Ripoffs
Written by Mark Bowyer
Vietnam’s scams are real and serious, and definitely shouldn’t be trivialised. But while many travellers will escape the local scammer, only an exceptional traveller escapes another kind of scam — telecommunication company and bank ripoffs. And they’ll hit your wallet a lot more than most of the stuff you’ll encounter in-country.
