Welcome to My Home Page

I am a teacher of English as a second language for international students from 37-Countries at  Antioch Comprehensive High School, "A United States School of Excellence," Nashville, Tennessee.  During each summer, since 1989, I have spent 10 weeks traveling in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, Thailand, China, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

 Earlier travel has included Azores, Bahamas, Canary Islands, Caribbean, England, Scotland, Portugal, Spain, France, Turkey, Labrador, Newfoundland, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico.  If you have interest in travel, particularly Pacific Rim/Indochina travel, feel free to contact me via my email address: collie@ix.netcom.com.

Primary Interest

This is My Son, Paul III

Paul has always been a good driver,  lover of collie dogs, hard-driving executive, gymnast and acrobat.  He is an accomplished violinist and guitarist.   I joined Paul III for his first day of school, and, 12-years later, he looked great in his High School Graduation tux.

I collect American-Corvette sports cars and enjoy motorcycling both in the United States (Sabre, 1100cc) and in southeast Asia (Virago, 1100cc).  Other interests include photography, tennis, small arms, martial arts, computer applications, reading, linguistics and interacting with immediate family at every opportunity.

Plans include continued SEASIA travel and related writing, study of new and provocative topics and meeting the most interesting people in the World AND maintaining close association with my brilliant son, Paul E. Dowell III, University of Tennessee Graduate Student.

All three Paul Dowells are animal lovers, especially man's best friends, and pictured here are
Laddie Perhaps Loki, Paul III and Paul Jr. and a white chow chow puppy, Mitsu and Jules.

You can visit with and write to Paul III.  His home page:  http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/pedIII/

SEASIA

One of the exceptionally pleasant things about my-yearly travels in southeast Asia is the fact that teaching opportunities with some of the most wonderful people on Earth abound.  Self explanatory . . .

In the Follow-Me School, English instruction is a very important part of the curriculum.  Near Dong Khoi Street, the little, 6-year-old vendor was enthralled by a Vietnamese-English dictionary.

Professor Nguyen Van So invited me to speak to his Sepzone English School faculty, and, later, to his classes, where students were extremely grateful for the outside contact and inquisitive concerning events in America as well the rest of the World.  I made several lasting friendships there.  Professor So and family now happily reside near Los Angeles, California.

Students at every level graciously receive, show great deference toward and appreciate western visitors, especially teachers.  The warm welcome is humbling.   Such interaction for teachers at all academic levels and in most disciplines is recommended.  One will, most likely, never regret time spent in southeast Asia.
There are many other  reasons for continuing-summer travel in SEASIA . . .

My former students from America sometimes accompany me during return visits to southeast Asia.  The family of Thao Dao, Le Hang Le and husband, Truc, were delighted to see family and old friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Thanh Le and family welcomed me during many visits to Saigon,
and now  they happily reside in Florida, USA.  Ms. Mai and Ms. Ha operated a successful "everything" shop on Phan Dang Luu Street, Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh.

Bao Nguyen's family always welcome me.  Bao was my fine student, and  he was most impressive with his score of 100% on the Math Portion of the Tennessee Proficiency Test.  At Thanh Pho Vinh Long, Le Hang Le, Truc and I visited with their uncle, aunt, family and friends from several years ago.  Exciting!

 Nashvillian, Le Hang Le, came to Saigon to visit with me.  She was beautiful in the Flower  Garden, Orient Hotel.  My friend of nine-years, Nguyen Thi Kim Yen, Executive Director of Saigon Tours, has new offices on Le Thi Hong Gam Street, Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh.

Nashvillians, Thuy and Tuyen, enjoyed the restaurant atop the Rex Hotel on Nguyen Hue Street, Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh.  My old friend and their new
friend, Xuan Dao, often sings at Saigon-area hot spots.  I have known Xuan
Dao for nine-years and in that space of time, she has mastered English and
now converses beautifully.  I look forward to seeing Xuan Dao, sister, Huong
Dao and family each year.

Nashvillian, Trang "Tipper" Nguyen, and I visited Rex Hotel, Saigon Harbor near Nguyen Hue Street and Euro-Planet Hollywood Superbowl near Ton Son Nhut International Airport.

Nashvillian, Hue Duong, met her best friends of many years ago, Lan Huong with Chi and Tu  for a reunion at Orient Hotel.  Change is inevitable.
Friends are forever.
 

Martial Arts

My teacher is small, but SHE is a hard hitter.  Here at Vinh Mountain near Vung Tau, she deftly demonstrates some moves with the sword.  Each month, she comes to Vinh Mountain, a Buddhist sanctuary, to assist in the physical training for the Monks and Novices who are preparing  to become Buddhist teachers.
Never judge a book by its cover.

My Vietnam Kung Fu Master is the Venerable Thich Chon Quang.  He serves the Buddhist Sanctuary at Vinh Mountain where he is responsible for the spiritual training for many Monks and Novices.
Each moves through a regimen of martial arts and other physical and mental  training as well as reaching excellence in their Buddhism preparation.

Music

Honored Hanoi author and poet, Dao Vu, and his lovely wife, appeared to appreciate my rendition of Waltzing Parakeet in Hanoi, while singing with Kai Chi, the lovely star of Cafe Gio in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) is exhilerating--anytime.  During summer, music has become an excellent inroad for meeting, learning and sharing, and it is always an excellent form of relaxation, no matter what the hour of the evening. TennesseeWaltz is especially appreciated in all of southeast Asia.
 

Medical Books and Holy Bibles
Of all the special gifts anyone can offer, medical and spiritual guides may be the most appreciated.

Therefore, on behalf of my father's Church, the Church of Christ at Sykes, Tennessee, where since his retirement from University teaching he has been minister, I deliver several HOLY BIBLES each year.  In addition to the BIBLES which are very well received, sometimes in places where the term HOLY BIBLE was earlier unknown, I deliver medical books to doctors and hospitals in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia on behalf of my cousin, Robert M. Vantrease, Medical Illustrations Director and his colleague, Mary H. Teloh, Special Collections, Eskind Biomedical Library, Vanderbilt Medical Center, Vanderbilt University.
 

My Background

My parents are Professor and Mrs. Paul E. Dowell, Sr.,
Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

I have one brother, David, and one sister, Nancy.  We are a very close family.   My parents would welcome your visit to their web page at http://www.freeyellow.com/members2/pedsr/.

From there, you can talk with them via email and also access the web pages for Nancy and David.  I know you will enjoy visiting with them.

 Mom and Dad

We are partners in Deerland Farms, home of registered polled herefords--including the well-known Midas Mode, Miss Pawnee 1, Super Lady 1, Midas Supreme Dom, PED Midas Supreme 1, PED Super Daisie, and
Lady Nancy Ann.
Turkey, deer and raccoons run wild . . .

My Personal Records
This is a photographic retrospective of my life to date - a mere 48 years - as well as some samples (to be added April 1) from my upcoming CD.  (I play drums and sing with the soon-to-be-famous band, Extraordinaire).

My birthday is June 27.

Education:
Baccalaureate Degree (Business Administration)
Master of Education Degree (Guidance and Counseling)
Doctor of Philosophy Degree (Higher Education Administration)

Employment:
I am a United States Air Force-Vietnam Era Veteran, have worked as a paperboy, farm, factory and construction worker, swim instructor, importer of products from Spain, Turkey, Mexico, England and Portugal, tennis and french instructor, youth counselor, management analyst, college teacher of business administration, college director of admissions and instructor of  English, U. S. History, Geography and Science for secondary school, university and adult-international students.
 

Links to My Favorite Sites

Another way to really get to know someone--especially someone who spends
as much time on the Internet as I do--is to check out their favorite sites:

 Professor and Mrs. Paul E. Dowell, Sr. (MY WONDERFUL PARENTS)
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Nancy Ann Dowell Gilley (MY LOVELY SISTER)
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 Andy Gilley (MY INCREDIBLE NEPHEW)
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 David Allen Dowell (MY FANTASTIC BROTHER)
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 Maria and Laura and Julia Rose (MY BEAUTIFUL NIECES)
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 Exchange Students of the World
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 Concerned about the Environment?
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  Friends of the Earth
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Paul Edward Dowell III (MY BRILLIANT SON)
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Greenpeace
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MY OTHER WEB PAGE  in the Free Yellow Pages