teaching, traveling, taking pictures
On June 29th, I was flying back to the US. It had been 10 months since I had left the Midwest, and I was about to spend 4 weeks in North America (3 weeks in the US, 1 week in Canada). Prior to my return, I wondered, what aspects of American life would seem strange… Continue reading My Days Back in the USA
Dear Grandma Mickey, It’s been some time since we talked. The last time we spoke was when I stopped by Mauston and left an invitation to Zylan’s graduation party on your grave. I believe you were at the party in spirit. I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to say goodbye to you before I left… Continue reading To My Grandmother (Who Would Have Been 103 on June 18)
As many teachers know, at the end of the semester, when one has stacks upon stacks of exam or papers to grade, any task besides grading becomes considerable more interesting—cooking meals, shopping online, folding laundry, watering plants, calling distant family members, etc. Currently, I have been distracting myself by listening to a Zayn playlist, experimenting… Continue reading Experimenting with Adobe Lightroom
Friday, for Muslims, is a special prayer day, for this is the day of the Jumu’ah prayer, or the congregational prayer, typically held around noon. In Doha, government offices are closed on this day, and most of the shops will shut down from around 11am to 1pm to allow Muslims to gather for this commitment. Some mosques… Continue reading Friday Morning Cruise through Doha
Greetings! This week I have been late writing my weekly blog post. It is approximately two weeks into Ramandan and the last week of classes for the spring semester—I am not feeling especially inspired at the moment. What I have enjoyed, however, is driving around the city in my Dodge Challenger. Growing up in the… Continue reading Doha Driving Mix 2018
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a car loan in Doha, must be in want of a car. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering Doha, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding… Continue reading Car Buying and Prejudice
This weekend I hosted two get-togethers at my apartment. On Thursday night, some colleagues came to my place to watch movies. Then the next day, some more acquaintances came over for our bi-weekly roleplaying session. What my older friends know about me that my newer friends might not is that I thoroughly enjoy hosting gatherings.… Continue reading How to Host a Low-Hassle Get-together
Dear boys, I hope that this letter finds you both in good spirits and with open minds, for the primary purpose of my writing is to provide you two with advice; so if either of you are in a sour mood or mad at me for whatever reason and not receptive to what I have… Continue reading Letter to My Sons about the Importance of Travel
To: Conan Kmiecik From: Moirai Consultancy, LLC Date: 28 April 2018 Subject: Recommended Goals before Turning 50 By 22 November 2026, pending good health and avoidance of accidents, the client (Conan Kmiecik) will reach his fifth decade of life. The client, now in his fourth decade of life, has contracted the services of this consultancy… Continue reading Memo with Recommended Goals before Turning 50
Like a couple bandits, we hop over barricades, slip between the bumpers of stopped cars, and cut through construction sites to reach the fairground. Two illuminated prongs tower in the distance. I trod towards them. Your placid eyes follow me—easygoing and open to adventure, curious about the promises that I offer. Suddenly, between the tines,… Continue reading Penchants at an Amusement Park
