It was approximately 3:30pm when E. and I made it to the train station in Girona. We were just in time to catch the train to Barcelona. She had to be back in the city to attend a work event that night. When I got back to the city, I was looking forward to taking… Continue reading Train Ride from Girona
Author: Conan Kmiecik
My Days in Bar(th)elona
My phone alarm goes off at 6am, but I’m already up to anticipate it. The next alarm will go off at 7am. I can try to sleep some more, or I can wake up and start my day. It’s Sunday, and I’m on vacation in Barcelona, but I’m still acclimated to my Doha schedule—and Sunday… Continue reading My Days in Bar(th)elona
A Shaggy Dog Blog Post
Thursday afternoon I was invited to join some of the guys from work for drinks and dinner at the Doha Golf Course. That morning, we all had to submit our grades for the fall semester, so there was some cause for celebration. Regardless, I always relish the opportunity to hang out with my colleague outside… Continue reading A Shaggy Dog Blog Post
On Nightlife and Imbibing in Doha
Midnight on New Year's Eve This past week was finals week for the Fall 2017 semester at Qatar University, and I found my work duties lighten somewhat because there wasn’t the need for me to prep and teach every day. Additionally, it was the cusp of 2017 and 2018 with New Year’s Eve falling on… Continue reading On Nightlife and Imbibing in Doha
Starting 2018 with Intention
The marina boardwalk near my apartment building, taken during a late night walk around Lusail City. For the last several years, I have made a writing resolution at the beginning of the new year. Since I write quite a bit for work and for pleasure, I have found that I am more likely to keep… Continue reading Starting 2018 with Intention
On Homesickness: Last Blog Post of 2017
Me when someone asks if I have been homesick Lying Cat: (nothing) Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve, and I will end 2017 in Doha. However, I have to work both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. There are exams that I need to invigilate at Qatar University. Invigilate is a British word which means… Continue reading On Homesickness: Last Blog Post of 2017
Happy Holidays from Doha!
At the end of every year, I usually write a holiday card for family and friends across the US. This year, since I am in Doha, it has been logistically a little more difficult for me to continue this tradition. Some of you may have received a personal postcard from me. Postcard are hard to… Continue reading Happy Holidays from Doha!
The Implications of Dates and Time
Image source Since coming to Qatar, I have had to re-conceptualize time—not in a grand theoretical physics manner, but in a cultural and conventional sense. Muslims gather for a Friday prayer and do not observe a day of rest, or Sabbath, on Saturday or Sunday, like Jews or Christians, so the work week here begins… Continue reading The Implications of Dates and Time
Feeding My Pop Culture Diet in Doha
With the Last Jedi coming out on December 13th, I have been wondering about the best viewing experience for the latest installment of the Star Wars series. My theater quandary has prompted me to write this week about my pop culture diet in Doha. At first, the idea of writing about the media that I consume seemed… Continue reading Feeding My Pop Culture Diet in Doha
Ghazal for Doha: A Blog Poem
Image Source Apologies for the late post. I started to write a rant for this week's blog post about the tax reform that was passed late at night by the Senate Republicans, about the direction that I saw the US heading, and about how I was glad to be outside of the US during the remainder of the… Continue reading Ghazal for Doha: A Blog Poem









