teaching, traveling, taking pictures
Attachment is the source of all suffering.Buddha During the third day of my trip to Taiwan, I continued to spend time with Amanda, Simon, and Becky (Amanda's mother). Like I mentioned in my previous blog post, Amanda and Simon are my old friends from graduate school. They are leaving Taiwan on June 14th in order… Continue reading My Days in Taiwan (Part 2)
Located off the southeastern coast of China, Taiwan is about the same size as Belgium and was named Formosa Island by Portuguese explorers in the 16th century due to its stunning natural beauty. [...] Due to its historical mixture of influences, Taiwan has its own distinct culture."23 reasons why you should book your next trip to… Continue reading My Days in Taiwan (Part 1)
Until land was reclaimed along Doha's waterfront in the 1970s, the waters lapped at the entrance to Souq Waqif, where traders were just as likely to arrive by boat as by camel. The first semi-permanent shops here were built around 250 years ago. Before that, vendors stood and sold their wares from makeshift stalls, as… Continue reading Photos from Souq Waqif
You have to water your plants. Nobody can water them for you.DJ Khaled Photos taken with my Huawei P30 Pro and edited on my phone using Snapseed app.
Image source Ramadan Kareem! Today marks the fifth day of #Ramadan2019. In my last blog post, I wrote about the onset of Ramadan here in Qatar. This is only my second Ramadan in a Muslim country, so I am still learning quite a bit every day about the traditions and practices of the ninth month… Continue reading 30 Days of Ramadan: New Understandings and Challenges
The band blares,The naphtha flares,The sawdust smells,Showmen ring bells,And oh! right into the circus ringComes such a lovely, lovely thing...."Circus" by Eleanor Farjeon This past Saturday, I was able to watch the penultimate performance of Cirque du Soleil BAZZAR before the start of Ramadan. There was a circus tent set up across the canal from… Continue reading Cirque du Soleil in Doha
Image source Sunday, May 5th marks the start of Ramadan 2019. Based on the visual sighting of the crescent moon, the month typically lasts 29-30 days. Ramadan is based on the Hijri calendar (a lunar calendar consisting of 12 months of 354 or 355 days), not the Gregorian calendar (a solar calendar of 12 months… Continue reading Ramadan Kareem! and Other Matters Related to #Ramadan2019
Image source In terms of American pop culture, April 2019 has been a momentous month; the final season of the HBO television show Game of Thrones (GoT) debuted while the 22nd MCU movie, Avengers: Endgame (AE), was released this past week. Both GoT Season 8 and AE represent the culmination of sprawling narratives with throngs… Continue reading Pop Culture Comedown
Image Source Since arriving in Doha almost two years ago, I have been experiencing its building boom firsthand. My initial residence was at Al Safa Royal Suites in the Musheirib area of the city. There was a gaping pit near the hotel that was the site of the Musheirib Metro Station. From my hotel window,… Continue reading Cruising the Al Khor Coastal Road
Since the beginning of 2019, I have been thinking about how I want to spend my summer break—not because I am unhappy and itching to escape Doha—more so because I have 11 weeks off, and I want to make sure I maximize my work and vacation opportunities. Last summer, I had nine weeks off. Because… Continue reading Summer 2019 Travel Plans
opusculum 