teaching, traveling, taking pictures
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
Here are nine days worth of postcards from my spring break trip to Finland and Estonia—written just for you, my reader. Enjoy! (All postcards made using Canva.)
For over a week, I have been busy with my sons who are visiting me in Doha. Still, during the downtime that I have had, in the morning before they both wake up and get ready or after coming home at the end of the day, I have been playing around with the Deep Dream… Continue reading Travel Photos and the Deep Dream Generator
After a couple month hiatus from blogging, I am having a difficult time resuming my writing routine—which is too bad because I traveled to three interesting destinations this summer and would like to share my stories and insights from these locales. So, for this post, in order to inch my way back into blogging, I… Continue reading Photo-Essay of Three Summer Trips
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
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
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
The thatched-roof resort cabana that serves alcohol and shisha resides on the right side of the beach, near the cove wall, away from the family area. Excuse me, I would like to order one shisha. I’m sorry, sir, shisha not available until 6 o’clock, replies the Filipina bartender. That’s ok. I wait. Nothing to do but lounge outside the cabana.… Continue reading Smoking Shisha from the Shore of a Muscat Beach Resort
I am writing this blog post from a Starbucks patio overlooking the Qurum beach in Muscat, Oman—a sign warns not to swim in the ocean because the water is turbulent, cranes stand in the shallows waiting for something edible to pass underfoot, a couple fishing boats are in the distance trying to net the morning catch,… Continue reading Stream of Consciousness at the Starbucks Overlooking Qurum Beach
***Spoiler Alert!*** All travel must come to an end. Not trying to be half empty, but let’s face it. Work at your job. Save your money. Make your travel plans. Then go on your trip and post selfies on Instagram. Not trying to be half empty, but let’s face it— social media has changed the… Continue reading Post-vacation Pantoum
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