teaching, traveling, taking pictures
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
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
When I was a child, my younger brother Francis and I spent a lot of time drawing. I am not being hyperbolic about the amount of time we spent drawing: we spent a lot of time drawing! I remember how paper used to excite us. We would draw on yellow or white lined paper in… Continue reading Days of Creativity Past: On My Creative Evolution
***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
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
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
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
Too tired. Here're some nutshells. Enjoy! New Apartment Thank God, Ikea delivers—and assembles! Banana Island Resort Sun. Sea. A coconut drink. Bliss. Driving Test Need to pass. Tired of Uber! Teaching Observation Hoop after hoop. Jump, jump, jump.
This weekend I am hosting my first guest from the US, a friend and colleague of mine from my days at UW River Falls. He and I will be venturing out into the desert and hanging out at Souq Waqif, so I won't have time to blog about my very busy week—mostly a lot of… Continue reading “#hashtags”: A Play Scene about the Qatar Blockade
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