Microcosm
As I was just pulling a tissue out of the tissue box on my desk -- which is newly swaddled in a red silk tissue-box cosy given me by a Chinese coworker -- I started thinking about the decorations in my cube, almost all of which were gifts: the Chinese tissue-box cosy, an Egyptian painting (on papyrus) of a tree and birds, a Jordanian pointilist painting of a horse and rider, a print of a painting of Krishna from the Delhi museum.
And then photos: me after painting "I ♥ Qatar" on the Fence in Pittsburgh, my family on camels in front of the pyramids in Egypt, me meditating under the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India. A portrait of Socrates. My friends at a party. My coworker Mohamed and me in traditional dress; another of Mohamed and me in grass skirts at a luau. An autographed picture of the CMU-Q soccer team, which just won the Education City championships. A picture of my favorite sculpture at the Mattress Factory.
On my desk is holy water that Fahad Al-Jefairi gave me when he returned back from Hajj, and on top of my monitor is a happy birthday hat left over from Tuesday. On the floor behind me is the treasure chest that my team won in last week's pirate-themed treasure hunt; above that is the Annually Renamed Center sign my friend Ben put on our door the third time my office changed names. Behind me is an enormous Jazz logo drawn by my friend Andrew, who loves the Jazz.
My cube isn't beautiful (I'm no interior decorator), but I kinda love it. Every time I look up from my computer I am reminded why I love living in Qatar: I am always surrounded by an eclectic mix of cultures and by crazy friends who I love, and I have opportunities to travel to amazing places and see things I never dreamed I'd be able to.
In other news, it's been a very strange week here in Lake Wobegon. Monday I had a bad cold, which mysteriously went into hibernation in time for my birthday on Tuesday; Wednesday afternoon I got a bad migraine. Today the cold is back. It's been a week of celebrations, too, as is usually the case when the semester winds down. This weekend we hosted a '60s themed murder mystery dinner and retro dance party; Tuesday the academic affairs staff went out to a rather swank dinner. As icing on the cake, my parents flew into Doha this morning. I'm really excited to show them around town! And this weekend is full of even more parties.
My life kinda rocks.
And then photos: me after painting "I ♥ Qatar" on the Fence in Pittsburgh, my family on camels in front of the pyramids in Egypt, me meditating under the bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India. A portrait of Socrates. My friends at a party. My coworker Mohamed and me in traditional dress; another of Mohamed and me in grass skirts at a luau. An autographed picture of the CMU-Q soccer team, which just won the Education City championships. A picture of my favorite sculpture at the Mattress Factory.
On my desk is holy water that Fahad Al-Jefairi gave me when he returned back from Hajj, and on top of my monitor is a happy birthday hat left over from Tuesday. On the floor behind me is the treasure chest that my team won in last week's pirate-themed treasure hunt; above that is the Annually Renamed Center sign my friend Ben put on our door the third time my office changed names. Behind me is an enormous Jazz logo drawn by my friend Andrew, who loves the Jazz.
My cube isn't beautiful (I'm no interior decorator), but I kinda love it. Every time I look up from my computer I am reminded why I love living in Qatar: I am always surrounded by an eclectic mix of cultures and by crazy friends who I love, and I have opportunities to travel to amazing places and see things I never dreamed I'd be able to.
In other news, it's been a very strange week here in Lake Wobegon. Monday I had a bad cold, which mysteriously went into hibernation in time for my birthday on Tuesday; Wednesday afternoon I got a bad migraine. Today the cold is back. It's been a week of celebrations, too, as is usually the case when the semester winds down. This weekend we hosted a '60s themed murder mystery dinner and retro dance party; Tuesday the academic affairs staff went out to a rather swank dinner. As icing on the cake, my parents flew into Doha this morning. I'm really excited to show them around town! And this weekend is full of even more parties.
My life kinda rocks.