Gosh. It's been five days now since I completed my first 10-day silent Vipassana meditation course and I'm still struggling to put the experience into words. As with all intense experiences, the rush of it fades quickly with time, so I fear that the longer I wait, the less able I'll be to really capture … Continue reading On the Cushion: 10 Days in Silence
Category: Personal
Returning to Normal: the final Ftour
So, it's now Day 2 of Eid al-fitr, the celebratory days at the end of the fast. I made it. Well, almost. Last time I wrote, it was Day 14, less than halfway, and I was having serious doubts about how much longer I would last. Day 18, I caved. I have a client who's … Continue reading Returning to Normal: the final Ftour
Breaking Fast: Ramadan in Morocco
Day 14. 1:33pm. Already hungry and I've been thirsty since I woke. No headache, though (yet), and I'm not too dizzy, so I'll take it. It's a weird thing, this Ramadan. Everybody talks about it as if it's this beautiful, enjoyable time... until it actually is Ramadan, and then we just talk about our various states of … Continue reading Breaking Fast: Ramadan in Morocco
Kept in Guantanamo: The case of Omar Khadr
Most days, I am so grateful for the technology that allows me to stay in touch while I'm living abroad. However, some mornings, I still feel the distance. I feel the 8 hours time difference, when I need to talk to somebody, but I know my friends and family won't be awake for another 6 … Continue reading Kept in Guantanamo: The case of Omar Khadr
In the south of France: getting away from my Workaway
I saw a moth the other night, and it reminded me of my mom. Specifically, how terrified she was of them, and how she would shriek if she happened to find one trapped inside our house, helplessly beating itself against a lightbulb, trying to escape. They often remind me of her, but this night I … Continue reading In the south of France: getting away from my Workaway