I can think of hundreds – no, thousands – of other ways I’d rather spend a day in Doha than going to the Medical Commission building for the medical exam, the most dreaded step towards getting a residence permit in Qatar. But since it’s compulsory, I found myself standing in front of the Medical Commission...
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Sandstorm
There is a sandstorm here, unfortunately no Photoshop has been used for the picture, Thom Yorke singing in my head over and over, “we hope that you choke that you choke” pic Currently listening to: I love you but I’ve chosen darkness Fear is on our Side
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Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean
Before leaving Paris, I watched an Explosions in the Sky concert, a Texas-based instrumental band that comes up with the most beautiful, affecting melodies you’ll ever hear in your entire life (and no, I’m not exaggerating). The concert was sold out by the time I found out they would pass by Paris, so you can...
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This is how we do laundry, from now on
The entrance to the laundry shop is hard to miss: situated in a decrepit building, its blue sign covered in a layer of dust. I drag the heavy laundry bag I am carrying into the shop. The first thing I see are two men, back to back, ironing clothes on what are to be described...
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Getting there
By the time my plane rolled down Doha International Airport’s runway, I had been asked 19 times if I were Filipino. 19 times, just at the Bahrain and Qatar airports. 19 times I answered Yes, and the follow-up questions were: 1: “Have you come straight from Manila?”, 2: “Ah, what’s your job in Doha?”, and...
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Eclipse
There is a total lunar eclipse scheduled tonight, and it is reported to last for 73 minutes. If you are in Europe, Africa and Western Asia you should be able to see the entire event. I could see the full moon from my window earlier, as we were getting ready to land in Bahrain. I...
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