Winter, Aleppo, and Longing

الشِّتاء root: ش-ت-و / noun / definition: winter To round off my program here in Doha, I presented my research paper last week, focusing on the image of Aleppo in the Arabic novel. It was somewhat of a triumphant end, on a personal level, as I decided—instead of reading notes or preparing a speech—to improviseContinue reading “Winter, Aleppo, and Longing”

Oman and an Ever-Nearing Return

لُبان root: ل-ب-ن / noun / definition: frankincense Land of frankincense, endless arches, and smiling eyes: Oman, where I spent the past week on a solo trip. And upon my return to Doha, I’m caught off guard by only two-and-a-half weeks left of class and forced to gulp down the reality of flying back toContinue reading “Oman and an Ever-Nearing Return”

Nostalgia, the Library, and Extrapolation

اِسْتِقْراء root: ق-ر-ء / form X verbal noun / definition: extrapolation The three-day conference I attended over the weekend and the start of the week meant that my readings and homework took a backseat—or, more accurately, fell out the boot of the metaphorical car I was taking for a joyride. (Can something be more accurateContinue reading “Nostalgia, the Library, and Extrapolation”