Qatar…From Afar: 121212
The details of everything that happened during the 11 nights and 12 days I spent in a Qatari jail for allegedly insulting Islam!
Travel: You Know You…
You know you have lived abroad for too long when... you have spent more time abroad than in your own home country. you have acquired a foreign accent. you have lost the fluency you once had in your two mother tongues (Nepali and Seke, referred to as a dialect in the Wikipedia entry) and have pretty much lost the ability to communicate in (Hindi) the third language you learned growing up. the language you express yourself best in is (English) the fourth language you learned growing up. you even think and dream in (English) the fourth language. you return home…
Qatar…From Afar: Mayday Mayday May Day
The fateful day I show up at the police station when I find out what I was supposedly to have said to be accused of insulting Islam and the subsequent incarceration.
Qatar…From Afar: The (Un)expected
All about that which happened, which I really didn't expect to happen, but had feared might happen!
EdufreeNepal Campaign: Days 28-35
We crossed the tipping point on June 25, with ten more days to go. Over the course of the remaining days, almost ten thousand was added to the contribution! The contributions averaged an impressive 1K per day!! Here's the how it looked in the end. Fig. 1. Education is Freedom-Nepal Campaign Status as of the morning of July 1. I have these backers to thank for their pledges: Jessica Roff, a friend from my Grinnell years. Michael H. Adolfae Manaslu Gurung, a friend from SMS. Henry Throop, a Grinnell classmates who's donated for a second time! Kristine Kay Johnson, a…
Mohanad's reason for signing the petition.
Qatar…From Afar: Uncommon Courage
In this post, I would like to share two communications that we all can learn from. The first is a comment left on the change.org petition by a former student of mine, and the second a response to that comment. A number of individuals took great risks and displayed great courage participating in the campaign for my release. But one young former student of mine, Mohanad Rwaished, took an incredible risk and showed a level of courage that is uncommon in his age group. After signing the Change.org petition, he added a very honest comment detailing what he and his…
EdufreeNepal Campaign: Final Plea and Challenge.
What lack of education can mean to a Nepalese migrant laborer jailed in Qatar on trumped up charges.
Education Is Freedom: Campaign in Nepal
As the international fundraising campaign Education is Freedom - Nepal winds down, the long-awaited fundraising campaign in Nepal for fellow Nepalese either residing in the country and/or unable to pledge through the startsomegood.com page, for one reason or another, is live. Here's the link to the pledge page: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1czZzu59A5wk1O8MbnbTmuwDIOxj0RTwo6pBhVSLwV2o/viewform Pledge away! Thank you. * * * * * * * * The drive has ended! Thank you for your pledges! * * * * * * * *
Qatar…From Afar: The Timeline
The timeline of my ordeal in Qatar following a complaint logged by the parent of a twelve-year old student based on the child's version of an incident in the cafeteria of Qatar Academy. I was fired and subsequently jailed but freed following an international campaign.
EdufreeNepal Campaign: Days 15-27
Days 15-20 Fig. 1. Education is Freedom-Nepal Campaign Status as of the morning of June 20. I could have sworn I had posted this last week!! I even have recollections of what I wrote for a number of the backers. (Could I have dreamt them?!) Anyway, I have these backers to thank for their pledges: Sarita Vaid, from my years in Azerbaijan. Monika Ranjitkar, yet another pledge! Alisa Greenwald Greenbacher, a classmate and friend from Grinnell. Liz Favret. Cindy Bagshaw, pledged by my friend Paula Boon on her behalf. Mateja Jamnik Bierman, another UWCAD friend. Nathalie Fetzer-Hoernig, a dear friend…