Category Archives: Uncategorized

Thoughts on Democracy

Posted on March 11, 2018 by ahumanseeing

As I mentioned previously, I so take for granted the fact that Chinese leadership is authoritarian that it is easy for me to forget that they call themselves a republic. It’s easy to forget, considering that both in my own … Continue reading →

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Coded Dissent: A Quick Peak at Chinese Social Media

Posted on March 5, 2018 by ahumanseeing

My Chinese coworker sent me this news article eight days ago: She felt sick about it. In a break with the political norms that Chinese leaders had respected since the post-Mao era of reforms, Xi Jinping was giving himself an … Continue reading →

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Old poem

Posted on February 25, 2018 by ahumanseeing

I found a poem in a notepad file from a few years ago about some close friends. It’s short–the only poems I feel comfortable sharing tend to be extremely short and to the point. There’s less room for error when … Continue reading →

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I Won’t Feed the Newsfeed

Posted on February 19, 2018 by ahumanseeing

Last fall I deactivated my Facebook account and I haven’t been back since. I’m still not exactly sure what changed in me but I’m glad it changed. It has been a long time coming. Throughout the months leading up to … Continue reading →

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Sweet and Sour Child of Mine

Posted on February 10, 2018 by ahumanseeing

I’m now entering the fifth month of my China sojourn, attempting to adopt a second foreign culture. Years ago, after reading several fictional and non-fictional accounts of the American invasion of Iraq and being fascinated by the beauty of Arabic … Continue reading →

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Good vs. Evil: Are we breaking even?

Posted on January 30, 2016 by ahumanseeing

(spoiler alert: I don’t know and there’s no way to know—but what if there were?) “The created universe carries the yin at its back and the yang in front; through the union of the pervading principles it reaches harmony.” –part … Continue reading →

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On Ambivalence

Posted on December 23, 2015 by ahumanseeing

Here is a short poem I wrote about ambivalence. “Equation” Endless attempts Life on the fence Resolution is never real The equals sign isn’t a finish line It’s the hub of the wheel

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You Have Your Ways and I Have Mine

Posted on October 31, 2014 by ahumanseeing

Saudi Arabia is living in the 1400s. No, I mean that literally. The year on the Hijri calendar is now 1436. Dictated by the cycles of the moon, year 1 started when the prophet Muhammad emigrated from Mecca (around 632 AD). … Continue reading →

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Is this IT? (Incomprehensible Timing, Interesting Twists, and Impromptu Teaching in an Institute of Translation)

Posted on September 23, 2014 by ahumanseeing

Dr. Nasser took a puff from his cigarette. “You studied in Jordan, right?” He asked in his thick Arabic accent. I confirmed. The long leaves of the date palms lining the edge of the parking lot swayed weakly in the suffocating breeze. “Well, this place is different. It’s … Continue reading →

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