First product (officially unofficial)

Here is a short broadcast news package that I put together for a course that I am currently enrolled in at VCU (Richmond). Advanced Broadcast News Writing is the last class within my major and I will be (a little) sad once it is complete. But, do not tell anyone.

Click Here.

Hello again Qatar.

Mango Frappuccino Please…

… how I miss that blend of mango, tea and ice….

Take Care

Prom

Maybe it was Qatar. Maybe it’s re-entry. Maybe it’s Richmond. But there is something that is just not quite right. It isn’t easy to explain; there is certain uneasiness about being back “home.” And the uneasiness is all that is certain.

Perhaps it is because home doesn’t feel like home – or actually isn’t. The discomfort and obligations make a complicated concoction.

Where should I be placing my energy? How do I move forward without moving? I have certainly been given incredible opportunities, and I (think I) am moving in the right direction, but where will it take me?

The mental list grows wild with tasks and chores that will only lead to more of the same. No rest for the weary. I don’t long for the simple life. I am happy to have a full schedule and the capacity to manage it, but the recent taste of change, culture, and the world at large has left me insatiably hungry.

Watching the digital version of our plane travel over 7000 miles around the world demonstrated the irrelevance of daily life and its consuming pressures. As a student of life I have known for years that there was more to living, but never before has this vision been so clear.

The conundrum lies in returning to the mundane activities that wait with any semblance of zest.

I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go.

I’m happy to have clothes.

Ma Salam, Qatar.

It has been an amazing time here in Doha.  We have met some incredible people who will not be forgotten.  

Thank you to everyone for your hospitality.  We couldn’t be more grateful. 

To those who made it possible for us to come here… THANK YOU!

To everyone who reads this… THANK YOU! …and… stay tuned!  I’m sure we’ll be adding more videos and pics. 

Ma Salam, Qatar!!!

F***ING SANDSTORM

This morning the plan was to go around Education City and downtown Doha to get shots of building and landmarks.  Everything was going fine.  We finished in Education City, and then took a break and had a gigantic meal at Chili’s.  Yes, Chili’s. 

 

We make our way to this pearl statue/fountain and start getting shots.  While Jordan is getting his still camera from the van, I start to notice that the city is starting to slowly disappear in the viewfinder.

 

            ME “What’s with this haze in the city?  It’s ruining my shot.”

 

Jordan and I look up and the city is slowly starting to disappear. 

 

            JORDAN “It kind of looks like sand.”

 

At that point, Jordan and I decide to pack the equipment up and get it to the van as soon as possible.  By this time the city is no longer in view.  There is just a wall of yellow mist. 

 

We start driving through it and really everything looks yellow and gross.  Basically it was like a yellow fog.  We immediately start cursing it because it was impossible to shoot anything and have it turn out decent.  We decide to wait it out for 20 mins, hoping that it would move away as quickly as it came…

 

No such luck…

 

We tried getting a couple of shots… but it looks like shit, and the camera was getting sand on it…

 

Then, we get a call from Dima, a fashion and interior design major at VCUQ.  We ask her if it will go away soon, and she says sometimes it take rain to get the sandstorms to go away… GREAT… then, she says that she hopes we can still leave tomorrow morning… great…

 

So… tomorrow morning we’ll be getting up early to see if the sandstorm has died down.  If so, we’ll go into the city and get those shots done quickly before having to go to the airport at 9.  It doesn’t seem like flights have been canceled so we should be okay.

 

Keep your fingers crossed!!!!

 

OH! And the sandstorm created a filter over the sun, and it looked like a giant white spot in the sky!  It was WEIRD!  (Jordan has some pics of it)

 

 

The Final Countdown

 

This week has been one big final countdown.  It was full of cancelled and rescheduled interviews, dolly shots, exterior shots, b-roll material, and really trying to get more footage of the students.  The students are the heart of the university, and due to our hectic schedule of interviews we were really lacking on that footage.  So we spent a lot of time running around, and getting frustrated… we just hope we have everything we need.

 

As our last day begins, I can’t help but have mixed emotions.  There is no doubt that I’m ready to come home, but these past couple of days we have had the opportunity to see more of the city and hang out with more of the students.  Everyone has been so amazing… and it is no secret that our driver, Pradeep has been the best part of our trip. Obviously, Jordan and I do not know the proper way to treat a driver because we have quickly made Pradeep our friend.  Yes, we hung out with Pradeep almost every night this week.  We went to the mall, had dinner, went to the Souq… it’s been fun!  I know that both Jordan and I will truly be sad when we unload our equipment for the final time with Pradeep.  Luckily, Jordan does a good enough impersonation of Pradeep to get us through the coming week…

 

            Jordan (impersonating Pradeep) “Can I tell you something, sir?  You are crazy.”

            Pradeep “Please, do not impersonate me, sir.”

            Jordan (impersonating Pradeep)  “Please, do not impersonate me, sir.”

 

Oh, and there will soon be a short Pradeep webisode!!!!  So everyone can enjoy him as much as we did… Awe, there was a great Driving Miss Daisy moment last night. You know at the end of the movie when the old lady say, “You’re my best friend.” Well, we were coming back from the Souq and we get back to the apartment. Before we get out Pradeep says, “Stay here.”

Jordan says something about how he is tired or something. Pradeep says, “It’s okay. You stay. You are my best friend.” Jordan said, “well, you’re my best friend, too.” IT WAS ADORABLE!!! 

Well, it’s almost 11 a.m., and I’m sure Pradeep is waiting patiently outside.  Later.

 

You can call me on Sunday

This is my last post from afar and as the trip has begun to conclude, so have the blog posts.   This is not because the trip has been less busy, but because it has been more so.

In the past week we have done some amazing things and I will write about this from the comfort of my own apartment in Richmond, as I begin to think about the trip in retrospect and with a cleared and relaxed mind.

I will sort through my 1000+ photos and pick some of the best and most memorable ones that should provide a great summation of the people, places and things we have had the privilege of encountering during this awesome (yeah, I said awesome) journey.

Additionally, we will be posting the documentary in whole upon its completion as well as any other videos we compile from the discs, and discs of footage we have logged.

Thanks for keeping up with us and for all of your support.  THIS TRIP HAS BEEN AMAZING!

My second main man

Wedding bells

There weren’t any. In fact, it would hardly seem like a wedding at all — by American standards. But, Lisa and I went to a wedding the other evening in Qatar. Weddings here — apparently — are divided by gender; the men attend one wedding and the women, another.

It was a cultural experience that I am glad to have had. I will let the pictures tell the rest of my story (and Lisa will tell hers). They are mixed in with some other photos from today

More photos after the jump…

 

Tomorrow…

We had a long day… We woke up early to catch our helicopter ride…

I would love to write more, but I’m exhausted… I just responded to a bunch of emails from family and friends, and don’t feel like writing anymore…. even this is a lot…

Tomorrow, though, I will give you some fun Pradeep updates.  He truly has been the best part of our trip!