The good life | Kamiel Choi

The writing is on the wall

An almost three-year old girl draws on everything. Miru takes her color pencils and makes her mark on the vocabulary cards that her mother has prepared for her early childhood education. Her third birthday is less than a month away and we think it's great when she learns a lot now, while her need to ...

Authenticity feels better when you starve for it.

At the Zoo

About a month ago, I took Miru to the Tierpark Berlin. When we entered the large park, she had no expectation and did what she does best: smiling at the guys who checked our tickets and nagging for a candy she sees in the hand of an other child. I, on the other hand, had ...

Bird watching with Miru

Miru and I found ourselves on the church square in the village of Vimeiro in the Alentejo region of Portugal. A father and his daughter. In the portico in front of a church, where we sat down because of the shade we looked up and there were swallow nests between the naves of the dome. Miru ...

Try this #2

Stop for a moment with what you are doing and imagine how it could become a story. Now picture yourself telling that story. Who do you see in the audience?

How the brain of the one percent works

Miru is sharing only an infinitesimally small piece of her chocolate cookie. I ask her if she would share with papa and she nods. Then she touches her cookie with her little thumb and index finger, and puts the crumble that sticks on her fingers to my lips. Her dexterity is excellent and her composure ...

An imaginary piece of her candy

It is getting sweeter. Unbearably sweet. I go to the park with Miru to let her play on the swing and drink water from the fountain while I lie in the grass with an electronic book. There are always many children there to play with her. There is no lack here. This should be anyone's ...

try this #1

... look in the mirror with a very serious face and rehearse saying "only for the money? I couldn't do it"

Hide and Seek

A game that Miru likes is our own version of hide-and-seek. I carry her on my back and pretend to be looking for her. Calling her softly then louder, bending over and looking around corners, in portico's and behind trees. I continue and wonder what she would think. Does she realize it is a game? ...