Club Fair and an Evening with Emiratis

مَسَاْءْ الْخيرْ (Masa'a al khair--which means "good afternoon/evening" in Arabic)

It's the third week of the semester, but although schoolwork has become a large part of my daily routine, I've still been able to take part in some pretty awesome activities both on and off campus. Yesterday, I attended AUS's annual club fair and signed up for Finance Club, Entrepreneurship Club, Photography Club, and--most excitingly--Gastronomy Club! Like club fairs at US universities, AUS showcased a wide range of interest-themed as well as academically-focused student organizations. The main difference, though, was that AUS hosts an astounding number of cultural clubs, a testament to the highly diverse nature of the university as well as the UAE as a whole. I saw clubs for Emiratis, Saudis, Yemenis, Omanis, Nigerians, Syrians, Palestinians, Pakistanis, Russians, Egyptians, Iranians and many, many more. One cool fact about the UAE is that it it comprised of at least 200 distinct nationalities. That's quite a large figure when you consider its small geographic size and its young age as a sovereign state.

Earlier this week, I also had the unique opportunity to spend a fun-filled evening at a luxurious retreat in Al Dhaid, courtesy of some awesome Emirati students and their friends. As the sun set behind the Sharjah skyline, we loaded into cars and drove out to their "farm," which just happened to include such amenities as a blue tiled swimming pool and hot tub in addition to beautiful landscaping complete with water features and fruit trees. The picture below shows the edible fruit--called Nakh, a type of pear--that grew on their trees. They were very sweet and delicious, with a texture more akin to a crisp apple than the pears we are used to in America.

Inside the compound, embroidered pillows and Persian rugs adorned rooms designed to hold large numbers of guests in style and comfort. Oh, and did I mention that the neighboring farm just happened to be owned by the Sheikh of Dubai himself?

After touring the complex, myself and around 20 other IXO students were treated to a meal of grilled fish, squid, and shrimp that had been purchased fresh from the fish souk that day. Our hosts also provided some top notch sheesha (or "hookah" as we call it in the States), which made a perfect companion to our conversations. As we passed around the pipes and finished off the food, we swapped stories, talked football (soccer, not NFL), and learned some "choice" phrases in Arabic with our local hosts. The weather was just right to sit outside under the stars, and all in all, it was a perfect evening. Our hosts must have enjoyed the night as well, 'cause they're planning to invite us back for a pool party with dancing and refreshments that will likely go on into the early hours of the morning. I'll keep you guys posted on how that turns out :)

Until next time, thanks for reading! مع السلامة (Ma' as-salaama--meaning "goodbye")

~MH

Lights ... Camera ... Satisfaction!!

As salaamu 'alaykum! In today's episode of "Just how awesome can the UAE get?", I'd like to transport you to the Sharjah Light Festival. This annual production is just one of many elements that contribute to Sharjah's renown as the "Cultural capital of the Arab World." The following paragraph (obtained from the festival website) does a fairly good job of describing SLF, but, as with many things in life, it's best experienced in first person. Words and even pictures just don't do it justice.

"Over a period of 9 days in Sharjah, from February 7th to the 15th 2013, the night shines and the city is reinvented. Urban space is offered an escape from its daily routine… it becomes a new land of mystery. Streets are lit up, architecture is altered, parks and gardens appear under a new light. Magic, light and sound move the audience. This is a special time for exploration and adventure; in each corner a new image appears – the colours are multiplied and endless. Eyes sparkle, questions arise… Sharjah was not the same yesterday. And how will it be tomorrow?" (http://www.slf.ae/en/index.php/about-slf/)

I took the above picture during a 10-minute presentation consisting of colorful images digitally projected onto the Al Qasba building located on Sharjah's recently revitalized waterfront. In addition to various 3D and kaleidoscopic effects, the show included a soundtrack of modern Arab music played through a massive sound system. I took a video of a portion of the display, but unfortunately the file is too large to upload. However, I found this clip from last year's display so you can get an idea of what I experienced last night:


 






















Isn't that simply spectacular? And what's even more awesome is that there were 13 other buildings lit up in a similar fashion, each with a unique theme and artistic style. Here's a photo I took of a water/light show at the Al Majaz waterfront:

And here's another shot of a nearby mosque (also at Al Majaz):

Sparkly, eh? I wanted to visit and photograph all 14 of the illuminated buildings, but AUS's midnight curfew is kind of inconvenient at times. Oh well ... it's not as if the light festival won't be around for many more years to come.


Thanks for reading, and stay tuned for lots more content in the coming weeks, including posts about the many wonderful foods and beverages I've had the chance to taste during my stay (with recipes included!!)


~MH

Pictures of the Motion Variety

Ahlan wa sahlan! (In Arabic, this greeting literally translates to: "You're like my family, so take it easy!") I've got a bit of free time this morning in between classes and laundry so I thought I'd upload a couple videos I've taken that show two very different sides of the UAE. 

The first clip shown below is from a nighttime excursion to the Dubai Mall (the largest shopping center in the world), which is conveniently located next to the Burj Khalifa (the tallest building in the world). Outside of the mall and the Burj lies a 30-acre manmade lake, and in the center of this lake lies one of the coolest water/light/sound shows I've ever seen: The Dubai Fountain. Here's some more background on this impressive display, courtesy of Wikipedia...

It was designed by WET Design, the California-based company responsible for the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel Lake in Las Vegas. Illuminated by 6,600 lights and 25 colored projectors, it is 275 m (902 ft) long and shoots water up to 500 feet into the air accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary Arabic and world music. It was built at a cost of AED 800 million (USD 218 million)."

The next clip shows an entirely different side of this multifaceted country. To live in the UAE is to witness a remarkable study in contrasts. Restrictive social policy butts heads with free market capitalism. Futuristic skyscrapers and tourist attractions are juxtaposed against sand dunes and nomadic heritage. Native Emiratis mingle with a host of international expats. Yet somehow, in the midst of this cultural potpourri, there is harmony. It really is a beautiful thing. In the short clip below, taken while "dune bashing" in the Sharjah desert, you'll be able to see a first-person view of a local recreational activity as well as a glimpse of what the UAE used to look like before the oil money started flowing in. Enjoy!

 ~MH

All the Small Things

As you probably can guess, life in a foreign country can often be very different from life at home. Major cultural adjustments are often necessary, but sometimes even the little things can make a big difference. Here are some of the subtle peculiarities I've noticed about living in the UAE thusfar:

Money:

People here do not like making change. If your grocery bill comes out to 128.75 AED and you hand the cashier 130 AED, he/she will likely hand you a 1-dirham coin and just forget about the remaining 25 fils (1 dirham can be further subdivided into 100 fils). Or if you order a coffee that costs 13 dirhams and you pay with a 100, 50, or even a 20 dirham note, you'll most likely be asked if you can pay in exact change using a 10 AED note and 3 1-dirham coins. If you lack coins or smaller bills, be prepared for a disapproving stare.

Also on the subject of money, tipping is not expected in the UAE. Cab rides, dining out, gas pumping services, and valet parking are all associated with gratuities here in the US, but in the UAE, you only tip if you received extraordinary service. On the one hand, it's nice to save a little cash, but on the flip side, there really isn't much you can do to reward or penalize varying levels of service.

Gender Interaction:

When men greet men (or when women greet women), they often exchange a hug and kisses on the cheek. It is also not uncommon for like-genders to hold hands as they walk. Interactions between men and women, however, are much less open. Some women will not shake hands with men due to their religious convictions, PDA is discouraged in all emirates (and even outright banned in the emirate of Sharjah), and a man and a woman are not to be found alone with one another in "questionable circumstances".

Despite these seemingly draconian social norms, Arabs are very expressive, outgoing people. Guys and girls frequently flirt with and tease one another in conversation, and it is not uncommon to find a group of guys or a group of girls gossiping about the latest news in their social scene. The takeaway here is that just because things are sometimes done under the radar does not mean they are not done at all. Outward modesty tends to prevail, but beneath the kandooras and abayas (traditional dress for men and women) you'll find the same vibrant personalities you'd find anywhere. 

~MH

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to my blog! Or as they say here ... Marhaban! As-salaamu 'alaykum! (Greetings, and peace be upon you)

It's hard to believe that two weeks have already passed since my plane landed in Dubai International Airport, marking the beginning of what is sure to be the most exciting adventure of my life thus far. Between orientation activities and the first week of classes as a student at the American University of Sharjah, I've hardly had time to catch a breath (let alone sit down and put my thoughts into words). So please bear with me if you find the first few posts a bit lengthy. I'll try to make future entries more topic-oriented with pictures and video footage included as often as I can. Whether you're a seasoned jetsetter or an armchair traveler, a study abroad veteran or a wide-eyed student still figuring out your future plans, I hope that through this blog, you'll be able to vicariously experience some of the people and places I encounter during my semester abroad here in the UAE. Perhaps you'll learn a recipe and a few Arabic phrases, or perhaps you'll take away something even more profound. Either way, I hope you enjoy what I have to share. Shukran! Thanks for reading!

~MH