tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63640610350976948512023-11-15T23:13:01.207-08:00One Hundred Thirty Emirati SunrisesJon Thompson is a third-year finance and international business student at the University of South Carolina. Over the Spring 2014 semester, Jon chronicles his experiences at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, capturing the spice of student life in the Middle East. Aside from his studies, Jon is a avid writer and musician; he also enjoys hiking, golf, old films, and long-distance running.IBUP Internhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08396654766488159927noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364061035097694851.post-2034769318870363492014-06-05T09:57:00.002-07:002014-06-05T15:13:43.600-07:00Coming Out Clean<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>"Dress Like an Emirati" Night.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>From left: Argentina, USA, Bangladesh, Venezuela, Egypt, Palestine</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span class="opening_quote">“</span>All values in this world are more or less questionable, but the most important thing in life is human kindness.”</span><cite><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">— Yevgeny Yevtushenko</span></cite></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><cite><br /></cite>I shouldn't have waited until the end to write this one.<br />I had so much more to say this semester, believe me. I wanted to talk about the purpose of education and the future of the Emirates from a business perspective. I wanted to describe the rapid-fire changes that are suddenly so normal, and perhaps even vital, to the life I've grown accustomed to. Here are some selections from different points – fragments of bigger ideas I never disciplined myself to develop.</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>Musandam, Oman.</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">April 20:</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It turns out that heat arrives at the American University of Sharjah not only suddenly but in a factor of two. While my family experienced mid-April snow, I brave my first week of triple digit heat, mercifully dipping to a breathable 80-odd degrees once the sun falls behind the desert's horizon each day. And amidst the hopeful social media posts of my American friends celebrating the end of the spring semester, I am faced with one of the busiest six-week periods of my young life, as our semester still has until the first week of June before completion...</span></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>The Bosphorus | Istanbul, Turkey</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">May 3: I'm leaving. So soon. The date has crept up on me quickly, as it tends to do. I feel caught in the middle of several forces pulling in opposite directions – the desire to finish my academic courses with excellence, to capture the moments that are slipping away from me through my writing and my photography, to preserve the friendships with the precious little time I have left, and the pressure to focus attention on my affairs in the United States, neglected for more than four months. This is not the easy part of studying abroad. This is the hard part.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It wouldn't be this way if this place had not become such an authentic and meaningful home to me. This effect first became real upon my return from my spring break in Istanbul (which, unfortunately, you may never hear about, due entirely to my own blogging delinquency). I was fresh off of a magical experience and was finally feeling refreshed after a hectic round of midterms. And I was so happy to come home. Home: it's the place where your heart lies...</span></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>The view from the world's tallest building.</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">May 15:</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Taking a semester abroad (or any sort of international assignment, really) is, in one way, the creation of a new life. You put your old one on hold – suspend your cell phone service, your auto insurance, and you leave your car, apartment, friends, and family behind. In this old life's place, you build a new network predominantly from scratch. You reform habits according to the particular environment. The opportunities and conversations you encounter have a profound influence on your thoughts and even upon the impressionable portion of your personality. Free from the rigidity of your previous reputation, you have the ability to step outside your previous bounds to experience things you've never tried or had access to before. And this is liberating, because for a preordained amount of time, you can try out a new existence, risk-free.
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">So now that we are just over two weeks out from the end of it all, from the day I scrabble my possessions back into their suitcases and return to natural soil, the question comes from all directions: are you happy to be going home? There is no "yes" answer to this question without a healthy dose of "no" as well. I cannot wait to return to the dear friends and family with whom I've only been able to maintain a wispy correspondence from abroad. But simultaneously, I cannot bear to leave behind the beauty I have cultivated in this space...</span></span></b></span></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>No longer simply the USA.</b></span></td></tr>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Two days ago – June 2:<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm finished. <i>Khallas</i>. Packed and ready to depart. Classes and finals are concluded. I did well academically, but it's not my main consideration. All day I walked about in a functional daze, because it wasn't really hitting home yet that <i>this</i> was it, that <i>these</i> were the goodbyes, the last glimpses, the handshakes and hugs and words of affirmation. </span></b></span></b></span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As I sit here tonight, snatching a few precious moments to write, I am moved by the grandeur that my experience has filled me with. The truly intoxicating part, the reward beyond a course's final grade or a single highlight of any trip to any location, is the person I got to become when I stepped away from most of the institutions and functions that my life has previously been defined by. I started totally afresh. Friendships came easier here than ever before, and even today – my last day – I met ever the more persons whom I hope to see again. That's the biggest victory of all.</span></b></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">In the end, my experience was not about traveling to new countries, sampling local cuisine, or snapping photographs on location at the the sights that friends will envy me for having visited. (However, I totally did all of those things and it's okay if you're a little bit jealous.) Rather, it was about forging human trust with the Other, who in their alterity is not like you. It's about welcoming another person and lifting them to a position of importance that is on equal footing with your own self-consideration. After all, business is built on a market structure, and despite a myriad of regulatory frameworks currently in place, this entire system of commerce in which we engage is still dependent on the individual actions and responsibilities of ordinary people like me and you. Trust, then, is rendered essentially vital for our own preservation and improvement as a species. We can cultivate it with our travel and with our investment into relationships, and I urge you to take part in this rich tradition.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I entitled this post "Coming Out Clean." To borrow a baking analogy, a project isn't finished until a toothpick can be inserted without any accompanying residue upon its extraction. This is not a possibility with study abroad; you cannot come out clean. You build a life that is new and amazing, and with it, you build friendships that transcend geographical proximity. You shouldn't be fully at peace with leaving, and I certainly am not. I am not pretending that I did not face obstacles. My time at AUS was not easy; anyone who describes an exchange semester as such perhaps didn't do it properly. But the challenges have shaped the contours of who I've become, and as I return home to the United States, I can look at myself and say with no difficulty that I am delighted with the person I'm becoming through my experiences. The task now is to take it to the streets – to introduce the new me to my older, more established existence.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On paper, it's back to "real life" and the prospects of an internship that starts in four days. Internally, though, I know now that I occupy two worlds – here and there – and I'm not fully me without them both. I'm happy with change, but this part of coming home isn't totally cheery. At least I know that soon enough, my heart will call me back to the rest of the world. So maybe we'll call this a love letter addressed to study abroad, rather than a eulogy. I like that thought, and it's where we'll finish for now.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Until we meet again, dear world. I love you.</span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b>Frankfurt, Germany: looking ahead to what dreams may come.</b></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14404575156119349535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364061035097694851.post-77638292381140396792014-04-02T13:19:00.000-07:002014-04-02T13:19:19.410-07:00Halfway Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>I have to believe that Ludwig Miles van der Rohe was right: God is in the details.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">As I ruminated this morning on the incredible position in life within which I now find myself, this thought echoed throughout my mind, convincing me of its truth in my own history. Though I often use large goals to self-motivate, my greatest pleasures I've always derived from infinitely small moments – the chemicals I feel at morning snowfalls, at smiles from dear friends, and at the serendipitous times that all the disjointed elements of my life fall into each their own right places and my journey makes sense. If we use this metric to judge my study abroad experience, it adequately suffices on the first account. I've had some incredible highlights that I will always be able to refer to when I reflect back upon this trip. But my time has granted me so much more than highlights; it has over and over again given me incredible, small moments I'll never be able to replicate or replace. It is for this that I am most thankful.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I sit today at the exact halfway point of my semester. Two months ago, I began class, and two more from now, I'll be leaving to return to my home and family in the United States. I don't like using this colloquialism terribly often, but time in this context really does fly. Part of the reason (aside from exams) that I've had trouble crafting a blog post over the past few weeks is that there is too much to discuss, and it's happening more quickly than I can commit to either words or reflection. Today, though, necessity wins out; we move on with our Emirati narrative, comprehensive or not.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>The practical side of things</i>: since I'm obligated to discuss some of this, let's blitz through it first, then move on to the fun stuff. My <strike>hospital</strike> dorm room is found below, if you're curious about my living conditions:</span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Disclaimer: I'm a guy. We don't put much effort into décor.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Though I've been here 9 weeks, I've had little occasion to decorate it or rearrange very much. The reason for that is that I spend very little time in dorms, except for sleeping and eating. It is cleaned weekly by maintenance staff, and I have full climate control, along with my own bathroom, hot plates, mini fridge, sink, cabinets, and shower. Linens, pillows, and laundry facilities are provided at no additional cost. I'm happy with the dorm living; compared to many of my accommodations on other trips abroad, this one weighs in above average, and the courtyard to which my room opens is beautiful.</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7szyE7Y-pu-dG8qiADX1rc9L3NxAWOtbvkHyzoFF1Tg0WbIpXeeHGYTuawsfz5NmE1W0BAfPm8HlYL_KkRFTZ8ChDK7Xc33F5UwDNYe5XpT5xmTYx5ziEJKBABojkrt-kO9mIBE6Xw4/s1600/IMG_5042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz7szyE7Y-pu-dG8qiADX1rc9L3NxAWOtbvkHyzoFF1Tg0WbIpXeeHGYTuawsfz5NmE1W0BAfPm8HlYL_KkRFTZ8ChDK7Xc33F5UwDNYe5XpT5xmTYx5ziEJKBABojkrt-kO9mIBE6Xw4/s1600/IMG_5042.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Always a welcome sight at the start or finish of my university days.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>The typical school day follows a pretty simple routine: I wake up, shower, eat breakfast, have coffee with my friend Tigran, and head to class. Since I'm taking 15 credit hours and want the freedom of afternoons, most of my classes are in the mornings. It's not a far walk to class from the dorms; I can get from my bedroom to any academic building in about ten minutes, and that holds consistent for all the dormitory buildings. I love walking on our campus; AUS is not only beautifully manicured but also home to a fairly small student population (just under 6,000). This means that I run into my friends all of the time, and because people here are so friendly, I virtually never walk with headphones in my ears anymore.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b>My Armenian friend with our Armenian coffee.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>When I last blogged, I talked for a while about how easy I was finding my courses. This is not exactly the case any longer. As a native English speaker, I do find the coursework <i>easier, relatively,</i> than do many of my classmates. However, I am still challenged at or above the expectations to which I've grown accustomed at USC. A score of 95 is required instead of 90 for an A here; even if the course is easy, this number is still difficult to attain. Little surprise, then, that the Dean's List is a more worthy accomplishment at this university than what I am used to.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The content of my courses has been consistently rewarding. My favorite class is modern philosophy, but the four business courses are interesting as well. It was a bit difficult last fall to pick my courses, because the prerequisites here differ from the structure of USC's business curriculum, but now that I'm halfway through the semester, I've fallen into a comfortable rhythm and I love the schedule I have.</span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx7-WlRf31dH3g-S_JvlIZawQcLqXyB4O4BmCSaBKne7gOfzgsz7dkU_zuaGVdNUFT1LgI_0-98G7nDhicFBUlaeELh61lqK8M14rc0VpiUDEmUsYbnvgazrHTGJ-bjjLLS7tSnS-p8U/s1600/IMG_7345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigx7-WlRf31dH3g-S_JvlIZawQcLqXyB4O4BmCSaBKne7gOfzgsz7dkU_zuaGVdNUFT1LgI_0-98G7nDhicFBUlaeELh61lqK8M14rc0VpiUDEmUsYbnvgazrHTGJ-bjjLLS7tSnS-p8U/s1600/IMG_7345.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Through my modern philosophy class, I've learned a great deal about the Western World despite currently being away from it.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>My professors, apart from course content, have for the most part lectured adequately but occasionally disappoint me. I must first disclaim, though, that through my first five semesters, I've had extraordinarily good fortune with professor selection. I rely on ratemyprofessors.com and the recommendations of my peers when I am at home, but these resources were unavailable to me on my exchange semester. I didn't land the best professors that this university has to offer; this much I've ascertained through conversations with peer students here. However, the cross-section I do have is supposed to be fairly representative of the average at AUS. </b></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">The classroom atmosphere I don't find to be quite as dynamic here; this can be partially chalked up to students coming from cultures less inclined to interact with authority figures (professors) as freely as American students do. In addition, because midterms and exams take up the lion's share of course weight (typically 80-90%, whereas in the U.S., I'm used to 40-70%), most professors and students don't find the day-to-day class sessions to be very important, bringing the quality of our meetings somewhat down.</span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Outside of the classroom, though, I have nothing but praise for this place. The extracurricular opportunities, friends I've made, and availability of sights for exploration have really buoyed my semester. The only predominant drawback is perhaps the isolation of the campus; public transit is sufficient within the emirate of Dubai, but in Sharjah, you need a friend's car or a taxi to get around. Thankfully, the exchange office here does a very nice job of organizing low-cost trips for us that compensate for the transportation difficulties we run into, and with advance notice, it will even charter a bus for us at no cost for our use on self-organized outings.</span></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b>The Dubai Marina on a recent excursion.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Playing football on the IXO-organized desert safari two weeks ago.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><i>The persuasive side of things</i>: you may be reading this description of daily life in conjunction with my previous posts and wonder what sets this place apart from the others, when all is said and done. If you're a student prospectively looking to study abroad, I understand that you're looking for a dynamic opportunity that will expose you to new ideas and experiences in a foreign part of the world, one that will advance your academic knowledge as well as your understanding of culture in a real-life context. So I want to make sure I paint a picture of the American University of Sharjah accurately and with care, because it's important to do so.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>The beauty of this place lies in its people. I've said this consistently throughout my blogging, but that is because the truth of this statement does not fade over time. Academically, maybe you'll find better, more prestigious institutions in Europe or Southeast Asia. Perhaps you want to travel to a new country every weekend: continental Europe, again, is probably your ticket with its high-speed, low-cost railways. If you're seeking deep cultural immersion and practice with a language other than Arabic, go to where you can realize that opportunity.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>But if you want to experience a very wide variety of cultures in one location, meet some of the best friends you'll ever make, and join a university of students whose value is relationship before anything else, I would encourage you to study here. You'll be older than the university itself, it's true; AUS was founded in 1997. But at the same time, you'll have the unique privilege of learning and even contributing to how an educational institution and a country (the UAE turns 43 this year) grow rapidly in their embryonic stages. You'll run into frustrations at times, but these are typical of all longer-term experiences in a foreign context. The ways that you find to solve these problems will serve as valuable lessons for future experiences, too.</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsD-TjIp_XK3YnXoRFUQROmmWXWnNENulp2lc0r0Hql9QejXt1tkqVXkX4pXx-RGcBMEBDKp06mhc1STSOam7wochFAMg8LOQ4XprON_6N_pfbVuEgpkoL73NuqBZRH7veylGbCYMo78/s1600/IMG_7392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsD-TjIp_XK3YnXoRFUQROmmWXWnNENulp2lc0r0Hql9QejXt1tkqVXkX4pXx-RGcBMEBDKp06mhc1STSOam7wochFAMg8LOQ4XprON_6N_pfbVuEgpkoL73NuqBZRH7veylGbCYMo78/s1600/IMG_7392.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b>The Palestinian Cultural Club taught me incredible amounts about a country we in America are undereducated about.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Most valuable of all, you'll be treated handsomely at each turn by your peers – not because you have done anything to prove to them your worth but instead because that's the nature of this wonderful place. This is a model we all can benefit from acquiring. In an educational context, establishing an attitude of respect is essential for the free exchange of ideas, beliefs, and knowledge. In a business context, we have to remember that many cultures differ from the universalism of the United States. Instead of evaluating solely on cost, quality, and other quantitative measures, organizations in these cultures put the relationship first and the transaction afterwards. In a human context, people the world round will respond positively to kindness and cultural sensitivity. These qualities, I would venture, are essential for using a transnational mindset.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>When you travel using the above criteria of kindness, relationship-orientation, and respect, I believe that the world wins. International business, after all, is about more than just making a profit, strengthening competitive advantage, or exploiting opportunities and markets across borders. It's also concerned fundamentally with sharing cultures, meanings, values, and ideas between groups globally. As with any set of human interactions, international business is thus still aligned with an ethical objective of promoting eudaimonia – a concept of Aristotle's that translates as "human flourishing." Business is one of the many tools we use to examine how to improve the ways humankind lives within society; since this society is globalizing quickly, our understanding of life across the world must similarly grow.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>I'll leave you with that last thought, lest I devolve further into full-blown philosophizing. AUS has been an excellent home for me these past two months. I am very excited to see what the latter half of the semester has in store for me. </b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Coming up next time is a fun topic: my recent spring break trip to Istanbul, Turkey.</b></span><br />
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<span dir="rtl"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>مع السلامة (Ma Salaam) </b></span></span></div>
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>– Jon</b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><b>Happiness is a Gulf cruise in Dubai on a perfect, starry night.</b></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14404575156119349535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364061035097694851.post-12180878418309198072014-02-25T13:20:00.000-08:002014-02-25T13:32:12.510-08:00Settling In and Joining Up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>After three long-winded posts in the first two weeks, I have taken a definitive step back and paid attention more to what's happening here in the UAE, rather than frantically trying to relay it back to the homefront as quickly as possible.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>This is not an admission of idleness. To the contrary, I've been hard at work (and play, of course). Here are a few rapid-fire highlights / observations for those of you who prefer the quick version:</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Highlight 1: I joined the track and field team at AUS last week as a middle- and long-distance runner. With a significantly smaller student body here and a comparable lack of interest in collegiate athletics relative to the United States (aside from football [soccer] and basketball), it's actually fairly easy to join a varsity team here. From what I know, we've also had exchange students on the swimming, basketball, table tennis, squash, and volleyball teams over this semester and last. It's an <i>exceptional </i>experience. Most of us probably participated in team sports at one level or another during adolescence; I was fortunate enough to attend a high school where I could play soccer, basketball, and run cross-country at a competitive level. That luxury went away three years ago when I chose a large, public Division I university (where essentially all student-athletes are on scholarship and ridiculously talented), but it's been amazing to have the opportunity again here. If you're a runner, you understand what I mean when I talk about the joy of making footfalls on a track in unison during practices and the camaraderie you develop with your teammates in the process. It's been great to make some friends in a context beyond the typical "I have class with you" or "I'm in dorms with you" routine. And don't think for a minute that I'm not planning to make a mark beyond participation; I can't wait to compete once the meets start. I miss the feeling of medals around my neck.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b>Highlight 2: Sharjah Lights Festival. Pictures do this event better justice than do words.</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCIJV7705MWYAxayVvvF6pE6cr0oNEdMAO5hsOWJ7tA8Ksqgv-7FGytVJ4KmQT4X1Cknw45C76oY6T1dOya2wS5vVNnXfU6TLOMNkkDOlIiD2LK6AedfgS876xmloFXwE8_2pf5_LESE/s1600/IMG_4622.JPG" height="426" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Sharjah Ports</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI5_rZw7fztVneU2EhtaVAld-_7JmqQMm-JUM1HQETAev6YFdLFLiLp9537cC-rm1LSSBLC2vyQarLS4UTCgZ8bM-cP_Y3kdAoMTVDh6ng9vHQXWV8EXaDsnn9McPD0LZPadwUWgxsDCw/s1600/IMG_4630.JPG" height="426" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Emirate fountains are tops.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoFPpxDhUURRu5_HIpTvLR6IGpy3ggDofwpJTMUQL4KZYWD_pl2izhOCBxMSZ_5H4ar9i1iWBiw-cKAytV_fmwOfuo-OF0H95KPBvHvN3_a5cWU5k1rS9saEXW1d2S9Nd30qb3DfpqMQ/s1600/IMG_7269.JPG" height="480" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Mosques are so beautiful here.</span></td></tr>
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<b style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIoFPpxDhUURRu5_HIpTvLR6IGpy3ggDofwpJTMUQL4KZYWD_pl2izhOCBxMSZ_5H4ar9i1iWBiw-cKAytV_fmwOfuo-OF0H95KPBvHvN3_a5cWU5k1rS9saEXW1d2S9Nd30qb3DfpqMQ/s1600/IMG_7269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Observation: If you want the real study abroad experience, there's no substitute for making local friends. While our exchange office has been brilliant about organizing trips for those of us coming from other places, my favorite moments have consistently been the spur-of-the-moment outings with my friends: jaunts into Dubai (on motorcycles, no less), <i>chai karak</i> runs, bonfires on the Jumiera beach (which the Royal Palace Guards quickly but nicely put an end to), trips to sheesha cafés on school nights to watch Manchester United-Arsenal football games, and all manners of other shenanigans. Students here know how to have a good time, sometimes (often) at the expense of studies. There should be no guilt in joining them at what they do best.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Highlight 3: We had the privilege of visiting the city and emirate of Abu Dhabi this past weekend! Our main stops were Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque (the largest mosque in the country) and Masdar Institute (a fledgeling, albeit impressive, graduate research institution within what will – by 2020 – be a zero-carbon-emission city). And in between, we ate Iraqi food, which is seriously the best. Here are pictures for proof.</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUV1GKg0-VgwqAlwYJaribARdUPPTyJtBOoi6Nc25MwMMla9-MozMjisSIlrP7LxLJjkXTZUWRU3ER6Tg4KL7lLXOFsi99l7zStvnU6IOrnPH-dGJA-pbechefw0D9wDenFEPBK9Lav8/s1600/IMG_4707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUV1GKg0-VgwqAlwYJaribARdUPPTyJtBOoi6Nc25MwMMla9-MozMjisSIlrP7LxLJjkXTZUWRU3ER6Tg4KL7lLXOFsi99l7zStvnU6IOrnPH-dGJA-pbechefw0D9wDenFEPBK9Lav8/s1600/IMG_4707.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><b>Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Sublime.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvu8NCH942WO6YLCgdI0br43ThZn1LC17yG4IAAGr6faindCxnxjgiFyro39hLiBSLgga_0kHk8P-h1swU-tLOs_oqPBDEtjFQ-1J5mFJUwkYKKfnFMJbLJkZYKYdPob8KPrlrh6cLXxI/s1600/IMG_4740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvu8NCH942WO6YLCgdI0br43ThZn1LC17yG4IAAGr6faindCxnxjgiFyro39hLiBSLgga_0kHk8P-h1swU-tLOs_oqPBDEtjFQ-1J5mFJUwkYKKfnFMJbLJkZYKYdPob8KPrlrh6cLXxI/s1600/IMG_4740.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><b>Interior.<span style="text-align: left;"> </span></b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjuTsbWrchOIionjiZCJsIXHL8ezL7unUJ5KwkGOrN3nFuKfxgvHUoIY0-mQeMcf5nIIkNWddVPQRx_I-mOTjr0K7CvlqEBWl8wHHkPIeczJDCUQki-iM8xRGClYsGkPAsJrTmaNGAp0/s1600/IMG_4761.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQjuTsbWrchOIionjiZCJsIXHL8ezL7unUJ5KwkGOrN3nFuKfxgvHUoIY0-mQeMcf5nIIkNWddVPQRx_I-mOTjr0K7CvlqEBWl8wHHkPIeczJDCUQki-iM8xRGClYsGkPAsJrTmaNGAp0/s1600/IMG_4761.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><b>Self-portrait.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF3XKljxBWImT7rhiSS60z8B8Wnch0URAPGSibFb1sYLhQ_44FblR3RNCiteLt10we5BjlnW6z2no6-efAFDwUweqAihmJPzTP70bLvOtLUyQ4QYbNTGcPLaJ7e2KJvDwO4V0OpS5k7Q/s1600/IMG_4784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOF3XKljxBWImT7rhiSS60z8B8Wnch0URAPGSibFb1sYLhQ_44FblR3RNCiteLt10we5BjlnW6z2no6-efAFDwUweqAihmJPzTP70bLvOtLUyQ4QYbNTGcPLaJ7e2KJvDwO4V0OpS5k7Q/s1600/IMG_4784.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><b>Ablutions.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KuI4ECdBeS5P9SszvuGfH7BTGDSrOY1tlM-m39haX36qRmi_Py_IY76-cd-ZFVnRKLqwXG2riEAUKI_EJxUuImFKeNdTdStgylDVTxHmTPazcmUkPH0wNWOhiA0H5FKZWGQRm1JFQ-I/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KuI4ECdBeS5P9SszvuGfH7BTGDSrOY1tlM-m39haX36qRmi_Py_IY76-cd-ZFVnRKLqwXG2riEAUKI_EJxUuImFKeNdTdStgylDVTxHmTPazcmUkPH0wNWOhiA0H5FKZWGQRm1JFQ-I/s1600/IMG_4794.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><b>Reflections.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJYLmmdCO1YnGg1qbhaqITHImAknb8TFcgVYVIlByZZa5VF55DTq84DM6TW-9xgLer9LD_TYAv1i75XwKN0jmMX8dlfdE3GVkgWHVTdQyyd2EVJOuIVebVB2xjYZFKo0bpYcd5WjokWw/s1600/IMG_4805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJYLmmdCO1YnGg1qbhaqITHImAknb8TFcgVYVIlByZZa5VF55DTq84DM6TW-9xgLer9LD_TYAv1i75XwKN0jmMX8dlfdE3GVkgWHVTdQyyd2EVJOuIVebVB2xjYZFKo0bpYcd5WjokWw/s1600/IMG_4805.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: x-small;"><b>The cook insisted I take his photograph. I was happy to oblige.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFy-2KJ6Oodbj1ip2467Z673Uc4hpa9V9r9vC8pkIXhyphenhyphenxMQII_pqquNbt2LWAHL3flePiyEO_E8BnuilMTzVsGKJwmG0qngkgJr1kQa84SBkQUDGav-7eHgHwrbuOGWvKXa-iTPjpXu8/s1600/IMG_4806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFy-2KJ6Oodbj1ip2467Z673Uc4hpa9V9r9vC8pkIXhyphenhyphenxMQII_pqquNbt2LWAHL3flePiyEO_E8BnuilMTzVsGKJwmG0qngkgJr1kQa84SBkQUDGav-7eHgHwrbuOGWvKXa-iTPjpXu8/s1600/IMG_4806.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><b>This food is to die for.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqvTaqlZ6djeJwtQc4VQTWxBQnQ2CP4UgVno8bfy7XksQOC0LmEnNawHxnZG39NG2dat_yuXKSa40RNnBJU6YgPdNlL7IVxAUk62KlgOG0rn-brfL2rPSwNxIjJww6exMA2VTvW5dR7Q/s1600/IMG_4830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqvTaqlZ6djeJwtQc4VQTWxBQnQ2CP4UgVno8bfy7XksQOC0LmEnNawHxnZG39NG2dat_yuXKSa40RNnBJU6YgPdNlL7IVxAUk62KlgOG0rn-brfL2rPSwNxIjJww6exMA2VTvW5dR7Q/s1600/IMG_4830.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;"><b>Masdar.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbN25ZsNKlllsuaQnJEqU_tBA_hwk0nv2kh-b0hcNbTp-FEISOYlLdo-D4t9DhzmZ5DM4kEPGax7LvLXbJJhWvUtffTDbfUp8u1l8emELpIkY2eR-K8TDrNcKsRZP3FGW0H6WiCr7VTAs/s1600/IMG_4819.JPG" height="426" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Modern angles.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWqtsDv3lEPkHGKVWc0A1Fxm8gjLRtlwipkb392KhokAStVW3l_oLmkaae1Xk9DCG750zzavVd1ZJ6zdsv1rSfoHhdDUc3XMM6BP5eMpO1pTE1h68gBSl9zzyujMC7umdGYEVCky3c4FM/s1600/IMG_4840.JPG" height="426" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">Afterlight, afterhours.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0Kk-lNg04Ej86rmQpReNkBBAyuV34fXvDBJkNNPDUGwVymj-oadh6D6NZnZ_V0WRVMKKmT6Tpz0lPTHVBe90hDq1ZC2DxyZcvcmlRRTJPLsYAF6IUB-BDsL5vRDUQzV8AJoQZY0Hxz0/s1600/IMG_4858.JPG" height="426" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: small;">It's cool to have the future happen right in front of you</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>On the campus side of things, class here is going well; I have no major complaints (and nothing but praise for my Modern Philosophy course – it rocks). It's not a criticism or display of egocentrism in the slightest, but from my conversations with people of many diverse national backgrounds here, I have concluded that the most elite higher educational institutions exist predominantly in the United States and Western Europe. Being raised in America, my educational background is making the academic side of things very easy for me here. AUS is not a subpar university by any stretch of the imagination; conversely, it's ranked either at or near the top for anyone intending to study in the Gulf Region. But being a native English speaker raised in an American educational system gives me a tremendous advantage here. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>This brings up an important point that I would be remiss not to mention. To all the prospective study abroad students out there, let me be very honest for a moment. If you're looking for the superb, most elite academic education on your trip, go to Europe or East Asia. But if that is your expectation upon arrival in this part of the world, let me forewarn you, lest you suffer disappointment. Academia here is on its way up; this university is only 17 years old and already ranked in the top 400 schools in the world. But the real value of education at AUS happens outside the classroom. </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>If you study abroad in the Middle East, you're not going to have the easiest access to fabled cities like your peers will in Europe. You won't be wandering cobbled streets in sweaters and scarves, a coffee in one hand and a croissant, scone, or panini in the other. You won't bicycle mountains or glide on gondolas through Venice. You're not going to be drinking pints of better beer than you can find anywhere in the States for less than the price of a litre-sized water.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: white;"><b>But if you study abroad in the Middle East, here's what you will have. You will be able to take an long objective look at the entire Western World – Europe, North America, South America [to a degree], Australia / New Zealand, and arguably even some parts of the Pacific Rim. You will be able to question why you want the things that you want, why you're (likely) achievement-oriented and were encouraged to be throughout your life, and why you see the rest of the world in the way that you do. You'll probably see how media nearly always misrepresents unfamiliar faces and places, and you'll begin to awaken to a realization of the value of human interaction with people dramatically different than yourself. You'll learn how to live differently, instead of simply finding reinforcement in the continuation of the habits and customs that are already natural to you.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: white;"><b>The honeymoon period is over for me here, and with it, I've tried to leave behind most of my desire to experience spectacle (a tourist attitude). Instead, I'm now looking to invest my time and energy into people and opportunities that offer a valuable, longer-term payoff. Last week, I attended the student fair and joined 11 clubs, including the American Cultural Club, for which I'm now the unofficial "Officer of Cultural Coordination." I've befriended the entire third floor of the CAAD (architecture, art, and design) building – as a finance student who has no classes there. I've already mentioned the track and field team, of course. And somehow, I'm walking around with a henna tattoo of my name in Armenian on my right forearm. This is AUS; anything is possible.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: white;"><b>Throughout it all, I strive to remain thankful for all these opportunities that are coming alive for me. Not every day is uniquely exciting. After all, I'm still a student; I still study. Yet a sense of purposefulness, of manifest destiny, exists here, permeating the very atmosphere and air I breathe. And I am addicted to it.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: white;"><b>To borrow from Aristotle in closing: challenges are essential for human flourishing. Here, I embrace each one as it comes.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: white;"><b>Yours until the end – Jon</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: white;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY68jbMiQIkLxaSLl7Phi_3hIQaqDNebMErSEmYTL-gZtHd_PnZBKIC6TsFCiH1z86rgQagTlGZy6i8vftHni3gE9eCmQHJWLgaaLDn2cT9FveoFpyuQUCDbWOCS7IPpSiAW8yl19P4bc/s1600/IMG_4528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY68jbMiQIkLxaSLl7Phi_3hIQaqDNebMErSEmYTL-gZtHd_PnZBKIC6TsFCiH1z86rgQagTlGZy6i8vftHni3gE9eCmQHJWLgaaLDn2cT9FveoFpyuQUCDbWOCS7IPpSiAW8yl19P4bc/s1600/IMG_4528.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>Halflight.</b></span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14404575156119349535noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364061035097694851.post-60241159103469236762014-02-10T13:31:00.000-08:002014-02-10T13:31:58.925-08:00A Treatise on Travel (and other things)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Tonight is alive
with countless smells, neon lights, masses of people. Take a deep breath, let
the full outdoor air rush into the space between your ribs.</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>You shouldn’t take a camera where I am going.</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Do you know what an </i>abaya<i> shop looks
like? Have you ever seen a mannequin covered from head to toe, with even the </i>niqāb <i>shrouding all but her opaque, listless plastic eyes?
Can you imagine how the men who work the store look at you, an American male
wearing Nikes and shorts, as you walk into this establishment with your
friends? In this position, the blood floods every conscious appendage in your
body as you take the brunt of this foreign environment full flush in the face.</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>What picture have I conjured up in your head? Perhaps one
of fear, maybe even a shiver of horror at the discriminations to which I
undoubtedly bore witness? Would you believe me if I told you that the
experience is beautiful, if I described the kindness we meet at each turn? The
sounds of bartering, garment trading, and melodic Gulf Arabic spills out of the
souk shops into the warm, vibrant air, and, denied for what we seek, yet
undaunted, we move onwards.</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>We are in desperate search of spandex fabric, which we
will find, </i>insha’Allah<i>...</i><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>We scoured the Heart of Sharjah that night for the elusive
stretchy material, needed for the design models the architectural students I
was accompanying were building. We wandered through nearly fifty streetside
shops, two shawarmas cut from the meat tornado in front of us with mango nectar
to wash the meal down, and nearly a thousand grinning teeth telling us the same
thing– No, no, we don't have that, but _________ does. Which way? we asked.
Always down the street and to the right, so we circled tirelessly through the
unquiet darkness.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>You might say we failed, and if by that you mean that we
didn't find what we had come to acquire, I couldn't argue with you. From the
materialistic perspective, it was an exercise in futility. But if there is any
one thing that I have learned from my 18 days in the UAE, it's to shut up about
the momentary objective and instead experience what my surroundings have to
offer. So that's what I did, and I found something ever the more valuable
than a synthetic fiber. I found happiness amongst squalor, real people living
real lives honestly and without the cognitive disconnect that privilege grants
so many of us in the developed world. I found people who asked real questions,
people who believe in things they've never been able to see. And I found a big
part of my heart tugging at me to stay there, to not return to the effortlessly
manicured grounds of my campus.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>This experience is but one vignette within three weeks of extraordinary
adventure – a synecdoche of my time here. When I think back to my expectations
of this country before I left home, I am reminded that I formed hardly any.
Somehow, I knew before coming that much of what I was stepping into would defy
expectations.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>It has. All the better for me, because I knew I would learn
from it.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>I never could have imagined the outpouring of support I
would have waiting for me here. I don't care if I've said it before; it rings
truer all the time. Today, for example, I passed by the piano in the student
center, on my way to somewhere else. A friend of mine saw me, called my name,
ran me down, and insisted that I come back and show his friends the music that
I write. This has become the norm already, somehow. I have been playing the
piano for 14 years, in the process devoting thousands of hours to practice –
but I have never received this kind of support from anyone, even my own family.
I am astounded daily by the unmitigated warmth of this eclectic grouping of
people.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Nor could I have expected the opportunism that permeates the
atmosphere here, nor the way it feels like the American West, as though
anything - good or bad - is possible. Being cavalier here is sort of the norm;
you don't wait for things to come to you; you make them happen. It seems a
truer manifest destiny than we enjoy in America: not because the opportunities
are more accessible here, but rather because the general attitude is better
inclined towards self-actualizing one's life according to his or her dreams. I
wish I could parlay the inspiration that settles upon me as I've listened to
students, cab drivers, and all other walks of life tell about who they are
becoming. It is once again romanticizing the world for me.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>However, I should also denote that the case for realism is
not absent here. If you wanted, I could give you a harsher reality about unmet
expectations: for instance, how something in the nature of the
student-professor relationship here makes for some of the most foreign
classroom dynamics you can imagine. I could describe my shock when a girl
candidly defended child labor to my operations management professor yesterday
morning, straight-faced and earnest. I could describe for you the cognitive
dissonance of many here who are unable to grasp the vastness and value of the
privilege they enjoy; I'm in four classes with third-year business students,
and I am one of only five students total who has held any sort of legitimate
employment. Wealth has its drawbacks, too, not least of all on your world perspective
towards poverty and hard work; some students here came from high schools where
instructors accepted pay for passing grades. I could inform you that the dorms
don't look any less like prisons or mental hospitals than when I first arrived,
and I doubt that I'll find any better way to handle them than by avoiding them
during the daylight hours. Most haunting of all, I could relay the sinking
feeling I get in the pit of my guiltily full stomach when I pass by the
janitorial and groudskeeping staff, who never say a word but do occasionally
make incredible eye contact. They are migrant workers subsisting on
below-legal-minimum wages and dangling on the precarious brink of either
starvation or work visa revocation. These are not my expectations for basic
standards of the way things should be, things I often take for granted in
America.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">These issues are real, and I'm not trying to sweep them
under the rug to sell you a fake travel guide. You are going to see things you
don't like when you go somewhere new, after the honeymoon fades and you wake up
from that filmy dream of wanderlust. It is truly difficult for me to reconcile
the problems I see with the wonder I feel about this place. But that's
everywhere. Here is still <i>incredible.</i> You can't find people like
this anywhere else in the world.</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p> </o:p> </span></b></div>
</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Meet the bakers, calligraphers, and camel race bookies of
the United Arab Emirates. Their stories are better than yours, I promise. I've
talked with them enough to know. The things they teach me about kindness, about
respect for other cultures, about reserving judgment for a citizen of the
country that has waged so much war in their world... it convicts me to live
with a stronger connection to the ideals I espouse. They are industrious,
charismatic, and – above all else – loving. The lessons they teach me are priceless
lessons, ones I want to pass on to every person that I know. But I know that
it's just not as powerful second-hand, so I recommend something else to you
instead:</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Travel. Please, please, please travel.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Since I matriculated two-and-a-half years ago, I have
witnessed first-hand how college is a great opportunity for young people to
transform themselves in incredible ways. I have watched friends rise and fall
not unlike ancient Rome or Carthage; while hyperbole, it really is astounding
the amount of change one can undergo in such a short time. I have not been
exempt from this syndrome, having watched my dreams, desires, aspirations,
knowledge, and applied wisdom expand, bend, and occasionally snap. But this
travel experience, this parachute into the 100% unfamiliar, has been a whole
other animal entirely.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>And I have come to this basic conclusion. If you want a
shift in your knowledge or the way you consider the world around you, I suggest
you do yourself the following favors. Read. Study. Take classes, even re-enroll
at university if you feel that you must. Talk to people who are different than
you. Take chances and embrace opportunities that carry the potential to expand
the way you are living.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>But if you are looking for something more, a true and insubstitutable
impetus for real change in your lifestyle... if you are looking for a
irreversible shift in the way you live – affecting more than just your daily
habits and affectations – I beg you to travel. The longer and the more
unfamiliar, the better. Travel alone, if possible. Wear a confident smile, but
talk only enough to get the person across the table from you kickstarted. Ask
probing questions and apologize if you offend anyone (small hint, though: with
questions, it's nearly impossible to do so). Don't answer quickly when the
questions are turned back on you. Take an opportunity to change in that very
moment where your thoughts become actionable. Stop letting convenience, custom,
and habit do your thinking for you. And if you can even manage half of this,
you will accomplish far more than you would have thought possible
beforehand. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Here is just a sampling of the results of saying yes to
the newness available to me in this place:</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbQRdWqqfMxSkq0aD6AygHcMgbNRx1hMj_flxwRBf3oaErun-YE8wfW0j4Ou_e1f7GlKwv4dc-rEhFVF2mMdqJxi27fRmG7qQlaD6zRYdLsehPhMdjGjc6c5FSmtNL3fUrnb5PYAt84o/s1600/IMG_4419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbQRdWqqfMxSkq0aD6AygHcMgbNRx1hMj_flxwRBf3oaErun-YE8wfW0j4Ou_e1f7GlKwv4dc-rEhFVF2mMdqJxi27fRmG7qQlaD6zRYdLsehPhMdjGjc6c5FSmtNL3fUrnb5PYAt84o/s1600/IMG_4419.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Desert camping; highly recommended.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="color: white;"><br /></span></b>
</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCLoT0CkyyQSMsRwadaeg_VIkfqxEChvmykgvlFTFrmz5RTnRUjqVISOoEyYH9Vz7xKOu4P5PN-bAeh4fZoi1BD9u7kD6jgkP3GTEGz-I5FOoRlLBzsae-7BlgDVa3t-nzgT0G0RrVyw/s1600/IMG_4449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCLoT0CkyyQSMsRwadaeg_VIkfqxEChvmykgvlFTFrmz5RTnRUjqVISOoEyYH9Vz7xKOu4P5PN-bAeh4fZoi1BD9u7kD6jgkP3GTEGz-I5FOoRlLBzsae-7BlgDVa3t-nzgT0G0RrVyw/s1600/IMG_4449.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Desert sunrises: see above caption.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqg9ucLeN8p9opzxmUfnhIFP-d3StwupceUquYmdFVZ7LgKRE9l7VW93FePZAks1p4eji-HpcwOfKxwPIenccD4G2U6HVY0N4mINLrSX5z-3jRcq7L4XoT1g-gPiWAZPLBYq2P1wVDxjo/s1600/IMG_4443.JPG" height="426" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>When you put thirty guys together in the desert and add campfire and steel wool, this is what you get.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUN9e8Rp643c2Qnu2eDBVq60zxAaB4Nkx5fWgQuKU-fT0RlamIbNnVfXWmI6_kyrbYVHZB2kpfz4xxKSuGG9wbF3U-I4OFSrnMDko4Ng4iM_CF-lB5rgC-H3dVozpqD2mTjoQywg80KY/s1600/IMG_4503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuUN9e8Rp643c2Qnu2eDBVq60zxAaB4Nkx5fWgQuKU-fT0RlamIbNnVfXWmI6_kyrbYVHZB2kpfz4xxKSuGG9wbF3U-I4OFSrnMDko4Ng4iM_CF-lB5rgC-H3dVozpqD2mTjoQywg80KY/s1600/IMG_4503.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Camel racing. This is indeed a real thing. It's free, if you're ever in the neighborhood and want to drop by.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKg29qimvPZ72oqUbc-MLvTrFLnhz72YjegWWqBCPl4XMre9zgtF81bfqwB1EBWa4N3-nvYmE70NUsq5ZqbB5cHtYNsSJ9aDtLvYaqxwZVqnPAkz2zgS4EEFfTZ_-2HavKByI-6NJZdtY/s1600/IMG_4493.JPG" height="426" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></b></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>This makes driving look peaceful, but I'm lucky to be alive after a few cab rides.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The best moments have not been captured on camera, as you might be able to imagine. Some have been auditory and can be found <a href="http://culturedaze.tumblr.com/tagged/original+music" target="_blank">here on my personal blog's music page.</a> I've written nine new songs since arriving; it's been one of the most creatively productive periods of my life. I would love for you to share in these sounds in which I've been investing my expressive emotion. Similarly, none of the scintillating conversations can be captured by any other medium than writing about it <i>ex post</i>. You win some, you lose some when it comes to preserving these memories.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">There is a wonderful published work called <i>Riding the Waves of Culture </i>by Fons Trompenaars and Charles Hampden Turner, which delivers an idea I find very applicable for closing this mammoth entry (and I do apologize if you've gotten this far and I've wasted your time). We often hear the following aphorism repeated, especially when it comes to travel: "when in Rome, do as the Romans." This is certainly a good practice, but there's a better way to do it yet. Instead of simply imitating, when in Rome, a person should understand the behavior of the Romans <i>and in the process become a more complete version of himself</i>. This perfectly summarizes a massive concept I've been struggling to define since I got here. Studying abroad is not simply about conforming to a new way of thinking, a new set of customs, and a new cultural identity. It's about bringing your own background to the table as well, considering the new elements of what you are experiencing in a new environment, and choosing the type of life that you are now going to live moving forwards into the future. This is the truest value of a travel experience. You are given the chance to combine strengths, not to select one over the other.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I have watched pieces of my life that I thought were dead come back to life here. I am once again outgoing, excited about academia, and ready to embrace opportunism with a renewed vigor. I feel infinitely younger and yet older at the same time. Dormant things are reawakening, and I am growing exponentially wiser in this season of life. In this way, I am not changing from who I was into someone else, but rather becoming more <i>me</i> than I was before. These things were always inside of me, but I cannot underscore enough the catalyzing role this Sharjah experience has played in the process. My hope now is that I can return to America in four months, having retained and further expanded this treasure of lifestyle learning to even greater heights. </span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wondering what's next for me now? So am I! So stick around, and we'll keep rolling along on this journey together.</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Until next time – Jon</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CmBMaGsDux0BBKOw7SnmWQK7UJRh_7jCQrpCwudffCa5kcYoSWqjo6sotWZVYevB5FXadU-2rXKKwp0nkdEdhDoloHQR0HlQPuJUYFDG_cxslxFRDf5ItsOIME_GgL_bllNA8_HLyTI/s1600/1012542_10151865444791491_1013762670_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2CmBMaGsDux0BBKOw7SnmWQK7UJRh_7jCQrpCwudffCa5kcYoSWqjo6sotWZVYevB5FXadU-2rXKKwp0nkdEdhDoloHQR0HlQPuJUYFDG_cxslxFRDf5ItsOIME_GgL_bllNA8_HLyTI/s1600/1012542_10151865444791491_1013762670_n.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>At the Atlantis resort, atop the reclaimed Palm Island in Dubai.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>How is it that one can learn about culture between swings of a table tennis racket and thrusts of a billiard cue? If you were to ask me what I have done since arriving in the UAE 12 days ago, a predominant answer would have to be: playing games. Football, volleyball, basketball, table tennis, foosball, billiards - I've played all these and whatever else you fancy. It's been a surefire way to meet people. I've gotten very skilled at asking, "Can I have next game?" Most everyone says yes.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Some people need a class or a scheduled Q&A session to learn a new culture. They take ravenous, structured notes and chatter quietly during bathroom breaks about whatever has struck them as interesting. I'm not rejecting this practice, but my approach is different. Why sterilize a necessarily organic and uncertain concept? I prefer to get my cultural fix by immersing myself in it -- by talking with real people and asking real questions -- and that's exactly what I've done. Let me tell you something; I've learned more over these past 12 days in the backs of taxicabs, avoiding certain death at each curvature in the expressway, than I have in two traditionally restored villages, four hours at Dubai's Centre for Cultural Understanding, and multiple organized lectures on the local culture. I'm very thankful to the exchange office here for kindly providing these opportunities to learn, but the content was, as could be expected, obviously somewhat airbrushed. The real stuff is happening in the dirty Sharjah kitchens where they make the most delicious shawarma you've ever tasted. It's happening in the labor camps that any local is more than happy to talk to you about, where the workers make $163 a month in the shadow of the world's tallest skyscraper. It's happening in the architecture building where your brand new friends are (politely) peppering you with legitimate questions about faith, family, and politics. It's happening when you get lost in the Dubai darkness and can't find a cab for three kilometers, so instead you walk and talk modernist philosophy as interpreted by the Eastern world. It is in these situations where I feel fully free and at these times when I have fallen so deeply in love with this real, tactile environment.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="color: white;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The number of nationalities represented by my burgeoning friend group has continued to swell. Yesterday, I met a half Chinese, half Turkish set of brothers, and that wasn't even the most interesting ethnic mix. To the eclectic list, add Sudanese, Yemeni, Armenian, Lebanese-Palestinian (a common find, due to Palestine's conflicted status as a sovereignty), Scottish- Omani (yes, that's correct), Jordanian, and Libyan. Not unlike the selection of entertainment in nearby Dubai, you can bet on just about any culture being here.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Contrary to what us Westerners tend to do, it's totally unfair to bundle these very different cultures under a common umbrella of Middle Eastern, or even Muslim, culture. So let's talk commonalities instead of differences; for all the foreignness of this place, I am continuously surprised with how much all of us share.</b><b> For starters, I am still floored each day by the hospitality I receive at every turn. I can't decipher why after ten minutes of talking to a new person for the first time I am routinely handed a homemade cup of coffee, offered full plates of food, and served all manners of invitations to go do things. No one will let me pay for anything in this country; I feel like my wallet is in a straitjacket. I'm not used to such easy friendships without guarded reservations, and I guarantee you that I'm not the sort to elicit immediate and uncompromised trust. It's amazing, this outpouring of human kindness, and the effect is not lost on me.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>I'll be honest. My intention when beginning this post a few days ago was to capture the essence of local culture: <i>id est</i>, the Emirati people. But I've learned that culture here is a not a homogenous product, or even one with a clear spectral gradient from one culture to another. It's made up of many distinct ingredients that compliment one another yet remain independent - much different, in my opinion, than America's melting pot. And plus, you already read what I said up above. I cannot, in good faith, airbrush this living, breathing culture for you. I just can't.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>So if you want to learn about the Emirati, try reading a book, because the history is really pretty fascinating. But here I can at least compromise by telling you something you may not capture from just reading about it: these people are truly and exceptionally proud of their country -- citizens or non-citizens. Along with the other exchange students, I spent most of Tuesday and Wednesday last week exploring some traditionally reconstructed villages in both Sharjah and Dubai. It astounded me to realize that not eighty years ago, the major industry here was pearl diving and the population was only a few thousand. The subsequent decades have yielded a rapid expansion -- fueled by discovery of first gold, then oil -- the pace and freneticism of which is unparalleled in modern history. Despite some of the lingering human rights issues at play around here, it is the truest rags-to-riches story to which I've been privy, and it's impossible not to get caught up in the fervor. I mean, just look at these cities and the wonders they contain.</b></span></span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiGiwHlGFK-k-c6RUNt86p_DvB11veSI-OWz0MpqSkV2zFzRy8dkju1zuXdphEoy48T7-KuPDjUqU8LeO1h2hIbQPkn32wqsV9bwEa-FAQbDDUI4uFGmyFwatwOb1DGTKl6vGhPOyVEM/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGiGiwHlGFK-k-c6RUNt86p_DvB11veSI-OWz0MpqSkV2zFzRy8dkju1zuXdphEoy48T7-KuPDjUqU8LeO1h2hIbQPkn32wqsV9bwEa-FAQbDDUI4uFGmyFwatwOb1DGTKl6vGhPOyVEM/s1600/IMG_4174.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">Fishing vessels in the city of Sharjah</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKeL1pOYKv8Ccq8vPjLKj8-F_OvU_nFiU0aJKplttHhlhXpt-TYFsZZtwGwIZlc3Fwi9GgQCEDHLDjuKGh5Lh3TYow1aaYroYNOJudBjBi8g8WafLxrCnZIzX6_oMvQNEbGiAwUDKaoc/s1600/IMG_4279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHKeL1pOYKv8Ccq8vPjLKj8-F_OvU_nFiU0aJKplttHhlhXpt-TYFsZZtwGwIZlc3Fwi9GgQCEDHLDjuKGh5Lh3TYow1aaYroYNOJudBjBi8g8WafLxrCnZIzX6_oMvQNEbGiAwUDKaoc/s1600/IMG_4279.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">At the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWGZeO5pLWW7e9Bjt2GLWwqXGgBtFal77X9koaDsvalXSPqCEb46YDe74FQTlVVYnvKJ5HDYjaq0KcKpbou73qQ45kA5yj-2wxvsStI0rrXliZ3iP3qwX6Cb8HeitG3IWj_Q98Zoi4SY/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcWGZeO5pLWW7e9Bjt2GLWwqXGgBtFal77X9koaDsvalXSPqCEb46YDe74FQTlVVYnvKJ5HDYjaq0KcKpbou73qQ45kA5yj-2wxvsStI0rrXliZ3iP3qwX6Cb8HeitG3IWj_Q98Zoi4SY/s1600/IMG_4294.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">Traditional Emirati building. The nails on the posts are meant to dissuade pigeons (obviously to no avail).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mFtIyAOoEcMUCHP6KGwXkod9Wgs-Ul-LlfkOCXuYFKxh4ijkVvg-QVBNUHCeM-W4wqd0hpu11qW3C11uITluZP3_Y_CSv_qSA6PVj-gGnW5B1uNyQzQ3G4t0xpvOELNgOOQlLp96D2I/s1600/IMG_4357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2mFtIyAOoEcMUCHP6KGwXkod9Wgs-Ul-LlfkOCXuYFKxh4ijkVvg-QVBNUHCeM-W4wqd0hpu11qW3C11uITluZP3_Y_CSv_qSA6PVj-gGnW5B1uNyQzQ3G4t0xpvOELNgOOQlLp96D2I/s1600/IMG_4357.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">Masih loves the Atlantis resort; its only twin worldwide is in Nassau.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVEOBoO4ok5J9-JCs0hh0LJvqNiOj3i_gadbrAirev0iGX5x9jbwzIAxCP2E1wVutpBvF8w1mtkBlAacn9tE-1PlvNP4Yuk-hmeQ8H5J3oxg3C5-qBKM5d5h4Q3wwkSKG0MRZTTYMs7c/s1600/IMG_4340.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixVEOBoO4ok5J9-JCs0hh0LJvqNiOj3i_gadbrAirev0iGX5x9jbwzIAxCP2E1wVutpBvF8w1mtkBlAacn9tE-1PlvNP4Yuk-hmeQ8H5J3oxg3C5-qBKM5d5h4Q3wwkSKG0MRZTTYMs7c/s1600/IMG_4340.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">The stunning Dubai skyline, dominated by the world's tallest building - the Burj Khalifa</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IRdKLPsxXRVNEFcU-p4JBFUuJf-AZoZai74xeI8P4AjKbRXKjFXTrZjplQjSvS3-p_zG-jsEFTbZS4Ai5Ai1SaRTA-pOwyU3dNKvGo1RZQ1B4L10oaVVB8eWjTd-_Y-uh1SphSRtmzQ/s1600/IMG_4393.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IRdKLPsxXRVNEFcU-p4JBFUuJf-AZoZai74xeI8P4AjKbRXKjFXTrZjplQjSvS3-p_zG-jsEFTbZS4Ai5Ai1SaRTA-pOwyU3dNKvGo1RZQ1B4L10oaVVB8eWjTd-_Y-uh1SphSRtmzQ/s1600/IMG_4393.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">Some lovely fellow exchange students on the wharf of the Dubai Creek</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFZDas940C2nqHj6W-NPaNlF0jYZgGsTnx2ViuYLLd3sPFh-t9d9hLoO8-7tuQRrVVEloUdPpO3iHv2ms4CL3hcpXPMPfAwQEWtmWZtUelpW0X0J3ppu5mN5TY5lJfuGIBrkPbInZBRo/s1600/IMG_4398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFZDas940C2nqHj6W-NPaNlF0jYZgGsTnx2ViuYLLd3sPFh-t9d9hLoO8-7tuQRrVVEloUdPpO3iHv2ms4CL3hcpXPMPfAwQEWtmWZtUelpW0X0J3ppu5mN5TY5lJfuGIBrkPbInZBRo/s1600/IMG_4398.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">The renowned gold souk. Not a bad place for an engagement, if you ask me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGdojT4ds_RgpHtTOEeusbfsB0hWAUuK8vsYwDOw_LUkhSjV8QSh8dda81hA0UYmWiQuWKq7dKe2MpUD73LYyrhZ0fSqCdrIkHhOQwpeOam_4u_YgtAsyeREt2B5f432uQJMIXTRFJck/s1600/IMG_7181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjGdojT4ds_RgpHtTOEeusbfsB0hWAUuK8vsYwDOw_LUkhSjV8QSh8dda81hA0UYmWiQuWKq7dKe2MpUD73LYyrhZ0fSqCdrIkHhOQwpeOam_4u_YgtAsyeREt2B5f432uQJMIXTRFJck/s1600/IMG_7181.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">A partial Sharjah cityscape, from adjacent the Gulf beach.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGldrdb0SmbIumir5pq9TrHVOq5K2lClrd5T6B21AQJrxtgWSytfBl56JHhBnkoRp0pCtkAUh7W1-Tx5vfL-QBF9Msk9hCdqTkxFmi7voIHLeF5dP1TJULnYB-9-NrKQTrL8o8e8K7OKY/s1600/IMG_7199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGldrdb0SmbIumir5pq9TrHVOq5K2lClrd5T6B21AQJrxtgWSytfBl56JHhBnkoRp0pCtkAUh7W1-Tx5vfL-QBF9Msk9hCdqTkxFmi7voIHLeF5dP1TJULnYB-9-NrKQTrL8o8e8K7OKY/s1600/IMG_7199.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">Sublime</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3Z_Em9aqtQcsQcjXnRNAi8_LfTy697HoX8IwFwx489JP6F0eA5oY7Ix33CKFdn-lrzQ0DqVRZa55o0-IYGE5IRCjOF1ufXwp3_yHfyyaW5wJkFVaX4pugRGpHcXIXDx0Fw1Swgi3UdI/s1600/IMG_4257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3Z_Em9aqtQcsQcjXnRNAi8_LfTy697HoX8IwFwx489JP6F0eA5oY7Ix33CKFdn-lrzQ0DqVRZa55o0-IYGE5IRCjOF1ufXwp3_yHfyyaW5wJkFVaX4pugRGpHcXIXDx0Fw1Swgi3UdI/s1600/IMG_4257.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">One of many floating restaurants that snake through the waters here</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vBZtF4uNHapkupZnkFFbe-NxAeFubMj-KfsS5Y4d5g9wq-vxdWn-B-9oS8wgNk8ZXqUCI9UsYwq0wuTVCN0Brx7dc9QGx5GpTTXk8wuAnk_TAnrNPKul1f5pQlqSy75w7BYts6jtdag/s1600/IMG_4262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vBZtF4uNHapkupZnkFFbe-NxAeFubMj-KfsS5Y4d5g9wq-vxdWn-B-9oS8wgNk8ZXqUCI9UsYwq0wuTVCN0Brx7dc9QGx5GpTTXk8wuAnk_TAnrNPKul1f5pQlqSy75w7BYts6jtdag/s1600/IMG_4262.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">Dubai is brimming with excitement for the World Expo - 6 years from now!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDuxasI7xva3OaWUzlJ1pH2CxkztdG22H7gosHGJzJwxzonthgY0oL8LrGxOSjFXfSYXgfOsY8cLBAZw9-woSZCDKBRlV-tF__WxaBp7f8ulij6EZjfYVfE8NKVO2ShvREtDCM1FFUQg/s1600/IMG_4225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDuxasI7xva3OaWUzlJ1pH2CxkztdG22H7gosHGJzJwxzonthgY0oL8LrGxOSjFXfSYXgfOsY8cLBAZw9-woSZCDKBRlV-tF__WxaBp7f8ulij6EZjfYVfE8NKVO2ShvREtDCM1FFUQg/s1600/IMG_4225.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white;">Sharjah is pretty cool, even with its upstart sister Dubai right next door</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yes, this land is built for spectacle, and no, it's not just a façade. This is the real deal. </b><b>Patriotism, even among non-citizens, is quite simply amazing. National Day, in December, is absolute bedlam; the distinctive green, red, black, and white flags fly on every rooftop and from every car, and the streets are clogged with traffic going nowhere in particular but concerned instead with demonstrating their nationalism passionately. I love it.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">It wouldn't have mattered what my background was before arriving in the UAE. I am by now convinced I would have been infected with this fever regardless -- to thirst paradoxically for both the cultural and the commercial, that unique combination of modernity and antiquity that I cannot explain but with which I am thoroughly smitten. I'm an introvert normally, but the people that surround me are too welcoming and engaging for me to stay indoors. They humble me unceasingly, because I just don't warrant the kindness I have received from them. You can understand, then, why I <i>have</i> to live in this free air, drinking in both the sunshine and splendor with which the land and people are awash. I am typically quite content to live in a rather dull academic shell, but I've never been happier to be coaxed out into such a bright, bright world as this.</span></b></span><br />
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Class, too, has begun -- perhaps unfortunately. My institutions ought to be happy enough with my extracurricular learning! But no matter; off I'll head to Business Ethics and Social Responsibility in the morning. The classes are pretty fun, and I adore my philosophy course, but this outdoor, exciting world puts the classroom to shame. No contest.</span></b><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>My final thought is this, because it's the one I can't evict from my mind. As an individual who loves travel and learning, I cherish the connection that can be forged between myself and another person, even upon first encounter. It's inexpressible, this feeling of committing to full-on eye contact with someone else, allowing real, messy communication and kinship to actually occur. I've seen life jump into more pairs of oculi in the past two weeks than it seems I've seen in a lifetime. This has taught me something important. We are engaging in a fundamental human transaction at each juncture during this lifetime. Within these exchanges, kindness is the universal human currency; considering this truth, it's no wonder that this land is so rich.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Hasta la buena vista - Jon</b></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrVQHDUk9ojTFx5b9o7TJDzc1SFioHC2FJu3RYt5dL-nQgJBkuGA97GCNgCYCR78DfpHEE8nEpf44mZ_T_BumyBdEPDeANDmIZyGrggosXvVyWAf1Y4OjTmOwZgSKTJzo2x7brYBgNcQ/s1600/1544987_10202166222694334_1326040709_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPrVQHDUk9ojTFx5b9o7TJDzc1SFioHC2FJu3RYt5dL-nQgJBkuGA97GCNgCYCR78DfpHEE8nEpf44mZ_T_BumyBdEPDeANDmIZyGrggosXvVyWAf1Y4OjTmOwZgSKTJzo2x7brYBgNcQ/s1600/1544987_10202166222694334_1326040709_n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: white;">At the Sharjah fish souk, acting crabby.</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14404575156119349535noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6364061035097694851.post-36405448939641334332014-01-27T10:04:00.001-08:002014-01-27T18:59:59.976-08:00A Plunge into the Deep End<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">As of the time of this writing, it has been roughly 54 hours since my touchdown in the beautiful, wonderful, stunning, description-defying country of the United Arab Emirates.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">One simple thought that I cannot move past: <i>I'm here</i>. The very idea befuddles me. There is a distinct surreality to this place, for which I have many partial explanations. The first I shall mention is the one that strikes me most emphatically: there is a resplendent and dichotomous juxtaposition to this land. Though brimming with history and very much affixed to its foundational roots, this country is also taking landmark strides into modernity, trendsetting while preserving tradition. A nation of 200+ nationalities, this is by far the most eclectic place I have encountered. In Dubai's <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnhnOsnpGFw" target="_blank">bid to host the 2020 World Expo</a> (which it has since been awarded), the city displays its unique designation as the crossroads of Eastern civilization meeting Western civilization. But perhaps even that analogy does not do this cultural and commercial oasis justice. As I stride through some of the many enormous malls here, I feel that I could meet anyone -- of any nationality, nobility, or creed, including the ruler Sheikhs themselves (they have been known to walk and chat with citizens in public, sometimes even unguarded) -- and the wonder of sheer possibility enthralls me. </span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Yet beyond this cultural <i>mezcla</i>, there remains stronger still a distinct sense of national identity in the UAE. Certainly, each of the seven emirates here are endowed with their own distinguishing attributes -- Dubai, for instance, is the commercial and luxury center; Sharjah (where I am stationed, bordering Dubai), the cultural and educational capital; Abu Dhabi: politically potent, rich with oil. And the country is certainly defined by its many expatriate residents, which constitute roughly 85% of the population. At the heart of this whirling swarm of activity, though, are the other 15%: the Emirati nationals themselves. Unlike America, famous for its egalitarian yet individualistic "melting pot" personality, the citizens of this nation retain a purity of tradition that seems to form a nucleus, chemically binding the push for modernity with the ancient and integral roots of Islamic society. It's unlike anything I have ever seen.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Somehow, I am not jetlagged here; this is fortuitous, for sleep is the last thing on my mind. Already, I have forged friendships with Senegalese, Somalis, Venezuelans, Argentines, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Indians, Irani, Palestinians, Syrians, and Saudis. There is an infectious hospitality throughout the country, but it is especially so here on the American University of Sharjah campus, where both learning and kinship are prized highly. Considering the 85/15 ratio from above, nearly everyone is a visitor to this country, but simultaneously we treat each other as our guests. Similar to the American South, it is routine to greet a passerby, often with a handshake. I only have to say hello; the resulting conversations have stretched into full-fledged camaraderie. I stumbled across a student playing a grand piano in the Student Center earlier this afternoon, and we struck up musician's talk immediately. He played classical pieces for me, and I played him jazz standards. 15 minutes later, we were talking seriously about world political systems and the philosophy of national leadership. I could have told three similar stories easily about chance meetings turning into relationships, and these are not unique to my experience; my fellow study abroad peers have reported the same.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The campus: my stars, it's stunning. Let me show you before I fail to describe:</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">The fountains are even more beautiful when active.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>The crown jewel of the campus, in my opinion.</b></span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 13px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;">Thus far it's been fairly deserted (accidental pun, I swear). Only the exchange students and new freshman are here for now. I apparently have a roommate, but he's not around yet. The dorms are surprisingly prison-like; by that, I only mean -- affectionately -- the white floors and walls, as well as the fact that I live in a building called IJ Block. I might nickname the place Shawshank. The amenities (A/C, hot water, WiFi, and plumbing) are perfectly acceptable, especially considering I intend to spend very little time in my room for any reason other than sleep, cooking, and showering. Besides, the real architectural action is happening around the academic buildings, which lie at the nucleic center of a surprisingly vast campus. We have a health building, massive library, student center (complete with restaurants and mini-supermarkets), indoor sports complex, and many tennis courts and </span><span style="text-align: left;">football </span><span style="text-align: left;">pitches. I can't describe it all, but you should believe me when I assure you that it causes me to pinch myself each time I walk across campus, believing this experience to be a bit too dreamy for reality. The design enthusiast in me is aroused, as are my alternate sport, culinary, and lingual enthusiast personalities. </span></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b>The gargantuan library.</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Mosques here are crafted exquisitely.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">Markese loves sports.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Nighttime here is excellent.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Obviously, I remain in the honeymoon phase of my time here. Everything is new, the money is being spent freely, new friendships are blossoming, and all of us exchange students are still enmeshed in the robust process of discovery. I have no doubt that after having further acclimated, I will be able to comment more objectively on some of the cultural differences in the UAE. Gender relations are an item of particular note, and I will sure to address a sampling of this and other issues in my next update, which I hope to center around the theme of culture.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">As the old adage advises us, not all that glitters is indeed gold. </span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;">But here, though, at least at the outset, affairs are very rich. Very very very rich, and that is precisely the way I like it.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Blessings, my friends </b></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>– Jon</b></span></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">At the Arabian Wildlife Center: Sharjah, UAE</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Howdy. This is
the first entry of the blog that will describe my experiences in the United
Arab Emirates over the spring 2014 semester. Welcome, and buckle up. There's an adventure in the works.</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Before we plunge in headfirst, a little bit of background on me… I’m Jon Thompson, a
third-year international business & finance student, with a minor in Spanish, at the University of
South Carolina (the real USC). Upon graduation, my professional aspiration is to work in
management consulting, ideally in an international setting. I grew up in
North and South Carolina, but these days, my family calls Denver home. I like writing stories and songs, and I'm a big fan of the outdoors and history. <span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">But enough about me for now. This blog is about the #1 ranked undergraduate IB program in the country - and its study abroad experience in particular. Let's boogie.</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></b>
</span><br />
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<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Growing up, I became
enamored with international travel at a young age. Already, I have been lucky
enough to have visited on-set locations of the Lord of the Rings movies in New
Zealand, been inside of a Great Pyramid in Giza, stood at the base of the world’s
tallest building in Dubai, chilled out inside of a Swiss Alps glacier, strolled
through Copenhagen’s bicycle-dominated streets, and driven on the “wrong” side
of the road overlooking the Indian Ocean in Perth, Australia. These are incredible
experiences, to be sure! But beyond the photographs and crazy stories I can
tell about being abroad, I am a huge advocate of travel for a cultural reason
as well.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">It is my firm
belief that the personal experience of coming into contact with different
cultures has a profoundly humanizing effect upon an individual. Having traveled
to the developing world, I have experienced first-hand the tragedy of
institutionalized poverty beyond the glass barrier of a documentarian’s camera,
as well as the resounding hope and abundant creativity that distinct social
groups such as the Egyptian Copts possess. I have marveled at Swiss efficiency,
New Zealand’s natural beauty, and Danish hospitality. There is inherent value
in every culture, and it’s a shortsighted perspective to believe that the
system in which you were raised is the best and has all the answers, because
that perspective is simply not true. With each new travel experience, I have
enjoyed extending my cultural sensitivity as well as learning from people in
many different walks of life, and this is an effect I fully expect to
experience anew during my four-odd months studying abroad in the Middle East.</span></span></b></span></div>
<span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></b>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"><b>For me, choosing the American University of Sharjah was actually not all that challenging of a process. But last spring, when the application for exchange programs originally opened up, I was dead-set on a totally different pathway. With my Spanish minor, I had always assumed that I would be heading to a country that spoke that language, in order to gain local lingual proficiency from the cultural immersion. Thus, I had done quite a bit of research on programs in Argentina, Chile, and Spain. But aside from this objective, I also had to ensure that the school offered the right courses for me to continue along my path to graduation. Since I was an accounting double major at the time, this was actually much easier said than done, with how differently the discipline is taught across the world. Although originally, there were so many options across multiple continents, it really came down to two programs for me: one in the Czech Republic and the other in the UAE. The criteria for these schools were based on course availability, credit transfer, and my own interest in the programs. Most of all, I wanted to be able to mesh well at the school I had chosen.</b></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To tell the truth, I was initially very disappointed that I wouldn't be getting my Spanish immersion, because it really was a dream of mine. But after some thought, I realized I had discovered an important lesson. Even though the IB program really encourages your development in a language in the classroom, you're not restricted to just those countries when you're choosing a study abroad destination. It's about so much more than a language when you travel. It's about exploring culture, meeting some incredible new people, embracing a different set of customs and traditions, and challenging yourself in an unfamiliar environment. And that can happen anywhere in the world! So when the letter arrived in July that told me I was accepted to AUS for this spring, I was 100% on board.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">And why not? I'm headed back to an area of the world with one of the richest histories around - it puts the 400-odd years of American history to shame. The city of Dubai, arguably </span><u style="text-indent: 0.5in;">the</u><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> economic center of Middle East commerce, lies just 20 kilometers away from my campus, with all the enchantments of glitz and foreign wealth. When I visited Dubai on my way to Egypt three years ago, I was thoroughly awestruck by this dramatically different and wonderful world that I had stepped into. At the time, I silently promised myself I would find a way to come back - the place grabbed my heart that strongly. And by the luck of the draw, I'm about to make good on my word. I fully expect this to be an experience I'll be able to tell stories about for years and years to come.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So what <u>will</u> happen when I’m there? If we’re taking the Captain Obvious route, I’ll be
taking 5 classes at AUS – a few finance and international business courses, and then hopefully one with a local flavor – studying just as any student does
(though hopefully not too much), living on-campus, and when I can, I’ll be exploring what this
UAE culture is all about. But beyond that, there are so many possibilities for
things to do! Thus, realistically, your guess is as good as mine as to what
will happen, but I can guarantee you that it will be an interesting journey.
Sharjah, meaning “rising sun”, boasts a robust 5,000 year history and is a dynamic
center for both commercial and cultural interchange in the Near East. The
leading cultural role played by Sharjah has resulted in the emirate being named
as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014, a title that was conferred by
ministers of culture at an Organization of Islamic Countries conference in the
Azeri capital of Baku. Simply wandering though any of the city’s numerous
historic museums would be a rich encounter within itself, as would walking the
streets, interacting with locals, sitting out with a cup of tea overlooking the
beautiful Persian Gulf, making friends of my student peers, learning their
specific customs, and going on trips organized by the local student exchange
office. There is a wealth of opportunities, and I’ve never been one to let them
pass me by.</span></b></span><br />
<span style="color: white;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: large; text-indent: 0.5in;">So here we are: 54 hours from D-day. I have my passport, visa, and some (almost-packed) suitcases in hand. I've said my goodbyes to my family and my American football (go Broncos), and I'd say that I am as ready as you can be to leave. Prepared? I'll let you know when I get there.</span></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Constantia et virtute – Jon</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y6G5qazUZDkHfFD5ords1RumhyphenhyphencbH_-_S-eH7PnUzGlUJRLqipCit9uFwNH2y1Mp45vIE8yGshmyXpox4WrJKppA6HYgev6mDprM73n8U_wBMGLuEJ1JcKMNHIpHQVS7MVRRbzpdZ-k/s1600/IMG_0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9y6G5qazUZDkHfFD5ords1RumhyphenhyphencbH_-_S-eH7PnUzGlUJRLqipCit9uFwNH2y1Mp45vIE8yGshmyXpox4WrJKppA6HYgev6mDprM73n8U_wBMGLuEJ1JcKMNHIpHQVS7MVRRbzpdZ-k/s1600/IMG_0142.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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