Outing to Sharjah

Final Schedule as Follows:

1) Islamic Political Philosophy: Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday 11:00-11:50
2) Modern Gulf History: Monday, Wednesday 11:00-12:15
3) Islamic Law and Jurisprudence: Monday, Wednesday 12:30-1:45
4) Intermediate Arabic II : Monday, Wednesday 2:00-3:15
          +Language Lab: Sunday 2:00-3:40
5) Politics of Arabian States: Monday, Wednesday 3:30-4:45

Overview, two very busy days on Monday and Wednesday when I have classes from 11am- 4:45 with only 3, 15 minute breaks. Then only one class on Tuesday and Thursday, then two classes on Sunday. (the weekend here is Friday and Saturday!)


Today we went on an outing to Sharjah. It started out not too eventful, went to an Islamic Civilization Museum, which I have to admit wasn't to exciting. It was interesting at times but had a lot of coins and a lot of pottery, so it got a little old after awhile! The highlight would probably have to be the ceiling of the dome! I just looked at the video and now realize I have to work on SLOOOOWLY panning the camera. I apologize for any motion sickness caused by this video.

12th Century Qur'an Manuscript at the Museum

After the museum we basically wandered. Walked through a few souqs that were mostly closed unfortunately, but did find a cool spice shop! Found some black lemons! Must get some to bring back towards the end of my trip!

Old man sitting at coffee shop praying on his prayer beads
 in his hand (kind of like a muslim rosary)

The highlight of the day for me was going down to the Al Qasba area for dinner and a short cruise on the Sharjah Lagoon! We had dinner at a Lebanese place called Shababeek where I had the best falafel I've had!

Sorry for the loud noise! I was right next to the motor!

Falafel wrapped in Pita with cilantro, tomatoes, pickles, and some tasty sauce!

         Also experienced my very first major culture shock last night. After we got back from dinner around 9:30 or so, the group decided we should still hang out for a little longer. Since men aren't allowed in the girls dorm area and vice versa, we picked a neutral location near the men's dorms. After probably less than an hour we were approached by a security guard on a bike saying women are not allowed in this area and that the other girl, Deena, and I had to leave. We said that we were told by our advisors that men and women could both be here. The security guard again said no and told us to leave. So Deena and I left. The security guard then followed us on his bike more than halfway to the women's dorms just to make sure we were actually leaving I guess. On the way back Deena told me numerous stories about the Security acting this way, even if it is just women all together after dark. I also remembered from some of the exchange students who were here last semester say that sometimes if there are one guy and girl walking together during the day even if their are tons of people around, the security guards sometimes follow them. Or if they are sitting alone together at a table or a bench (even if there is a crowd of people round) they will tell them to leave. Even though this isn't technically against the rules of the university! It was definitely frustrating and we had a grand old time verbally abusing the officer to ourselves as we were walking home. It was frustrating because of course, to us as Americans, it is so normal to have guy friends and have it not mean anything beyond that. I think it is just something we will just have to get used to.

On that note, I leave you with this....

This is in our library...

Meeting new people and animals

My first two full days here have been very, very busy. On Saturday we had the Visiting Students Orientation, where I met everyone who is in the CIEE program plus a few others who came here independently. So far it seams like a really great group and everyone gets along really well! Yesterday we went on a tour of the campus then went to our first Emirati mall. It was HUGE. For those of you in Eugene, to put it into perspective it seamed like it was Gateway and Valley River put together.... then times that by 5. Not only did they have shops here, but also a skydiving simulator and an obstacle course on the ceiling (where you are strapped in, of course).

Today I went with two other girls from the group to do practical things. Went to the bank for a girl to open an account, submitted our paperwork at the health center, ect. Then we met with the rest of the group to go the Arabian Wildlife Sanctuary. A zoo that has many animals that are native (or were once native but are now extinct in the wild) to the Arabian Peninsula. Lots of snakes, lizards, and bugs, but also wolves, cheetahs (which are now extinct in the Gulf), leopards, mongooses, jackles, caracals, a HUGE hyena, small wild cats that looked like kittens, bats, Arabian Oryxs, ostiches, baboons, antelope, rabbits, and many types of birds. I had a little moment with a leopard when he stopped in front of me on he other side of the glass. I put my hand flat up to the glass and he leaned it and tried to rub his head into my hand (like how pet cats do). I wish I had had my camera ready!!!

We then went to a children's petting zoo nearby and got to pet some camels and goats. Camels are quite intimidating when you are on the ground while they are standing.

We had such a deep connection

                                              

After getting back to campus one of the girls, Kayla, and I went to the student center to hang out. We started a rowdy game of "Kerplunk" and were joined by 2 other freshman students, Omar and Abdullah, for a game of Monopoly. The new student dinner was tonight. It was buffet style with lots of Arabic dishes (finally had my first Arabic food of the trip! Yay!). We met two Palestinian American girls from Chicago as well as two Saudi American girls from Houston and one local Emirati girl. 

I feel like I don't really have much to report today, but if I wait one more day I might have TOO much to write about. We are taking our first outing on tuesday to Sharjah to see museums and souqs, so things will get more interesting. Not all my classes are finalized (still waiting on my Arabic Placement Test) but I'll post all my classes as soon as I get the final word on that!

Miss you all and hope the Northwest is treating you well! The sun is just FABULOUS here :)

(left to right) Redwan, Ernest, Gabriel, Lucas, Max, Kayla, and me (missing Layal and Kusum)

Arrival

The original plan was to take a simple flight from Eugene to San Francisco then San Francisco to Dubai, arriving at 7:45ish. Upon arrival, I would breeze through passport control since I already had a copy of my visa meet my driver who would take me to AUS. Then I would shower, settle in, and turn in early. That didn't happen.

Instead my flight to San Fran was canceled, making miss my connection. So we rerouted through Portland and my new itinerary was Eugene to Portland to Chicago to London to Dubai and I would arrive more around midnight. Well apart from almost missing my flight to Portland, I made it to Dubai just fine! Upon arriving I walked straight to passport control. I waited in line for nearly an hour only to be told I need to to go get my ORIGINAL Visa from the visa collection place downstairs. So I went. They told me that my visa was not in Terminal one, it was in Terminal 3, the mixup stemming from my changed flights. I asked if a worker could go get it or if it could be sent here in anyway. They said no and told to either walk to Terminal 3 (which could take an 45 minutes, then walk BACK) or get someone on the outside to fetch it for me. I called my advisor and she told me to just get a temporary tourist visa and we would just sort this all out with the University the next day. I asked the Visa Collection desk where to go to get a tourist visa, he said go back and stand in the same line. So I did, only to be told 45 minutes later that I still need to have an original visa and he can't give me a tourist visa. So he asked me to go across the hall to Office 1 where a lady told me the same thing. I need my original copy, go to Terminal 3 or ask someone to go get it for me, which would cost me 500 dirhams for the transfer. I called my advisor again, who asked to talk with the agent. She must have done some finessing because the next second my passport was stamped with a 30 day tourist visa and I was on my way BACK to the Passport Control line. This is where things got a little better, I got in the back of a line that was sure to take an hour to get through, but one of the men who guide people into the proper line recognized me and told me to come with him to the front of the line since it was my second time through (little did he know it was my third time, but that really didnt matter at this point). So I finished Passport Control in 5 minutes, got my bag, which was sitting off to the side of the baggage area and went out to meet my driver. Now it is nearly 3 hours after I landed. Finally arrived at AUS and was shown to my dorm.

I have a roommate, but she has yet to make an appearance. I also see she was most generous to herself and took most of the shelving/drawer space. It's not that big of a deal, since I don't have much stuff anyway, but I kind of would like to not keep my undies in my desk. Now I am getting ready for my first Orientation in a half an hour, so I have to wrap this up. Will try to write soon with more details about the UNIVERSITY and not just the airport :) Also I will try to post photos soon!!!!