Getting Adjusted

Classes are in full swing here at AUS and I am enjoying them very much. I'm taking a full course load, with classes like International Trade, Islamic Economics, The Middle East Meets the West, War and Peace in the Middle East, and Introduction to Islamic Philosophy. It's interesting getting to look at international relations through another lens, as well as to learn about Islamic Economics, an economic system that differs greatly from the capitalist and socialist systems that we are all so familiar with in the West. 

But while I am getting adjusted, I'm still not completely used to them all. And there are of course, some things that I find frustrating about taking classes here.

The most obvious difference is the weekdays. Because Friday is the Muslim day of prayer, here in the UAE (and throughout the Middle East) the weekend is Friday and Saturday. My brain is still on American weekends, so I rarely know what day of the week it is without looking it up in the mornings. And even then I frequently I have to remind myself what day it is. 

Another thing that is hard to get used to is how laid back everyone is, especially the professors. On one hand it's lovely to not be overly stressed about school work here, as it gives me more time to do other things; but it can also be frustrating as well. They are also very diplomatic when it comes to speaking about UAE policies. Coming from the US where policies are often openly criticized, it was a surprise to me when we spoke about UAE foreign policy and no one challenged what the country was doing (or pushing for details when vague, diplomatic answers were given). I became even more surprised when a Bahraini student thanked the man presenting UAE foreign policy for the UAE's support of his country when they were having issues. 

One of the most frustrating classes for me is The Middle East Meets the West. Sometimes the content of the lectures swings toward anti-American, especially when it comes to American foreign policy. And that's fine. I almost expected it, even if it is slightly uncomfortable to sit through sometimes, and I appreciate getting another side of the story to many of the major events that have occurred in the Middle East. What has really struck me however is the day we started discussing stereotypes. Last week the professor brought in a guest speaker to talk about stereotypes and how to combat them. At the end of the lecture, our professor turned around and addressed the exchange students specifically, saying that we could now use these new tools. Her attention towards the Americans made us feel as though she thought we were the only group that held stereotypes. In addition, during an exercise on another day, she had the most confused look on her face when the exchange students (myself included) said that we too had been discriminated against because of our race and nationality. 

It is a little disturbing to me that a professor teaching a class about improving the relations between the Muslim World and the West can have such negative stereotypes about the West (and seem to be so blind to her promotion of those stereotypes). One of my greatest hopes for this semester is that I and the other exchange students can show our professor the positive traits of Americans, so that her negative perceptions of the US will change.  

I haven't just been busy with studying though. I was able to see some of the Sharjah Light Festival, the Global Village and I recently went on a trip to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, to see the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is the founder of the UAE, the nation's first president, and a beloved man in the UAE. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque is the largest mosque in the nation, and one of the largest in the world. It was one of the most gorgeous buildings I have ever seen. The white marble made it seem like I was in a fairytale land, and there was luxury everywhere. It has the largest carpet and the third largest chandelier in the world, both of which are absolutely stunning. I was a little disappointed that I did not have time to see the mausoleum where Sheikh Zayed was buried, but then that gives me a reason to visit the Grand Mosque again. 

For now, I am busy getting homework done and preparing for Global Day at AUS with the Emirati Cultural Club. That experience will be for next time.  

A lit-up mosque in Sharjah during the Sharjah Light Festival.

 The India Pavilion at the Global Village in Dubai. Many Countries around the world were represented by pavilions filled with shops like this one.

The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi

The pillars of the structure That surrounded the mosque. Each pillar had depictions of flowers made from cut stone That was then placed into the marble. 

Inside the Grand Mosque. This is the third Largest chandelier in the world. On the wall behind it, all 99 known names of Allah are written, with empty spot on for the 100th unknown name.

 A close-up of the beautiful Persian carpet in the mosque, the largest carpet in the world.

First Impressions

Well, I’ve been in the UAE for a little over a week now and I am loving it more and more each day. It’s definitely different from what I am used to, but it’s beautiful and the people are friendly and welcoming.

The plane ride was definitely interesting. I got on my first flight a little scared, but thankfully I was sitting next to a man who was a flight attendant on another airline. He started talking to me immediately and when I told him this was my first time flying he wasted no time in showing me everything and making sure I was feeling comfortable throughout the entire trip. I will admit, I did have a bit of a freak out during my layover in Istanbul. I couldn't get wifi, so I had no way of informing my family that I had landed, but after walking around for a little while, I calmed down and figured it all out.

I arrived in Dubai at around 3am, and waited in a long line to get my passport stamped. While waiting to get through passport control I quickly noticed that out of the about three or four hundred people waiting I was one of very few Westerners. A huge majority of those waiting with me were young Indian and Pakistani men. I knew from past research that a large number of Indians and Pakistanis work in the Gulf, but I was still surprised by overwhelming majority of young men in the line.

By the time I arrived at the American University of Sharjah I was exhausted. It was still dark, and I had been travelling for close to 24 hours by that point. Yet I was excited to get my first impressions of the place where I would be staying for the next five months. The campus is beautiful, and University City is a huge space that has been set aside for learning. Even after a week of being here, I am still surprised by how long it takes to get from the gates of University to those of AUS.

After a well-deserved rest, it was time to start my orientation week with the other exchange students. I was nervous to meet so many new people. I didn't want my shy, quiet nature to get in the way. All the other exchange students are just as excited to be here as I am, and the International Exchange Office is extremely helpful. They have made the technical processes much easier, made me feel welcome, and eased any fears that I had. 

The library at AUS

Orientation week was long, which helped me get over the jet lag pretty quickly. It involved things that weren’t so fun, like getting the visa process sorted out, paying bills, getting blood drawn, and getting a UAE phone number. Getting the phone seemed like the worst of it all. It took three of us about two hours to get our phones, going back and forth between stores, and going through a bunch of steps just to get the phones in one store. The process highlighted that we were no longer in an individualistic society. It was a good test in patience. I am extremely grateful that we had an AUS student with us. Not only would we have been lost on what to do, but we may have given up after the first couple confusing moments.

The week included fun trips as well. We went to the Arabian Wildlife Center where I touched my first camel, spent a day in Sharjah, and a day in Dubai. Going out into the cities and driving around, I always noticed the number of construction sites, as well as how new everything looks. It is clear that the economic growth of the UAE in the last few decades has changed the country dramatically. The number of mosques is fantastic. While I don’t think there are more mosques here than there are churches in the US (at least in the parts where I am from) the mosques are much more prominent structures because of the minarets, so the large number of them stick out. 

During our day out in Dubai, we started off at the Sheikh Mohammad Center for Cultural Understanding, where we had a traditional Emirati breakfast and were able to speak with an Emirati man and woman, after which we quickly visited a nearby mosque with them. They were both willing to answer any questions we had about their culture. The Emirati man was wonderful at breaking the ice, making fun of many of the misconceptions about Emirati culture, especially those stereotypes dealing with women.

Classes have begun, but I’ll save that experience for the next blog entry. For now, the biggest task seems to be trying to remember what day it is. It is going to take a while to get used to the Friday-Saturday weekends. 

  

A Persian Shia mosque in Sharjah. The decoration makes it stick out among the many other mosques nearby.

The Eye of the Emirates in downtown Sharjah

  

Me outside the Dubai Mall with the Burj Khalifa in the background. 

 

The Dubai skyline

Looking out at the Gulf

And I'm Off!

Marhaban!

In just a few short days I will be heading to the United Arab Emirates to study at the American University of Sharjah for the Spring 2014 semester. Through this blog I hope to share with you my experiences abroad, the lessons I learn, and the culture I observe.

My name is Shannon Cook and I am a junior at American University in Washington, DC majoring in International Studies with a focus on the Middle East and International Economics, and minoring in Arab Studies. In the future I wish to go into international trade or diplomacy between the United States and the Middle East, specifically the Persian Gulf.

Why the Persian Gulf you ask? For one thing, it has a long, fascinating history. In terms of economics of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf is home to some of the strongest economies in the region with Qatar having the second highest GDP per capita in the world, and Saudi Arabia and the UAE being the two largest Arab economies. While most of these countries have grown economically because of oil and natural gas, they are all taking steps to diversify their economies. In addition, the rapid economic growth partnered with conservative Muslim society make for some interesting politics. And of course, on the other side of the Gulf lies Iran, a fascinating country in itself that has had some very strained relations with the Arab monarchies. I could go on forever I’m sure but I think you get the point – the Persian Gulf fascinates me!

When I first thought about study abroad I thought I would go to Jordan or Morocco to focus on studying the Arabic language but all that changed a year ago when I interned at the National US-Arab Chamber of Commerce (NUSACC) in Washington, DC. At that point, I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my degree, but interning at NUSACC awoke a strong interest in international trade and economics in me. And with the UAE being the second largest economy in the Arab world after Saudi Arabia, studying abroad there makes perfect sense for me.

Within the UAE, Sharjah is one of seven emirates and the emirate is ruled by the Al Qasimi family. The city of Sharjah, which is the capital of the overall emirate, is the third largest city in the country (after Abu Dhabi and Dubai). This year, Sharjah was named the Islamic Cultural Capital by the OIC so I am excited to have a chance to go to some of the programs and events held in the city!

At the American University of Sharjah (AUS) I will be taking a full load of courses on the Middle East and economics. While I am staying in the UAE I plan on soaking up as much history as I can, gaining a better understanding for the culture, and improving my Arabic language skills.

I cannot wait to spend the next few months in the UAE! And while I am extremely excited about this trip I am also nervous. This will be my first time out of the United States, as well as my first time on an airplane. Until then, I will be saying good-bye to my family and finishing up some last minute packing as I watch my cat stare at me sadly with that look of betrayal for leaving her once again.