Insight Dubai: Day One

Sorry this took two weeks, folks. Let me make this up to you.

Myth 1: Dubai is in India.

Fact: False.

Dubai is not in India. Not even Saudi Arabia

Dubai is actually located in the United Arab Emirates. See that cute little eastern edge in the Persian Gulf just next to Saudi Arabia? Yeah, that's where. And you know what else? Dubai isn't even the capital. Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Look how cute it is. Like a... horse... thing.. thingy.

So quick overview of Dubai to straighten up why and what since we finally found out the where! Dubai is a fairly well known name. But as much as it may be a household name, it doesn't mean everyone really knows why they know it!

Super quick:

See, Dubai was something of a hole-in-a-wall about 40 years ago.  Mostly a desert town of huts, from what it sounds like. But then the men in power realized something needed to change as they discovered OIL. (huzzah) So they quickly started building. They broke world records. They have huge buildings unlike anywhere in the world. They created places to convince tourists it was worth the visit. After all, oil won't last forever. So they're making it into a place that can thrive on tourism when the oil runs out.

They have the world's tallest building, they used the city in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, they have the world's tallest tower, they have HUGE malls ( a lot of them), and more. So that's Dubai. Today, almost 70% of residents are international, too.

Dubai is one of the most modern cities out of... something, I don't remember the particulars, sorry.

OKAY to SUNDAY:

I wanted to stay in the famous sail boat 7-star hotel, but apparently it's expensive.

We gathered in the lobby early that morning after a fun breakfast. The humidity was already affecting us and it made me worry about the afternoon. We met into our colored groups- I was the orange group, as was my roommate Chiara from Italy, and 5 others. When everyone was gathered, we piled into buses to drive about three blocks down to the university.

At first, it reminded me of the layout of southern California community colleges. Low buildings, gates, and a lot of shaded parking.

We gathered around the fountain to meet our buddies. One by one they began trickling in. We waited about half an hour, and mine still hadn't shown. Finally we headed inside and to the Orange Group.

There, we introduced ourselves and started into games! We played several and were fast friends by the close of that, laughing and making jokes. My buddy, M, arrived then too, and we were introduced.

Together we headed into the Multi Purpose Room for the introduction. "Engage your minds as well as your hearts." This was a big part of the theme, including the idea that we really are ambassadors. What sort of (culture) ambassadors do we need, and what kind are we? 

Film screenings! I love those!

One) Finding Mr & Mrs Right: Dubai Style

This was put together by the applied communications at the university a short while ago, It is also being shared at many movie festivals. 

*This documentary talks with many young adults, male and female, from Dubai about their opinions on marriage today. As the UAE grows more modern, it's growing difficult for some to stick with some traditions. Questions were asked and the answers came.

*The overall feeling was that every single one of them, at one point, believed marriage is important and that someday they wanted to settle down. While more of the guys wanted to marry right away, no matter their age, while the girls preferred the idea of waiting until around the age of 24, after they finished their schooling.

*Men wanted a vague idea of a housewife, women wanted understanding

*Arranged marriages are still the common form for marriages even today. However, acceptance is becoming more important. On the occasion that they know who they want to marry, they will discuss it with their parents. Ultimately, it is the family's decision on who the young adult marries.

*On the format of an arranged marriage, the parents talk and if the girl doesn't protest (which she can say no to), then they go ahead with it.

Does that worry you? It shouldn't. Women, unless they move away for their education which still isn't very often, always live with their families. Families are very important and are very connected with one another. They are close, and they trust each other. The women can trust their families to make a good choice for them.

-Fun fact: guys will drive around or walk around in malls and mutter or yell out their phone numbers for girls. Question: is that better than catcalling?

Two) Second Wife

Another documentary in the same style, also done by the university. Used in the Dubai Film Festival.

*Cars. I mean, there was a Porsche police car that I saw. Having a nice car is a big part of the fashion in Dubai, if not in more areas such as Saudi Arabia (though I cannot speak for them, but I have noticed it's popular there as well).

*The idea goes that the guy's car may be his first wife. They called it a piece of fashion, that it reflects their personality, and it's all about "capability" (most commonly used term for the men).  After all, they pointed out, "It never says no, and there's no waiting."

*As you can imagine, the girls think that's stupid. A few men thought so as well, but 80% of the men questioned consider their car as their most prized possession.

*The men's idea is "don't be a scrooge" but the girls are more practical and claim, "if you don't have the money, don't spend it." (Is that a male thing? If the US government was controlled entirely by females, how would our debt be now? I just thought of that. Huh.)

*Another quirky thing about these men and women is that cars are gender-based. The girls won't drive the big cars, but the smaller ones. The safer ones. Not the trucks. It just isn't normal.

-Fun fact: the idea for this documentary, we talked to the director, and she said she came up with the idea when a family member mentioned waywardly that he would have liked to marry his car. Her purpose for making this film was "to show there is a competition for ladies."

After lunch, there was a game!

This was all about cultural habits and differences. 

We picked cards and had to do a variety of things from our culture, such as singing, dancing, and drawing. There were topics we discussed such as luck, marriage, and more.

Overall, this activity really allowed us to connect, to find similarities and learn about others. As we found the differences, we found how we are the same.  We all have so much in common with others. All we have to do is talk to them to find out!

We finished fairly early- around 7- that evening. I gathered with the SUU girls, and we decided to try heading out somewhere cool. Unfortunately it took us a while to work out ideas, since we wanted to get to bed early and everything would take a while. Eventually, we made the decision to head down the street and check out the mall. Granted we walked in a few spots we shouldn't have and there was dirty sand and all, but hey it was pretty cool. The mall was extremely nice and big and there was a miniature amusement park in there as well!

Also, there's a buttload of American diners. Baskin Robbins, Applebees, Chili's, and more!

Throughout the day in all that we did and said, we learned to acknowledge values and virtues, as well as realize our own. Whether unconscious or conscious, we were widening our idea of community and our self awareness, and developing more in the realm of diplomacy.

All of this can strength relationships such as intercultural ties. The important thing to remember is to respect. 

First night there and I couldn't even find my hotel room. Not only that, but the hotel room keys stop working VERY OFTEN. First night I went back down three times before I could enter my room. That happened a lot to everyone.