Friday, October 1, 2010
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Goodbye Dubai
In 12 hours, I leave for the (DXB) airport. Over the last few weeks I have been sad about leaving Dubai. I can definitely see myself living/working here again in the future. How soon that will come, I don't know.
Inside DXB
I will be in Qatar (DOH) for 12 hours and then flying into (PVG) Shanghai and meeting up with Robyn to ride the MagLev train to the Minhang Campus of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Next time you hear from me I will be in China!
Inside DXB
I will be in Qatar (DOH) for 12 hours and then flying into (PVG) Shanghai and meeting up with Robyn to ride the MagLev train to the Minhang Campus of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Next time you hear from me I will be in China!
Saturday, March 29, 2008
FLOOD
During the 2nd week here, Dubai was due for its yearly rain. Lets get Dubai's weather clear. Every day is sunny and hot. However, once a year during the winter, they get a week of rain. Yes, that's right, a whole week straight. Since this is all the rain they get, storm drains are not even a consideration in city planning. Here are the results of such a system:
Male Dorm Lot Flooded
Scaling the Soda Machine
Roundabout Behind the Dorms
Male Dorm Lot Flooded
Scaling the Soda Machine
Roundabout Behind the Dorms
Around Campus
Around the American University in Dubai campus there are several business parks around 3 sides, and Sheikh Zayed Road (the main highway of dubai) on the other.
AUD Dorms
The Radisson SAS, Media City, is right across the street from the dorms. They have a nice open air lounge on the 8th floor, and ground level Italian restaurant, Certo.
Radisson SAS Hotel
Dubai Media City sits mainly along the backside of the AUD campus. It is home to CNN, MTV Arabia, Reuters, Associated Press (AP), and hundreds more.
Dubai Media City
At the base of the dark tower on the left side, there is a Lebanese restaurant called Al Merkaaz. We go there often. It is a nice restaurant with three areas: indoors, patio, and outdoors. We sit indoors when going on special occasions since the seating and environment is fancier. The patio is usually preferred, since there is a TV with crazy movies playing. Here people frequently work on their laptops, while smoking sheesha. It's a good place to study, play cards, hang out, etc. since they love your company. Last night I was there for 5 hours. Other times I have spent 6 and 7 hours there. Since Al Merkaaz is right across the street from the Dubai Media City Park, the outdoor section is an amazing place to listen to the dozens of concerts that take place in the park. Last night we heard t.A.T.u., DJ Aligator, and Dr. Alban live in concert. A month ago at the Dubai Jazz Festival we chilled at Al Merkaaz while listening to David Gray.
Smoking Sheesha at Al Merkaaz during the t.A.T.u Concert
HSBC
Right outside the dorm gates is the Middle East HSBC Headquarters. I have banked online with HSBC for over a year and a half. I have never seen a branch in the United States, but in Dubai its conveniently the closest building to campus and there are dozens of HSBC ATMs all over the city. This has given me fee-less access to money while other students are paying USD$5.00 per transaction.
AUD Dorms
The Radisson SAS, Media City, is right across the street from the dorms. They have a nice open air lounge on the 8th floor, and ground level Italian restaurant, Certo.
Radisson SAS Hotel
Dubai Media City sits mainly along the backside of the AUD campus. It is home to CNN, MTV Arabia, Reuters, Associated Press (AP), and hundreds more.
Dubai Media City
At the base of the dark tower on the left side, there is a Lebanese restaurant called Al Merkaaz. We go there often. It is a nice restaurant with three areas: indoors, patio, and outdoors. We sit indoors when going on special occasions since the seating and environment is fancier. The patio is usually preferred, since there is a TV with crazy movies playing. Here people frequently work on their laptops, while smoking sheesha. It's a good place to study, play cards, hang out, etc. since they love your company. Last night I was there for 5 hours. Other times I have spent 6 and 7 hours there. Since Al Merkaaz is right across the street from the Dubai Media City Park, the outdoor section is an amazing place to listen to the dozens of concerts that take place in the park. Last night we heard t.A.T.u., DJ Aligator, and Dr. Alban live in concert. A month ago at the Dubai Jazz Festival we chilled at Al Merkaaz while listening to David Gray.
Smoking Sheesha at Al Merkaaz during the t.A.T.u Concert
HSBC
Right outside the dorm gates is the Middle East HSBC Headquarters. I have banked online with HSBC for over a year and a half. I have never seen a branch in the United States, but in Dubai its conveniently the closest building to campus and there are dozens of HSBC ATMs all over the city. This has given me fee-less access to money while other students are paying USD$5.00 per transaction.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Dubai > Amsterdam
I have been here for a good 6 days now! It has been amazing. It's beautiful here! I have taken about a thousand pictures so far.
First off, I got to the airport at 6.10am. The new terminal we were in was 6 stories high and we had to go down 4 stories of escalators to get to the passport control / baggage pickup. There were about 20 lines for passport control, each with 50+ people waiting. After picking up my baggage I waited in line for about 20 minutes for a taxi. They had hundreds of taxis coming in and out as fast as people could get in them. 900 new people move permanently to Dubai each day so I kind of expected it to be busy.
Several floors in DXB to go down
This pretty much sums up Dubai
On the taxi ride, I went down Sheikh Zayed Road (the main highway) and saw the beautiful towers all along it.
My dorm room is pretty nice. The ceilings are 3.3m (11ft) high! Each room gets its own bathroom, complete with a shower, toilet, and bidet. The windows are 2 meters high!
My Dorm Room
The view outside my window - Aam Tower
All of the study abroad students (21 of us) went to the creek area including a trip to the Dubai Museum, which is located underground, underneath the Al Fahidi Fort.
Al Fahidi Fort
Most of the Study Abroad students
Dubai Museum Exibit
Art Galary Courtyard
Me Holding a Falcon
Brian Belly Dancing
Baytal Wakeel Restaurant
Cameron and Rachel
Rachel and I
We smoked sheesha at this restaurant (which was over the Creek). Also later that night we went as a group of 8 and smoked sheesha in Dubai Internet City.
I started classes on Sunday. We didn't have classes yesterday because the roads were closed since Bush was arriving in Dubai. Instead, a bunch of the study abroad students and I went down to the marina. This was my second time there so far. They have dozens of little stands where people sell clothing, jewelry, toys, souvenirs, etc. There are restaurants, water fountains, and hundreds of towers.
Study Abroad Students at the Marina
Dubai Marina
Heather and I
When we got back from the Marina we heard a bird or three. Another study abroad student, Drew, got pooped on.
First off, I got to the airport at 6.10am. The new terminal we were in was 6 stories high and we had to go down 4 stories of escalators to get to the passport control / baggage pickup. There were about 20 lines for passport control, each with 50+ people waiting. After picking up my baggage I waited in line for about 20 minutes for a taxi. They had hundreds of taxis coming in and out as fast as people could get in them. 900 new people move permanently to Dubai each day so I kind of expected it to be busy.
Several floors in DXB to go down
This pretty much sums up Dubai
On the taxi ride, I went down Sheikh Zayed Road (the main highway) and saw the beautiful towers all along it.
My dorm room is pretty nice. The ceilings are 3.3m (11ft) high! Each room gets its own bathroom, complete with a shower, toilet, and bidet. The windows are 2 meters high!
My Dorm Room
The view outside my window - Aam Tower
All of the study abroad students (21 of us) went to the creek area including a trip to the Dubai Museum, which is located underground, underneath the Al Fahidi Fort.
Al Fahidi Fort
Most of the Study Abroad students
Dubai Museum Exibit
Art Galary Courtyard
Me Holding a Falcon
Brian Belly Dancing
Baytal Wakeel Restaurant
Cameron and Rachel
Rachel and I
We smoked sheesha at this restaurant (which was over the Creek). Also later that night we went as a group of 8 and smoked sheesha in Dubai Internet City.
I started classes on Sunday. We didn't have classes yesterday because the roads were closed since Bush was arriving in Dubai. Instead, a bunch of the study abroad students and I went down to the marina. This was my second time there so far. They have dozens of little stands where people sell clothing, jewelry, toys, souvenirs, etc. There are restaurants, water fountains, and hundreds of towers.
Study Abroad Students at the Marina
Dubai Marina
Heather and I
When we got back from the Marina we heard a bird or three. Another study abroad student, Drew, got pooped on.
Friday, January 11, 2008
I'm Alive!
I have been so busy here that I haven't posted. Haha. I did make it to Dubai 4 days ago, but first I'll talk about Amsterdam.
On my 10 hour layover, I took the trains into downtown Amsterdam. After arriving in the Central Station, I first saw the canal tour boats at the end of Damrak (the main street). For €11, I went on a 1 hour tour of the canals which Amsterdam is famous for. Canals seperate tons of the streets and there are over 1200 bridges. I saw the several "coffeehouses" and the Anne Frank house on this tour. After that was finished I went to the Sex Museum. It only cost €3, and it was a great experience with some funny displays! I recommend it for anybody going to Amsterdam. Then, on my way to the shopping district, I stopped at a cafe and got a ham and cheese omelet and a beer. Weird mix, but I had to buy some alcohol while I could. The LONG street of shopping, Kalverstraat, was quite an adventure. Every store you would see about 3 or 4 times on the strip. 3 H&M's, 4 McDonalds, 2 Levi's, 2 Deisels, etc., etc. It was nice looking in the shops but everything was quite expensive since the dollar/US economy is doing horrible. After shopping, I went over to the red light district and was winked at by tons of 95% naked sexy women. Then it was time to go back to Schipol Airport so I made my way back to the train station, where I was so lucky to be able to pay €0.50 to use the bathroom! What I can take from this visit, is the understanding why I walk quite faster than most Americans. The Dutch people move, and they move fast.
Amsterdam Central Station (inside)
Amsterdam Central Station (front)
Canal Boat I Toured On
Canal Boat Tour
Amsterdam Architecture (Tall Skinny Buildings on Canals)
Amsterdam Architecture From Above
Anne Frank House
Damrak
Kalverstraat
What a beautiful, unique city!
On my 10 hour layover, I took the trains into downtown Amsterdam. After arriving in the Central Station, I first saw the canal tour boats at the end of Damrak (the main street). For €11, I went on a 1 hour tour of the canals which Amsterdam is famous for. Canals seperate tons of the streets and there are over 1200 bridges. I saw the several "coffeehouses" and the Anne Frank house on this tour. After that was finished I went to the Sex Museum. It only cost €3, and it was a great experience with some funny displays! I recommend it for anybody going to Amsterdam. Then, on my way to the shopping district, I stopped at a cafe and got a ham and cheese omelet and a beer. Weird mix, but I had to buy some alcohol while I could. The LONG street of shopping, Kalverstraat, was quite an adventure. Every store you would see about 3 or 4 times on the strip. 3 H&M's, 4 McDonalds, 2 Levi's, 2 Deisels, etc., etc. It was nice looking in the shops but everything was quite expensive since the dollar/US economy is doing horrible. After shopping, I went over to the red light district and was winked at by tons of 95% naked sexy women. Then it was time to go back to Schipol Airport so I made my way back to the train station, where I was so lucky to be able to pay €0.50 to use the bathroom! What I can take from this visit, is the understanding why I walk quite faster than most Americans. The Dutch people move, and they move fast.
Amsterdam Central Station (inside)
Amsterdam Central Station (front)
Canal Boat I Toured On
Canal Boat Tour
Amsterdam Architecture (Tall Skinny Buildings on Canals)
Amsterdam Architecture From Above
Anne Frank House
Damrak
Kalverstraat
What a beautiful, unique city!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Leaving!
Some of you do not know why I am leaving for Dubai. In December 2006, my friend Ben told me about Dubai and sent me this link: dubai.isnuts.googlepages.com
I was amazed by what was going on in Dubai and couldn't believe I hadn't heard of this city before! That same day I knew this was where I had to study abroad. The problem was that the University of Michigan did not have a study abroad program for Dubai. After researching universities I found that the American University in Dubai (AUD) had a study abroad program, was in a great location, and that there was a way to attend for free.
It took me 8 months to plan and gather all of the materials to apply to be a Clinton Scholar at AUD. This program offers free tuition and housing to 10 US students per term, funded by Bill Clinton. Two months later I received notice that I got the scholarship! I was ecstatic!
I leave for the airport in 1 (ONE) hour! I can't wait! First, I have a 10 hour layover in Amsterdam, so I am going out on the town. All together I will be flying for 15 hours...phew. Stories from Amsterdam are soon to come.
I was amazed by what was going on in Dubai and couldn't believe I hadn't heard of this city before! That same day I knew this was where I had to study abroad. The problem was that the University of Michigan did not have a study abroad program for Dubai. After researching universities I found that the American University in Dubai (AUD) had a study abroad program, was in a great location, and that there was a way to attend for free.
It took me 8 months to plan and gather all of the materials to apply to be a Clinton Scholar at AUD. This program offers free tuition and housing to 10 US students per term, funded by Bill Clinton. Two months later I received notice that I got the scholarship! I was ecstatic!
I leave for the airport in 1 (ONE) hour! I can't wait! First, I have a 10 hour layover in Amsterdam, so I am going out on the town. All together I will be flying for 15 hours...phew. Stories from Amsterdam are soon to come.
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