Sheikh Zayed University

It always seems like the end comes too quickly. I've been in the Arabian Gulf for 10 days already and there is so much more I want to see and do. This morning we visited the Sheikh Zayed University in Dubai, a university created in 1998 by the government of the U.A.E. to educate Emerati national women. The campus is an impressive building that was recently built to accomodate the growing student population. Five students spoke to us about their experience at the university and about living in the U.A.E. in general. All were members of the Student Government and were very well spoken in English. In addition to answering our questions they had questions of their own about education in the US and the process of getting into college. After we spoke with the students we toured the library. It was of course a wonderful library, but while we were there, we saw girls chatting with each other or on the phone, sitting in front of laptops, or working on school projects. An interesting glimpse into university life.

Artwork hung on the walls of the library at Zayed University. All of the work was done by students at the university. This is one of my favorites.

The UAE is truly an intriguing country. The seven Emirates are unique in their own way but all come together under the flag as United Arab Emirates. My last night is in Sharjah, another Emirate close to Dubai for easy access to the airport. The stories about Dubai and the UAE are all true but it's hard to convey with just words just how unique a place this. Tradition is still a driving force in everyday life and to see it interact with modernity and a desire to forge ahead has been intriguing and educational.

I'd be happy to talk about my experiences (I loved it). Just shoot me an email if you want to know more!