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! 

Male Dorm Lot Flooded

Scaling the Soda Machine

Roundabout Behind the Dorms

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.

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.

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!

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. 

…nice and warm