Virtual Experience:
Eat & Exercise
From sushi to scrambled eggs and dim sum to Danishes, the breakfast of the InterContinental hotel offered an oasis of culinary brilliance. Being that I was in the desert, I thought one might like that descriptor. đ I have once provided the fallacy that calories on vacation donât count. Moreover, calories consumed at a professional conference really donât countâŚAt least that is what I am choosing to believe right now.
To balance out my calorie consumption I made an effort to work out every morning. The last dayâs efforts have left me aware of my muscles and strength, or better yet lack thereof. I keep telling myself squats are my friends, although right now my quads are thinking more along the lines of considering them a frenemy. đ
Pray
One of the presenters, Dr. Thomas R. Guskey said something in his presentation that resonated with me professionally and spiritually. He said, âExperiences change and/or shape your attitudes and beliefs.â My faith walk has definitely been provided with experiences that have caused me to say without doubt that God is. God is my sustainer, protector, provider, and oh so much more.
As I reflected upon the blessings of this educational experience, the lyrics to one of my favorite gospel groups Commissioned and their song, âUnworthyâ came to mind.
I’m so unworthy Lord
You gave me life and life more abundantly
Filled me with song,
Gave me strength to go on
How unworthy Lord I am
Some things in my life have caught me by surprise and admittedly not gone according to âmy plan.â Day by day, month by month, and through each experience, I am learning to be further grateful for Godâs wisdom and blessings. I am so unworthyâŚ
Love
Okay I so love Dubai and realize that I yet encompass the discipline to live there, although if one does not have exact change in dirham to pay the taxi driver, rupees will do.
Dubai offers in opulent abundance experiences for those who love fashion, jewelry, fine restaurants, and desert safaris, just to name a few. I loved it all. Moreover, I loved the fact that I was able to attend a professional enriching experience because of where I am currently working in my career!
Teach
The NESA (North East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools) Leadership conference was both professionally and personally rewarding. For my fellow educators, if you would like me to share my âaha momentsâ, they are all an email away. I do wish to pause to share this pearl, âItâs not what you are but what you do that makes you effective.â â Thomas R. Guskey
During this trip to Dubai I indulged mostly in food, with a sprinkle of excursions, dress up, and a wee bit of shopping. A must for everyone who visits Dubai is the sunset desert safari that includes an exciting dune drive, camel ride, belly dancing, quad driving, and for those who are more adventurous, shisha, and sand snowboarding (like that is going to happen).
The mini video shows my visit to the Dubai Gold Souk, which consists of over 300 retailers that trade jewelry almost exclusively. I did exhibit some restraint and managed to leave desired items behind that I will wear only in my dreamsâŚAlso featured is a photo of me in the female Islamic dress of a thawb (also spelled thoub and thobe), which is a loose, long sleeve, ankle-length garment with sleeve embroidery. My moment of dress up did not include the other items normally worn with the thawb which is a salwar – cotton or silk pant worn under the thawb or abaya â large black cloak worn over the thawb either loose and flowing or wrapped around the body. When I was about to wrap the scarf around my head, the friendly carpet proprietor offered his services to tie my niqÄbâ a veil that covers the face.
Middle eastern men also wear thawbs and the traditional headdress of the keffiyeh, a square cloth folded and wrapped into various styles around the head. In my research to find out more about the variations I was viewing I found the following information:
âThere are many local variations of the keffiyeh. Some wearers wrap the keffiyeh into a turban, while others wear it loosely draped around the back and shoulders. It is usually made of white cotton (popular in the Gulf states); however, there are also checkered pattern in red (usually associated with Jordan) or black (usually associated with the Levant â Israel, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Egypt, and Syria). The keffiyeh is commonly found in arid climates to provide protection from the sun, as well as for occasional use in protecting the mouth and eyes from blowing dust and sand.â – Created by the Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Another excursion I took one evening was an elevator ride to the Burj Khalifa, which holds the record of being the tallest building in the world that is free standing. The Burj Khalifa is over 2, 716 feet high and is a product of architectural creativity and collaboration.
I learned a new word this trip, which Iâve been told has two meanings depending on oneâs culture. Inshallah or In sha’Allah is the Arabic term for “Allah willing” (God willing). God willing in the middle eastern culture is a nice way to say, âprobably not,â or in my dadâs reply to some of my requests (perhaps at times outlandish), âweâll seeâ which I learned to translate as a nice no. Inshallah in the western culture, southern culture specifically normally means God willing literally. In my experience God willing has been interchanged with the phrase, âif the creek donât rise.â While we are speaking of water, I write this post on the eve of Week withOut Walls, which will be an experience rafting down the Gange River. Inshallah, I will post about this adventure in a week or two.