We didn't plan on being in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week. That said, here we are, where we plan to tour all 7 emirates (an emirate, ruled by an emir, is like a kingdom ruled by a hereditary monarch) and the Sultanate of Oman, a neighboring country. Fulbright Scholars are encouraged to lecture throughout their regions and since Terry had been asked to lecture here, we scrambled to rearrange our plans. Our base while here is Dubai, home to the tallest building in the world (the Burj Khalifa, 160 stories, equal to 2,716 feet) which we can see from our deluxe hotel suite. Why deluxe hotel suite? Because there was an error that the hotel remedied in a very, very generous manner. The UAE reminds me of Singapore: modern and spotlessly clean. Emiratis are a minority in their own country comprising about 13% of the population, with the bulk of the labor force from India, Pakistan, and the Philipines. Emirati men can be seen wearing traditional white robes and the folds in their white headdresses signify which tribe. Most wives wear flowing black robes and some also cover their faces.
This morning a university driver picked us up for the 90 minute ride to the northernmost of the seven Emirates, Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), for Terry to present a lecture to graduate students and an in-service "teach the teacher" to the professors. As the skyscrapers of Dubai gave way to rolling sand dunes and camels, the desert changed from white sand to light gold. The dunes gradually had more patches of vegetation, then trees, because we were approaching an area that receives more rain. We were warmly greeted at the RAK Medical & Health Sciences University by the Vice Chancellor of the University and the Dean of the College of Nursing. Terry lectured for several hours and I did something I normally don't do - I stayed to listen. She had them eating from the palm of her hand. This was my first time seeing my wife in action in her field. She was amazing. The subject matter requested by the university was dry but she brought it to life - even for me and I have no interest in these topics. When Terry finished, and after everyone clapped, a phenomenon occurred that I've seen before - they asked her to pose for selfies! Completely unexpected, the Dean then conducted a mini-ceremony, replete with a photographer, in which Terry was presented with a beautiful carved wooden box containing an engraved plaque thanking her for her lectures. The photographer then took a group picture and I scrambled to get one, too. After the award ceremony a luncheon was held in Terry's honor and it was quite elaborate. There was Arab food, Indian food, and Chinese food. The junior faculty introduced themselves to Terry and asked many questions. Before we left the university we were taken on a tour. If ever there was a doubt as to what oil money can purchase, this set it to rest for me. The university had every technological advancement known, including what looked like a real hospital with each bed filled with a simulated patient that could be programmed to bleed, speak, and have breath and heart sounds. They even had "patients" who gave birth. There were also glass walls in the "hospital" for teachers, or other students, to observe how the students handled their "patients." We were told that Emiratis receive full college tuition, room and board, every other expense is paid, and they receive a (very) generous spending allowance just for going to school.
After the university tour the driver was asked to give us a tour of local sights before returning us to our hotel. We drove along the Persian Gulf, saw the beautiful huge mosque, and toured the pre-oil discovery areas of old town. The whole experience was fantastic. I got to see my wife at her professional best and how those she teaches respond to her. We headed back to Dubai with much to discuss.
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