One step at a time, wherever these adventures lead.: Week 5

Day to Day:

In Abu Dhabi, customer service is taken to a whole other level; first when you enter hotels all the staff are so welcoming and greatly insist on carrying your luggage for you (large or small).

Second- I was in the middle of placing an order for pizza. Since I did not have a menu, the staff were willing to send someone over to my apartment to bring a menu for me- just to make it easier for me to place my order. I was overwhelmed by that offer; I asked them for their website instead. It is unbelievable how nice they are.
Now onto my experience in Dubai.

RA Retreat in Dubai:

Our journey to Dubai started at 7am only a few hours after the RAs had landed. 2 of them unfortunately did not make it out of Chicago due to bad weather so their flights were rearranged and they met us the following day. Nonetheless, the rest of us were extremely eager to experience this new city. For the returning students, this was an ordinary road trip to a familiar territory.
Our first and permanent stop was a this lovely hotel, Le Royal Meridien.

Similar to the customer service in Abu Dhabi, the staff were extremely attentive to every one of our needs even the ones we were not thinking about (such as fruit, chocolate, and extra water in our rooms). We spent most of our time in a large conference room on the 10^th floor, where they provided a variety of food for us to eat throughout the day.

Our rooms also had balconies which overlooked the pool area and the beach. Due to the high temperatures and the beach closing at 6pm, I did not make it out of the hotel. One of the RAs even complained about his feet getting burned on the sand.

View from room balcony

My TV was personalized; a very nice touch.

If you look closely, you might be able to see the camels

I tried to zoom in but it did not come out clearly; well, it’s the thought that counts.

At sunset, the view was even more beautiful. Nonetheless, the retreat was extremely relaxing and a great time to get to know our staff. I believe it is going to be a wonderful experience learning from them and getting to meet the other students once they arrive.
Open Doors, Open Minds:

This was the motto/mission at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding (SMCCU) After our retreat our staff went there for an Iftar dinner and to have an opportunity to learn more about the culture. Upon entering, you are drawn to the home-like ambiance inside the centre. Everyone was asked to remove their shoes and join other locals and tourists around the sitting area. When it was time to break the fast, the staff even allowed all of us to observe their prayers before eating the meal; they even offered to allow people to take pictures. Personally, I felt awkward interrupting their prayers so I opted for taking pictures of the food instead.

This was the spread which awaited all of us.

He was making Arabic Coffee, which is one of the last parts of the Iftar meal besides desserts. As he ground the coffee, he was singing something in Arabic. At one point, he welcomed the RAs to sit next to him. Once the call to prayer was finished, the staff started bringing us dates and water. The food was finally presented.

After dinner, we were given a tour to the mosque on site, which was called Jumeira Mosque. In preparation and depending on your attire, we were asked to wear traditional attire. While I already had my own pashmina, which would have sufficed since I was wearing jeans), I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to wear a Shayla (scarf) and Abaya (black dress). I wanted to be uniform with the women especially in such a warming welcoming environment. Even one of the women helped dress me. I don’t think she knew a great deal of English but she still understood that I needed assistance.

View of the mosque

Dessert after our tour

The staff also took some time to explain the tradition attire. One referred to this part of the conversation as a fashion show. The entire experience at the SMCCU, was extremely informative. I was pleased with the staff’s ability to respond to all our questions and join us for informal conversations even during the Iftar.

In a few words, what I learned:

There is a mixture/ confusion about whether the attire represents religion or culture. Understanding the context of the Islam versus Arabic culture, can help provide clarity about which aspect influences individual choices-especially in how individuals choose to represent themselves physically.
True there are certain gender designated roles, but at the core the family is an important aspect in the UAE.
Prayers are an opportunity to sit inside the mosque and be reflective and give thanks for your life. We were even present for one of the calls to prayer. To my surprise, it was a live prayer not an audio recording; a gentleman walked up and completed the prayer in our presence. It seems that in Dubai this is how it is done all the time, but in Abu Dhabi it is a recording.
Having multiple wives is not as common as most people think because such as status requires a certain level of wealth. All wives must be treated fairly. As an example which I was given: if the husband buys a Ferrari for one wife, he must do so for all of his wives. This also applies to simple belongings such as purses, clothes, etc.
When it comes to fashion, all women are allowed to purchase/own an Abaya of their own. It is not offensive to Emiratis-unless they are purchased from souvenir stores. It is important to take time and money to invest in the proper tailor.
The males' outfit, Kandora will fluctuate in weigh (of material) according to the season. The color of material is one’s choice and it can be casual or as formal as one pleases.