Upside of jetlag

Managed to fall asleep. Staying asleep a different story.

This is perplexing as I tend to be very good at sleeping.

Woke before 4 am and decided this would be a great opportunity to go run around Dubai.  Little traffic, less smog - a little exciting too. I made my way out toward the floating bridge before 5 am.  And yes, the bridge is resting on the water.  Running at night you're more sensitive to the sound around you and I gasped as I heard something leap out of the water next to me.  I still don't know what they were, but there were a few of them. I'm guessing they were fish.  Then my imagination starts to go:  is there anything in the water or running on land that might enjoy eating a slow runner?  Dubai...hmmm...maybe a camel would spit on me?  I've heard of rogue camels getting stranded along the highways here.. The bridge was barricaded.  So, I ran around the barricades. Its nice having a bridge to yourself - felt the bridge give under my steps and came to another barricade - and water.  It was sort of surpising to see a bridge end, look across a few meters to see it pick up again. The center had been pulled to the side - I suppose to allow boat traffic on the creek.  I was a little disappointed as there is a park across the way that I hear is good for running.  So, I turned back and made my way into the Dubai Park Hyatt Hotel.  A gated compound, I made sure to wake the guard with a "good morning" as I ran in.  The roads were lit and I made my way in toward a golf club.  I meandered a bit on the paths, startled a few rabbits - who looked more like pets on the loose than wild rabbits.

As I finished my loop it was nearing 5:30 am - and the call for prayer began to sound across Dubai.  I ran back out on the floating bridge and could hear the call to prayer echo from all around me as the calls came from Mosques all over the city. I stopped at the end of the bridge to soak in the sounds.  As the last notes drifted off, I trotted back to the hotel and am about to start a new day myself.

From Pineapple to Academy

Rachel and I are adjusting to the time change...but we're pretty challenged with the poor internet connection at the hotel.  Rachel was up a good bit last night trying to take care of students back home and I suspect and hope she's out cold right now.  It's sort of maddening: you want to connect home, wonder if its your computer and keep hitting the buttons again and again.  Rachel has a lot of compelling student requests coming in this time of the year -

Well, yesterday we fought through the fog of jet lag and stepped on to the RIT Dubai campus.  It was pretty amazing driving onto the campus of the Dubai Silicon Oasis...and in front of you is the centerpiece building, that well, looks like an architectural pineapple.  As we stepped into the foyer, we were excited to see the signs of our campus.  Combined with seeing an incredible diversity of people bustling about, getting their coffees and off to their corner of the complex to work.  We met with Dr. Tom and Ms. Sara Radwan. The day started with a brief about a conference with two students.  Rachel and I smiled as we listened:  these two students could easily have been at the Rochester campus. 

The origin of RIT Dubai is a meeting of strategic plan and serendipity:  Dr. Mustafa Abushagur had learned of Dubai's interest in securing a university to feed its silicon oasis at about the same time a government official was scoping out Dr. Abushagur's presentation at an international conference. Serendipity - and a lot of negotiations, work and education for all sides.  In 2008, RIT Dubai opened its doors to graduate students and this past fall, RIT Dubai began to offer undergraduate degrees.  And with undergraduates - students are more likely to be in need of housing.  Approximately 25 students moved into Etisalat Academy - Etisalat being THE major cell phone provider in the UAE.  The academy was built to serve as a training facility for the company - but today provides a variety of accommodations from conferences to student housing.  RIT is one of several schools that are utilizing this facility. Tomorrow, 11 students from the US campus will arrive to learn for one quarter in Dubai.  Here, we refer to this group as the Study Abroad students.

Today I met Mandip. Mandip has been serving as an RA since a few days after he moved in.  He's a bit older than the other students:  He chose RIT after running his own web development business for a few years in India and decided that investing in his education would be the next best step.   Mandip showed me around the Academy- a gated compound with  plush landscaping.  We had lunch at the cafeteria - an extensive buffet reflecting the different flavors of Dubai:  Indian, Asian, and even a little Italian.  As we sat down, ate and got acquainted - I confess I was looking for the desert bar that our own Dining Services in the states is known for.  Finally, in one corner of the room was a table with sweet and reasonable treats.  Strictly for observation and quality purposes, I tried them all.  Most of it was fresh fruit, but there was also a sort of rice pudding and little citrus cakes that were refreshing and not too sweet.

To my beloved colleagues who worked so hard on developing our Training Learning Objectives for Staff - we started there - and it was a good place to start.  Pat yourselves on the back - it works abroad!!  I confess, I was very proud as we used the document to guide our conversation of where Mandip felt confident and where he specifically wanted assistance in developing his skills.  So, we'll be moving forward...he's going to be getting a little Sanford and Perry tomorrow.  Sanford gives an understanding of providing appropriate levels of challenge and support for growth.  I think that translates well into most cultures. I'm curious how Perry's Intellectual and Ethical Development might work on such a diverse campus.  We've already talked about a cultural preference to avoid conflict - but if we're working in a business, is conflict avoidance good strategy?  Looking forward to our chats tomorrow on that one. We're talking about our first program for all RIT Dubai students... should be Saturday night - (equivalent of a Sunday night for all you back home).  Next few days will be shuttles, jet lag and orientation for the 'Study Abroad' group.

Will be working on a few infrastructure items tomorrow morning at the academic campus - then tomorrow afternoon I'll be back at the Academy helping Mandip to prepare for move-in. (And on Thursday, I'll be moving in myself.)

I feel tired...and should try to sleep - but I also feel like its not going to happen. Sigh. 

Tisbah as-salaama (good night!)

The Tigers have landed

Quick post - we have arrived.  Rachel and I were floored at how beautiful the hotel is.  Gorgeous materials and we're in a pretty huge one bedroom apartment.  I suspect that hospitality is a big deal in Dubai. In this region, hospitality would mean life or death for a traveler.

Flight went well. Slept more than I should have.  Rachel will have the prime stories:  she traveled over with a number of the World Wrestling Federation who were on their way to Abu Dabi.  We also arrived to discover that there are 3 degrees of separation: my friend Harold took me to the airport and then went to a party to meet one of Rachel's friends who was hosting her daughter.  "Her mom is going to Dubai..." That mom would be Rachel - my body wants lunch and the time here is 11 PM. Hmm...to bed and an early breakfast...maybe a run first...

Funny - can't get my skype to call land lines.  Then a few sites I'm used to using - including Blogger - are defaulting to Arabic...so I'm randomly clicking on links hoping to click on the right phrase!! 

Alright - shower and some rest.

Tomorrow, we discover Dubai and meet our RIT colleagues!

Wow.  I'm in Dubai!

Welcome to Global Initiatives...

In the last week I've met some great people at RIT and learned about offices I hadn't had much opportunity to work with.  I would walk by those big banners in the union advertising our campuses abroad and sigh - thinking how great it would be to go see them - but never expecting to go. 

I had heard about James Myers - doing amazing things for RIT, directing the Center for Multi-Disciplinary Studies - and - he was a runner. In addition to a pretty demanding role at RIT , he coaches Team in Training - a group that helps people train for marathons and raises money and awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  He works with slugs like me and teaches them how to run for a long time.  Clearly, I need to know this person.  Funny -  I know most runners around town by sight. On the occasions I saw him on campus - it was on an academic basis.  As  runners, we were out of context.  So, when he was listed as one of the names I should contact, I dropped him a note and asked to meet, and suggested a run. 

We caught up for a run a week ago and it was like old friends reunited after many years.  Some people may have golf to connect, but on the run you're shoulder to shoulder as if you're in the safe confines of a confessional - you already know you like the person next to you so conversation comes easily.  Dr. Myers quickly gave me the overview of our campus at Dubai.  I'm just recovering from an injury that had me off the run for far too long - so I was surprised we were able to cover so much information and complete our loop of the campus in a record time for me. Lots of work done for RIT and a quick workout in the bank: win - win.

On Sunday morning I had a phone conference with  RIT Dubai's Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs, Dr. Tom Raco.  My mistake - why did I think we were talking at 8:30?  at 7:30 the phone rang and with a cup of coffee in hand I started to take notes.  I'll have to see if he can hook me up with the Lebanese coffee he enjoys.  We'll have a lot to do in a few hours when I meet him in person.

By Monday, I learned that there would be another traveling from Rochester to Dubai:  Rachel McGinnis is on her way now to work on advising.  We'll be surrounded by supportive RIT folks, but it's nice to know that there's another person who is just as jet lagged as you are!    Rachel and I connected on Monday afternoon and pulled in Anna Lombard whose title makes you wonder about this office: Global Initiatives.  (Cue Mission Impossible music). Anna connected me quickly with resources and information that has already made things a little bit easier. 

Tuesday I got a call from Lyndsey McGrath - cautiously inquiring about helping with a tutoring program in Dubai:  potential for creating meaningful connections between our students - engagement, friendships, common ground, and mastery of subject matter. Looking forward to exploring this with the students and staff. 

One, I've felt incredibly supported by these colleagues I've only met for the first time.  Everyone has just extended themselves to provide information and resources.  Two - there is a lot of excitement for what is happening at Dubai RIT. 

Well, next time I write, I'll be in Dubai.  Safe travels all -

Comedy in Translation

I tried to do the responsible thing a week or so ago and tell my mom what I was about to do.  For those of you who know my mom (probably through my stories of her), know that this was not a good idea. Now let me say that my mom's story is worthy of an Amy Tan book - yes, complete with her American daughter at times loving and wanting to strangle her at the same time. Mom met my dad in Korea where he was serving in the Army and was convinced to join him in the states where they went on to be married almost 40 years until he passed away about 12 years ago.  Mom always managed to be too busy to really master English and by the time I showed up, the parents thought it was best to raise me with only English. Today, that leaves a very limited vocabulary for the two of us to communicate in.  Couple this with my mom's firm belief that all bad things she sees on television (and she watches a lot of it) happens within a 3 mile radius of wherever I am... and things can get complicated.

But I was so excited, so honored and thought - come on, I'm an adult. I should be able to tell my mom.  However, trying to explain the location of the UAE... there are really no landmarks that my mom knows that will not elicit a reaction. Although, traveling to Philadelphia elicits about 90% of the same reaction from her.

I was a little nervous myself at the prospect of traveling to Dubai.  What's it like? Just how much will I be expected to cover up? How hot is it? What's it like for women to work there?  Do they have decent coffee? The more I learned about Dubai, the more comfortable I became with traveling there.  Funny, I'll get off a plane, hopefully find Rachel McGinnis (who should arrive an hour ahead of me) and the two of us will make our way to baggage and a shuttle to the hotel.


Since mom wasn't getting it, I e-mailed my brother and told him that I'd manage communications via Skype and save her the worry.  So, he went over to the house and told her I was going to India. 

I'm excited to get to Dubai and meet our students and staff there. In my preparations, I know to dress modestly, to be very diplomatic - never say anything critical of the governance or culture, and to take extra time to greet and get to know people (there's lots more than that but...I do have to pack).

Hopefully in a few weeks, I'll be able to show my family what it's like to be in that part of the world. Likewise, there are a lot of people at RIT who will be working to connect our Dubai and US students so they can learn more about each others' worlds...and maybe they'll have their own stories to take back to their own parents.

So, if my mom calls and asks if I'm in India? Just go along with it for now.

RIT Global Time

I was asked a few weeks ago by our Provost if I was interested in going to Dubai. I think I managed to say "sure." (I almost broke out in hives -was pretty excited to say the least!) Since then, its been a pretty crazy ride. It's tough to step out of your life on short notice: we've been working on bringing in a couple of speakers for a major training event that will happen while I am gone and the club that I've advised for the last 10 years will be hosting their annual fashion show. It's a little heart breaking...I wish I could be in two places at once. However, I know I am leaving everything in great hands. That's one thing about the work that we do: everything is on a LARGE scale and we have small armies that make amazing things happen.

And now, I have the opportunity to go to RIT's frontier: our newest campus in the Persian Gulf. Dubai. Unlike the scale I'm accustomed to working in, RIT's approach to its campuses abroad? Strategic and lean. I'll be working with a new program and working with it's first reslife staffer.

I've always been fascinated how all of us in higher education suffer a bit from the Rodney Dangerfield "I get no respect" syndrome. I think that's where my interest in the origins of student services and organizations comes from: Why do we do what we do? Why is what we do important? How doe we articulate our role and impact to others? My dissertation research examines the impact of community college residence halls. Residence halls on community college campuses usually have more infrastructure with an existing campus and student services. RIT Dubai began in 2008 with graduate programs. In fall of 2010, we opened our campus to undergraduates. About 25 students live "on campus" - at a housing facility 20 minutes from campus. In a few weeks, they will be joined by 11 students from the RIT USA campus.

If I weren't so busy (and a little tired right now!) preparing - I might be nervous. But, no time for that. I'm excited. I'm grateful for my connections and experiences with the Association of College and University Housing Officers, International. It's been interesting coordinating meetings with colleagues that are 8-9 hours ahead. Had a meeting with our VP for Academic and Student Affairs on Sunday morning - I thought we were at 8:30. Phone rang at 7:30 AM. Fortunately, the coffee was ready. I've been warned that it will be tempting to keep a foot in both time zones - which is possible thanks (or no thanks) to our technology. Doing my best to put things in order here so I can focus my limited time in Dubai ON Dubai.

Got a call today inquiring about helping to set up a tutoring program in Dubai. Might be a way to structure interaction between the US students and Dubai students - but also want to make sure that its appropriate in what we're asking of students too - there's an opportunity in there for us to figure out.

Off to read a few of the "travel guides" before bed. One more day on campus to scramble preparations, take Bo (my old man and Corgi) to the "vacation resort for pets" and also prepare for Thanksgiving on Thursday.