My new second home

I have moved into Etisalat Academy.  After another exciting Taxi Ride (and an experienced driver getting frustrated after the well meaning efforts of my hotel trying to give him good directions failed - one did not need to be fluent in Arabic to translate the conversation on the phone - "Okay, at the exit, I take a right and then take a left and then?  ...what?  and where is she going?  Eti - Etisalat?!  WHY DIDN'T THEY JUST SAY ETISALAT!  I'm an experienced driver!  I know where Etisalat is!  Okay, Okay - thank you thank you..."

Context, in language, is everything.

Well, I've already been put in a room where the key didn't work, the closet doors were off the rails and was asked to move to a new room this morning.  But, given I could only manage about a 15 minute run around the campus (and I was able to run around the campus twice) - I accepted it as a part of a little morning workout.  I don't think most of our students experienced this.  Aside from the very minor inconvenience - it was terribly entertaining to bring security up on the women's floor.  The male students are terrified of even taking the elevator to the third floor - so I teased my escort this morning as he let me back into my room and opened my new room.

The rooms are nice - but have more of the flavor of the RIT Inn than a traditional student residence.  The furniture is equipped to accommodate a few suitcases.   I am actually much more comfortable here than at the hotel -

To be honest, I'm a little nervous about running out past the confines of the academy. Mostly because it is a pretty desolate stretch for a while - and then I think we'll hit suburbia. One of the US students is looking to find some running routes...so maybe I can talk him into exploring with me.  Hopefully the jet lag will slow him down - he's tall and has long legs. 

I made it over to breakfast this morning.  There was an assortment of everything - spring rolls, naan, olives, feta, flat breads, croissants - I am amazed at what they can do with mixed vegetables over here...delicious. And you could even get the French toast, boiled eggs, yogurt and oatmeal for traditional fare.   With the holiday weekend - there were a lot of families taking advantage of breakfast.  There were a lot of cute kids, and only a few students. 

And they serve South African coffee.  Well - that's my term for instant.  It is just easier to provide a big pot of hot water, tea bags, instant coffee and a carafe of hot milk than it is to brew coffee...so, I make do.  I'm normally one to drink my coffee black - but in this case, the hot milk makes the instant palatable. I must find the regional coffee snobs - and I'm not going to find it at Costa or Starbucks.  Where's the Turkish Coffee??

Finally slept through the night. Its beautiful this morning - the Academy is a little oasis.  Lots of birds and fresh scents coming from the many plants...it was really nice being out this morning. Cool, clear and sunny.  I really am here at an ideal time of year...The staff are also very nice here.  And the internet is  better here than at the hotel.  I finally called through skype and talked to family and colleagues at work.

By the end of my day here, Leah Wing and Deepika Marya will be on campus back in Rochester.  We've been working with Kevin McDonald and the Office for Diversity and Inclusion, as well as the Ombuds, SG, RLI, Provost's Office, CPD and Campus Life to bring them to campus.  This was all started by our Student Staff Training Team really thinking about what training we provide to our staff to best serve our students.  I know its a huge commitment of time by the staff - but I am hopeful that it will be a good investment of their time and provide some new ways of looking at the work that we do.  I contrast what is going to happen on our Rochester campus - with what we hope for our campus here in Dubai -


So, to my colleagues in Rochester - Thank you for helping out in this big initiative.  I know its a big risk that I've pushed you all into! I believe it will be a good one.