Danke Amsterdam

I'm currently sitting in an internet cafe at the Schriphol airport in Amsterdam. Exhaustion is setting in.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands - Hurricane-force winds and rain lashed northern Europe on Thursday, disrupting air, rail and sea travel for thousands, toppling trees and construction cranes, and killing 11 people, including a 2-year-old boy crushed by a collapsed wall in London.

That is an excerpt from MSNBC today. The wind storm pretty much mucked everything up from the moment we crossed the North Sea. First we had to circle for a little under an hour. Then we dove into the wind for a CRAZY landing. Actually the plane touched down quite softly, but getting close to the runway was a chore. I don't know how those pilots do it! Next most all avenues of access to the city center were canceled and I was stuck at the airport for three hours wandering and wondering how I would get downtown. Finally I gathered enough nerve to hop on a bus that was headed in the general direction and planned to work things as I went. Thankfully I found a bus driver that spoke english and got some help with the transfers. A Surinami woman next to me was headed to the City Center as well and she graciously offered to show me through the jungle of transit options (Commuter Rail, Bus, Subway, and Tram systems!) Well, because of the storm all of the busses and trams headed downtown were stopped as well and there was no way to get downtown. The woman (who I later learned was named Pearl) told me she was going to walk so I tagged along. We walked for about 40 minutes and the journey turned into a delightful tour of the non touristy Amsterdam. What a beautiful City! The architecture here is fabulous. Pearl took me through various neighborhoods and showed me some of the popular sights. When we finally reached Central Station and she left to board her last bus home, I was happy to have the local expertise and company.

My time is expiring at this terminal. So I'm signing off. Keep your pants on. I'll have pictures up soon.

OK! Pictures:


Amsterdam From Above


Street Bikes


Amsterdam Street


Dinner at some restaurant

NSEP in Washington DC

Hello. I'm back from a little two day stint in this nation's capitol to attend the NSEP convocation and orientation program. Walking around the seat of power for the world's only remaining super power was quite an experience. Every building represented power through architecture and the titles above their doors. I strolled around for the afternoon and made it back to the hotel for the reception where I was quickly absorbed into the "Egypt" group of scholars. We went out to this pub and talked for hours about everything we held in common, the reasons why we're going to the Middle East, our experience so far with the NSEP, past experiences abroad, and more. I was so impressed with the caliber of people I met (think Ivy League, freaking brilliant, etc.). Someday these kids will hold positions of power, I'm sure. The next day was absorbed by lectures and informational sessions. I took off and made it to Dulles with time to spare before my flight. Oh, and one more thing: power. (Just wanted to use that word one more time in this post.)

The Midwest

I keep noticing how white people are here. I never thought of people in the Middle East as dark skinned, but all that changed after seeing the blinding white complexions of the general populace of Minneapolis. True, there are the occasional fake bakers here, but on aggregate, this place is WHITE.

So I've been back for over a week now. I'm still adjusting to life away from Dubai. It's like all the rules have changed and I need to go dig out the old manual and figure out how to make this thing go again. Working here and there to scrape some money together to feed me on my upcoming trip to Washington DC, as well as funds to launch my summer in Seattle. I'm eagerly anticipating both excursions!

My Arabian tan is slowly fading.

London Gatwick

This is just a quick check in from London. After 13 hours in the Dubai airport I finally made it out on my 2:45 flight. Let me just say that I have NEVER been on a nicer airline. Emirates economy class is like business class on all other airlines. It was wonderful: lots of space, GREAT food, displays in every seat, all entertainment on demand, amazing service.. wow. I would pay extra to travel on with these guys next time.

ok, so I probably shouldn't miss my flight. see you all stateside!

Leaving Dubai

Well this will be my last post from beautiful dubai. I get to spend an extra 17 hours here because I got stuck in traffic this morning and missed my flight. Yeah. I had to go through a bunch of trouble rebooking the flight. It's leaving tonight at 2:45am. And I've been switched to Emirates Airlines so that's cool.

The hours are going by slowly here but it's given me a chance to reminisce over the last four amazing months. I have learned so much. I have seen so much. I have grown so much. I'm incredibly thankful for the opportunity to come here to study. I am going to seariously miss my friends. The Americans: Carrie, Greg, Kristen, Dan, Chris, Deena, Nadeen, Maria, Lupe, Britney, Yesenia, and Eric (and Oz). And then there are the middle easterners: Smiley, Jo, Ida, Moe, Areej, Jasmiin, Figo, Hisham, and Adham. Ok. I'm going to go cry now.

Thanks everybody for reading this blog. I think my readers have been better at this than the writer! I hope you enjoyed a LITTLE window into my amazing time here in the Emirates.

Bye (and look for another post or two stateside)

Relaxation In Jumeriah

Ever since I moved out of the dorms I have been spending many a long hour hanging out in Jumeriah 3--an upper class neighborhood with row upone row of beautiful gated houses punctuated by an occasional palace. Most of my time here has been spent at Central Perk.
Yes, that's the same coffeeshop that Joey, Monica, Chandler, Pheobe, Rachel, and Ross hang out at in the show "Friends". Well it's a close replica. The interior looks identical, with the same couches, chairs, and colors. In fact, "Gunthor" the barista in the show was here for an entire week making coffee and signing autographs. Wierd, if you ask me. Anyhow, the place is a good venue to kill time.

After a lot of hassle, I finely have my ticket home. I'm flying American Airlines through London to Minneapolis on the 17th at 9:10am. That means I have less that two days left in Dubai. Wow.

Tieing Things Up

So today is the last day of finals. I have a final tonight at 6pm and then I'm done at AUD. I talked to the housing coordinator here and she's letting me stay in the dorms until the 9th of may. At that point I have a friend who is staying for the summer to work for a television production company and he has a room over in Jumeriah (15 minutes away) and is going to let me stay with him however long I need to. So, I'm well taken care of here in Dubai. An Egyptian friend of mine has invited me to go to Alexandria, Egypt and stay with him for a couple weeks, so that might be happening sometime between now and the end of the month.

At the end of May I need to be back in the US to attend the convocation ceremony in DC for a scholarship that I have recieved called the Boren Undergraduate Scholarship. They are putting me up in a hotel near Capitol Hill and there is some kind of reception dinner the night before. I think the time is going to be amazing! The whole point of the scholarship is that they are sending me to Egypt for 12 months of study. I will be leaving in January of 2007 and returning December of the same year.

Well, I'm going to go get some lunch at 24/7 (the quickie mart that all the students frequent) and then study for my Econ final tonight.