Work, work, work?
Well, we started the second week of the training program yesterday. Everyone got right to task, and it appears the classes are going very, very well.
One thing that is certain is the deep and intense interest of the Iraqis in the courses and the materials. Similar to last year, one of our goals is to provide them with as many tools as is possible. Admittedly, they will not be able to use them all ? at least for now ? but at a minimum they?ll have them in the grab-bag of academic/library tricks for future reference. The fact that each person is only in one course also helps with getting to ?depth? in the course.
Comments from our colleagues who are teaching are revealing. Things such as: ?they really are curious and interested in everything?? and ?they have not seen database licenses before, so we went through all of the details?? and ?we went down one path, got diverted by an interesting discussion, and got back on track ? all of which was useful for them and for me?? and ?we talk about what we are doing is not possible to implement now in Iraq, but there will be a better future so the preparation is valuable?? and ?class time flies ? we cover so much, because the interest is there ? I?m tired after class and can appreciate the ?push? for knowing more and wanting more information.?
We would be remiss if we did not comment on the incredible helpfulness of the UAE University Libraries staff! These folks have adopted all of us. Of course they know David very well ? he?s like family to them ? but they?ve also treated us like family. It is an immense logistical effort to move us all around. The Zayed Central Library of UAEU is quite a distance from the dorms and the hotel, yet we all seem to get where we are going, on time, thanks to the excellent local coordination.
On the logistics side, I got everyone?s plane travel back to Iraq done yesterday ? what an effort. I made some new-best-friends at the Abu Dhabi Travel Agency yesterday, Miss Dania (from Damascus) and Miss Samiha (from Beirut). None of the Iraqi air carriers is automated, so all 31 tickets had to be done on paper ? t e d i o u s! Samiha wanted to talk politics yesterday, with obvious interest because of the situation in Lebanon. We agreed that there is a very real difference between America and Americans. The latter are well-liked and respected here ? the former?
As we get nearer to the end of this two-week program, we need to prepare all of the certificates for the participants (done beautifully by Carla). Those for the Iraqis are done, but David and I are working on certificates for local participants ? we are so pleased that several UAEU staff has taken up our offer to join classes, as their work time permits. Certificates of completion and appreciation are a big deal here in the Gulf, and we want to be sure that everyone who should be is acknowledged. We went out last night to find more certificates and/or paper and/or a color copier service. David knew of a place that made color copies, but they did not have any appropriate paper stock. The place is run by Iranians, and of course our man from UCLA discussed our needs with them in Farsi ? the guy is amazing! (btw, he also talks to the laundry man in Hindi, as he is from India)
Tomorrow we head off to Abu Dhabi where we will visit 1) the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research, 2) the Cultural Foundation, and 3) the Center for Documentation and Research. These are places of UAE national interest and importance, as Abu Dhabi is the capital city of the UAE. This will be an overnight excursion, so we?ll get a chance to check out Abu Dhabi by night.
Upon our return from Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, we will have a dinner for everyone up on Jebel Hafeet at the Mercure Grand Hotel. The buffet menu looks way-too good and I suspect we?ll have a feast for all!
If you are curious about Jebel Hafeet, here is some tourist information from Wikipedia:
Jebel Hafeet (variously translated Jabal, Jabel and Jebal) is a mountain primarily in the United Arab Emirates on the outskirts of Al Ain. The mountain actually straddles part of the border with Oman. The mountain rises 1240 meters and offers an impressive view over the city, with what has been described as “the greatest driving road in the world”[1] extending to the summit. Jebel Hafeet was a well-known landmark through out the area’s history and is a contemporary tourist attraction. An extensive natural cave system winds through Jebel Hafeet.
At the foothills of Jabal Hafeet lies the Green Mubazarrah, a well developed tourist attraction. At the Green Mubazarrah, hot-water springs gush forth in little streams and form a lake. Swimming pools and jacuzzis are scattered all over the Green Mubazarrah. Jebel Hafeet is also home to a wide range of animals including bats, foxes, snakes, etc. It is often incorrectly labelled U.A.E’s highest mountain (as it is certainly the most well-known); this honor actually belongs to Jabal Yibir.
That?s it for the moment, dear colleagues. I?ll try to blog again after we return from our road trip to Abu Dhabi. The time is flying by way too fast?