The auditorium in which I gave my presentation.

Day 2

Day 2 was the best day ever. I woke up a bit early to go over my presentation one last time. I have been averaging about 5 hours of sleep each night since I've been here. Hopefully tonight will be better! Anyway, the day started out at the Dubai Men's College where we heard from the leader of the Amazon Conservation Team. Following him we heard from CNN Hero Evan Wadongo who started a program using solar lamps from completely recyclable material so children in Kenya can complete their studies. This was particularly incredible because I had watched the awards being given to the 2010 CNN Heroes. He left us with an amazing quote, "education isn't about what you know, education is about what you do." I whole heartedly believe in this quote. One can learn so much but it really means nothing if you don't do anything with your knowledge. Robert Swan also spoke to us, he is a traveler and explorer of Antarctica. He is the only man who has walked across pole north and south poles and is now leading trips of youth down there to help protect and conserve Antarctica. The student presenters were next. There were three different time slots so we chose which ones we wanted to hear. I heard presentations rangining from "Peace Education as a Tool for Conflict Resolution in Africa" to "A Framework of the International Humanitarian Disaster-aid Mechanism" to "The Increasing Water Crisis in the North West Province of Pakistan." All very interesting, engaging, and inspiring. We then heard from another CNN Hero Anuradha Koirala from Nepal who created the organization called "Maiti Nepal" in which she helps resuce trafficked women and children in Nepal and South Asia. After here we heard from Faith Act Fellows from the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and they as well as all the others delivered a very inspiring message. My presentation went well in the huge and intimidating auditorium. The actual presentation should be online somewhere but I don't think it is up quite yet. I received three very interesting questions from the audience that I was able to answer and several comments that they think it is a great idea and loved my presentation. Overall it went very very well and I was honored to have been selected. We found out the final numbers, 3500 people applied, 750 papers were submitted, 6000 are attending the conference with 36 paper presentations. So again truly honored to have been chosen as a delegate and even more as a presenter. We then got changed for the gala dinner and were transported to Abu Dhabi, about a little over an horus drive. We all looked very stunning in our semi formal/national dress. The gala dinner took place at the Emirates Palace which is absolutely gorgeous and was decorating from the drive up with EWB flags. There is so much gold in that palace it is ridiculous. They even have a gold atm. You can put your card in and it will dispense gold. The gala dinner was beautiful it was on the deck of the palace overlooking the water. Again we were amazed by great performances with all different cultural dances and singers as well as another inspiring speech by the Sheikh with the American CNN reporter here in Abu Dhabi as our host. I was able to dip my feet in the Persian gulf, shake the Sheikh's hand on the red carpet, engage in conversation with the a world reknown plastic surgeon, and try a different appetizer dip from every continent. We returned to the hotel after 1am.

Day 1

One word: incredible. The day started with a special orientation to the Dubai Men's College of Higher Technology. We presenters had an orientation there to see where exactly we will be presenting. Of course I am in the room that seats 500+ the massive auditorium instead of the other three locations that seat 100. Am I nervous? Nooo not at all... I have met so many amazing people thus far. My roommate is a graudate student studying in Amsterdam but is from Moldova. I have met several students who have developed their own NGOs, financial organizations, etc. Everyone is very accomplished and still very interesting in what you have to say and what you are doing with your life. Regular orientations continued as I continued to meet amazing people. The main event of the day was the opening ceremony which took place in the evening at the base of the Burj Khalifa, which is the tallest building in the world. The opening ceremony was breathtaking. It included an address by the Sheik, cultural dancing, a representation of what EWB is all about, singing, and fireworks. The stress of the opening ceremony was pointing out the importance of 131 nationalities being represented sitting next to each other and listening to what one another has to say. It's all about crossing those barriers of communication, finding innovative solutions, and coming together across cultures to face our global challenges. Admittedly, tears were streaming down my face as they continued to talk about the signifcance of such a coming together. The male graduate student from Canada sitting next to me was taken over by similar surprising emotions. Never have I been so proud and honored to be sitting exactly where I was at that moment. Pictures are to come tomorrow after the stress of my presentation is over.

I have arrived!

After my 15 plane ride, I have arrived! Several other students were on my flight from Atlanta to Dubai including some students from Mexico. The city is great! It's like Las Vegas but better. Everything is in Arabic and English and everyone has been so welcoming. The other students seem great as well and I am eager to meet more of them. I am in an apartment style hotel room that accommodates two but I currently don't have a roommate. We shall see if one arrives tomorrow. I haven't been able to see much of the city only what I've seen from my bus ride to the hotel but the sites are amazing. We passed by the Burj Khalifa, the highest building in the world, I saw the famous sailboat looking hotel from afar and the purple light up replicates of the chrysler building. I have a great view from my apartment on the 36th floor. Tomorrow will be an early morning full of orientations and opening ceremonies. I have a special orientation of where I will present and such. The opening ceremony will be towards the evening tomorrow at the Burj Park. There may be a little free time tomorrow afternoon to explore the city a little. I shall keep everyone posted.

Pre-Departure

So I have decided to create a blog about my upcoming trip to Dubai. I leave Saturday evening from Greensboro and will be in flight for a total of 16 or so hours. I am missing a week of classes to attend this conference called Education Without Borders. It's a biennial conference in which students around the world attend to discuss innovative solutions to some of our world's greatest challenges.

I submitted an entrepreneurial idea to enhance my application titled: Implementation of tuberculosis treatment support programs: a culturally conscious approach. The conference committee I suppose decided that they liked my proposal so much that they wanted me to present it. So now I am one of 30 other presenters in a conference of around 1,000 in attendance.

Haven't created my powerpoint presentation yet still trying to wrap up some things with my classwork here. I have informed all of my professors I will be out a week and most of them have been very willing to work with me. I'm pretty excited but I don't think its quite sunk in yet. To be finished before I leave: one exam, a group project, another group project, a proposal for a stipend, and of course I still need to pack.