Abu Dhabi - Amazing!!

Jaws dropping, huge smiles, "wows" heard throughout the group ... just some of the reactions of our group as we arrived in Abu Dhabi about 2 hours ago.  Upon arrival, we were met just outside the EgyptAir plane by 4 Emirati women, who work for our sponsor, the Arab Women's Organization/AWO.  Our greeters then escorted us all into the VIP arrival lounge.  Our passports and baggage claim tags were collected while we were served cool juices by non-Arab wait-staff.  Half an hour later (or less), our passports were returned to us, with our Entry Visas provided and our luggage collected and placed on a truck.  We boarded vans (okay, Cynthia and I got treated to a Mercedes limo) and sped our way through the tranquil, orderly, "green" streets of Abu Dhabi to our 5-Star InterContinental hotel, a stone's throw from the Royal Palace.  

We were met in the lobby by 3 Egyptian men and women, whom I've met before in Cairo at the headquarters of AWO.  They had our rooms ready and room keys provided.  We were told that, in addition to our hotel rooms, all of our meals as well as our laundry (!) would be covered by the AWO sponsors.  And, as we had 4 hours to wait before dinner (tonight at 9 pm, with the 30 Arab students who are already here), that the AWO would arrange for room service for all our rooms ... 

I do think that nearly all of our students "get it" - i.e., they must know by now what an incredible opportunity has been provided to them ... yes, I do think one or two of the less-vocal might not yet get it (or, if they do "get it", perhaps they also appreciate it, even if they don't yet vocalize that).  But again, focusing on the near-100% of these students, their expressions, their comments to Cynthia and me, their eye-popping, jaw-dropping responses tell me that they do appreciate what has been provided to Northeastern University (students, faculty and staff).  And we have only just begun!  Tonight, we will meet the 30 Arab students (we've already met some from Yemen, Morocco, and Jordan) for an "ice-breaker" ... Tomorrow, we'll have official opening comments (oh, I just realized, I'm slated to speak so I must prepare some comments!!), then we'll break into working groups on various topics (all related to the role and status of women): education, health, nutrition, politics and government, business and economy, and one or two other general topics.  So, after the "ice" is "broken", we look forward to some engaged discussions -- American and Arab students -- on critical issues of our times.

And I do owe our readers an update about Siwa and Marsah Matruh ... pictures soon!