Last week when we left Jordan, one of Black Entrepreneurs Inc.’s, See the World, BE the Future scholarship recipients, he was immersed in a new kind of culture shock. This week he reports back to us with new experiences in diversity in the Middle East!
Jordan, and a few other exchange students, decided to split expenses and have a weekend excursion in Dubai. Not only were they anxious to find out what the nightlife was all about, but also they wanted to revisit the Jumeirah Beach from when they first arrived orientation week.
Alexander, another exchange student, and Jordan with their new friend on the beach.
Jumeirah Beach is easily Dubai’s most popular beach and this time Jordan and his fellow classmates were able to relax, lay out in the sun and even take a dip in the surprisingly ice-cold water. But, Jordan says that one of the coolest parts of the beach was taking in the main area and seeing that every restaurant on the boardwalk was different: French Crepery; the American favorite, Shake Shack; Egyptian restaurants; Mexican bars; an Ottoman candy stand and so much more.
The Ottoman Candy stand in Jumeirah Beach.
The outside market at Jumeirah Beach.
Jordan shared enlightening conversations with some of the restaurant workers and the art vendors on the street, learning that Dubai isn’t unique because it caters to tourists—especially Westerners. Dubai is unique because it genuinely is a mix of so many ethnicities and nationalities. And he learned that the city wants to preserve the uniqueness of having that wide collection of cultures interacting and embracing each other’s differences.
One restaurant had camel burgers, which apperently weren’t bad at all.
After a full day of tourist activities, the group stepped out for the nightlife in Dubai, which was another all-new experience for Jordan. Watching a line of Lamborghinis and Ferraris pull up in front of the nightclubs was a thrill. He and his classmates were able to party and converse with a variety of people and groups that they met like, Ethiopians, Filipinos, Germans, Pakistanis, Emiratis, and the list goes on. “People were from all walks of life, dancing to songs and music that they’d never heard.” One of the coolest hot-spots he visited that night had a mechanical bull, and as a Texan, Jordan enjoyed watching Middle Easterners and others embrace their inner cowboy.
A little taste of Texas in the middle of Dubai. This Stables Bar made Jordan just a little homesick.
Jordan reports that the term melting pot or salad bowl gets thrown around a lot, especially in reference to the United States but being immersed with so many people from all around the world, he recognizes the similarities outnumber the differences between people and it is something he’d never recognized before—even in the United States. This is something he will take away from his study abroad, and with him everywhere he goes.
Now, back to class!
Check back next week to read what more is in store for Jordan in the United Arab Emirates!
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