It's Leap Day and a Snow Day! However, as we are snowed in and under a Winter Storm Warning, Abu Dhabi is currently 70 degrees! Our arrival is finally within the 10-day forecast, with a high of 76 degrees and sunny. Woohoo!!
As everyone else is excited about the snow on-campus here, I am searching through my closet and making packing lists for our upcoming trip to the WAGL Conference. I'm excited to meet women from around the world and make connections and friendships that will hopefully extend beyond the conference itself. Also, one of the things I am most excited for is experiencing the overall culture and atmosphere in Abu Dhabi. The food, people, architecture, religion, and language are all so different from Minnesota! I can't wait to wander the markets - taste and smell the new foods, interact with the locals, try my best at bargaining (which I self-profess am terrible at), and hear the stories of the people who live and work there.
I feel very comfortable travelling, but I am slightly nervous about the conference. I have never attended an international conference before so I am a little overwhelmed that in 13 days I will be participating in a conference in Abu Dhabi (how awesome does that sound?!). The other day I told my friend that I was nervous about starting a conversation with someone who lives halfway around the world from me (from what I've heard the weather is always hot and sandy in Abu Dhabi, so small talk about the weather will get old very quickly), but then she pointed out that these women will most likely love to talk about where they are from. If someone were to ask me about Minnesota or CSB, I would gladly tell them all about the snow, my class schedule, what my friends and I do to past time, or hotdishes (just kidding). Also, I realized that these women are going to have a lot more in common with me than I previously thought, and now I am just super excited to meet some new friends!
Goodbye for now,
Mackenzie Lecy
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Potluck Party - Getting Excited!
It's really getting close now! In a week and a half we will be traveling many hours on a flight to the United Arab Emirates! Last night, some the delegation gathered to share a potluck of some Emerati-like cuisine. It was fun to see and taste the unique food. Though a few of us had to make due with American substitutes for some ingredients, each dish gave us a hint of what to expect from Emerati culture when we arrive in the UAE.
A few of the dishes we tried included a couple rice dishes, a breakfast pasta dish, a type of sweet fry bread, pita bread, a dessert made with ghee, a rose water drink, orange drink, and cinnamon tea.
The pre-travel potluck was a success! Everyone is even more excited for Spring Break now. We talked about what footwear and clothing we plan to bring, traded some tips, and even shared our favorite smartphone travel apps.
What I'm Looking Forward To:
Personally, I've been busy this past week trying to get a head start on packing. I've put a new battery in my watch, shopped for comfortable sandals and capris, and started to decide all of what I want to bring. Its amazing how close we are to leaving. I can't wait to see all the unique features: the mosques, architecture, markets, people, food... And the conference will amazing as well. I am excited to hear from the remarkable speakers that WAGL has lined up for us. You can check out the speakers here: http://www.zu.ac.ae/main/en/wagl2012/speakers.aspx
Did you know that the city of Dubai is only about 20 years old? I will show you...
Dubai: 1990
Dubai: 2003
Dubai: last year
Amazing, isn't it? I am so excited to see the architecture and beauty of this city. Look at Dubai's Palm Islands...
Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE, also has some beautiful feautures. Here is the Sheik Zayed Mosque... It has a total of 84 domes!
I can almost hardly believe we will be in this country, encountering these beautiful sights for ourselves so soon! The conference and sightseeing will be experiences we Bennies will never forget. Only 11 more days until we take-off... to both our destination and our future as global leaders. UAE, here we come!
~ Colleen Kennedy
A few of the dishes we tried included a couple rice dishes, a breakfast pasta dish, a type of sweet fry bread, pita bread, a dessert made with ghee, a rose water drink, orange drink, and cinnamon tea.
The pre-travel potluck was a success! Everyone is even more excited for Spring Break now. We talked about what footwear and clothing we plan to bring, traded some tips, and even shared our favorite smartphone travel apps.
What I'm Looking Forward To:
Personally, I've been busy this past week trying to get a head start on packing. I've put a new battery in my watch, shopped for comfortable sandals and capris, and started to decide all of what I want to bring. Its amazing how close we are to leaving. I can't wait to see all the unique features: the mosques, architecture, markets, people, food... And the conference will amazing as well. I am excited to hear from the remarkable speakers that WAGL has lined up for us. You can check out the speakers here: http://www.zu.ac.ae/main/en/wagl2012/speakers.aspx
Did you know that the city of Dubai is only about 20 years old? I will show you...
Dubai: 1990
Dubai: 2003
Dubai: last year
Amazing, isn't it? I am so excited to see the architecture and beauty of this city. Look at Dubai's Palm Islands...
Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the UAE, also has some beautiful feautures. Here is the Sheik Zayed Mosque... It has a total of 84 domes!
I can almost hardly believe we will be in this country, encountering these beautiful sights for ourselves so soon! The conference and sightseeing will be experiences we Bennies will never forget. Only 11 more days until we take-off... to both our destination and our future as global leaders. UAE, here we come!
~ Colleen Kennedy
Sunday, February 26, 2012
An Incredible Journey Awaits
27 days! It's hard to believe we are leaving in less than a month! It still feels so unreal...and I don't think it will feel real to me until we land in Dubai. I applied for the trip not expecting to get in because I heard there were many many applicants. I even told myself I wasn't going to be selected, that way I wouldn't be so disappointed. I couldn't believe it when I recieved the e-mail saying I had been selected. Two months after recieving that email, and I still can't believe it! Words cannot express how unbelievably excited I am. I find that no matter what I'm thinking about, my thoughts always wander back to this trip!
I am so grateful to St. Bens and the IWL for organizing this trip and giving me and my fellow delegates the opportunity of a lifetime. I'm proud to be representing St. Bens and look forward to sharing my experiences when I return. My freshman year is only halfway over, but I know that this is going to be the hightlight of my freshmen year of college. Much is learned by reading textbooks and listening to classroom lectures, but first-hand experience is the best way to learn and grow.
I have done a fair amount of traveling, but in my wildest dreams could never have imagined having the opportunity to experience what life is like half a world away. I can't wait to experience everything the UAE has to offer.
This conference will be a powerful learning experience and I look forward to being inspired by the influential women that will be presenting at this conference. Women's leadership is important to me. I hope to one day use the knowledge I gain to be instrumental in achieving my dream of becoming a leading figure in foreign affairs, and one day an ambassador for the United States.
- Jenna
I am so grateful to St. Bens and the IWL for organizing this trip and giving me and my fellow delegates the opportunity of a lifetime. I'm proud to be representing St. Bens and look forward to sharing my experiences when I return. My freshman year is only halfway over, but I know that this is going to be the hightlight of my freshmen year of college. Much is learned by reading textbooks and listening to classroom lectures, but first-hand experience is the best way to learn and grow.
I have done a fair amount of traveling, but in my wildest dreams could never have imagined having the opportunity to experience what life is like half a world away. I can't wait to experience everything the UAE has to offer.
This conference will be a powerful learning experience and I look forward to being inspired by the influential women that will be presenting at this conference. Women's leadership is important to me. I hope to one day use the knowledge I gain to be instrumental in achieving my dream of becoming a leading figure in foreign affairs, and one day an ambassador for the United States.
- Jenna
Pre-Travel Excitement!
The Institute for Women's Leadership at the College of Saint Beendict has caught the travel bug yet again, and this time we are going a little out of our confort zone, to the United Arab Emirates! The IWL will be leading a trip to the 4th Women as Global Leaders Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. We will be spending three days before the conference in the town of Sharjah, 20 minutes North of Dubai, where an alum of CSB works at the American University of Sharjah. They have graciously offered to let us stay on campus, as well as take us around Sharjah and Dubai to show us the marvels and wonders of the UAE, as well as helping us to experience true Emiratie culture. After that, we will travel to Abu Dhabi to attend the WAGL conference at the Zayed University. More information about the conference can be found here:http://www.zu.ac.ae/main/en/wagl2012/about.aspx
We have had a lot of planning an preparation go into this trip. This included an application process, in which we selected 13 delegates based on their leadership skills and interest in the conference and its theme. Over Winter Break, students were asked to read a book on Islam, in order to further their knowledge of the religion and its customs, and to better prepare us for the culture. Since stating Spring semester, we have had 2 orientation sessions, in which various groups have presented on different aspects of the country. We are now a little more than a month out from the trip and are all getting very excited!
Here is a list of our delegates:
Anna Krieger Sophomore
Rhebekkah Westre Senior
Colleen Kennedy Sophomore
Song Her Junior
Abby Hansen Senior
Marissa Loch Sophomore
Chelsea Parker Senior
Mackenzie Lecy Sophomore
Jenna Maus First-Year
Rebecca Scholz Junior
Lindesy Gideon Junior
Nikki Orth Sophomore
Lauren Witt Senior
Liz Beaty Junior - Student Director of Institute for Women's Leadership
Carrie Vandelac 2011 Alum, Executive Assistant - Office of
Institutional Advancement
Heather Nicole Saladino Resident Director -Lottie Hall, and
Coordinator of Hynes Scholars Cohort
Judy Purman Director - Office of Sustainability
Lindsay Wimmer 2011 Alum, Sustainability Fellow - Office of Sustainability
In addition, five of our members will be presenting at the conference: Rhebekkah Westre, Judy Purman and Lindsay Wimmer, and Liz Beaty and Carrie Vandelac! We wish them the best of luck!
Here is a copy of the in-country itenerary:
Itinerary
Friday, March 9th: Arrive in Dubai, drive to Sharjah, overnight on Sharjah campus
Saturday, March 10th: Explore Dubai with Alina Balonuskova, CSB alum
Sunday, March 11th: Tour the American University of Sharjah,
Monday, March 12th: Travel to Abu Dhabi. Check into Housing/Hotels for Conference. Visit the Women’s Handicraft Center, either the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village or the Qasr Al Hosn (a palace), and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Tuesday, March 13th – Thursday, March 15th: Attend Women As Global Leaders Conference
Friday, March 16th: Depart Abu Dhabi
Friday, March 9th
After landing in Dubai, we will start our journey at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), where CSB alum Alina Balonuskova works and where MaryAnn Baenninger is a Board member—one of only two female board members! We will take the remainder of the travel day to rest, and we will spend the night in apartments on the AUS campus.
Saturday, March 10th
Alina Balonuskova will accompany us to Dubai, where we will sightsee.
Sunday, March 11th
Today, we will take a tour of the AUS campus. We will sit in on classes, eat at the Student Center for lunch, and meet students. Later in the evening, we will have an “authentic” Arabic dinner in the city of Sharjah with faculty from AUS.
Monday, March 12th
We will travel to Abu Dhabi in the morning, settle into our hotels, and decide what activities we want to do as a group. Our options include visiting the Women’s Handicraft Center, the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village or the Qasr Al Hosn (a palace), and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Tuesday, March 13th — Thursday, March 15th
The “Women as Global Leaders” conference officially begins, and we will immerse ourselves in the conference program until Thursday night.
Friday, March 16th
Depart for the United States.
Check back for updates from our delegates! We will be posting on all of our experiences before, during, and after the trip!
Peace,
-Liz :)
We have had a lot of planning an preparation go into this trip. This included an application process, in which we selected 13 delegates based on their leadership skills and interest in the conference and its theme. Over Winter Break, students were asked to read a book on Islam, in order to further their knowledge of the religion and its customs, and to better prepare us for the culture. Since stating Spring semester, we have had 2 orientation sessions, in which various groups have presented on different aspects of the country. We are now a little more than a month out from the trip and are all getting very excited!
Here is a list of our delegates:
Anna Krieger Sophomore
Rhebekkah Westre Senior
Colleen Kennedy Sophomore
Song Her Junior
Abby Hansen Senior
Marissa Loch Sophomore
Chelsea Parker Senior
Mackenzie Lecy Sophomore
Jenna Maus First-Year
Rebecca Scholz Junior
Lindesy Gideon Junior
Nikki Orth Sophomore
Lauren Witt Senior
Liz Beaty Junior - Student Director of Institute for Women's Leadership
Carrie Vandelac 2011 Alum, Executive Assistant - Office of
Institutional Advancement
Heather Nicole Saladino Resident Director -Lottie Hall, and
Coordinator of Hynes Scholars Cohort
Judy Purman Director - Office of Sustainability
Lindsay Wimmer 2011 Alum, Sustainability Fellow - Office of Sustainability
In addition, five of our members will be presenting at the conference: Rhebekkah Westre, Judy Purman and Lindsay Wimmer, and Liz Beaty and Carrie Vandelac! We wish them the best of luck!
Here is a copy of the in-country itenerary:
Itinerary
Friday, March 9th: Arrive in Dubai, drive to Sharjah, overnight on Sharjah campus
Saturday, March 10th: Explore Dubai with Alina Balonuskova, CSB alum
Sunday, March 11th: Tour the American University of Sharjah,
Monday, March 12th: Travel to Abu Dhabi. Check into Housing/Hotels for Conference. Visit the Women’s Handicraft Center, either the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village or the Qasr Al Hosn (a palace), and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
Tuesday, March 13th – Thursday, March 15th: Attend Women As Global Leaders Conference
Friday, March 16th: Depart Abu Dhabi
Friday, March 9th
After landing in Dubai, we will start our journey at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), where CSB alum Alina Balonuskova works and where MaryAnn Baenninger is a Board member—one of only two female board members! We will take the remainder of the travel day to rest, and we will spend the night in apartments on the AUS campus.
Saturday, March 10th
Alina Balonuskova will accompany us to Dubai, where we will sightsee.
Sunday, March 11th
Today, we will take a tour of the AUS campus. We will sit in on classes, eat at the Student Center for lunch, and meet students. Later in the evening, we will have an “authentic” Arabic dinner in the city of Sharjah with faculty from AUS.
Monday, March 12th
We will travel to Abu Dhabi in the morning, settle into our hotels, and decide what activities we want to do as a group. Our options include visiting the Women’s Handicraft Center, the Abu Dhabi Heritage Village or the Qasr Al Hosn (a palace), and the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.
Tuesday, March 13th — Thursday, March 15th
The “Women as Global Leaders” conference officially begins, and we will immerse ourselves in the conference program until Thursday night.
Friday, March 16th
Depart for the United States.
Check back for updates from our delegates! We will be posting on all of our experiences before, during, and after the trip!
Peace,
-Liz :)
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