Last week, we reported on Jordan’s weekend excursion in Dubai with some fellow classmates. Now that this hardworking exchange student is back in class, he tells us that campus life is just as exciting and eventful. There was a full week of the Club Fair, where campus clubs try to attract students with good food and fancy booths to join them. The fair, held in the Student Center, is also one of the few events on campus that the Sheikh or the Chancellor will show up to. And the Club Fair is an opportunity for students to get great cultural dishes such as, fat pots of rice, huge bowls of chicken and the American Club’s chicken burritos.
The Chancellor (in gray), kicking off the Spring Club Fair.
Both the Jordanian and Palestinian Clubs put on shows with dancers and all of the clubs are eager to attract Western students to become members. See the World, BE the Future scholarship recipient, Jordan admits that he joined more clubs than he intended, enticed by delicious cuisine. But he intentionally joined the Nigerian and Sudanese Clubs, and of course, the American Club!
Aerial views of students gathered and eating at the Club Fair.
The funniest thing that happened last week for Jordan was watching the locals’ reaction to a small rain shower. In his last class of the day one day last week, a light drizzle started with a little thunder. To Jordan, it was a mild rain shower but his fellow classmates were commenting on how bad it was outside, pleading with the professor to leave campus. When class was dismissed early, Jordan calmly stepped outside, letting the rain fall on him while watching others crowd under awnings and other coverings. He later understood their “overreaction” when the roads and streets, which aren’t made for rain, began to flood from the little bit that was falling. And the beautiful marble floors that he fell in love with became slippery and annoying.
The rainstorm (or “drizzle” to Jordan) in Sharjah.
After a hectic week, on Friday Jordan was able to experience his first Football match (although, he still likes to call it soccer) away from the US. He found out that American Soccer is not the same at all as what he experienced last week. For 90 minutes straight the crowd roared and the announcer constantly sang ‘call and response’ songs for the fans. He says the most exciting part was when the Portuguese striker made the first goal for the home team, hitting a magnificent shot outside the box that just curled right in. “DIO, DIO, DIO, DIO,” which means electrifying, was the chant erupting through the stands.
Jordan’s counselor, Abu, taking a selfie with the students. You can see Jordan (middle) in the American Football jersey on his phone.
There is never a dull moment in Sharjah, never a dull moment at the United Arab Emirates and never a dull moment with Jordan in the Middle East. So check back next week to see what he’s up to then!
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