Conference in Abu Dhabi

Greetings,

The Zayed Organization just put on a huge conference here in Abu Dhabi. I had a parent (Erin) and her son (Kurt) come to present about his Inclusion program from the United States. He was awesome!

Attached are a few photos from the conference and some pix of the Emirates Palace Hotel where I took them to lunch. The Sheikh , ruler of Abu Dhabi, really does live there part of the time. Part of the place is a hotel and part is a palace. As part of the Entertainment for the speakers we went on a Safari in the desert. So a couple of photos from that also. We rode in jeeps over the dunes, you could ride a camel if you wanted too, we had a traditional dinner and entertainment. If you look close you can Kurt and Erin and me among all the people on the stage.

Jill

Work in Abu Dhabi & Al Ain

Hi there.
Into my second week here. I work in Abu Dhabi 3 days a week in Al Ain one day. They have moved almost 40 student into inclusive settings in Abu Dhabi in 1 year with planning and with support. I am focusing on getting technology to the students right now. This was my first week to go to Al Ain. Lots of really nice things going on in the center there too. It's about 80 miles. Great highway and easy drive. In addition to going to the school, I was invited to an unveiling of artwork at the Oasis hospital. My boss encouraged me to go and represent Zayed. The Emiratee women are pretty reserved in public even the college women. The wife of the director at the hospital asked the art department at the University to ask the students to create artworks to display on the children's playground at the hospital. She was trying to encourage them to express themselves through art as well as decorate the playground. The art instructors put out huge canvasses and then students just dropped by and painted for 5 minutes or an hour. Then they went off to class. The project went on for over a year. There was some planning.......in that the students decided to depict life in the Emirates from a child's view. Attached is one of the pictures, my others didn't come out so well. I used my phone camera. The photo of the artists was taken at the reception in side the hospital. In most hotels, reception area, even at the school in Abu Dhabi, there is a replica of the tent that the people was lived in in the desert. It is a gathering place where Arabic coffee and fresh dates are served. I have had coffee several times in the tent in the hotel I stay in during the conferences here. It is quite lovely.
Love ya,
Jill

Welcome to Inclusion Adventures

Welcome to Inclusion Adventures!

My hope is to share with the world 'my' adventures for inclusion.
My good friend Nancy Harris http://321fun.blogspot.com/ is helping make sure I get this blog started and that I 'learn how to blog' my new adventure here in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. I do hope to learn how to be a 'good blogger' and be able to share with all of you what my taking this job will mean to many long after my work here is done and I am back home in the United States.

I am an Inclusion Consultant from Michigan. I travel throughout the United States speaking to large and small groups on the benefits of inclusion and share ideas on how to make Inclusion work successfully.

I have taken this job in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain for the next 2 years with the intent of teaching how to make inclusion work successfully here. This is an exciting time for me!

Suscribe to my new blog to receive updates.

Nancy, thank you for getting this blog started for me, so let's see how I do...with your help of course!

Friends and family - Thank you all for your love and support while I am on this adventure of a lifetime!

Love and miss you all!

Jill