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