The first video clip called Air Outpost, about Sharjah airport, was filmed in 1937. The city of Sharjah then had a population of 15,000; today it is over half a million. The population then was overwhelmingly Arab, with a sprinkling of Indian and Iranian traders. The runway was a thin strip of tarmac in the middle of the desert in southeastern Sharjah.
Next to it was one of the areas most visible landmarks, a three-story white control tower that stands to this day.
Inside the terminal, it was hot, as puny electric fans struggled to cope with the scorching sun. The story of the airport can be traced to Britain's search, starting in the late 1920s, for an alternative route for the section of its England to India service between Basra in Iraq and Karachi, in modern-day Pakistan.
The second video shows us people dancing in the airport in Dubai. The people in the video are from different kinds of nationalities and cultures, but they get along together and we can see that they are happy. This video also shows us how the UAE has developed from the past to the present, and how it welcomes people from the whole world.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Reflection
The UAE 10 years ago was different from what it is now. The relationship of the UAE was different with the other countries; in the past it was confined to certain countries, but now it has a different relationship with the whole world. Even the size of the population, roads, buildings and professions differ from what they were in the past; this difference is because of the relationship with the whole world and the overlap with other countries.
Definitions
1. Affluence = wealth.
Abu Dhabi is an example of an affluent society.
The opposite of affluence is poverty.
2. Ethnicity= is determined by factors such as race, religion, language.
Ethnicity is not the same as nationality.
3. Ability= skill.
He has the ability to get very high grades.
4. Diversity = the quality of being different.
This course is about cultural diversity, which means people of different cultures living and working together.
5. Assimilation = absorption
Cultural assimilation is the process whereby a minority group gradually adapts to the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture and customs.
6. Demographics = composition of a population.
The demographics of the UAE are discussed in our first post. You can analyse demographics according to race, religion, age, wealth, etc.
7. Religion = a set of beliefs.
Religious people try to live according to the teachings of their religion.
8. Race = a group of people with similarities, particularly physical appearance.
You can a similar nationality but a different race.
9. Multiculturalism = many different cultures.
A multicultural society is one where people of different cultural backgrounds live and work together.
10. Personality = individual character.
She has a very nice personality: kind, patient, tolerant and loving.
11. Prejudice = bias.
Apartheid in S. Africa was based on racial prejudice against black people.
12. Acculturation = the mixing of different cultures.
If a foreigner here in the UAE says he does something like an Emirati, then that would be an example of acculturation.
13. Bias = prejudice.
Bias is a negative opinion of a person or group based on race, colour, culture or whatever.
14. Discrimination = treating people differently.
Apartheid meant discrimination in favour of whites and against blacks.
15. Fringe = edge, margin.
A fringe group is a small minority, usually expressing an extreme opinion.
16. Population = the number of people.
A census is a count of the number of people in a country.
17.Stereotyping = making assumptions or generalisations about a person or group of people.
Americans are rich, while Mexicans are poor.
18. Gender = sex.
There are two genders, male and female.
19. Resistance = opposition.
There have been many signs of political resistance to established governments in the Arab spring of this year.
20. Advantage = a favoured position.
If you are an expatriate, being able to speak the local language is a big advantage.
21. Racism = hatred of another person or group of different race, often based on colour.
The apartheid system in S. Africa was an example of racism.
22.Ethics = morality, i.e. what is right or wrong.
Ethical behaviour is honest behaviour.
23. Productivity = the ability to produce something.
The company's productivity rates are rising.
24. Behaviour = the manner of acting/conduct.
The students' behaviour is very good.
25. Belief = confidence, opinion..
I have great belief in her.
Tibetans believe in re-incarnation.
26. Majority = most.
The vast majority of Arabs are Muslim.
27. Income = salary.
All employees have a monthly income.
28. Adverse = bad, harmful.
We didn't go on a picnic because of the adverse weather conditions.
29. Values = beliefs.
I value honesty very highly.
30. Traditions = customs.
They are handed down from generation to generation.
31. Generation = group of people born at about the same time.
In some societies people talk about a generation gap; each generation has its own ideals & standards.
32. Sensitivity = empathy, awareness of someone else's feelings.
She's very sensitive. She cares about how other people feel.
33. Slang = slightly improper language.
Have a shufti at my blog.
34. Ethnocentrism = seeing everything from the viewpoint of your own culture.
An ethnocentric viewpoint is narrow and limited.
35. Stratification = rigid division of society.
The Indian caste system is an example of social stratification.
36. Socio-cultural = relating to society & culture.
Language, ethnicity, religion are all socio-cultural factors.
37. Resident = someone living in a particular place.
Khalid, Aziz and Hedley are all Abu Dhabi residents.
38. Poverty = being poor.
The opposite of poverty is affluence or wealth.
39. Nationality = the country you belong to.
You can have different race or ethnicity but the same nationality.
40. Minority = less than half.
Christians are a minority of the UAE's population.
41. Class = group.
You can have upper class, middle class, lower class.
42. Globalization = worldwide connectivity.
Global brands or logos today are recognised worldwide; we all know the logos of Nike, McDonald, Mercedes etc.
43. Virtual = not real, imaginary.
Computer games create a virtual world which is not real.
44. Barriers = obstacle.
To make progress you have to climb over or go round or go through barriers.
Abu Dhabi is an example of an affluent society.
The opposite of affluence is poverty.
2. Ethnicity= is determined by factors such as race, religion, language.
Ethnicity is not the same as nationality.
3. Ability= skill.
He has the ability to get very high grades.
4. Diversity = the quality of being different.
This course is about cultural diversity, which means people of different cultures living and working together.
5. Assimilation = absorption
Cultural assimilation is the process whereby a minority group gradually adapts to the customs and attitudes of the prevailing culture and customs.
6. Demographics = composition of a population.
The demographics of the UAE are discussed in our first post. You can analyse demographics according to race, religion, age, wealth, etc.
7. Religion = a set of beliefs.
Religious people try to live according to the teachings of their religion.
8. Race = a group of people with similarities, particularly physical appearance.
You can a similar nationality but a different race.
9. Multiculturalism = many different cultures.
A multicultural society is one where people of different cultural backgrounds live and work together.
10. Personality = individual character.
She has a very nice personality: kind, patient, tolerant and loving.
11. Prejudice = bias.
Apartheid in S. Africa was based on racial prejudice against black people.
12. Acculturation = the mixing of different cultures.
If a foreigner here in the UAE says he does something like an Emirati, then that would be an example of acculturation.
13. Bias = prejudice.
Bias is a negative opinion of a person or group based on race, colour, culture or whatever.
14. Discrimination = treating people differently.
Apartheid meant discrimination in favour of whites and against blacks.
15. Fringe = edge, margin.
A fringe group is a small minority, usually expressing an extreme opinion.
16. Population = the number of people.
A census is a count of the number of people in a country.
17.Stereotyping = making assumptions or generalisations about a person or group of people.
Americans are rich, while Mexicans are poor.
18. Gender = sex.
There are two genders, male and female.
19. Resistance = opposition.
There have been many signs of political resistance to established governments in the Arab spring of this year.
20. Advantage = a favoured position.
If you are an expatriate, being able to speak the local language is a big advantage.
21. Racism = hatred of another person or group of different race, often based on colour.
The apartheid system in S. Africa was an example of racism.
22.Ethics = morality, i.e. what is right or wrong.
Ethical behaviour is honest behaviour.
23. Productivity = the ability to produce something.
The company's productivity rates are rising.
24. Behaviour = the manner of acting/conduct.
The students' behaviour is very good.
25. Belief = confidence, opinion..
I have great belief in her.
Tibetans believe in re-incarnation.
26. Majority = most.
The vast majority of Arabs are Muslim.
27. Income = salary.
All employees have a monthly income.
28. Adverse = bad, harmful.
We didn't go on a picnic because of the adverse weather conditions.
29. Values = beliefs.
I value honesty very highly.
30. Traditions = customs.
They are handed down from generation to generation.
31. Generation = group of people born at about the same time.
In some societies people talk about a generation gap; each generation has its own ideals & standards.
32. Sensitivity = empathy, awareness of someone else's feelings.
She's very sensitive. She cares about how other people feel.
33. Slang = slightly improper language.
Have a shufti at my blog.
34. Ethnocentrism = seeing everything from the viewpoint of your own culture.
An ethnocentric viewpoint is narrow and limited.
35. Stratification = rigid division of society.
The Indian caste system is an example of social stratification.
36. Socio-cultural = relating to society & culture.
Language, ethnicity, religion are all socio-cultural factors.
37. Resident = someone living in a particular place.
Khalid, Aziz and Hedley are all Abu Dhabi residents.
38. Poverty = being poor.
The opposite of poverty is affluence or wealth.
39. Nationality = the country you belong to.
You can have different race or ethnicity but the same nationality.
40. Minority = less than half.
Christians are a minority of the UAE's population.
41. Class = group.
You can have upper class, middle class, lower class.
42. Globalization = worldwide connectivity.
Global brands or logos today are recognised worldwide; we all know the logos of Nike, McDonald, Mercedes etc.
43. Virtual = not real, imaginary.
Computer games create a virtual world which is not real.
44. Barriers = obstacle.
To make progress you have to climb over or go round or go through barriers.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
“Blindsight”
Culture:
In the movie I have seen there are different types of culture such us the children from Tibet and they speak Tibetan language and the German lady who set up a blind school speaks English; also Erik and his father from America. Tibetan youngsters' religion is Buddhist but the German lady and Erik are from a Christian culture.
Challenges:
Blindness is the most powerful challenge to them in climbing Everest. The Tibetan tradition says that the blindness is a punishment from God for the bad things you did in your previous life so the people don’t feel sad about blind people. There is some difficultly to communicate because of languages. Tashi lost his father when he was nine years old; also he is a street kid.
Benefit:
Tibetan youngsters learned the English language. Most of them were shy but after the trip they became bold. One of the girls was weak in English but after this journey she went to Scotland to an English language school. Tashi found his father again.
Cultural diversity
Most people you would have met in Abu Dhabi 50 years ago were of the same culture: the same language, Arabic, the same religion, Islam, and the same traditions such as camel racing & falconry.
This culture still exists but there are now many people from different cultures, with diverse first languages, religions & traditions.
We can say, then, that the UAE, over the past 50 or so, has become more culturally diverse. It is more cosmopolitan, in the way that cities like London & New York have been for centuries.
The table in the previous post illustrates this diversity. My reflection on the figures is twofold:
(a) The website figures are from the year 2000 and are based on a total population of around 4.5M. This figure will probably be much higher today, partly because of the high birth rate among Arab families. Some recent estimates are over 7M. The US State Department reckons over 8M.
(b) The % figure for Filipinos, 3.4%, is probably now much higher. Most of the workforce in new shopping malls & hotels, many built over the past 10 years, seems to be Filipino. As a corollary, the % of Christians could also be much higher now.
This culture still exists but there are now many people from different cultures, with diverse first languages, religions & traditions.
We can say, then, that the UAE, over the past 50 or so, has become more culturally diverse. It is more cosmopolitan, in the way that cities like London & New York have been for centuries.
The table in the previous post illustrates this diversity. My reflection on the figures is twofold:
(a) The website figures are from the year 2000 and are based on a total population of around 4.5M. This figure will probably be much higher today, partly because of the high birth rate among Arab families. Some recent estimates are over 7M. The US State Department reckons over 8M.
(b) The % figure for Filipinos, 3.4%, is probably now much higher. Most of the workforce in new shopping malls & hotels, many built over the past 10 years, seems to be Filipino. As a corollary, the % of Christians could also be much higher now.
UAE
Introduction to Diversity
UAE Demographics:
Ethnic Groups Percentage 2,ooo
Arab 48.1%
12.2% UAE Arab
9.4% Bedouin
6.2% Egyptian Arab
4.1% Omani Arab
4% Saudi Arab
South Asian 35.7%
Iranian 5%
Filipino 3.4%
White European 2.4%
Others 5.4%
Religions Percentage 2005
Muslim 62% (80% Sunni)
Hindi 21%
Christian 9%
Buddhist 4%
Others 4%
UAE Demographics:
Ethnic Groups Percentage 2,ooo
Arab 48.1%
12.2% UAE Arab
9.4% Bedouin
6.2% Egyptian Arab
4.1% Omani Arab
4% Saudi Arab
South Asian 35.7%
Iranian 5%
Filipino 3.4%
White European 2.4%
Others 5.4%
Religions Percentage 2005
Muslim 62% (80% Sunni)
Hindi 21%
Christian 9%
Buddhist 4%
Others 4%
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