Preparing for 4th Finals & Sidetracked in Dubai

I'm trying to study... surfing the net mainly. Up at school in my hot pink leggings and army green sweatshirt.

Watched 60 Minutes yesterday? Maybe the day before, I can't remember. It was about Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the dramatic changes in Dubai. If you don't have Google Earth, download it here, just to look. It's really amazing; maybe a modern day Babylon. Two of my profs have urged me to check it out because, let's face it, I'm in love with my horse. The royally owned Godolphin Stables, seems to only have the fast TB's rather than the magnificent Arabian horses though.

So I've had some concerns, like I'm female and stick out like a sore thumb with my blue eyes and sun-bleached blonde hair, but then I spoke with a 3rd prof, who acts as a consultant to the Godolphin breeding program (lucky!), and he said it's relatively safe and I'd have a blast! (Without being required to dress like a black ghost of course!) And a British friend of mine (at Ross) lived there, and her daughter (my age) was trying to move back to Dubai!

I checked with the US Travel/State Dept and it seems I wouldn't need a Visa to enter the UAE either. I've found a hostel to stay at for $25US/night, and flights starting at $1200US round trip. So this is my new plan, maybe in April 2009 if i don't go to Africa to tag wildlife or to St Croix to spay puppies and kitties or sit at home and study for the PAVE, then I'd really like to go to Dubai... or Egypt too (some of Zaldi's relatives are still in Giza at Albadeia).

My profs said that if I contacted Shiekh Maktoum, as a student (ie now) then I'd be far more likely to be invited to see his collection world-class champion horses than if I'd already graduated and was job hunting. While I doubt I'd want job there because I still plan on specializing in poultry, it would be amazing to watch some of the desert endurance races/rides. Gosh, I'd love to travel.

Back to studying for finals... look at this amazing photo of a cycloptic calf from a cow that ate False Hellebore (Veratrum californicum). I think I love all my classes this semester (definitely have had great profs).

(Man-made waste isn't always to blame for mutants!!!)