Our International House of People: Dubai

Friday, August 15, 2008

Dubai

I guess I will catch everyone up as best as I can post by post. I left Atlanta on Thursday evening and arrived in Dubai Friday night. I have to say I actually slept fairly well on the plane. Tylenol PM can work wonders when you are anxious to get to your new baby. I get off the plane and was extremely nervous but decided to catch a taxi to at least see a bit of Dubai since I had nine hours to kill. I have to say this was one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. I spent an hour or so just having the taxi drive me to see the city. I got to see the tallest building in the world and the famous sailboat hotel in Dubai. I was amazed at how modern Dubai is and how much western influence was there. They had all the same food chains like we have such as TGIFridays,McDonalds, etc. I even passed by the mall that has the indoor skis resort. Yep in 106 degree weather in Dubai you can ski in the middle of a mall behind a glass wall that keeps the man made snow frozen. I was in total awe and cannot wait to return there someday with Keith. I also have to say it was the cleaniest airport I had ever been in. I really am glad I chose this flight rather than doing two shorter stops because it was so beautiful. If I ever have to have a long layover again Dubai is the place to be. Here are some pics of my short visit to the Middle East. Sorry they are not better since it was night time and I was in a taxi.

2 comments:

Unknown said...: ...will be waiting for more. COngrats and will continue to pray; August 24, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Steve and Aimee Walker said...: You must be so excited to be home. I can't wait to see some pics of Delylah.; August 24, 2008 at 7:06 PM

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History of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is one of the oldest known cradles of civilization known to man. Christianity was brought to the Kingdom of Axum around the 4th century AD and later in the 7th century Islam was introduced. Foreign missionaries were introduced to the region around the 1630's. Because of these unwelcomed guest Ethiopia did not welcome foreign Christians and Europeans into their lands. Its isolationism may have saved the country from 19th century colonialism. In 1936 Italian facists entered the region and forced its emperor into isolation but was later returned when the British and the French defeated the Italians. Civil unrest would lead to the demise of the aging emperor and in 1974 a socialist sort of government was named. The country went through a period of red terror that was funded by the Soviets and Cuba. This lead to the implementation of a communist government being installed in the late 1970's, early 1980's. In 1989 the country went through a period of famine that also lead to a change in governments. Finally, in 1994 the country would declare its independence and later hold free elections.

History of Vietnam

For about two thousand years Vietnam was ruled by China, following this period it would become independent for the next almost thousand years. In the 1800's it would be colonized by the French. The early 20th century would bring about visions of an independent republic. In 1945 Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam independent and renamed it the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. By 1947 a full-scale war would break out between the French and the Viet Minh (Ho CHi Minh's followers). China also began to aid the Viet Minh at this time due to its own communist revolution. July, 1954 the Geneva Accords would be sign paving the road to France leaving Vietnam; however, it would partition Vietnam into 2 independent states seperated by the 17th parallel. The South was helped by the United States, while the North would be dominated by the Viet Minh. By 1963 the South's government was very unstable. 1965 President Lyndon Johnson would send troops into Vietnam. The North would lead a massive attack in 1968 destroying much of the South. In 1969, Ho Chi Minh died but his forces remained in tact. By the early 1970's many Americans viewed the war as unwinnable and would prove unsuccessful at containing communism. January 1973 the Paris Peace Accords were signed ending the United States role in the war. In 1975 Saigon would fall to the North Vietnamese and in July of 1976 the two parts were reunified into the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The war was disastrous for the Vietnamese people leaving an estimated 1 million to become boat people, 1 million imprisioned, and more than 100,000 killed. Today, Vietnam still has a communist form of government and although they are a developing nation many people remain extremely poor.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Dubai

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