National Day

On December 2, 1971, the United Arab Emirates was formed. Prior to that the area was known as the Empty Quarter and the land was seen as a commodity. Many conflicts took place, but Sheik Zayed, who became the first president of the UAE saw the importance of maintaining independence for the people of this area.  There has been tremendous changes to the area and as a result many nationalities can be found here now. Each year the locals go all out to show their pride for this young country.  About a week or two before National Day, I witnessed the changes being made to the streets of Al Ain.  The palm trees were wrapped in lights and the centers of the roundabouts now had more distracting items in them.  Some serious cash was spent on decorating the cars and the faces of the sheiks could be seen EVERYWHERE.  My students began arriving with some classroom decorations and then some embellishments to their uniforms. I asked how much were they allowed to wear and was told not to limit anything.  It was a bit much.  See for yourself.

This is a co-worker's car decorated for National Day 2012

 

 

National Day Assembly - Those are girls dressed in military uniforms

This is the start of the National Day parade.

  The staff, students and some mothers rode the two school buses through the streets of Bu Kariyyah.  The police accompanied us and other decorated vehicles followed.  Safety is not a top priority here.  Children were encouraged to stand on the seats and held flags out the open windows.  They also sprayed Silly String out the window and Snow in a Can. The town, thankfully it's small, so the ride was brief.  The girls sang and chanted, while boys from the neighborhood rode their quads and dirt bikes recklessly down the sidewalks.  I went home at took some aspirin.  We had two additional days off from school, so the following week was a short three day week. Attendance was low so the students went home early each day.  

Parade

 

Flat Stanley came all the way from Florida and got to participate in National Day. Here he is with some 2nd graders who are showing their pride with their colorful outfits. The girls started wearing some of these items about two weeks before the official day.