The Obama Effect

This morning, I was reading the news on the BBC's website and came across an interesting article. It was about how America is perceived by people outside of America. America's perception has rebounded considerably from an all-time low in 2007. So I thought I would take a minute to comment on this.

Most of our friends and family back in the States are surprised to hear that Barack Obama is adored overseas and that George Bush is almost universally disliked. It's certainly true in the Arab world. There are three reasons why this is true. First, foreign policy in the Bush/Cheney era was characterized by unilateral decisions that strained relations with European, Middle Eastern, and Asian allies (decisions like withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol, withdrawal from the ABM treaty, the invasion of Iraq, etc.). You may remember that Time magazine famously characterized Bush/Cheney foreign policy as "Cowboy Diplomacy" for the administration's willingness to make decisions without a broad international consensus. You may agree or disagree with the Bush/Cheney policy, but people overseas disliked it. Period.

Second, in the Arab world, the nation of Israel is hated. And there is a low-grade, but noticeable resentment of America because it supports Israel.* So, when America backs Israel, it's perceived negatively in the Arab world. Barack Obama is the first US president in recent memory that hasn't given Israel a blank check to do whatever they want to Palestinians. So America looks better to Arabs when America pushes Israel to be more accommodating to the Arab Palestinians (for instance, by not building Jewish settlements in Palestinian areas).

Third, the Arabs would like to have the opportunity to sort out their own problems without Western nations imposing solutions here. So when America comes in and invades Iraq, for instance, it's perceived as meddling in a family dispute.

So Obama's Cairo speech to the Muslim world, his reversal of the Bush Doctrine's "preemptive defense", and his outreach to Europe are all steps in the right direction - at least as far as non-Americans are concerned.

I'm not trying to say that Obama is great - or even that Bush was bad. Foreign policy is only one part of a President's job. But what I am saying is that Obama's foreign policy is much more palatable to the rest of the world than George Bush's was. I hope that after reading this, you can see why that's the case.


*NOTE: Let me clarify something - Muslim Arabs have no issue with Jews living in the Middle East (or Christians for that matter). But the Arabs don't understand why there needs to be a Jewish nation - a political entity - Israel. You see, most of the Jews left Palestine (or what the Jews refer to as Judea and Samaria) in about 135AD after the Romans put down the Bar Kochba rebellion. The Jews dispersed through North Africa, Europe, and eventually North America. Then, within a period of about 15 years, culminating in 1948, the Jews suddenly decided to come back to Palestine. So after over 1800 years, they show up, kick the Arab Muslim and Arab Christian Palestinians out of their homes, and set up their country. To the Arabs, the Jews gave up their claim to Palestine by leaving for 1800+ years. That's why the Palestinians are fighting Israel. They perceive the creation of the nation of Israel as a Western-backed (UN-backed, US-backed) land grab.

On top of that, Israel is taking more land than the UN gave them in the 1947 Partition Plan for Palestine. Most Americans are surprised by this, thinking that Israel is in the right and that the Palestinians have seized land that is not theirs. This is not correct. Israel was granted a certain portion of land, and the Palestinians were granted a certain portion of land. Israel has occupied their own land as well as the land allotted to the Palestinians. [Check out a map - this map shows the area allotted to Israel in orange and the area allotted to the Palestinian Arabs in yellow. Israel presently occupies both portions. While you're viewing the map, note the ridiculous boundaries drawn by the UN in 1947 - is anyone surprised this never worked?].

Local Rankings

by Cindy

There was a fun article in the press this week. A (very non-scientific) survey was taken for certain sectors of our economy, presumably highlighting the brands for which UAE residents have a high affinity - our university is at the top of the list.

Global Days

Global Days is a two-day student organization fair at our University. Students had been telling us all year that it was amazing and that everybody looks forward to it all year. It was Thursday and Friday nights and so here's our report.

To call this a "student organization fair" doesn't do it justice. About 40,000 people visit campus for Global Days (including students, faculty, parents, and people from the community). So it's more like the county fair than anything else. There are probably 30 student organizations represented. For the most part, the organiztions are built around national identities - so we have an Emirati Cultural Club, a Russian Cultural Club, a Saudi Cultural Club, and so forth. Each club gets one or more corporate sponsors for their booth. Some organizations build their booths themselves and others hire contractors to help out.

HERE'S THE SAUDI BOOTH. THEY BROUGHT IN SOME NATIVE ARTISANS, TRADITIONAL DANCERS, AND SAUDI TOURISM OFFICE STAFF TO WORK THE BOOTH

THE IRANIAN STUDENTS HAD A GREAT BOOTH. GOOD FREE FOOD, TOO.

THE INDIAN STUDENT ORGANIZATION BOOTH

THE MAHARAJAH AND HIS BRIDE

There are also performances in the performance hall on campus by each of the groups. The Russians did a traditional Russian dance, the Indians did a few Bollywood song-and-dance numbers, the Sudanese did some traditional African dance, and so forth.

THE SAUDI STAGE: THIS IS A PERFORMANCE OF "THE SWORD DANCE" THAT IS PERFORMED BY THE MEN AT MAJOR CELEBRATIONS IN THEIR COUNTRY

AND HERE'S A PICTURE OF THE WHOLE THING. [SEE, I TOLD YOU THERE WERE 40,000 PEOPLE]

All in all, it was pretty impressive by any standard. I've never seen a student event on this scale anywhere in the States.

100 Most Powerful Arabs

by Cindy
I was reading about the 100 most powerful Arabs in a local magazine, Arabian Business, similar to Business Week. The list contained the types of people you would expect - owners of airlines, land developers, founders and CxOs of organizations, etc. The one that caught my eye was number 6 on the list - Ahmad Shugairi. I'm sure you have never heard of him but he's an Islamic TV evangelist! Yep, they have them here, too!

Easter in Dubai

Here are a few photos of our Easter sunrise service on the beach this morning. We had about 150 people there and it was a great time for all of us to be together.

Take it From Me, Parents Just Don't Understand

So one of my students met me outside of class this morning - she looked worried about something - and said hurriedly, "Professor, I'll be in class in a minute. I need to take care of something...." I'm a nice guy, so I told her it was no big deal, to come in when she was ready.

She looked a little agitated and distracted during class, so after we wrapped up and everyone walked out into the hall, I asked her if everything was OK.

"No, my mom's about to kill me."

"Really, what happened?"

"Well, I lost my phone in a taxi this morning....[pause]....and I've already lost a laptop and three other phones in taxis this year - mostly Blackberries. [Then, responding to my stunned look...] Yeah, I know I've got a problem. I'm trying to call around to find the taxi driver. I've got to find it before my mom finds out."

"Wow. I hope you find it. Good luck."

So you can see that even over here in the Middle East, parents are still unreasonable with their children. :)

A Visit from the Parents

by Cindy
Jeff and I were fortunate to have my mother and step-father join us for 10 days this past week. We had my mom write some thoughts down to contribute to our blog. She got through the first few days of their visit and then didn't really finish. I added pics where she left off.

by Ron, Cindy's step-father

We saw every round about and speed bump in the country. At first they were a pain but ultimately they proved to work very well.

by Libby Choate, Cindy's mom
Dubai is one of the most beautiful and clean cities where everything is the biggest and the best.

The desert safari - over six people in a Land Cruiser backing into the sand dunes, topping large dunes and dunes so steep that you see underneath the vehicle in front of you. Riding camels (which are hard to ride!), eating Arabic food and watching belly dancers rounded out a fun evening.

The next day shopping at Dubai mall where glitter and bling are everywhere. There was a large grocery store in the mall with an escalator for the grocery carts and the people.

Then on to a wonderful meal of Lebanese food overlooking the skyline with a large waterfall. Think Vegas and lights.

On to the Blue Souk where we bought a carpet to take home. Choosing from several dozen they unroll for you to look at so you can find the exact color and size you want. This is where the bargaining takes place. The Gold Souk at night is quite a sight to see with all of the glitter.

We made a trip to the Grand Mosque in Adu Dhabi.

This is on our campus, they were amazed at all of the beautiful flowers. This part of campus is an exact replica of the Champs Elysees.

We went and saw the indoor ski slope.

We went to the Burj Al Arab and had high tea. This is a pic from a mall in town that has a nice view of the Burj.

Luxor, Egypt

by Cindy

One of the great things about being here is all of the destinations that are so close. We were able to get over to Egypt for a weekend! We left after work on Thursday (our last day of the week) and then took the red-eye back on Sunday (our first day of the week). Luxor was a great city with so much history. Many sights didn't allow cameras so we included what we could. We are looking forward to a trip back to Egypt to see Alexandria and Cairo.

Luxor Temple is located on the East bank of the Nile River and was founded in 1400 B.C. Ramses II built the entrance pylon and the two obelisks, one of which was taken to France and is now at the center of the Place de la Concorde. It had an incredible Avenue of the Sphinx.

Karnak Temple - comprises a vast conglomeration of ruined temples, chapels, pylons and other buildings.

Carbon Footprint

by Cindy

I had a friend ask us how "green" we are here in Dubai. I thought it was a good question so here are our thoughts and observations -

First and foremost, Dubai is a desert. There is no natural flora here, at all. There are parks and they are very nice but the government has to pour 250,000,000 gallons / day on them to keep them green - most of the water is desalinated water or gray water. The water out of the tap is desalinated but doesn't taste great, I think this is the biggest market in the world for bottled water. [On that note, a 20 oz bottle of water will cost you $0.36 which is nice from a consumer perspective.] I think this is the largest carbon footprint in the world, due to all of the AC we have here. We have six months that are miserably hot and humid (it was 102 degrees with 92% humidity this week and it is only March!) so there really isn't anyone who doesn't have AC. We have cheap gas and a lot of SUVs (along with all of the high end cars).

Wilderness? Yea, it is called the desert. See Exodus.

As for recycling, it is picking up steam. We do have recycling bins around campus and a few around town. There is a big recycling plant that has recently opened so I think you will see it move in a positive direction. The place is clean, very clean, which is really nice. The downside to the cleanliness is that we have foreign workers / laborers who clean everything. It is borderline slavery but definitely indentured servitude. They also take care of the parks so the parks are immaculant and always have flowers blooming. It is a very sterile looking place and part of that is due to everything being a light color because light colors reflect heat. I do often ask myself, whose wise idea was it to build a city in the middle of a dessert but I suppose people have done it all over the world...and even in America, Las Vegas is a very popular destination!

Here are some pics from campus to give you an idea of the flowers all over the place.

Marriage Counseling - Dubai Style

by Cindy

While we have enjoyed our time over here, some things make you laugh out loud and others have us rolling our eyes. We thought we would share a newspaper clip with you - I'm sure you are not hearing about this in your press (double click to enlarge).

Movies in Dubai

by Cindy
We headed out to the movies this weekend, our first time since arriving. All in all, the experience is comparable but there were a few things that seem different:

• We picked our seats when we purchased our tickets. There is no sit where you want, you actually have assigned seats.
• In total, we paid 60 AED / $16 for a movie at 6:10 PM. All movies are about $8 / ticket.
• We have the ability to book movie tickets from our mobile phone.
• We have the ability to be a VIP member - Lay back, relax and let yourself be swept away. Our Platinum Movie Suites offer the ultimate in cinema luxury. The experience begins in a private lounge fitted with marble service counters, signature designer furniture and ambient lighting, providing the perfect backdrop for a relaxed drink or bite to eat before your movie. The VIP treatment continues when you are ushered into your suite and sink into a supple reclining chair, conveniently equipped with a side table and button for personal butler service throughout the movie. Come and treat yourself to a night out to the movies in true VIP style.
• The food is much cheaper - you can get 1 large popcorn, 1 nacho, 2 regular drinks & 1 M&M for 39 AED / $10.62.
• If you prefer, you can get tea, coffee or crepes to eat during your movie.
• I think our theater had 22 screens. All I know is that we were in screen 18 which was on the 3rd floor and there was at least a 4th floor above us. I don't know how high the place was but, as all things in Dubai, it was huge.
• They do edit the movies here. They did a good enough job that we didn't even realize we missed a nudity scene until we came home and read about it. They don't delete any of the language or anything like that, apparently just nude bodies.
• We have Arabic subtitles.

All in all it was a good experience and I am sure we will be back in the future.

Amman, Jordan

by Cindy
One of the great things about being in Dubai is that we are so much closer to things (and people) on this side of the world. This past weekend we were able to take a short three hour flight to Jordan and see a friend from our days in Lubbock, TX. Katie is a TTU grad and we have been fortunate to keep in touch since her graduation in 2004.



We were able to drive about 3 hours from Amman to see the ancient city of Petra. The buildings are carved into the walls of a canyon and it is truly breathtaking. You can easily understand why it is considered one of the seven wonders of the world.

We also saw the ruins of the Temple of Hercules in Amman. Since Jeff is a history buff, he enjoyed this part. There are a few more Roman-era sites across Jordan, and hopefully the next time that we visit can take in some of those as well.

Lost in Translation

When you move to a new place, you have to learn the language. Now I'm not talking about Arabic, I'm talking about English. Our move has forced Cindy and I to learn a few new English words. You see, the Brits got here before anyone else from the West, so people here speak the Queen's English, not the devolved, improper form that is spoken in North America. So before any of you Americans come to Dubai, here are a few words and phrases that you'll need to be aware of.

1. Toilet - none of the American euphemisms over here. 'Powder room' or 'washroom' are completely meaningless to people over here. Most folks will understand what you mean when you ask for the 'restroom' or 'bathroom', but they think it's a silly usage of the words since you would never really want to rest there, and let's be real, you're probably asking because you need to use the toilet. So let's just call it the toilet.

2. Cheers - in America, you only use this phrase when you raise a glass. It is used for that here as well. But this word is far more versatile for the Brits. Here, 'cheers' is used for 'thank you' (like when you hold a door open for someone and they say, 'Cheers."). 'Cheers' is also used when parting company (instead of 'goodbye' or 'have a nice day' or 'have a good evening' - which do still sometimes get used). You can also use 'cheers' to sign a letter or e-mail instead of 'Regards,' or 'Best'.

3. Biscuits - it means "cookies". If someone offers you 'biscuits' with your tea or coffee, expect some small cookies.

4. Timings - If you call a store or restaurant to find out when they open and close, you might be inclined to ask, "What are your hours tomorrow?" Such an expression will get you only puzzled silence and perplexed looks over here. You should ask, "What are your timings?"

5. Lift - it means "elevator". Pretty self-explanatory.

6. Car Park - Not a place for cars to get some R&R, but what Americans refer to as a 'parking garage.'

7. Trolley - Has multiple uses. It may mean a shopping cart, a baby stroller, or a furniture dolly. I think that if something has wheels, carries stuff, and you push it, it's a trolley.

8. Marks - It means 'grades'. Students ask about their 'marks' in the class. Or you 'mark' exams. They do use the term 'grades' over here, and I'm pretty sure they're interchangeable. If they're not, I'll try to update you.

9. Prawns - It means 'shrimp'. Now, I knew about prawns before I left the States, and I realize that for a marine biologist, there is a difference between a shrimp and a prawn, but there's no difference when you're eating them. All we have over here are prawns. Stir-fry prawns, grilled prawns, steak and prawns, prawns on the barbie.... Always prawns.

10. Boxing Day - December 26. So in our last blog post when we talked about 'Boxing Day' Sales, that's how the Brits refer to an after-Christmas sale. And so far, we think that Boxing Day beats DSF. In America, in Great Britain, and even in Dubai.

DSF - Dubai Shopping Festival

Dubai Shopping Festial has begun! Cindy and I feel a little silly - because we've been pretty excited about this - and we're not big shoppers at all. People have been building this up all year saying stuff like, "Don't buy anything unless it's during DSF." That's when you can find real bargains. So we've been waiting. We've been putting off purchases, delaying stuff, waiting, waiting, waiting.

DSF is a big deal, by the way. It's citywide, lasts one month (from January 28 to February 28 this year), and attracts 3 million people to Dubai. Most visitors come from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. So we were pretty hyped up for this.

The first day, we got a late start. I played golf after class and so we didn't leave the house until about 7:30. We went to Festival City Mall first. We were disappointed with the selection of golf clothes at the store I visited, and Cindy couldn't find the shoes she'd been looking for either. We had some credit at a sporting goods store, so I did get some swimming trunks. Overall, it was a pretty disappointing trip.

So to try to redeem our evening, we headed over to Dubai Mall (about 9:30pm now). We were there until they kicked us out at midnight. We ended up with a dress shirt for me (about half price) and a handbag for Cindy (full price, but she's been watching for a while and there was no movement at all on price). So things are looking up.

Friday, two more malls. This time, Deira City Centre first. We found a golf glove for me (with store credit again, so nothing too big there). We then went to Dubai Marina Mall to look for shoes for Cindy and I again. We struck out on shoes, so we came home and ordered shoes online.

So after two days, we've been to four malls. I think we've got at least one more stop tomorrow. And how have the sales been? Well, it's better than no sale at all, but it's not Boxing Day [if you don't know what Boxing Day is about, be sure to drop in and read our blog next week so you can find out]. We'll keep you posted on how things are going at DSF.

Wasta

One term that you have to understand when you live in the Middle East is "wasta." It means "influence" or "clout." If someone tells you, "I have wasta", it means, "I know people in high places [and if you know what's good for you, you'll let me have my way]."

It's hard to tell exactly who has wasta. Lots of people say they have it, but you never really know. Our Associate Dean likes to tell a story about a time that he had a student in his office who was accused of cheating in a course. The student said, "You can't do anything to me. I have wasta and I'll call the Sheikh if you kick me out of school." Our Associate Dean said, "Really? I have the Sheikh's number, too. It's right here in my mobile. Why don't you go ahead and call him. We'll talk to him together."

According to our Associate Dean, the student nearly wet himself. The student was totally bluffing.

There's one interesting way to check on somebody's wasta. You can check their license plate. There's not a direct relationship between plate number and wasta, but you see, Sheikh Mohammed, Vice-President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has plate number 1 on his white Mercedes-Benz G-wagen. So if you see someone with a low plate number, it's a reasonable assumption that they're from the royal family. Also, when you see a plate with a "unique" number, they're probably well-connected, too. Here are a few that we saw at the mall the other day. [BTW - we couldn't snap a picture of the "4" plate that we saw on the black Porsche Cayenne because there was somebody lurking near the vehicle - but we saw it - that's the lowest one we've seen].

Having said all of that, it is possible to simply buy a low plate number if you're really wealthy - and I suppose wealth is a form of wasta, too. So like I said, there's not a perfect relationship between plate number and wasta, but it's a good barometer. In case you're curious, our plate has five digits.

10 Reasons to Move to the Emirates in 2010

1. Tax-Free Income - Move here and give yourself an automatic 30% raise (maybe more by the time Obama leaves office).

2. The Magic Carpet Ride - That's what locals call the eight lanes of flawless asphalt between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. No radar, no patrols. Amateurs should stay out of the left lane.

3. Bargain Real Estate - Prices are down 50% from their highs in 2008 and will bottom out this year. Needless to say, it's a buyer's market.

4. Delivery - We get bottled water delivered and our dry cleaning delivered. When I (Jeff) got my drivers' license, the police came to campus to take my application. When we opened our bank account, the bank sent someone to my office to do all the paperwork. There are no extra fees for any of this.

5. DSF - that stands for Dubai Shopping Festival. It's a month-long shopping extravaganza that merchants all over town participate in. Are there bargains? Absolutely. Are there good stores? Everything you could want. We have two of the largest malls in the world here - nicer than any mall I've ever been in back in the States. Three million people travel to Dubai for DSF. It runs from January 28 to February 28 this year. Book your tickets now.

6. Winter - you can play golf and go to the beach in January [and come to think of it, you can ski in July, too].

7. Inexpensive Services - We get the car washed once a week for $17 per month. A trip to the nicest spa Cindy has ever visited for a manicure, pedicure, and hour-long massage - $60. Maids can be hired for $4 an hour.

8. No Language Barrier - Everyone speaks English, signs are in English, menus are in English. The only times we have trouble communicating are when we're talking to the Scottish.

9. Travel - It's 3 hours to India to see the Taj, 4 hours to Egypt to see the Pyramids, 5 hours to Kenya for safari, and 6 hours to Greece or Italy....

10. Cheap Gas - A gallon costs $1.41. The price is fixed. So come, and bring your SUV with you.

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Of course, I'm talking about football season. And unfortunately it's ended for the year. And ended in a pretty disappointing way, I might add. Oh well, I guess there are a lot of teams that would like play for the National Championship, but didn't, so I'm not going to be too depressed.

Can you figure out which apartment is ours?




Anyhow, I thought that I would take a moment to let you see how we watch games over here. First of all, the 11am CST games come on at 9pm over here. 2:30 CST kickoff is a 12:30am Sunday game, and 7pm CST games start over here at 5am Sunday. And when you read this, remember that the work week over here is Sunday through Thursday. So while you're watching football in the States on Saturday night, we're watching EARLY on Sunday morning, then rolling into work. It's called dedication.

So we got up at 5am this morning to watch the game.

Some of the games are on satellite, and what's not on satellite, we can either watch over the internet at espn360.com or justin.tv. We ended up going the justin.tv route for the National Championship. Both can be run through our TV, so it's almost as good as getting it at home. Here's a shot of our set-up for the game this morning [For those of you who are curious, that's a 42-inch Panasonic Plasma with Full HD and a 1200-watt Philips surround sound system - we bought 'em both over here - same prices as in the States - and Cindy agreed after we bought the TV that we could have gone bigger].

There's always next year.

We Were There

We just snapped a couple of pictures of the opening of the Burj Dubai (which has been renamed the Burj Khalifa). It's the tallest building in the world at 2,717 feet. That's about twice as tall as the Empire State Building. We took these from the rooftop of our apartment.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Many of you are no doubt curious about what Chistmas is like over here. Well, aside from the 70-degree weather, it doesn't have to be much different from home. We had a candlelight service at church, my parents came to visit for a week, we had Christmas parties to attend with friends, we've got Christmas music to listen to at home and in the car, and the malls decorate for Christmas.

FOUR-STORY CHRISTMAS TREE AT DUBAI MALL

On Christmas Eve, we (Cindy and I, as well as my dad and mom) went to a party hosted by some friends here on campus. We ate dinner and dessert, sipped champagne, and sang Christmas songs. On Christmas Day, we went to church (Christmas was on Friday and that's the day we go to church over here). After church, we (this time, Cindy and I, my dad, my mom, and one of our friends and co-workers, Ernie Love) went to a nice restaurant for Christmas lunch. We had salmon, follwed by a potato soup, then turkey, and finally a nice (British) pudding for dessert. The restaurant was all expats, so it was a reasonably traditional meal. After lunch, we came home and opened presents.

That evening, we went a little bit off the traditional script. We went with some friends from church (about 60 or 70 of us) out into the desert for the evening. We built a bonfire, ate Christmas goodies, sang Christmas carols, and told stories about the previous year.

For New Year's, we went into the desert with some friends from campus. A company from Dubai called Dubai Drums has a camp out in the midst of the dunes where they had a big New Year's Eve party. There was community drumming throughout the night, a big barbecue buffet, camel rides, sand boarding, shisha, belly dancing, fire dancers, an African drum group, and a DJ and dancing. Here's a link to a nice YouTube video of what goes on. There were probably about 400 people there - so probably twice as many people as you see in the video. It sounds bohemian, but really it's a nice family event. Basically, it was the typical New Year's Eve party that you would find at a hotel or concert venue in a major city - only it was in the desert. Here are some pictures.

CAMEL RIDE

SMOKING SHISHA

DRUMMING

DANCING

Happy New Year!

Grade Souk

The Arabic word for market is "souk". So we have a lot of souks over here. The Gold Souk, the Spice Souk, the Electronics Souk, the Carpet Souk, the Perfume Souk, and even the Camel Souk.

We also have something the professors at the school derisively refer to as the "Grade Souk". It's official University policy that professors must schedule office hours after finals have been given and after grades have been posted - 'consultation hours' is what they're officially called. It's intended to be an opportunity for students to stop by and see how they did on their final exam and/or final projects for the course. The thing you need to know, though, is that given that it's a part of the culture here to negotiate on things, the 'consultation hours' are actually a Grade Souk.
Both Cindy and I have had several students come by trying to negotiate a better grade on their final, on their attendance grade, on the course, or just looking for a little "help" from me. Now this still happens in the States, it's just not quite so overt. Here are a few of the best stories from the Grade Souk.

[As you read these, please keep in mind that most of our students are very conscietious and diligent - and most of them didn't ask for any favors. These are the most extreme - and funny - cases. I could tell stories like this from Texas Tech, too.]

Female Student 1: But professor - I was here on these two days that you've counted me absent. I just forgot to sign in.
Dr. Baker: Really? Everyone on your row signed in. Your friend that you come to class with every day signed in. Twenty other people signed in that day. If you were there, how did you miss the sign-in sheet?
Female Student 1: I just know I was there.
Dr. Baker: OK - so do you have some evidence that you were there? Did we take exams those days? Do you have some notes that you took that day?
Female Student 1: I turned in my homework that day! I know I turned in my homework then!
Dr. Baker: Really? The days you're asking me about are both Thursdays. We haven't had a single homework assignment due on a Thursday all semester. Try again.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Male Student 1: Sir - I was really hoping that you could help me out in the course. I was really hoping to pass the course this semester.
Dr. Baker: You missed 19 classes and didn't turn in 7 of 12 homework assignments. You should have helped yourself.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Male Student 2: Sir - I was wondering what I can do to pass the course.
Dr. Baker: [looking over grade spreadsheet] Well, right now, your average in the class is a 56. You would need a 105 on the final exam to pass the class with a 70.
Male Student 2: So it's possible and you would help me out?
Dr. Baker: It's possible, but given that your grade on the midterm was a 56, and given that this is a comprehensive final, it seems unlikely that you'll get a 105.
Male Student 2: But you can help me with my grade?
Dr. Baker: I'm going to help you out by giving you some advice. If I were in your position, I would concentrate other classes where I have a better chance of passing. Good luck.

I hope you enjoyed reading about some of our stories from the Grade Souk. Stay tuned this weekend (or maybe early next week) for info on how we spent the holidays.