The Informer Page 3

October 26, 1988

Jim Dillon, former Personnel Director, modelled
his dress-for-success pith helmet before winging off
to a new job in the United Arab Emirates.

News from the Far Side

Jim Dillon writes:

Greetings from the Al Mawaijei district 4, west of
the Al Ma’Had roundabout on Sultan bin Zayed Street
in Al Ain — just in case anyone drops into town and
wants to find our College.

September 9th was the magic date when the Al Ain
Women’s college of Higher Technology opened its gate
(literally) but more of that later. Let’s go back to our
arrival nine days before classes were to start, and the
physical location of our temporary quarters had just
been finalized. That week of turning six villas into an
operational educational institution is now just a distant
memory. The days were very hot , (42-46C) long and
frustrating. However, it did all fall together and we did
open for 55 students on time in our facility with
temporary desks, chairs, tables, no whiteboards, no
books, etc., but with a lot of effort from our staff of 17.

Now, a month later, and the routine has settled in —
classes from 8 to 4 Saturday through Tuesday, and to
noon on Wednesday, with the weekend of course falling
on Thursday and Friday. 95 percent of our students are

from out of town and live in the university
residence, and are bussed to our gate each
morning to pass into the custody of our
Director until they leave at 4. The uni (sic)
delivers lunch and the students cannot leave
our jurisdiction (in contrast, the students at
the men’s college can come and go at will in
their Mercedes). Our venture is not only to
educate, but to help create change and pull
the female student into today’s society of
business and industry.

My particular role as Head of Support
Services is to be a Marie, Dave B, Ken, Alan,
Anne, etc. and all their staff at once. *(Marie
Jessup, Bursar, Dave Brewer, Director of
Supplies and Services, Ken Hughes, Facilities
Supervisor, Alan Smith, Director of Planning,
and Anne MacLean, Budget Officer.)
Everything of a non-teaching nature is mine
— supplies, facility, accounting — to direct
and do.

Enough about the College. The city, Al
Anin, is an oasis city on the border of Oman.
It is really a quiet county town of 150,000
where one is able to appreciate the history
and tradition of the people. As we haven’t yet
a car, our exploration has been minimal. Our
free time has been consumed in finding and
furnishing a villa — air conditioners,
telephone, water, furniture. Rented
accommodation doesn’t come with anything.

The climate is of course hot and dry. Yet
the city is an oasis of trees and flowers. The
days have now cooled to only be in the high 30s with the
nights a chilly 25. I kid you not, it is almost too cool for
swimming. We haven’t had a cloudy day since arriving,
but enough of that — until my next report, ma’a
sallama from Al Anin.

— Jim Dillon

Be sure to mark Friday, November 25
on your calendar for the College's
Twentieth Anniversary Party.

Invitations will be in the mail soon.
Watch for details.