Bahrain at NightOriginally uploaded by phdquig.

My first night in Bahrain has been a very friendly and fast paced one. I was greeted at the airport by an airport representative and ushered into a very lavish waiting room. Dr. Christine and Hussein, the NYiT Public Relations person in Bahrain, were waiting and we sat and chatted while someone got my luggage. (I have to tell you, being a New Yorker who is used to doing things for himself, this wonderful attentiveness to guests is a little difficult to get used to. I keep wanting to say, “Oh, don’t worry, I can do it…no please, really, I can find the luggage..its got a little red ribbon so I’ll just go with you and,…no? really? Well, OK…” At first I thought my reaction stemmed from an Emersonian american tradition of self-reliance, and certainly that is a part of it. However, I am starting to think about the degree of hospitality that appears common in this part of the world and is, how shall we say, less prevelant in the US. Yes, I do feel a little guilty when I sit on a comfortable couch with something cold to drink while someone else gets my luggage. But it was also very nice to be able to relax and “slow down” for ten minutes after the normal “hustle and bustle” of a day of air travel. How much more relaxed and friendly would JFK be if those arriving were given ten minutes to relax and catch a breath after coming off the plane.

As we were driving to the hotel, Christine and Hussein mentioned that there was a significant PR event for NYiT that evening and I was invited to attend. So, after checking in at about 6:45 p.m. Bahrain time, I dashed up to the room, pulled a suit from the luggage, freshened up, and was off to a wonderful evening at which the new 2007 ad campaing for NYiT Bahrain was launched, complete with a countdown and a shower of confetti. It also gave me a chance to meet many of our colleagues here in Bahrain in a very short time. I have been universally greeted with warmth and great interest in my own experiences at our NY campuses.

Well, that’s about all for now. Keeping my little tradition alive, I took a photo from my hotel room on my first night here. Don’t worry, Roger, the camera is still safe and will be coming with me to the campus. I’m sure I’ll have far more photos for all to look at by the end of the day.

Your Tramp Abroad…