Shining eyes - the result of "conviction in action" leadership

My passions for music and leadership are pretty transparent - at least I hope they are. As I've matured, I'm pulling them closer and closer together in my daily behavior. Perhaps (and probably), this is the quintessential convergence of "conviction in action," the definition I've chosen to adopt for deeper leadership in our world.

This morning I was browsing my Facebook profile when I found that one of my "friends" had discovered a video of Ben Zander that was recorded last February 2008, Classical Music with Shining Eyes. The piece is about Zander's belief in the universality of classical music and its connection to living our lives in ways that result in shining eyes in others. This is a pretty profound piece and I hope you'll take a quiet moment to view it.

Gate of the Sun - Elias Khoury

Summers are essential to my psyche because I'm usually able to read more than during the academic year. I continue to read during the other times but I just don't have the chance to concentrate. One of the books that I've been reading, and just finished, is Elias Khoury's Gate of the Sun. Khoury is a professor of Arabic literature at NYU and has written eleven novels. Gate of the Sun is the story of Yunis, a hypothetical Palestinian freedom fighter, who is nursed on his deathbed by a younger Palestinian who is the narrator of the story. The story is a compilation of many stories of Palestinians who left, or were driven out of, their homes and villages in 1948 and during the subsequent Israeli incursions into the land that was Palestine's.

Living in the Middle East has caused me to be much more curious and concerned about the circumstances of reestablishing the state of Israel and the international political controversy that rages over the unequivocal support of the U.S.A. for Israel's actions both in 1948 and today. The sense of being wronged is so deep and most Arabs believe that establishing an exclusive Jewish state was equivalent to the genocide and ethnic cleansing that was so abhorrent to all during the Holocaust. A quote from Gate of the Sun, speaking of Palestine:

"I believe, like you, that this country must belong to its people, and there is no moral, political, humanitarian or religious justification that would permit the expulsion of an entire people from its country and the transformation of what remained of them into second-class citizens; so, no - don't worry. This Palestine, no matter how many names they give it, will always be Palestine. But tell me, in the faces of those people being driven to slaughter, didn't you see something resembling your own?"

The point being made was that Palestinians were driven out of their land and were persecuted, denied their property and belongings, tortured, raped, and killed, in profoundly disturbing ways that mirrored the atrocities of the Nazis. I know that I'm going into significant political comment that may make some readers uncomfortable but the Arab world believes that the western world has never recognized the devastation that Palestinians have endured. Part of the controversy of the state of Israel is about this lack of acknowledgment and the rest is about the presumption of the rightness of a one-state solution of Israeli occupation when Arabs believe that a two-state solution is possible and is the only just thing to do.

I'm still absorbing information and trying to sort out what I think about the controversy of Israel and what solution may be conceivable. I realize that my own ignorance and inability to take a stand is part of the problem. I dare say that most westerners don't understand why the occupation of Israel has resulted in such sustained and deep intolerance throughout the Middle East. Rather than blindly and ignorantly accepting the present state is defensible, perhaps broader understanding would allow for acceptance and peace to emerge.

Help me here... What more do you know and how might a broader segment of global citizens become better informed and thereby become agents of resolution and peace in this part of the world?

Qatar in Time Magazine

If you didn't see it, Qatar is profiled in a recent Time Magazine article. This offers fascinating insights on the dynamics of change in Qatar and other Arabian Gulf countries. Incidentally, it reinforces the Miditerranean post below. Very interesting reading so don't miss it.

Miditerranean

No, I didn't misspell Mediterranean. I discovered the term Miditerranean through a conversation with a colleague today. Evidently, there are those who live in what they believe is the emerging center of global change who have coined this term. The geography includes southern Europe (the Mediterranean), northern Africa, the Middle East, and over to parts of Asia.

The point is related to what others have written or referenced when they talk about a flattened globe, emerging nations, or developing countries. Where are these emerging powerhouses located? - the Miditerranean. It feels a little strange being a citizen of the U.S.A. and realizing that there is already terminology that describes the decline in comparative importance of my country of origin. However, what it says to me is that it is very critical that I am (and others are as well) in Qatar, working with those who are building this area of the world, and creating partnerships that will allow the U.S.A. and Europe to continue to be prominent, instead of preeminent, in the global century that is upon us.

Think about it...

PBS piece on Education City

If you're interested in continuing to learn more about Education City and education in the Arabian Gulf, a PBS documentary does a great job with it. The documentary is balanced and provides insight on both the challenges and opportunities of this work. Enjoy...

European/U.S.A. exchange - realizations

It took a while for ideas to settle out in my head from the Student Affairs Practice in Europe tour. During our travels, I kept mulling over a number of issues and I couldn't determine which would be the 3-4 items that were most critical. After getting some distance, I arrived at three essential areas; the promise of the arts, balancing care and independence, and forming the dialectic that allows us all to learn.

The promise of the arts was very graphically demonstrated at the Universite du Luxembourg conference that pulled EU universities together. The universities who participated in the conference are attempting to implement the Bologna Declaration - the EU educational integration statement. One of our colleagues at Universite du Luxembourg, Francois Carbon, has a huge commitment to the arts and uses it as a way to involve students positively with each other. His description was most interesting because it focused solely on how it happened, as opposed to what difference it made. It became abundantly clear that Francois' use of the arts was involving students in cultural exploration that was very powerful. His students, along with faculty/staff and community members, prepared for and performed the play, "Three Penny Opera." Hearing how effective this was caused me to wonder why multicultural education is so difficult in the U.S.A. The sad reality in the U.S.A. is that universities try so hard to provide multicultural and diversity programs, only to have them poorly attended or accomplish little in lasting change. In the case of the Europeans, using the arts became a stimulus for multicultural dialogue, thus reducing the tension, engaging students with each other, and letting them learn naturally through their experience. I don't have evidence but my guess is that this strategy is far more effective in stimulating learning across and between student cultures.

Another confirming example of using arts to bridge cultural barriers is the recent New York Philharmonic trip to North Korea. If you haven't seen the CNN documentary on this, you should make a point of it. The documentary references the decades of antagonism and suspicion that preceded the tour, only to see it evaporate when exposed to the universal language of music. Wagner, Gershwin, Dvorak, and the North Korean and U.S.A. National Anthems all brought performers and listeners together in profound exploration of sameness as well as difference. Is this not multicultural education of a different, and perhaps more effective, sort?

The focus on care versus independence in European and U.S.A. higher education results in a very stark contrast. Europeans repeatedly expressed their confusion related to the degree of oversight institutions in the U.S.A. exercise in order to care for their students. There were so many examples where European students are expected to behave as adults, take adult responsibility, and suffer or learn from the consequence of their actions. The safety nets and care provided by student affairs and other staff/faculty seemed incongruous with the goal of fostering autonomy and self-sufficiency. There is another side to this question and that is which system is most successful in graduating students. Although most of our European colleagues were not able to provide figures, it seemed apparent that there is much less attention placed on student success as measured by graduation rates. But what is the best measure of student success - gaining a degree or being responsible for one's own learning and progressing through university at a pace that is balanced with family, work, and launching oneself as an adult? Probably there is a middle ground where Europeans could take more care but there is likely to be increased "success" of students in the U.S.A. if they were required to take more responsibility for their own learning and life.

The importance of dialectic is my final realization and it is the result of the other two. Whether it is multicultural learning or helping students become successful, it is respectful dialogue that helps us all progress toward the models that will allow us to achieve the most. Throughout the two weeks traveling with my colleagues, we consistently expected to go into European settings to help "them" learn how to implement student affairs principles and practices only to find out that what they were already doing had significant merit from which we could learn as well. This is mutual and appreciative inquiry, maximizing curiosity, and the evolution of practice that can help us all do our best in fostering student learning. We all hopefully learned a lot!

Charles University's global reach

Our last heavy day in the Czech Republic was spent at Charles University in Prague. We had a jam-packed and fascinating day looking at this very old, complex, and expanding institution.

Charles University was founded in 1348 by King Charles. They presently have over 40,000 students and maintain over 1,000 global partnerships with other universities around the world. Charles is very typical of old European universities in the autonomy that each academic department has over its affairs. The departments are so strong that institutional decisions have to be made at the separate college levels and coordination across the colleges may or may not be forthcoming. On the other hand, they foster innovative partnerships with universities that support student, faculty, and staff exchanges and even allow for joint degrees all the way up to, and including, the Ph.D.

Part of our experience at Charles was visiting the Carolinum, the most historic and central building of a campus spread throughout the city. The picture above is of the courtyard of the Carolinum. We also saw the graduation hall, the robes, and degrees for graduates (picture to right). The ominous picture is of King George and the rest of the diploma is beautiful.

We ate in a student dining hall where I had a fascinating conversation with a young woman studying theology who now works on the Charles staff. She is a Jewish student and is going to study both Judaism and Islam during her master's work. She is pursuing this as preparation to work with international students who number around 4,000 each year. I was amazed at the potential connection between theology and preparation to work with international students. Many of my experiences have revealed that one of the most difficult differences for students to negotiate is religion. The lack of understanding of faith and the stereotypes about the many perspectives that students hold are frequently divisive. This young woman's preparation in theology may be a perfect match for international education.

The European tour has been fascinating for so many reasons. One of the things that is so different about this trip is that I really had the chance to compare the various forms of education emerging through the Bologna process. European higher education is changing and will change even more in the coming years. These changes will impact higher education in the U.S.A., the far east, the Arabian Gulf, and elsewhere. Keeping an eye on all these changes will be essential for those institutions that seek to maintain global status.

This was my last picture from Prague - this was taken in the late evening in the old square in the center of the city. As I strolled through the square with so many others around me, I wished so much that my family had been with me. There will be other times...

Prague - saved from the devastation

Prague has stood for almost 800 years as one of the great capitols of Europe. At one time it was third only to Rome and Paris in size and it clearly had vast opportunity as one of the Hapsburg dynasty's most wealthy territories. It was spared major damage during the World and other wars because somehow it managed to avoid violent take-overs, even when various other armies, rulers, and dictators took it over from time to time.

We had a fascinating tour guide who considered himself Palestine, even though born and living in Prague. His parents were political refugees from Palestine from the 1940s and 1950s. He wasn't bitter about this but his status as a person whose identity is Palestinian definitely influenced comments that he made. One particular point that he made that startled me was that he said that the Czechs have always been willing to give in to others, thus saving their art and architecture, but perhaps sacrificing their principles and self-determination. This was a fascinating point that I will continue to explore.

The most prominent point in all of Prague is the Palace on the hill above the city, one that includes St. Vitus' Cathedral. The majority of the architecture in the city is either Baroque or Art Neuvo (in the case of St. Wenceslas' square). By contrast, St. Vitus Cathedral is Gothic (interior view to left) and contains many beautiful windows and historical elements. Included in the historical elements are the burial sarcophigi of all the former rulers of the area presently occupied by the Czech Republic and a special chapel where "Good King Wenceslas" is buried.

The last thing of the day included finding the music - again. There is lots of music offered in Prague but much of it is light classical music that tourists can attend and think they are actually listening to a substantive classical concert. It's a pretty sad statement that there are so many of these mini-concerts that allow people to go through the motions of attending more challenging concerts. We were lucky that we found a concert of a medium-size orchestra performing works of Smetana and Dvorak (busts pictured to right are of these two composers) that offered a little more creative substance.

Prague is now attracting seven million tourists a year and May is at the height of the season. The crowds were massive but manageable. It was great to discover another fascinating and historic European city. Thank goodness it was saved from destruction, no matter the means. I was able to go to the site of one of the Czech people's greatest moments in coping with and challenging the occupation of other governments. Wenceslas Square was the place where 300,000 people gathered day after day, rallying around Vaclav Havel who lead them in chants of "it's time to go." The result of this "velvet revolution" was the withdrawal of Soviet forces without one military encounter or lost life. This is an amazing story of courage and of positive change without violence.

Rebuilding and relearning in Dresden

The next stop was Dresden, the city that was known as the Florence of the north before Allied forces bombed it at the end of WWII. Dresden was a city built at the height of the Baroque period and every building you see is a flourish of architectural and artistic genius. This is why it was bombed - as a sort of "pay-back" for the bombing of Conventry in England, another area known for its beauty and fine cathedral. The Frauenkirche was a particular target (seen rising above the streets of Dresden as it has been rebuilt) because it was perceived to be one of the most beautiful in all of Europe.

Seeing the amazing work that is underway to rebuild Dresden convinced me that Dresden will be one of the biggest tourism draws in Europe within the next 5-10 years. The other reason we visited Dresden was to stay overnight in student housing sponsored by the Studentenwerk of Dresden and to talk to students and staff who work with it. What an eye-opener. We found a very formal administration committed to serving students through the provision of financial aid, housing, and food. They believe that they have no role as it relates to learning. Student leaders are more or less bargainers for improvement in student conditions, rather than young people engaged in learning how to govern, how to influence their environment, and moving through their collegiate experience in predictable developmental ways.

I was struck by the impact of over forty years under Soviet control that fostered dependence, drudgery, and stifled hope. We were only there for less than twenty-four hours so it may be unfair to judge. However, it's hard not to observe that Dresden, and probably other institutions in a similar state, are in a process of developing capacity to engage more actively and collegially to improve their institutions. The conditions are what they are - it's critical to understand how Dresden got the way it is and what the opportunities of the future might bring.

Back to Berlin

We visited Trier, Germany, while we were on the western border. I'm now in Berlin, which is another city I visited while in Europe two years ago. I visited on a cold and overcast weekend in November. This weekend is amazingly beautiful, clear, and warm. It's been wonderful to be back, to see places I'd been before and to see new things.

Much of modern Berlin seems to have progressed beyond WWII and the legacy of Hitler. However, there are constant reminders throughout the city of what happened here. We had a wonderful tour guide who was a former German Ambassador to Luxembourg, Colombia, Cuba, and other countries. He was deeply informed about the Berlin of the 1930s and 1940s because he had to live through it. While a Catholic, he is extremely responsive to the story of the Jews who were persecuted and murdered during the Nazi regime. The story of WWII Germany started across the street from our hotel - the Nazi headquarters in 1944 where some of Hitler's own soldiers plotted his assassination. We visited the courtyard where these courageous soldiers were shot to death as a statement of Nazi power. We saw many, many buildings riddled with bullet holes, or left to decay after the war. One of the most powerful moments was at the site of the picture above - a memorial at one of the Jewish Synagogues that was burned during the Nazi persecution. This picture is of a sculpture that portrays the death trains that left Berlin to take the Jews to death camps out of the city. The weight of the train car is borne by the cramped, struggling, and hopeless Jews who were pushed into these cars. This sculpture, different than the Holocaust memorial by the Brandenburg gates, was equally as powerful a statement.

On a more positive note, I pursued my typical "find the music" scramble the instant I arrived in Berlin. The result this time was completely fortuitous, as it usually is with me. I had attempted to get advanced tickets for the Berlin Philharmonic for Saturday night but they were sold out. Strange thing - the Philharmonie Hall's rough caught fire earlier in the week, resulting in the closing of the theatre. The Philharmonic concert was moved to an amphitheatre at the site of the 1936 Berlin Olympics (picture to the left), allowing many more tickets to be sold. I scrambled, along with 10,000 other people to get tickets to what was an amazing performance of Hector Berlioz' Requiem. The ensemble on the stage included the Berlin Philharmonic, the adult chorus, and probably 300-400 in a children's chorus. The evening was comfortable, clear, and incredible. I found my way to the amphitheatre without any difficulty and I joined with these wonderful Berliners in an appreciative performance of a brilliant piece of music conducted by one of the world's best conductors - Claudio Abbado.

I really can't understand how things like this happen to me. It seems that I am constantly in search of great music and every time I set out, it finds me.

New experiences and renewed realizations in Luxembourg

I'm on a "Student Affairs Practice in Europe" tour sponsored by Miami University at present. It's a two-week sweep through central Europe, including Luxembourg, Germany, and the Czech Republic. Returning to Luxembourg was particularly nostalgic for me because it was my first experience with living abroad, a step that eventually attracted me to take the leap to Qatar. Luxembourg is also where I was afforded the time, the broadening experience, and the reflection necessary to write Deeper Learning in Leadership. I owe a lot to my experience in Luxembourg and I will never forget this tiny country.

Speaking of tiny country, one of the realizations I've had on this trip is that Qatar and Luxembourg have a great deal in common. Both are small, with populations hovering around one million total, and with large ex-patriot work forces. Both are at the geographic crossroads of their areas = Europe and the Arabian Gulf. Both are very privileged countries with much in financial resources that they are both attempting to use for the greater good of their citizens and others elsewhere. Both have made a major commitment to higher education enhancement and have started new universities - Universite du Luxembourg and Education City. The synchronous nature of these two countries is more than fascinating and I'm going to see what I can do to connect them to each other. I don't know how that will unfold but I will not fail in bringing them together.

Luxembourg was great and I look forward to continuing my contact with great colleagues there. By the way, the picture above is not where we stayed while in Luxembourg. It is the Vianden Castle that is in northern Luxembourg. It was one of the more prominent castles in this region of Europe and it is now being beautifully restored. You can see that it has a commanding view of the incredible countryside in this area of the world.

We have started to reap...

Education City held its first official Senior Convocation last night to an audience of parents, diplomats, and media from around the world. The sentiment of most in the audience was captured in the statement by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani pictured above, "We have started to reap the yield of an ambitious national project." The 122 graduates of VCU-Q design, Cornell med, Texas A&M engineering, and Carnegie Mellon business and computer science celebrated their accomplishment and placed artifacts of their days at Education City in a time capsule to be opened in ten years.

His Highness recognized the essential role of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah as the chair of the Board of Qatar Foundation and the one who has given tirelessly to advance the vision of Education City. The celebration was more about the students whose video reflected on the intensity of their learning and their response to the call for them to be global leaders. The entire evening was a statement about a very visionary little country whose resources have thrust it upon the international stage as a voice of moderation, progressivism, possibility, and hope.

Media coverage of Eduation City's graduations has come in from far and wide. Select articles that I've seen are from St. Petersburg (Russia), The Guardian (UK), and The Independent (UK).

Building bridges - U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

I've continued to comment about interesting encounters I have in Qatar. The most recent was meeting Goli Ameri, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. I received an inquiry from the U.S. Embassy in Qatar asking for an appointment and then found out in preparing for the meeting that it would be with Ms. Ameri, a naturalized citizen from the U.S.A. who immigrated from Iran when she was a teen, served as a U.S. Senator, and recently took the appointment with the State Department. The agenda with Ms. Ameri was quite straight-forward and simple - what partnership opportunities might there be between the State Department and QF.

This is one of those times when it felt great to be a citizen of the U.S.A., working with my own government to do something positive to improve relations around the world. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs has a variety of programs that it supports, including the familiar Fulbright Scholarships. The ones of most direct interest to me at this point are the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) and the Gilman Program (student abroad scholarships). Both of these are focused on improving communication and understanding among youth from Arab and Islamic countries and the U.S.A. The YES program funds Arab/Muslim high school students for a year of study in the U.S.A. The Gilman Program funds U.S.A. students to study abroad, particularly in targeted areas - the Arab world is at the top of the list.

The possibility that unfolded in the meeting with Ms. Ameri and her staff is that Qatar Foundation could host a reunion of YES participants from recent years. This is potentially 1,000 students for each of the last several years. The opportunity would be to bring them back together, renew their bonds and learning, and support them as agents of reason and reconciliation - Wow! I'm already trying to figure out how to incorporate this into QF's programs as a peer-to-peer leadership learning initiative.

In addition to YES, I hope that any of my readers who are students in U.S.A. universities will seriously considered applying for assistance to study in Qatar through the Gilman Program. When I left Miami, there were numerous students who asked where to find help in funding study abroad in the middle east. I had no answer then but now I do! Give it a look and then make your reservations.

Culture

I'm trying to integrate three experiences from this last week. I've spun them in my own mind as examples of culture but I'm still working through how I relate to each. Perhaps I'll make the connections, perhaps you'll see what I can't, or at least I'll have the opportunity to share three great encounters - one with an artist/performer, one with a scholarship donor, and one with my staff colleagues.

We hosted Guy Manoukian in Doha last week. Our Faculty and Student Life Coordinator brought Guy (pronounced like "Gee") in as an end-of-the-year celebration and opportunity to continue to build community among our faculty and staff. Guy is a Lebanese/Armenian "world music" performer. I had never heard his music before but was quickly drawn into his performance. He started with relatively "safe" and passive music and then gradually built to a driving fusion jazz performance that incorporated many styles, but most notably the sounds, instruments, and feel of Lebanon and Armenia. By chance, Guy sent an e-mail to our Coordinator and copied it to me. I enjoyed his performance so much that I messaged back, sharing the fact that I'm an amateur pianist myself. I also posed a question about his style; while I was listening I could have sworn that I heard the influences of Michel Camillo, a South American jazz pianist and composer. Amazing as it might seem, Guy responded in his next message, "Spot on! You got me." I was utterly amazed that I heard the connection across two continents and two very different styles of music to find the artistic similarity of these two musicians. Guy is extraordinary; if you want some very fun and different music for your next dinner party, buy one of his CDs and give it a try!

The second encounter was with a man whose name I will not reveal. He is an individual who is very prominent in Qatar and has made considerable wealth through real estate. I've heard others say that he owns much of the property along the Doha Coniche (the rapidly developing area of downtown - picture to right). I met him in an interview of students who were being considered as potential recipients for a scholarship in his father's name. The first thing I did was thank him for his support of students. His response - "This is my joy, my pleasure, and my fulfillment. It is but a drop in the ocean." The bravado appeared a little over the top but I soon realized that he was completely sincere. The cultural part of this story, other than the depth of commitment this man has to Qatar, was a great surprise. The typical way Arabs are characterized is subtle, non-confrontive, and guarded in their communication. To my incredible surprise, the interviews with students unfolded in ways that I could never have imagined. The man was direct, almost to a fault, and a little scary at times. He even told one of the candidates to leave the room and wait for a recall because he wasn't impressed with her conviction. He later drew her back in, told her that she had another chance, and then proceeded to treat her with the tenderness of a father. He was challenging her to give everything of herself and not to hold back on the beliefs she had as a talented young woman. Watching this generous man work with students to tease their potential to the surface was amazing and not an encounter I'll soon forget. And, by the way, the stereotypical cultural approach in this case was completely outside of what I expected.

The third encounter was with several of my colleagues who have begun a "Take Away" lunch where we talk about professional issues, reading, etc. (By the way, "take away" is our language for "carry out" or delivered lunch.) We were talking about an article that described an institution that had struggled with years of budget reductions, the likes of which resulted in a sense of hopelessness and dejection. The author of the piece described the deep connections that staff made through the process of identifying commitments they would make to each other as they sought to create a better climate on their campus. As we talked about this example, we started exploring the commitments we could make to each other during the rapid changes we are experiencing.

During the "Take Away," one of our Qatari female colleagues spoke of feeling that some of the ex-pat staff in the Education City branches treat her differently because she is covered; covered means wearing an abaya (the black overgarment) and hijab (the veil that covers her hair). This revelation, the first I've heard directly from an Arab colleague, took us into a much deeper conversation about the changes that are underway in Qatar. It was very clear that our Qatari colleagues have a deep desire to fully engage but that there are dynamics that make full inclusion and participation difficult.

Later on in the afternoon, one of my ex-pat colleagues came to my office to express that the revelation about cultural change had helped her understand another person with whom she'd talked earlier in the week. We sat in my office in silence, as we both realized that development doesn't occur, in students or in culture, unless there is unconditional affirmation that makes taking the risk surmountable. I hadn't realized that student development principles that describe the difficulty of developmental change relate so closely to the dynamics of adapting one's culture. Our Arab colleague was committed to doing what it takes to be contemporary and building a future for herself and others, but the process of change is no less difficult than it is for a young adult in a difficult developmental transition. In both cases, the process requires understanding and affirmation. That my colleague's abaya and hijab would be an impediment to cross-cultural communication represents ex-pat discomfort, not that of our Arab colleagues. The abaya and hijab are simply statements of modesty and respect in Islam. What an irony that something intended to foster respect would result in a barrier for others who don't understand.

As I think of these three encounters, I'm not sure that there is a relationship, other than the fact that each reflects an encounter with one's culture. I love being able to have these kinds of experiences and I love being with others as we discover the importance of culture, of us as human beings, and of the possibilities that lie ahead as we continue to know each other more deeply.

Maximizer

Darbi and I attended the Grace Fellowship again this morning. The diversity among those who attend, yet who are able to worship together without discomfort, is utterly amazing. Seeking faith in the U.S.A., where it is so easy, involves so many impediments - social class, experience, denomination. In a distant land where the people in the room couldn't be more diverse if they tried, there is overwhelming peace with self and other that verifies the true love of God.

The visiting minister (who has been with Grace for the last three months) spoke about three "M"s - motivation, ministry, and mission. These are obviously very important to faith but they reminded me of three other "M"s that were the topic of conversation among some of us who went out with Susan Komives the other night. Someone had described the ex-patriots who come to Qatar as either missionaries, mercenaries, or misfits. From the moment I heard these terms I've struggled because my perception is that not one of these "M"s results in the kind of role and service that I see as worthy. I've searched my brain for days trying to figure out a fourth "M." Finally it occurred to me this morning as the pastor was describing his "M"s. The "M" that I hope I embrace and that I hope is characteristic of many ex-pats is maximizer. The maximizer is an individual who knows there is work to be done, looks for her/his and others' resources, draws all together, and approaches the task with optimism and conviction.
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Once I escaped the "M"s, I also started thinking about what it takes to become a maximizer. I thought of the sequence of humility, inclusivity, and affirmation as the keys. When you think of people whose motivation is to change others (i.e. mission) or whose purpose is to advance themselves (mercenary), there's not much that is likely to result in terms of the common good. For certain, the misfit will struggle. However, it seems that if we started with humility about who we are, coupled that with a commitment to include as much as possible, then we would have the kind of affirming environment that would maximize the potential of all.

I've seen a few unfortunate souls here who are missionaries, mercenaries, or misfits, but those who are making a difference and have the spirit to stick with it, are all about maximizing their own effectiveness and working with others so they can as well.

These images are of the Ceremonial Court at Education City at night. Tonight is a calm, warm, and beautiful night and I couldn't resist taking some nighttime pictures. In a few days, the Class of 2008 of four of our six Education City branch campuses will graduate. They will come to this Ceremonial Court to experience the passage into a life of purpose and promise.

Transforming learning in the Gulf

I've had a pretty eventful week - starting with a 2-day visit of Dr. Susan Komives. Susan joined us as our first Qatar Foundation Education Division Visiting Scholar. She set a very high standard for any to follow but the good thing was that she created an appetite in us all that will encourage everyone to participate in future similar events. We kept her very busy with a keynote, workshops, consultations, and guiding us in a retreat. Susan brought so much value to our community through her command of everything from the "Learning Reconsidered" model to leadership issues to her new role as President-elect of the Council for the Advancement of Standards. We're conducting an evaluation which will tell us how successful we were in helping everyone at Education City understand that student affairs work has a body of research and theory and that we can enhance our impact with students by joining together across academic and student affairs units.

It is obvious that Education City has a great deal to offer. Our facilities, the staff of Qatar Foundation and the Education City branches, bright and highly motivated students, and resources to help us do our work. We also benefit from not being inhibited by lots of history and routine. We have the opportunity to create rich learning for students by doing what makes sense, rather than being confined by old models. The only problem is that it's hard to build a team from a collection of people who are so diverse in education and life experiences. The diversity is clearly a strength but it does not make the process easier; in fact, it makes it harder.

The importance of creating shared understanding and language cannot be underestimated. We're in a stage where we are building meaning through every phrase we utter. I'm sure that much of my regular communication sounds like jargon to some. To me, it's just the way I think. However, I know that many words that I use do not carry the same depth of meaning that I intend. We're trying to create shared language that will eventually become the short-hand communication that will more quickly and fully inform each other.

Measuring life's experience

I've been involved in hosting my family in Qatar, returning for the ACPA Convention in Atlanta, and then visiting back in Oxford over the last couple of weeks. It was very fun but I had a lot facing me as I tried to return to a little more routine. I have now realized that my return included slipping into a rather frantic routine that denied the deep joy of the experiences I had - and then I remembered the following quote that I heard while at the ACPA convention:

"Life is measured not by the number of breaths we take but by the times our breath is taken away."

When things get a bit overwhelming, how true a statement. As I reflect on the opportunity to introduce the rest of my family to my new life in the Gulf, it brings such joy to my heart. We had some pretty incredible times together as we toured both in Doha and then in Muscat, Oman. Both of these cities are modern and comfortable cities but they do have elements that remind us that we are in a different area of the world. The first pictures here are of us as we took an afternoon/evening cruise on a Dowh (ancient pearling boat used in this area of the world). The skyline of Doha is behind us in the family picture and one of the other Dowhs passing by us has a closer shot of the skyline of West Bay of Doha.









The second set of pictures are of the Great Mosque in Muscat and of the Corniche in the older area of the coast, a short way from the Mosque. We were not able to go into the Mosque because we arrived too late in the day but the exterior was no less spectacular and was well worth seeing.








The Coniche at dusk reveals the bustling charm of what has been a prosperous sea-side community for years. All the way back to the shipping days of the "Silk Road," and later during the Portuguese occupation of this port, Oman has been a crossroads of the Arabian Gulf and a gateway between Europe and the far east. It is truly a beautiful area of the world and the people are as engaging and friendly as one could hope.

Once our touring was over, I returned with Diane, Devin, and Steve to the U.S.A. (hard to leave Darbi behind as she was undergoing shoulder surgery) to go to Atlanta for the ACPA Convention. I saw many colleagues and friends who I hadn't seen for a while and I told the story of moving to Qatar more times than I can count. It seemed that every one of them was a new revelation as I found a different way to express my delight with the experiences I'm having. Once ACPA concluded, I returned to Ohio for a few days before returning to begin the catch-up process.

All of this is to say that I've been on a whirlwind but one that has reminded me how deeply blessed I am. There are so many things about my health, the fulfillment of my career, and the closeness of my family that bring gasps of joy. Occasionally I get so wrapped up that I forget; it's in those moments when I have to remind myself to take a minute to reflect. When I have those little momentary gasps of realization, I am reminded that I've been drawn into something that is so very powerful. Powerful in potential, powerful in the challenge of my work, and powerful in relationships I have.

It is times like this that life's experiences truly are not measured by the number of breaths I take but the number of times my breath is taken away.

Attitude - The story of David Fajgenbaum

I met David two summers ago at a session of the LeaderShape Institute. He was actually fairly quiet by comparison to many in the group of 60 students from throughout the U.S.A. Yet, he had a quiet strength and humility that was a magnet for other participants. We knew he was special but now it has become even more obvious.

David was just featured in Psychology Today as an example of the power of optimism in the face of tragedy. When his mother was diagnosed with cancer as he was going off to college at Georgetown, David did what he could as his mother slipped away but in addition, he created AMF to help other students cope with the grief of losing a loved one.

The Psychology Today article supports what I've always believed - that optimism is a choice that is cultivated rather than a personality characteristic (pessimists would call it a personality disorder). With David as an example, instead of suffering the loss of his mother, he chose to take steps to create a better future. His action focused on creating an organization that would support young people who had lost their mothers or fathers or other loved ones - the kind of organization that was not available to help him cope with his grief. Another part of learning to be optimistic is journaling about the good things that have happened in your life - the research indicates that identifying just three a day will help. And ultimately, optimism is looking at your present circumstance and visualizing the world you want and acting on it.

The post that preceded this one was about Randy Pausch and now I'm blogging about David. What's the point - optimism in the face of challenge and tragedy? Yes, in fact it is. How we are impacted by life's experience is completely up to us. We can bemoan that life isn't fair and we didn't have our chance or that someone else snatched our opportunity away. Or, we can accept the gift of opportunity that is right beneath our noses. Passivity is most often accompanied by its companion, hopelessness. On the other hand, if we are optimistic, there are always opportunities to chart our own life course and to influence that of others. Optimism then becomes an interesting antidote for passivity. Choosing passivity and resignation are comfortable because they allow us to abdicate responsibility for our own beliefs and action. Randy and David have, in their individual striving, provided an alternative. Which will we choose?

Last Lecture - Randy Pausch

A professor from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Randy Pausch, is dying of pancreatic cancer. Instead of shriveling up in the face of death, he has become stronger and is touching the lives of college students and others with his message. Oprah Winfrey recently invited him to share a ten minute segment of his "Last Lecture" with her national audience. It's a moving tribute to Randy and to the power of family, hope, possibility, and gratitude. You know that these are recurrent themes for me - sometimes they are so dominant that colleagues have labeled me as naive. If that's what it is, I'll take it anyday over the cynicism that dominates some people's lives.

"Presence" in the Global Classroom

I had the opportunity to be part of launching the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service Global Classroom this evening. It was utterly amazing and the picture to the right only gives you a faint impression of the real "presence" you feel when sitting in this classroom. As you can see, classmates are pictured life-size in screens directly in front and curving around you. Thus, you get the feeling that you're simply sitting across a conference table from people who in today's case were 8,000 miles away - in Washington, D.C.

The interaction was so real that it was hard to believe that the other people on the screen were not actually with us. Today's interaction was just a demonstration but classes are already underway between Qatar and D.C. with students in discussion groups and project teams literally around the world. The thing that is so helpful is that communications research indicates that about 2/3 of our communication is what we "read" in non-verbals. Thus, when we're communicating by phone or in small images, we're missing a significant portion of the communication. Having life-size, high definition images adds significantly to the reality, the presence, and the effectiveness of our communication.

What's next - digital images that can walk around the room interacting with one another? Maybe...