Unjoannable's Blog

The Hope Voyage: A Lifetime Experience From the UAE to Oman—and beyond, toward Yemen By Joanna Vidal Breakfast at the camp It all started unexpectedly. Due to the nature of my work, I found myself in a meeting with my boss, who’s also my mentor, and an American man named Mike. At first, I assumed it was about our usual culture and heritage projects, since that’s what we normally work on. As the conversation unfolded, Mike started sharing stories about his own work. He had some idea about our projects too, though not in detail.  Later, I found out that Mike Metzger is a freelancer who has worked on various initiatives, including collaborations with government institutions in UAE. But what truly stood out was his deep passion for humanitarian work. Over coffee and casual conversation, he opened up about a vision close to his heart, a project called “The Hope Voyage.” It was more than just a desert expedition; it was a mission to raise awareness and funds for the people of Hadramout, ...

By Joanna Vidal A road with mountain views in Oman Exploring and discovering the cultures of other countries has always been one of my greatest interests. Let me give you a brief background about the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Sultanate of Oman. From what I’ve learned through conversations and online research, many years ago, the UAE was once a part of Oman. Due to certain circumstances, they eventually separated. Later on, the seven Emirates—Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah—united and formed a federation, officially becoming the United Arab Emirates in 1971. The UAE experienced an economic boom with the discovery of oil, followed by rapid growth in trade and tourism. One of the country’s most iconic landmarks, the Burj Khalifa, was built as a symbol of its success. It is globally recognized as the tallest building in the world. Today, the UAE is one of the fastest-growing economies—not only in Asia but across the globe. On the othe...

By Joanna Vidal A photo of me at the National Mall where the Festival was held. My Experience at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival: Representing UAE Heritage The Smithsonian Folklife Festival, established in 1967, is one of the largest cultural events in the world. It takes place annually on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and typically runs from June 22nd through the 4th of July, overlapping with U.S. Independence Day. After a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival returned in 2022 with renewed energy—and I was honored to be part of it. That year’s theme was “UAE: Living Landscape | Living Memory,” with the United Arab Emirates as the featured country. The event highlighted the UAE’s rich history, heritage, culture, and traditions. It was sponsored by several governmental organizations, most notably the UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth, and supported by the UAE Embassy to the USA. As someone who has worked in the heritage field for nearly eight years at this...

BONJOUR FRANCE!  HELLO, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE All OVER THE WORLD! By Joanna Vidal Writing a blog while juggling a busy life is no joke! I started this post a while ago but haven’t had the time to do a full review—until now. In case you missed it, my previous post was all about Germany—check it out  https://unjoannable.blogspot.com/2018/01/travel-blog-my-first-europe-trip-part.html  if you’re new to the blog! Now, I’m excited to share Part Two of my first solo Europe adventure—my trip to France. Grab a coffee and read until the end—this was one unforgettable experience.                                    Europe trip Part Two Germany to France! Day 7: Crossing Borders – Germany to France I left my hotel in Neuss, Düsseldorf around 10 AM and hopped on a tram to the main train station. My destination? Paris, France, via the high-speed bullet train. As soon as I boarded the tra...