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...