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 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...