Unjoannable's Blog

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...

Sharing My Experienced on  Emirati Arab Muslim Wedding By Joanna Vidal Hi, beautiful people! Welcome back to my blog — it’s me again, Joanna! In this post, I’m going to share my unforgettable experience attending an Arab Muslim wedding here in the UAE. I’ll also give you some helpful tips, especially if you’re ever invited to one. Curious about what it’s like? Keep reading! What to Expect at an Arab Muslim Wedding If you’ve been invited to an Arab Muslim wedding and you’re not sure what to expect, don’t worry — I’ve been there! This blog will give you a clear idea of what the experience is like, especially for non-Arab or non-Muslim guests. From what to wear to how to behave, a little knowledge goes a long way in helping you enjoy the moment and show proper respect. Although modern influences are present, many Arab weddings still carry strong traditional elements — and that’s what makes them so special. The Venue Experience (Ladies’ Side) In many Muslim weddings, especially in ...

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...

HALLO  DEUTSCHLAND ! HELLO, BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!   Joanna is here signing in again... By Joanna Vidal My Dream Come True: First Solo Trip to Europe! I’m so excited to finally share my travel experience in Europe with you all! This isn’t just a story about where I went or what I saw—it’s about chasing dreams, building confidence, and making it happen on your own. I’ll also be sharing tips and ideas that might help you plan your own dream trip—whether it’s to Europe or anywhere else in the world! A Little Backstory Back in college, one of my instructors in Tourism Management gave us a task: draw your dream destination and present it to the class. I took it seriously. For me, it wasn’t just an assignment—it was a chance to dream big. I believed there should be no limits when it comes to dreams! I drew two places: • 1st: Eiffel Tower in Paris • 2nd: Disneyland in Hong Kong I still remember one classmate saying I was imagining impossible things—b...