Thanks to a Fulbright Specialist Grant, I traveled to Bahrain to teach at the Royal University for Women in Ar-Riffa. The grant shares U.S. academics and experienced professions with host institutions around the world for short-term projects.
My project was to teach documenting historic structures to a historic preservation class and to do curriculum review. Along the way I also taught a class on the history of skyscrapers and lectured about my doctoral research in Egypt. The goal is to build international institutional relationships. It’s a great way for host institutions to fund experts on campus and a wonderful experience for the specialists who get to collaborate with other institutions. In 2014, I received a grant to teach at Jordan University for Science and Technology in Irbid, Jordan. That, too was an incredible experience. Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information about hosting a Fulbright Scholar or becoming a Fulbright Specialist.
Bahrain is a tiny island country with about 1.5 million inhabitants off the coast of Saudi Arabia. It’s so close that you can drive there along the causeway. Bahrain is modern and tolerant of different cultures.
Petroleum was first discovered in Iran in 1911 and then in Iraq. Bahrain was the first discovery of oil on the Arabian side of the Persian Gulf (1932). Little did I know that it is also one of the world’s largest aluminum smelters.
Bahrain gained its independence from Great Britain in 1971 making it one of the younger countries in the world. However, as you follow my adventures, you’ll discover how much history Bahrain has.