A new Al Jazeera

Some WCMC-Q students, professors, and TAs recently visited Al Jazeera English Television Station. It opened in November of 2006, and it appears to be off to a good start. Across from the original Arabic language Al Jazeera in a guarded compound near what is known as "TV" roundabout (hmmmm...where does that name come from), stands the brand new, state-of-the-art studio for Al Jazeera English.


Greeted by a representative of HR, we proceeded on our tour. Our guide did her job - telling us of Al Jazeera's mission, explaining how it was different from Arabic Al Jazeera, and expressing pride and satisfaction with her employer. Some in our group were, how shall I put it????.... Obnoxious. I felt the guide did a good job fielding their unfair and biased questions, and I hope the few did not leave a negative impression of the rest of Cornell and WCMC-Q

Anyhow, it was overall a good experience. I feel that the mission of Al Jazeera English - to be an unbiased newsource for the Middle East and eventually the world, although not yet perfect, is noble. What I find especially refreshing is that their homepage has headlines focusing on important events from around the world in an effort to inform and educate rather than entice and entertain.
For example, I'll give some "breaking news" headlines from different websites this week.

Al Jazeera English:
"US imposes fresh sanctions on Iran."
"Japan Quake triggers small tsunami"
"Hong Kong Tsang wins elections"
CNN:
"Woman guilty of killing boyfriend with antifreeze"
"Alice Cooper Judges Jailhouse rock stars"
"Anna Nicole Smith Diaries go fetch $512,500"
FOX:
Nintento "Wii catches on at Retirement Homes"
"Murdered Co-ed's body burned"

I don't think I need to comment further.
A link to the website:
http://english.aljazeera.net/English
And to their statement of ethics:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/4B3ABFB8-9082-4B05-B399-7BF68D4A39D6.htm

Some shots from around the station

The Newsroom


A Picture of Doha Skyline on the largest NewsScreen in the World!The set-up Chris Jones wants to have for his.......um....future work.


The TAs last year went to Al Jazeera Arabic because one of the TAs made it on the news while being interviewed about co-education in Doha. We all benefited from her fame.

I'm just not meant to publish a blog....

It is hard for me to believe I haven't written anything for 3 months. I feel terrible. There actually hasn't been much to report from Doha. After returning from my trips to Egypt, the U.S., and the Bahamas in January, everyday life in Doha has been great, but unfortunately would not be very interesting for most of you.
The best news ever: I was just accepted to the University of Washington Medical School. Yipppppeeeee Skipppppeeeeee!!!!
The University of Colorado Medical School had accepted me long ago, but I applied to Seattle because of the crazy costs at Colorado. After a $1,000 and 65-hour roundtrip flight, my interview experience could not have gone better. I found out I was accepted only one week after the interview, and did a sort of sob/laugh/cry/body-shake kinda thing around my living room. Then, I may have done a celebration dance. Maybe. :)
Thanks to all my friends, family, and teachers for your support.
With a discount of $120,000 over 4 years (almost a house!), and it being one of the best medical schools in the nation, I will be moving to Seattle rather than Denver in July.
Actually, my first year is in Moscow, Idaho. It will be nice after all this time away to live in a place that feels so much like home.

So, that is all I have to offer for an update my dears.
Perhaps in the following weeks, I'll write something interesting or clever and post some photos.