My first press conference

What an event! Luckily, this was not my co-teachers first press conference. Like many things in my life here--- this was a first for me! Mary Pat knew about putting together press packets and the value of such packets. I, on the other hand, know a lot about trying to get attention! So, I took the lead on working with the students on their press conference announcement and Mary Pat got things ready for the press! It was arabic time all the way on this adventure. I asked the students to be at the room ready to go at 9AM for the press conference that was to begin at 10AM. Mary Pat and I were in the room by 8AM. By 9:40 the first students arrived and by 10:30, everyone else showed up ---- even the press! We had about 50 people show up for the conference in addition to our 25 students. The students were amazing! Really! And I am not just saying that! One of the law school professors said he had never seen a better press conference than this one at the university to date! The students not only revealed the portion of the Domestic violence Protection Act they drafted, but also an Action Plan for Qatar complete with their ideas on how to combat domestic violence. The press had questions ------ and the students had answers. Once or twice I jumped in and added some things, but mostly they handled the press conference by themselves. Seven students presented the Action Plan and the rest of the students stood behind them as the 7 students spoke in front of microphones. I was proud. We all were! The VP of the University also attended so I got to meet her. I think she may have even been impressed. Afterwards, we had a couple speeches, one by the Dean of the Law School and another by a business professor and one by a former student who was the inspiration for this clinic. Then we gave out certificates - a really big deal here!--- and then the students surprised US with gifts and an album with messages and pictures for us. It was lovely..... and a surprise for sure. I am told this is not normal for any law school class---- but no one said that this course and the teachers were normal either. One of the profs said he had tears in his eyes during the press conference ---- he had never seen the law students so articulate and passionate about anything! So, that's my report and the brief review of what started out looking as though no one ---- not even the students ----- would attend. I was like a mother hen ---- pacing all around and making myself (and probably all the students) nervous. I felt like I was at my daughter's wedding ----- "Mom, just go upstairs. You are making us all nervous!" Fortunately, J. was there and took some pictures. Yes. the newpapers today covered the event ---- at least several of the newpapers did. One of our students was on the radio last evening and she reported it was a very good experience. The radio broadcast was in arabic so I did not listen to it! So, the course is over now. Mary Pat and I are working on final grades and re-creating our entire syllabus for the ABA. It's the "clean-up" now. The ABA Director for this region took us to lunch today at the Opal Restaurant at the St. Regis Hotel in Doha. It was just openned by Gordon Ramsey (some British chef, I am told). I am no gourmet, so I have no idea who that is, but the food was great! So, I survived ..... and did more than just survive, I think.