Award-winning poet graces GC&SU with her talent

Marielle Gunasekera, an international student from Dubai, traveled to America ready to share her poetic talents with a ‘new world.’

She is a freshman majoring in mass communication. She enrolled last spring. She is concentrating on broadcasting, both radio and television.

She is an award-winning poet, and her works have been published in various publications, such as the International Library of Poets’ publication “Chasing the Dawn.” She won the International Library of Poets’ Editor’s Choice awards for outstanding poet of the year achievement and the March and August International Poet of Merit awards.

“I just think about what the poem is going to be about, and let the rest just come to me,” Gunasekera said.

According to Gunasekera, being all alone in a foreign country has helped her to learn how to become more independent and confident, to make her own decisions and be able to trust her own judgments.

As a result of her diverse upbringing, Gunasekera did not experience culture shock. Georgia College & State University students are friendlier towards her than she expected.

“I chose to major in mass communication, because I enjoy interacting with people,” Gunasekera said. “I came to GC&SU, because they have a very good international program.”

United Arab Emirates (UAE), federation of seven independent states located in the southeastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by the Persian Gulf to the north, Saudi Arabia to the south and to the west, Oman and the Gulf of Oman to the east.

Dubai is one of the seven Emirates. Dubai boasts a vibrant nightlife,
shopping festivals, such as the Dubai Shopping Festival and the Shopping Surprises Festival making it a major tourist’s attraction. The total land area of the UAE, including its islands, is 83,600 sq km (32,300 sq mi)

To add to the shopping, Dubai also has historical ruins, desert safaris, desert surfing, belly dance shows, and also the tallest hotel in the world–The Buij Al Arab.

Dubai is a cosmopolitan city with international schools, which are integrated. It is a major tourist destination, therefore they are less conservative.

Dubai is a fine example of economic development triggering swift social changes. The local population is more tolerant of modern life-styles. Foreigners are free to practice their religion, follow their food and dress habits. Women drive around unescorted; however, the heritage lives on. Dubai’s citizens wear traditional dress. Occasions like weddings are colorful celebrations. Traditional sports such as falconry, camel racing and dhow cruises are big draws. Arts and cultural activities are folklore-oriented.

The Arabs are a friendly people. In the Arab world, families are large, marriages are arranged and women are respected. In Dubai they have started going out for work.

Temperature and religion influence their dress habits. Men and women wear a loose-fitting full-length garment called ‘kandoura’ or ‘dishdasha.’ Mostly in white, men also wear a cap called ‘gahfia’ or ‘tagia,’ covered by ‘gutra,’ a long cloth. Women may cover their faces also. Visitors can wear light-weight garments in summer and light jacket/sweaters in winter. Revealing styles may be offensive to the local population of Muslims.

The official language is Arabic, and Islam is the official religion. Other religions are also respected. Ramadan is the holy month of fasting from dawn to dusk. Visitors also are expected not to eat or drink during the day in this period.

The first thing one notices on landing is ‘the Creek,’ a historical focal point of life in Dubai–a natural inlet from the Gulf which bisects the city into two: Deira in the north and Bur Dubai in the south.

“Libby Davis was very helpful in getting back to me in and that was something I liked,” Gunasekera said. “Coming to GC&SU was not that hard of a decision.”

Gunasekera will be displaying a traditional asari (Sri Lanka’s National dress) during International Day, Thursday, Oct. 24.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 18 2002. Filed under Other. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry