I've booked travel for this upcoming term. Spring break, March 16–22, I will be at the Disneyland Paris Resort in Marne-la-Vallée, France, for five nights. I've visited France before, so I'm familiar with French culture and language. As a result, I want this particular trip to be a very 'insular' experience. That is, no Paris. no France. Only THEMERICA™. I will fly in and then board a shuttle bus directly to the resort. I will spend all my time immersed in the thematic environments of Disney's European enclave. Absolutely no native flavor—nothing distinctly French. This decision, which has struck many of my peers as patently insane, is completely intentional. I want to isolate myself from what could be a nice French vacation—let's be clear—I'm going to visit THEMERICA™
April 17–24 I will be in Dubai City, United Arab Emirates. The reasons for visiting Dubai are two-fold. First, I will be attending the 14th annual DUBAI ENTERTAINMENT, ARTS & LEISURE EXPO (DEAL) at the Dubai World Trade Center. This is a gathering of major players in the global theming industry; architects, designers, and marketers. Second, Dubai represents the future of thematic design, brandscapes, and the experience economy in the 21st century. Encompassing everything from the world's largest indoor ski mountain to completely simulated city districts, Dubai is Las Vegas combined with Walt Disney Disney World and Manhattan's Times Square—writ large. A city cut from whole cloth, rising from the desert heat like a mirage. I plan on visiting such thematic environments as the Wild Wadi Water Park and Global Village.