What a way to end the school year! On April 8, Dubai Jags went to Aquaventure Waterpark at Atlantis, a hotel resort located at the apex of the Palm Jumeirah in the United Arab Emirates. It was the first resort to be built on the island and is themed on the myth of Atlantis but includes distinct Arabian elements.
It was early Friday morning (a day off in UAE) when buses left the campus. Upon arrival at the waterpark gate, Jaguars hurriedly took their passes and went straight to the waterpark and its adrenaline-pumping water slides. Really fun -- but some were really scary too -- especially the “Leap of Faith” slide. At nine stories high, it's no wonder that some of the Jags wouldn't risk it at first, but changed their mind with friends’ encouragement. Some students also played football and volleyball in the nearby beach. It was a really hot day, so being in the water was refreshing.
After the heart-stopping slides, the Jags refueled with pizzas and burgers, then chilled in the lazy river for a while. The wave pool was also fun, where they got tossed by the waves. For many, the calm water and view were the best parts of the trip. Of course, they applied business lessons from the experience, appreciating how building the waterpark as part of a hotel resort adds visibility for potential hotel guests.
"This was the last student life event of the year, so despite the awesome adventure I had mixed emotions. Thinking about the slides will always make me remember the fantastic eight months we've spent in Dubai. It was an amazing trip with a perfect view," said Nikhil Kewalramani, BBA ‘14.