DUBAI // For visitors to the largest floating book fair docked at Port Rashid, the novels and non-fiction titles for sale are a secondary attraction.
The travel stories of the volunteers of the Logos Hope, which they willingly share as they assist book lovers, is what makes the liner a major draw.
The ship sailed into the emirate on Friday, replete with 400 volunteer crew from all over the world and an impressive display of 7,000 titles. The sale opened to the public yesterday afternoon.
Logos Hope is the fourth vessel belonging to GBA Ships, a not-for-profit organisation based in Germany. Its journey began two years ago in Europe and it has been in the Middle East for the past six months.
"There are many facets to the ship and its appeal differs from country to country," said Jessie LaPlue, the media relations officer of the fair.
"In some lower developing countries, like in Africa, we have scores of people standing in line for hours to gain access to the books, because education for some is a luxury there," she said. "But in many other countries, people are fascinated by the volunteer work.
"It surprises people how the members have left their jobs and life to be on a ship … and they aren't even being paid for it."
Crew members enrol with the shared goal of making a difference through charity projects and spreading the word of cultures existing in harmony.
Ms LaPlue, a university graduate, has been on the ship for a year and has already visited 15 countries. For her, the adventure has been a crash course in cultures. "As a crew we see this as an opportunity to build relationships with the locals and share our experiences."
Every member, from engineers to the cooks, commits to a non-paid service on the ship for a certain number of years. During that time, they have the opportunity to learn life skills and serve the community they are based in.
Matthew Dent joined the team when he was 18. Although he aspires to continue his education in the audio-visual field, the past three years aboard the ship have broadened his perspective of the world.
"On the ship I have received a lot of training in various areas and have got qualifications that will be beneficial when I go back," the Australian crew member who works in the control room said. "I have been able to step into different leadership positions as well."
Volunteers who are assigned to the book fair are well informed about the titles and can assist visitors with the English as well as Arabic books, which they have added for people in the Emirates.
"When we go to ports where the primary language is something else, we source books from local distributors," Ms LaPlue said.
"We work with the country's officials to bring books that are relevant and make sure they are not offensive to the culture." She said the children's section was the largest as the crew planned to host school visits.
Caroline Geluk, a Dubai resident from the Netherlands who was at the fair with her three children, said she wasn't planning to buy too many books, but wanted to meet some of the crew members.
"I know the mission of the ship and find it interesting," Mrs Geluk said. "We get to meet so many people and the fact that they are volunteers has aroused my curiosity.
"In fact, we met a Dutch lady on the ship and coincidently we have a common friend in Lebanon, which is so exciting."
Another resident, Nita Ved, 46, said interacting with the people behind the fair was a good lesson for youngsters. "It teaches them about being selfless and the members provide a good example of unity," she said.
Ms LaPlue said about 40 to 60 new members would fly into Abu Dhabi next month to replace retiring crew members. "We encourage UAE residents to sign up for the cause as well."
The Logos Hope will be open in Dubai at Port Rashid until February 5. Opening hours are 1pm to 10.30pm from Saturday to Wednesday, and 4pm to 10.30pm on Thursday and Friday. Logos Hope will be open in Abu Dhabi from February 7 until February 19.
aahmed@thenational.ae
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Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
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Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
