Greg Girard
Japan’s southernmost prefecture, Okinawa, hosts a concentration of US military bases unlike anywhere outside the continental United States. More than half the 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan are based here. On the main island of Okinawa nearly 20% of the land is occupied by these bases. This large US military footprint, and the legacy of Okinawa’s history as a US-administered territory until 1972, means that the social and physical landscape of Okinawa is shaped by this relationship with the US military like few other places. In "Hotel Okinawa" (2017), Girard looks at this unique world "on base" and off, separate and yet conjoined, the result of decades of living in close proximity with the US military. Additionally, archival photographs, periodicals and other artefacts, some dating back to the US occupation, appear throughout the book, registering historical strands that are part of the complex fabric of Okinawa today.
Americans in the United Arab Emirates
The majority of Americans are based in Dubai. Due to the extensive military cooperation between both countries, there are also around 3,500 American military personnel stationed at the Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi. The base, which is operated jointly, is one of the key US military bases in the region.
There are numerous American international schools in the UAE, serving expatriate students. Some of the notable schools are the American Community School of Abu Dhabi, American International School in Abu Dhabi, American School of Dubai, Dubai American Academy, GEMS American Academy and the Sharjah American International School. In addition, there are also several American-accredited universities in the country, such as the American University in Dubai, Hult International Business School, International Horizons College, Rochester Institute of Technology - Dubai, the New York University Abu Dhabi and the American University of Sharjah.