(Image from Kermit the Blog)

The first idea that ever crosses my mind when I want to do something I’ve never done before is, of course, to google it. 99% of the time, unless it’s something that’s absurdly hands-on as steering a ship, it never occurs to me to do anything but google it.

That’s precisely why I was at first a little reluctant to go to the the first ArabNet Jordan workshop, hosted by QRCE and the wonderful Mohammad Khawaja.

I ended up going as you can tell, and if I learned anything at all from that workshop, I learned that there are some things that are better learned from sources other than Google (and here’s where my friends go “Shit, did Roba really just say that?“).

It’s not that you can’t learn to write a kick-ass business case using a web-search, god no, that’s Google’s best domain after all. Rather, what you miss out on is the localized, customized, instantaneous experience.

What I’m saying is that you miss out on the power of being in the same room as a dozen passionate, Jordanian web-junkies who are anxious to add value to the Arabic web. The air itself in the intimate little event was riveting — the cynicism, the ideas, the criticism, the optimisms, the passion, and the patriotism are things you definitely don’t feel when reading a 500-word article on how to write a business case.

The workshop managed to make me even more excited about attending ArabNet. If a dozen people can make me feel so inspired about the Web, how thoughtful will I be amongst hundreds?

The power of ideas, zeal, and a love for the Web is definitely something I’m looking forward to, come the 26th. I’m also looking forward to the next ArabNet pre-conference workshop, which is also going to be organized by the QRCE.

These pre-conference workshops have been taking place all across the Arab world, and the one from Beirut seems to have been interesting as well.

According to +961, one of the newest toot blogs as well as fellow ArabNet official blogger, the workshop was full of positive energy and interactions, as well as an interesting follow-up session. Here’s what he had to say about it:

The workshop started with an introduction by Omar Christidis about ArabNet, the reasons which led to its inception, and his belief in the potential of the Arab web business industry. The conference is keen on bringing together speakers from Silicon Valley, Europe and the Middle East, as well as providing opportunities for entrepreneurs with ambitious e-ideas to network with high profile investors and internet executives from the Arab world, he explained.

I will let you know as soon as the next workshop is announced as well, in case anyone is interested in feeling my Google sentiments as well.