Having only images presented by mass media to base my opinions on, I had previously created an image of what the Middle East was going to be like in my mind. But, after spending my entire January studying at NYU Abu Dhabi and traveling all around the United Arab Emirates (UAE), I wish I could have stayed longer. Not only did I get rid of my preconceptions of the Middle East, but I also found that there are so many amazing social and cultural things to experience, things which are completely ignored by the media. As sophomores are deciding their study away sites, I wish to share my experiences in the UAE and at NYU Abu Dhabi. Academics at NYU Abu Dhabi I was welcomed by a beautiful campus, perfect services, functional facilities and enthusiastic students at NYUAD. The NYUAD campus is located on Saadiyat Island -- a 15-minute drive from Abu Dhabi’s city center. You will find rooftop gardens, basketball and soccer courts, gyms, a convenience store and multiples Starbucks cafés. The dorms are set around the campus and connected by the “Highline”— a copy of New York's famous overhead walking trail in Chelsea. While the grounds are very impressive, many of the Abu Dhabi students I talked to thought that it was inconvenient to get to the center of Abu Dhabi. Indeed, the city is not as bustling and busy as Shanghai is, and the campus is relatively isolated. Sometimes it would take an hour to get from the campus to the city -- which, for Shanghai students, may feel like the venture into Puxi from Jinqiao. But in general, I felt at home among the students and in and around campus. Studying there for a J-term, I took a course called Orientalism Debates, which counts for the NYUAD major, Arab Crossroads Studies, which can be seen as the equivalent of Global China Studies at NYUSH. Throughout the course, the professor touched on topics ranging from academic genealogy and history of western philological traditions to contemporary Middle Eastern conflicts. This class was the hardest course that I have undertaken in college — it required hundreds of pages of reading and a paper every single day. I spent most of my time in a study room, and the professor was infamous for his harsh grading at NYUAD. Therefore, my intense academic experience may not be the best representation of how enjoyable life at NYUAD can be. The academic rigour ultimately improved my writing, reading and critical thinking and I learned a lot about the Middle East and Islamic society. In my opinion, Social Science and Media Studies courses at NYUAD are two of the best disciplines, as they offer students great resources and facilities. For sophomores and freshmen considering Social Science or IMA, or are interested in Middle Eastern history, you should consider studying away at NYUAD. Travelling Throughout the UAE Thee best thing about my J-term was traveling and discovering the culture in the United Arab Emirates. My friends and I rented a car and even drove from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on the weekends. Cities in the UAE differentiate themselves amongst each other: Dubai is futuristic and international; Abu Dhabi is culturally conservative but overall pretty tolerant; Sharjah is peaceful and less touristy. There are many ways to experience Arab and Islamic culture, whether it be going on a tour of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi or Burj Khalifa in Dubai, or; having sheesha with friends in a local Saudi-Lebanese restaurant after a sunbath by the Arabian Gulf (Persian Gulf), or; dancing to traditional Arab music after a desert safari. From my personal experience, it was not a problem to reach out to and ask for help from locals, who were all friendly and helpful, as long as your behavior is in line with Islamic rules and laws. I made a friend from Syria who invited me to a family gathering. That was one of the highlights of my trip, as I was able to practice my broken Arabic and got to experience a snapshot of real life in the UAE. Moreover, many people in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are expats and foreigners, so there are chances to get to know people from all over the world as well. One day, I enjoyed an hour long conversation with a taxi driver from Uganda. Food in the UAE is also extremely diverse. Throughout my stay in the UAE, it was always a food (and sheesha) adventure, which helped me learn more about customs, traditions and cultures. I drank coffee in multiple malls -- I finally understood their Mall culture and the reason behind it: it’s too hot to stay outside most of the time! I experienced a traditional Arab dinner and coffee sitting on the ground surrounded by beautiful Middle Eastern paintings. We also had a great sheesha experience by the Arabian Gulf, where we enjoyed the most beautiful sunset and a touching Qanun music performance. Zomato, the Arabian version of Yelp, is always a helpful tool that can guide you to the most local communities and restaurants. Words cannot begin to describe how life-changing my J-term experience was. Car races on a desert highway, sunsets at the seaside, Arabic pop music at malls and Quran recitations before dawns -- these were all part of my fascinating cultural experience over the winter (or Arabian summer!) These “Arabian Nights” were just the start of my exploration of Arab culture, religion, and societies. This article was written by Ben Weilun Zhang. Please send an email to [email protected] to get in touch. Photo Credit: Ben Weilun Zhang