Abu Dhabi attracts US students with rich Arab culture
Transfer students recount their life on campus, urging students to participate in varsity here.
A university of Abu Dhabi is able to attract an increasing amount of US nationals who tend to the capital for diversity and their stated need to come back and settle down and work here in future.
This result is in line with the Global Education program at NYU Abu Dhabi which is one of the strategies employed to develop the educational resources of the campus.
Transfer students underlined the fact that this time they concern their friends and other students on the main campus in New York who are now traveling to the UAE and enjoying its wonderful pluralistic, multiethnic society and culture.
“Being on this campus, one of the things I enjoy is the available community. It is so beautiful that I have said it to many people and even few of my friends have been motivated to come to this campus. The community that you belong to once you are here is so amazing,” Isaiah Blemur expresses.
‘Fallen in love with the Arab culture’
In any given semester, there are also the likes of Isaiah, a New York University domiciled student, here for a semester or two. This year there was also an NYU Shanghai (and other students too!). In the spring, I went to Abu Dhabi and even spent time in an Arab culture. I have come to appreciate the Arab culture even though I am a Christian.
I had quite some exposure on my Muslim counterparts and their religion when I came here during the Spring semester. I did undertake a few fasts for a couple of days when it was Ramadan. It’s such a family-oriented environment. It is not only about going with friends and playing video games. It is just living life as it is, in whatever form it comes, within one table sharing food I would say is what I have enjoyed the most, that has been the most valuable for me.
Learning different Arabic dialects –‘beautiful language’
At the same time, Isaiah has been going in for Arabic classes and acquiring various languages of the same tongue.
“I loved the experience the first time I came here. This is my fourth week being back here in the UAE, and I have nothing but positive things to say about it. I enjoy making new friends and I have met many people from Sudan and also emiratis, palestinians, that is people from the Middle east. It has been a very interesting cultural exposure and I appreciate that the Arabic language is beautiful.”
As for traveling to the UAE, it was Isaiah’s first trip to a Middle Eastern country, and, in his own words, it was also “one of the best’ trips of his life”.
Focusing on ‘Heritage Management and Studies’
Natalia Oben, who is present for the Fall semester plenary and hopes to remain here until the Spring Semester is a daughter. She is taking up a double major in Linguistics and Cultural Anthropology.
The described courses include “Judging Heritage: Cultural Property Law & Preservation Policies,” and just a few of the offered services come hand in hand with professional capabilities and experience, which Ms.Fall seeks.
“Also, I believe that contact with those specialized themes and especially those concerning language and identity will provide me with important skills required to advance in my field of work,” Natalia.
“The opportunity to engage in these specialized topics, particularly those that emphasize linguistic identities, will equip me with critical skills necessary for excelling in my field,” said Natalia.
‘It’s a dream come true for me
Natalia changed European-American society because she cherishes the ethnic and cultural differences which she has never met before.
She noted that the interrelated academic and intercultural experiences over the undergraduate years enabled her to develop a higher level of cultural awareness regarding the roles and relations of various social groups locally and globally.
“ I feel like I am at the same time trying to merge together two chronological timelines, mine and theirs (local people’s) upbringing. I imagine that I would be returning to the UAE to work,” added the 20-year-old.
Comments