What draws university students to the capital is the same as what draws expats: location and opportunity. YallaUni caught up with two NYUAD students about life in Abu Dhabi.
Meet Cole Robert Beasley
What inspired you to come to Abu Dhabi?
NYUAD has renowned programs in many STEM fields, including computer science, which was the first thing that drew my attention to Abu Dhabi. Many universities around the world can say the same, however what drew me specifically here was the unique location and resulting student body. I felt that due to the presence of an international classroom environment, NYUAD would be the best choice for my education as it will provide a broader outlook on the rapidly developing tech field. Computer science is developing across the globe and with an international understanding through NYUAD and through experiencing the city of Abu Dhabi, I hope to be in a better spot with greater access to opportunities worldwide in such a highly competitive field.
What one thing have you discovered from being here so far?
What is most striking right away is the cultural diversity in the area. Going to two local restaurants downtown as a small group, we enjoyed reasonably priced and very authentic Korean and Egyptian food. In both cases, someone from our group was able to speak to the cooks and staff in their native languages as if we were in Cairo or Seoul. On and off-campus I have met people from around the world. Abu Dhabi brings together these global groups and breaks the typical norms of a singular accepted culture. I’ve also discovered that despite being a foreigner in this country, due to the cultural diversity and multiculturalism acceptance as promoted by The Year of Tolerance, I do not feel as out of place as I otherwise would be. Everyone has been very friendly thus far and I am discovering more places in unique environments found nowhere else worldwide every day.
What do you enjoy about the city that will be your home for the next three years?
To me, this city is something unique that can’t be found anywhere else. It will be my home for the next several years and has so many things to offer that I have yet to discover. What limited parts of the city I have experienced thus far have been eye-opening and unlike anything I have seen in other cities. For starters, all of this is enabled by the great accessibility. From NYUAD’s campus, I can get to downtown or Yas Island quickly on a school shuttle, public bus, or taxi. From there, many other social spots can be accessed such as any of the giant shopping malls, the Corniche, and many great restaurants. Abu Dhabi has some amazing venues as well that attracts global cultural events to the city such as the Grand Prix in the fall at Yas Marina Circuit, and the countless top hit music artist on tour at the arena. While Abu Dhabi is very much a globalized city, I still have found places where local culture and traditions flourish such as the fish market. Choosing the fish and getting it them cleaned and cooked right in front of me was very different than anything I’ve experienced before. Discovering special places like this will make the next several years here an interesting and exciting new home.
Meet Dušan Popov
What inspired you to come to Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi is presently going through an impressive transformation I would like to be a part of. The city has evolved into a vibrant economic and political hub in the region and offers a myriad of opportunities for professional development. Various communities converge in Abu Dhabi which has allowed the city to further grow into a melting pot of cultures. These fascinating traits of Abu Dhabi enticed me into selecting it as the place where I would pursue my higher education.
New York University Abu Dhabi provided me with a unique opportunity to interact with motivated and talented people from over a hundred different countries on a daily basis. The confluence of opinions and perspectives which are revealed through these interactions is in fact what makes education at this institution truly one of a kind. Students here are fortunate to be able to immerse themselves in the cultural diversity not only present at the school but also in the UAE.
One final reason for my decision to come to Abu Dhabi could be found in the increase in the cooperation between my home country of Serbia and the United Arab Emirates on a number of issues. I believe that the increasing cooperation between our two countries is mutually beneficial for our societies and is a source of inspiration for me as I hope to make a positive contribution to this relationship during my stay in Abu Dhabi.
What one thing have you discovered from being here so far?
One noteworthy thing that surprised me about Abu Dhabi is its open atmosphere. I have been greeted with nothing but kindness in every corner of the city. I am deeply impressed by the heartwarming attitude of the local people, especially as someone coming from a culture which takes a lot of pride in its hospitality towards foreigners. This attitude and the desire of people to accommodate foreigners in any way they can is something that the society here should hold dearly to itself and nurture for generations to come. The receptivity of the locals towards foreign cultures and interactions with them is something that definitely allowed the United Arab Emirates to become a lively regional hub.
What do you enjoy about the city that will be your home for the next three years?
I found Abu Dhabi to be a captivating mosaic of distinct neighbourhoods and cultures. This is something which makes every venture out into the city a pleasure. Prior to coming to Abu Dhabi, I did not have meaningful interactions with Islamic culture and traditions. Living here has provided me with an opportunity to familiarise myself with all the peculiarities of this culture and to appreciate them. Getting to know a variety of religious customs is something that I am very keen on as it provides me with a deeper understanding of how common beliefs have molded modern civilisations.
The notable presence of renowned cultural institutions in Abu Dhabi is also something I appreciate about the city. Visiting these institutions allows me to interact with different forms of art and to comprehend their meaning and relevance to our lives. The fact that Abu Dhabi devotes a lot of attention and resources towards enriching the cultural scene in the region is something that makes me quite delighted.
Dušan Popov is a first-year student at New York University Abu Dhabi studying Political Science and Legal Studies. He hopes to become a diplomat one day and to represent his home country of Serbia in various intergovernmental organisations. In his free time, he enjoys reading and learning more about different cultures and traditions.
Cole Beasley is a first-year student at New York University Abu Dhabi from Denver, Colorado in the US. He is studying computer science and hopes to enter the cyber security field with interest in business. In Cole’s free time, he is often running in preparation for an upcoming race or at a Jiu-Jitsu class.
NYU Abu Dhabi is the first comprehensive liberal arts and science campus in the Middle East to be operated abroad by a major American research university. NYU Abu Dhabi has integrated a highly selective liberal arts, engineering and science curriculum with a world center for advanced research and scholarship enabling its students to succeed in an increasingly interdependent world and advance cooperation and progress on humanity’s shared challenges. NYU Abu Dhabi’s high-achieving students have come from more than 115 nations and speak over 115 languages. Together, NYU’s campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai form the backbone of a unique global university, giving faculty and students opportunities to experience varied learning environments and immersion in other cultures at one or more of the numerous study-abroad sites NYU maintains on six continents.
To learn more about NYU Abu Dhabi, visit nyuad.nyu.edu
