American University of Sharjah

A lot of times, people forget about the "study" part of "study abroad." The academics become overshadowed by the exciting adventures and travels.

During my five months in the United Arab Emirates, I studied at the American University of Sharjah. Sharjah is the Emirate just north of Dubai, and it is the most traditional of all the emirates. It is the only Emirate in which alcohol is banned, and also enforces strict decency laws, which includes a dress code and rules against PDA. The strict rules of Sharjah are accompanied with policies dedicated to preserving the arts and culture. This means that there are tons of museums, art exhibits, and cultural exhibitions. It was the UNESCO Cultural Capital of the Arab World in 1998, and Capital of Islamic Culture for 2014.

The American University of Sharjah (AUS) is located in an area called University City, which is also home to the gender segregated University of Sharjah, an arts school, and a police academy. AUS is a relatively new university, founded in 1997 by Sheikh Dr. Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qassimi (Ruler of Sharjah) and is the first co-ed university in Sharjah. Sheikh Sultan envisioned an "institution rooted in the region's Arab-Islamic heritage, in the context of the aspirations and needs of contemporary society in the UAE and the Gulf region." This description of the university is very accurate, as it embodies Arab Islamic culture but it's education system was structured around the American system, allowing it to be the most prestigious university in the UAE.

When I landed in the UAE, I had been in transit for about 24 hours. I'm sure I do not need to explain to you all how delirious I was. Those first few hours were a haze, but I remember vividly the drive from the airport in Dubai to the campus.

Imagine this, only x 9342, lining both sides of a narrow pathway
stretching about 300 feet 

After claiming my baggage, I walked out to where I was supposed to meet my driver. I was so overwhelmed by all of the drivers lined up waiting for their passengers. The only way to describe it would be to compare it to being welcomed by swarms of papparazi, yelling and holding up signs with passengers names instead of cameras.

I finally spotted my name, and walked to the car with the driver. On the journey from the airport to campus, I caught glimpses of the Dubai skyline which I had seen in pictures so many times before. When we got out of the city and made our way closer to campus, I remember being in awe at the long stretches of road, with no (real) speed limits, lined with palm trees on either side.

I left the Untied States in the middle of winter to be met with 80 degree temperatures and palm tress. When we finally made it to campus, I was stunned by the beauty. Every building was designed with Islamic style architecture, the ground was all marble tiling, and palm trees lined every path way on campus. The buildings sported domes, arches, and symmetrical designs. Trudging up the hills of the University of Tennessee was replaced by strolls along the flat stretches of marble tile. The walk from the front of campus to the main building was beautified by fountains.

Here are a few of my pictures from campus:

The Main Building

From inside the doors of the main building

The Campus Mosque

The Main Building

Now, here are a few pictures taken by others that are much better than mine:

Approaching campus from the main road

Library (I definitely studied more than I
 usually do because of this beautiful library)

Main Building (and fountains!)

At night

Campus Mosque

Not only was the campus itself overwhelmingly beautiful, but the academics were very different from the University of Tennessee. As a Global Studies and Political Science major with a concentration on the Middle East, I was so excited to have a range of classes to choose from that focus on the Middle East. While I was there, I took a class on Modern Palestinian History; Wars, Conflicts and Diplomacy; Intermediate Arabic; and Photography, which was taught by a well known Emirati female photographer.

Even though they "study" part of studying abroad tends to be one of the most uninteresting parts of the journey, I really enjoyed the American University of Sharjah and living on its beautiful campus!