Completely New Culture Experience

The American University of Sharjah offers an educational experience like one you would experience in the United States but in a completely different cultural setting. Although classes are formatted similarly, relations with professors are much more relaxed and there are more open lines of communication. I also often found class discussions to be much more compelling in the classes I took at AUS. But while the academic experience may be similar, this helps to cope with the cultural differences. The campus sets a dress code and enforces a curfew for those who live in the dorms on campus. You also cannot hang out with friends of the opposite sex in places other than those in common areas of campus. Coming from a large university in the United States I found these small differences challenging to overcome especially because I was 1. not used to living in a dorm and 2. had many friends of the opposite sex. That being said, the campus offers a number of cultural activities and clubs that are open to everyone and it allowed me to hang out with my friends while also participating in new experiences. Dubai is also fairly close to campus, a mere 30 minute away, and is a great escape when you want to feel like you are back at home. Filled with westerns, Dubai is a nice break away from Sharjah. Although Sharjah offers the most in terms of Emirati culture, home sickness is inevitable at some point in your time in the United Arab Emirates and it feels good to be able to have a little bit of home while you are away.