CIEE Business, Engineering, Arts + Sciences in Sharjah, UAE

I am a senior at Fordham University in NYC and have dedicated this past year to traveling throughout the UAE and Oman while studying abroad with CIEE at the American University of Sharjah. I had dedicated my entire year to researching contemporary Middle Eastern art as I met with artists through my painting class and at contemporary art galleries in Dubai. I had the opportunity to represent Leila Heller Art Gallery in Abu Dhabi art fair and Art Dubai and was able to bring some of my friends from classes to these fairs.

My experience studying with my CIEE group has been life changing. It has inspired me to further my interests in the contemporary art field. I just completed a Fulbright application which funds me to live in the UAE for a year to interview Emirati artists as they prepare for the Sharjah Biennial 2017. I aspire to become a curator of contemporary Arab art and want to exhibit these works within the Gulf and NYC regions. I am currently curating a group exhibition in NYC with Iranian and Afghan artists. I will be traveling back to the UAE this January to meet with old professors at AUS and to visit more artist studios.

Originally hailing from the States, I had many concerns about my stay in the UAE, all of which were put to rest upon my arrival in Dubai. First of all, The UAE is the safest place for foreigners to study in the Middle East in not one of the safest places to study in the world. The crime rate is very low and it is basically non existent on campus. You are not only protected by guards chosen by the Sheikh himself but there are also on campus police scattered all around campus to ensure your safety. Secondly I feel as though no other place in the world offers an experience like this one. You get to meet people from all parts of the globe and you learn a little bit about each culture because of it. By best experience thus far of my time here in the UAE was my trip to Oman which is within driving distance of Sharjah. Not only were we able to see the beautiful countryside of Oman but also were given quite the view when we climbed Jebel Shams and had lunch on top of the mountain. This program is an opportunity that doesn't come very often, I advise anyone who wants to know a little bit more about the world and enjoy doing so to become a part of this adventure

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.