Photo courtesy of Aashraya Dutt
Living on Saadiyat: Spring 2021 Edition
In these unprecedented circumstances, NYUAD students find creative ways to safely spend time in both solitude and togetherness. This bubble has become a testament of student resilience and their attempts to carry on with their lives in college
Mar 7, 2021
As I wake up and fill the symptom checker as part of my daily morning routine, I can only imagine what a Covid-19 free campus would be like. Coming to NYU Abu Dhabi for the first time this spring semester with our lives on campus largely disrupted, I was warned about the Saadiyat bubble that would trap us on campus. However, I’ve begun to notice something special about the way in which we have acquainted, transitioned and coped with the new normal.
“I’m outside because I’ve been spending way too much time in my room due to work. In all honesty, the pandemic has been the least of my worries as I’ve been trying to cope with the stress that comes with senior year: the anxieties of where I’m going after and the job applications that aren’t working out. This place is such a comfortable spot… it’s close to my room, it’s under the trees and a spot that other people don’t necessarily take advantage of so I decided to come out here and just watch a movie. I can read here, sit with nature… I feel so free.”
“I usually stay at the library cafe or take classes in my suite but coming out here makes me relieve my stress [as] I feel the air and the sun… it just makes me feel happier. Even if it’s just [sitting on a patch of] grass, it breaks the monotony of my daily life.”
Zhusubalieva and Park first felt the need to spend time outside their suite after feeling overwhelmed with online classes. “It started on the day we did bad on our tests and we needed a break from everything so we lay on the hammock and [ever since then] it has [become] a regular roommate ritual,” shared Zhusubalieva.
As roommates, Park and Zhusubalieva utilized these picnics as a great opportunity to bond not only with each other but also reconnect with other students who walk across the highline, while keeping in mind the Covid-19 protocols.
“I feel like I’ve painted more this year compared to the year before. I usually take my photographs as sources of inspiration for my works and it’s been really satisfying to see my blank sketchbook transform to capture my cherished moments. Especially with the pandemic, I think painting has been very relaxing for me and has taught me to slow down and appreciate the little things.”
“It’s really hard these days to meet people you don’t already know. But with [offering] to cut hair, I’ve been meeting people from all different years, and it has been really interesting to talk to them and hear about all their experiences. One moment I’ll be learning about a senior’s capstone and the next I’ll be asking a freshman how their first semester is going. I really like being able to hear these experiences just because we happen to be in the same place for an hour. We sit, listen to music… it’s all really fun.”
As many salons across the city are overpriced or have suspended services during the pandemic, Mountcastle decided to volunteer to cut hair on campus. These unique circumstances have allowed her to build inter-class relationships, sustain social interactions and gain a sense of familiarity among the NYUAD student populace right from the comfort of her own room.
“It’s really nice to see dogs… I’m more of a dog person and it's been strange to see so many cats here on campus. Seeing [dogs] gives me small bursts of joy and it’s nice when the person who’s walking them lets me play with them for a minute. They are stress relievers. I also had a dog back home and a bunch of street dogs that my mom still cares for and so [these interactions] just remind me of home.”
Coming to campus for the first time this spring semester, Gandham shared the importance she placed on her brief interactions with faculty dogs — they have provided her with moments of comfort, relief from Zoom fatigue and have even helped her cope with the infamous, first year homesickness.
“I felt very happy after baking, not just because of the cookies we made but also the experience of collaborating. I didn’t know anything about baking before, but I felt accepted and glad that I could be of help, despite my clumsiness. I feel much more connected to people when we are creating something together instead of [having] small talk… [Baking] that day felt like we had a purpose and we [we’re] learning from each other, which made it very meaningful.”
“Movie nights are a time for me to unwind and relax after a day of online classes and assignments. I get to spend time with some of my favorite people so [it is] always fun. I think they’re a different experience from going to the movie theater, because it’s just so convenient and comfortable… and super enjoyable.
In these unprecedented circumstances, NYUAD students have creatively found diverse ways to safely spend their time in both solitude and togetherness. They have experienced moments of vulnerability and strength and channeled their energy in sustaining interactions, building relationships and simply enjoying mundane moments of life. This bubble has become an extension of home — a hub and testament of student resilience and their attempts to carry on with their lives in college.
Aashraya Dutt is Deputy News Editor. Email her at feedback@thegazelle.org.
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