Graphic by Megan Eloise/The Gazelle

Hot pot for shwarma, the Bund for the beach, NYU Shanghai for NYU Abu Dhabi. This is, in part, the exchange that 12 NYUSH juniors made in deciding to study in Abu Dhabi for the semester. As it turns out, the difference between the two campuses can even be read in their skylines.

For junior Linhui Larry Sang, a Chinese student at NYUSH, it was curiosity about world-famous gems of local architecture, such as the Burj Khalifa and Ferrari World, that drove him towards NYUAD. Yet according to Sang, the Al Reem skyline pales in comparison to the Shanghainese Bund.

“The Bund is much more gorgeous,” wrote Sang to The Gazelle. “Especially at night.”

Among other reasons, Sang chose NYUAD for its academic opportunities and available sports, as well as the persuasive encouragement of a friend on Saadiyat.

For junior Alhan Fakhr, academic experience was key.

“I didn’t want the study abroad experience just in terms of having fun and traveling, because I think Shanghai has a good mix of that,” said Fakhr. “I chose [NYUAD] because I really wanted a proper academic experience and NYUAD is a proper campus as opposed to just a study away site.”

The study experience itself is not so different from that at NYUSH.

“We both use NYU Classes, Gmail, Albert,” said Sang. “We both have a lot of visiting professors and students. Generally speaking, both campuses share almost the same educational system, which does make me feel at home.”

The opportunity to study Chinese, a graduation requirement for NYUSH students, exists here too. Some have enrolled in Chinese classes; others, like Fakhr, are taking advantage of classes unique to Abu Dhabi, while staying in touch with NYUAD’s Chinese language professors.

For NYUSH students, the only exoticism of Saadiyat seems to be the Student Portal.

Junior Misya Christina mentioned the sense of community and close-knit student body as yet another similarity between the two campuses, since both NYUSH and NYUAD have relatively small student populations.

“It takes a little bit of reaching out and effort to exit the study away bubble, but when we do, NYUAD students can be very warm and welcoming,” wrote Christina.

While Sang and Fakhr generally agree on the hospitality of the host student body, Fakhr mentioned that interactions with NYUAD upperclassmen could be better facilitated. Because they too are new to campus, it has been easier to connect with freshmen; yet Fakhr believes he may have more in common with other upperclassmen, who, unfortunately like him, tend to be busier.

Mobility to and from Saadiyat, or rather a lack thereof, has become particularly apparent to NYUSH students, whose campus is located right in the city.

“I felt that I was in Shanghai more often than I was in NYUSH, while here I often feel that I am in NYUAD rather than Abu Dhabi,” wrote Sang.

But, as Fakhr explained, this is also a matter of money; life in Abu Dhabi is more expensive than in Shanghai, and financial aid, though generous, does not compensate costs the same way that stipends for many NYUAD students do.

According to him, students at NYUSH tend to be much more aware of the financial constraints generally associated with college life. For Sang, this was the reason why he noticed more innovation among the student body here than in Shanghai.

“When we try to make our idea come true, we must evaluate its cost, feasibility,” said Fakhr. “However, here, starting everything is so easy.”

Finally, Fakhr denied that colossal Facebook fights on university pages like Room of Requirement or NYUAD Forum are something unique to NYUAD, though he did add that the meat versus veggie burgers debate would not be as polarizing in Shanghai.

“People tend to be very supportive of the environmental society on our campus,” he said. “I think it’s the psychological effect of being affected by the pollution. We had a vegetarian week last year.”

While there have been rumors that NYUSH students poke fun at the #budgetcuts Facebook posts trending on NYUAD newsfeeds, Fakhr denied the existence of any online teasing.

“I heard that and that’s the most stupid thing I’ve heard,” said Fakhr, adding that mutual support in navigating the Student Portal was a far more important function of Facebook chats for study away students at NYUAD.