Library log & Ramadan notes

The start of the inaugural school year at NYU Abu Dhabi has been consuming but exhilarating. Students now fill the library on a daily basis, and faculty stop by often to request material or chat.

Yesterday's work day was classic in terms of getting nothing done on my to-do list, since the tyranny of the urgent reigns... Spent most of the morning on various complicated emails regarding the state of DVD orders; ran outside to meet a young Emirati woman who was dropping off a book that is only available for purchase in person; chased down a prof. to connect him with the books that were special ordered for a lecture he's giving next weekend; checked items in a shipment to connect them with whomever requested them (the automation of this process isn't perfected yet); enjoyed the pleasure of a book literally hot off the press-- printed on our Espresso Book Machine, but realized that it started at page 263 and page 1 is stuck 2/3 through the book (the second try is more successful); staffed the Information Desk for three hours in the afternoon; wondered if anyone was left in the office who could purchase a book on Amazon for a prof. before the weekend started? Thankfully the answer was yes; asked security to lock the doors since I was last to leave for the day.

Mosque in Dubai

On a different note, I've been meaning to write about Ramadan, which was ~August 11-September 10. Since I'm a Christian, I was not expected to fast as Muslims are. But NYU Abu Dhabi observed the Ramadan regulations of the UAE. The nice thing for all of us was the shortened work day, from 9-3. If you were fasting you'd work a six hour day, go home to rest, and then break the fast at sun down. The rest of us appreciated the extra time to reflect and slow down-- though few of us at NYUAD could relax much since we were preparing for the opening of the campus.

During Ramadan, it's illegal for anyone to eat or drink in public during the day. We couldn't have drinks at our desks or drink water when outside. This was challenging for me, since I sip coffee or water almost all day. But I went to our cafe more often to get my caffeine fix there. The cafe had screens installed around the periphery to create privacy.

Iftar dinner at Emirates Palace

For those who observe Ramadan, the highlight of the day is the iftar dinner that breaks the fast at sundown. NYU Abu Dhabi hosted an iftar dinner for faculty and staff pictured above. We enjoyed a bountiful buffet of Middle Eastern meats, salads, soups, desserts-- on and on.
 

decorated Corniche at Ramadan

It's true that days and nights are essentially reversed during Ramadan.... the traffic is much worse at night, and stores stay open until 1 or 2 AM. Stores and public parkways are decorated with lanterns and twinkling blue and purple lights.

The malls are bustling with families-- even young children stay up late. But since it's so hot outside, the mall can be a welcome refuge. Marina Mall even had some special events like a concert [pictured above] and a cooking show being televised.

While living in Abu Dhabi during Ramadan represented some challenges, I appreciated the opportunity to be here. There are very few things in the world that demand the entire participation of a city for a whole month. Even though I'm not Muslim, I felt a hint of solidarity with the rest of the city.