"We got to go to a different museum everyday," said Baltaji, who took her course at the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World. "We have been to the Frick Collection, the Morgan Library and Museum, the Rubin Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Cloisters. By far the best day I have had was going to the Frick Collection while it was closed and getting to see the private rooms that are usually closed to the public."

Simon Huang, NYUAD Class of 2014, opted for Punishment in Law, Politics, and Society, taught by NYU School of Law professor Rachel Barkow, which included trips to the Metropolitan Corrections Center, a trial at a federal courthouse, and even a stop at the American Gangster Museum. Inside the classroom, Huang and his fellow classmates discussed everything from lobbying forces to ways of reforming the penal system. "It was deliciously fun!" he exclaimed.

New York J-Term students were also given the opportunity to study New York and Modernity, taught by NYU Associate Dean of English and NYUAD Associate Dean of Humanities Cyrus Patell, as well as Principles of Marketing, taught by NYU Stern School of Business Academic Director Bruce Buchanan.

Outside of the classroom, Baltaji was sure to make the most of the city. "I explored the city by foot just to see where I would end up. I actually love the fact that you can walk everywhere and anywhere and find a variety of alluring stores — and even if you get lost the people are incredibly helpful." Huang chose to spend most of his free time in the theater. "I went to see a total of six shows on Broadway: Wicked, Jersey Boys, The Importance of Being Earnest, American Idiot, Chicago, and Billy Elliot. I also did touristy things like visit the Statue of Liberty and take a sightseeing bus tour. The city is certainly ever-changing; there's no end to the number of things you've yet to do and places you've yet to go."

The biggest hardship of living in the city that never sleeps? "Things are definitely more expensive there," Huang said. "The tube of toothpaste I bought at the store next door cost $5.50!" Baltaji, on the other hand, thought the hardest part was the winter weather, specifically the late-December blizzard that blanketed the city in snow. "The cold has by far gotten to me; it just really causes me to feel like I should stay in bed all day bundled in layers of blankets. I would give anything to be back in the warmth of Abu Dhabi!"

NYU Abu Dhabi was represented by quite the contingent in New York City for the University's first J-Term, with thirty students from the Class of 2014 traveling to NYUAD's sister campus for the January session. Among them was Bouthayna Baltaji (NYUAD '14), who chose to take Meaning of Museums, taught by former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art Phillippe de Montebello.