what it's really like to live in ABU DHABI
manmade islands, dune bashing, seven-star hotels...or is there more to this desert city than meets the eye?
(spoiler: sex & the city 2 lied.)
ALL will be revealed...in another series of (somewhat) organized rambles.
SKIP TO:
1:27 - fast facts
4:50 - abu dhabi vs. dubai
7:24 - religion & etiquette
11:10 - european/western influence
12:25 - manmade metropolis
14:58 - schools & education
16:38 - socioeconomic hierarchy
21:20 - conclusion
~
ABOUT ME
Name: Judy
Alter Ego: 소은/theurbanroyal
Age: 22
Currently in: Seoul
Home: ???
~
FAQ’s (aka questions no one asked but me):
What’s your channel about?
Fashion, cultural identity, life in Seoul…
Who’s your favorite director?
Wes Anderson.
What’s your favorite book?
Trick question. Break it down into series and standalone novel to get:
~ Harry Potter
~ The Secret History
(aka my magical dark academia kicking in)
Why are you obsessed with color?
Because colour is a beautiful thing and a black and white world would be a boring place.
And yes. It’s colour. I’m ‘from’ Canada*
~
MUSIC:
Thematic is a website that partners creators with artists to provide royalty-free music in return of exposure and credit. All music used in this video belongs solely to the original artist.
Music by Johnny Guazz & nic violets - Tension - thmatc.co/?l=BB9FC880
Kim Possible Theme Song (duh)
~
Do you have more fashion content I can follow?
Why yessss I do: @theurbanroyal
~
TAGS:
travel, traveling, abu dhabi, dubai, uae, united arab emirates, emirati, culture, cultural awareness, middle east, arab culture, desert, vacation, tourism, living in, moving to, life in, burj khalifa, burj al arab, luxury, dubai mall, etiquette, religion, informative, educational, study abroad, visit, international, tck, third culture kid, global, exchange student, what to do, where to go, sex and the city 2, video essay, informational
Пікірлер: 59
I've been born and raised in Dubai, and the dress coding is really fluid tbh. People wear off-shoulder dresses, tank tops, mini skirts and shorts quiet comfortably, it just comes down to the place? if you're going to the souk it'll make the people there uncomfortable, but around the downtown, in malls and the likes, it really doesn't matter.
as a saudi woman who lives in saudi arabia, women CAN walk alone outside :)
I really really enjoyed this and found it very helpful. Thank you for this coherent breakdown
This was so helpful, thank you so much !
I'm researching to write about a couple who live in Abu Dhabi in the 201x's. This was a perfect introduction. Thank you!
Hi Souen, Thank you very very much for your video. I just settled in the UAE from France, and I really feel exactly like you say in the last part of your video: overwhelmed by how well I am treated by staff workers. Coming from Europe, I really feel here that I have been unexpectedly "promoted" socially and it is extremely weird. Thanks again and bests, Val
I love you ! Seeing your videos or seeing you in your videos makes me happy.. that’s pretty weird isn’t it ?
I'm really happy that I discovered your channel! I'm much older than you, but have some similar experiences. I'm a Korean-American international adoptee who grew up in Japan, Germany, as well as nine or so states in the U.S. (including California, where I attended UC Berkeley for my Ph.D.). I have worked in Jeddah, KSA, for the past six years or so teaching at a private women's university. As an expat, you have always been able to walk around freely as a woman. Now women can drive and are not required to cover as long as they dress modestly. However, I still wear an abaya out of respect. I look forward to watching all of your videos!
@soeuninseoul
2 жыл бұрын
Wow that’s amazing!! My dad also was in Saudi for a bit, but never had the chance to visit. It’s always so nice to meet another Korean TCK 🥰
@t.anderson6069
2 жыл бұрын
@@soeuninseoul I've barely had any experience with Koreans or Koreans from North America. Probably the most interaction I've had with Koreans is the owners of the dry cleaners in my neighborhood in Chicago 😥 Like you, I grew up feeling somewhat embarrased about being Korean (esp. because my parents are white and I don't speak Korean or know much about the culture). It's like you just go out in the world thinking of yourself as a person, but you have to be on guard because you never know when someone is going to point out that you're "different." The perception of Korea has dramatically changed (at least in the media, not always in lived experience) in the last decade or so (thank you BTS).. I would have never imagined that people from all over the world (not just disturbing Asian fetishists) would think Koreans are attractive and Korean culture is interesting. Anyhow, when random people ask where I'm from now in Saudi Arabia, I often say "Korea" and always receive a positive response like "I love Korea!"
@soeuninseoul
2 жыл бұрын
@@t.anderson6069 i know! it’s crazy how an anonymous culture has become huge globally. it’s both weird and cool to watch people become so interested in Korea, even in learning the language and living here. praying for your continued journey of self discovery! sounds like there’s a lot to process for both of us 🥲
@t.anderson6069
2 жыл бұрын
@@soeuninseoul Thank you for your thoughtful encouragement re: self discovery. As cliched as it may sound, knowing oneself appears to be a lifelong journey. Growing up outside your culture makes the process a little confusing, to say the least.
This really true. I worked before in uae in a retail shop yes I can really feel I'm n a bottom like I don't know how to say but I can feel it. But now I'm here in uk working in a hospitality I don't feel the same as I feel back I was in uae. I feel that I'm equal with people here. I can feel the equality here in Europe. I'm so happy I'm here I don't feel bad about my self now I'm more happy and embrace what my race a Filipino
I am a Christian-born citizen from EU and the etiquette and rules in Abu Dhabi wouldn’t require me to change anything. But it would for some my fellow countrymen and women, without any doubt!
@DagneZand
25 күн бұрын
Which country you are from?
Hello! It has been really helpful watching our video! I just arrive from Vancouver, so I feel identify 😂
@soeuninseoul
Жыл бұрын
yay! i hope you’re enjoying it!
im also a tck, but i lived in qatar! lol i feel like my experience was was pretty similar to yours, i do feel like qatar has a slightly different vibe, idk how to explain it though.
FUN FACT: 😊It was part of Oman before it became UAE. That’s why it’s a young country. Not because nobody lived there before but because it wasn’t country on it’s own.
How is America any different in terms of income disparity?
"Everything is just flat" = A midwestern girl's dream country. LOLOL
@soeuninseoul
2 жыл бұрын
HAHA
which school did you study there.. please mention
Costco shake shack and Ikea gets the job done girl love it
Is there women’s football for expats in Abu Dhabi?
Thanks for letting me know about "Orientalism"
What does "houses look the same" even means lmao the ones in UAE are much diverse than the ones i saw in the entirety of europe which i cant even differentiate them apart from one country to another. Also the last part is literally in every country???? I dont know why you felt the need to talk about it just to paint the country in a certain shady way. Anyways good thing that you made that disclaimer about not trying to show "western" values to be better than the middle eastern ones because i felt the ick while watching that part too.
@user-io2hw5ux5q
5 ай бұрын
She just said che truth. And the treatment of the labor class is...they are like slaves. So you can bet it's shady...and talking about western values being better. Some of them are actually better and the Emirates have taken all the bad ones creating a fake facade. There's plenty of corruption, also
i mean there’s a reason why israel is hated they’re occupying palestine
My biggest shock was pork in the supermarkets 😁 that was the moment I thought "I could live here!"
💙💙
Watching this now I'm glad that there is peace between Israel and the UAE. Israelis and Emiratis can visit each other freely now :)
@soeuninseoul
2 жыл бұрын
i heard about that, it’s a miracle!
@BambinoAmericano
4 ай бұрын
Negotiated by Donald Trump and his son-in-law. Bahrein was the first country to sign the Abraham Peace Agreements.
Nice information.....love you from india👏👏👏👏👏🌹🌹🌹
@soeuninseoul
2 жыл бұрын
😘😘😘
@ramkikrishna1462
2 жыл бұрын
@@soeuninseoul madam may i know best time to travel seoul???)))
@soeuninseoul
2 жыл бұрын
@@ramkikrishna1462 probably now!! it’s cherry blossom season and the weather is gorgeous 💖 but it’s on season so it might be a bit pricey! autumn is also nice to see the leaves 🥰
@ramkikrishna1462
2 жыл бұрын
@@soeuninseoul 👍👍👍🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
In Saudi you can walk alone in public as a woman.
i am going to correct you on ur fact about Saudi Arabia, we can walk alone as a woman xx
Hello
1:20 your Sex And The City secret is safe with us don't worry
@dashingtherouxthesnow4017
2 жыл бұрын
Soeun And The City hahaha
@soeuninseoul
2 жыл бұрын
😂😂😂
@bibahusak9460
2 жыл бұрын
It was filmed in Morocco and was so racist!
I want to be communicative peaceful powerful express my knowledge
That’s not true actually I was in Dubai a month ago in the month of July and it was was hottt as fuck I wore tank top skirts shorts no one said anything in fact I saw so many woman wearing dresses short skirts please don’t say things that is not true Also they respect all religions
You don't have to cover up. That is wrong. I have lived in Abu Dhabi for over 10 years, the country is very tolerant. Relations have changed with Israel but the UAE still stands with Palestine. Abu Dhabi pays a lot of money for eco-irrigation to make keep it green, Al Ain is the greenest part of Abu Dhabi naturally. You can drive yourself to the desert and camp and bbq all by yourself. It is so easy and is about 50 mins drive from the AUH airport area but you need to know how to deflate your tyres and should attend a free course first to be safe. You should speak to the locals. I have many local friends some of whom I go to the pub with. They are proud that so many expats come to the UAE to enhance their country. Their motto is live and let live. This video really isn't about living in Abu Dhabi at all.
Yeah but I’m too white to move to a none European country besides America & Canadian
@bekaeast7346
2 жыл бұрын
Not complaining, just doesn’t feel respectful to move to non white countries even tho I don’t have a drop of British in me, I’d love to live somewhere in Asia/Africa/middle east dgmw
@siZeDcuBe
Жыл бұрын
@@bekaeast7346 What are you talking about? Existing isn't disrespectful
@bekaeast7346
Жыл бұрын
@@siZeDcuBe colonizing & gentrifying
@siZeDcuBe
Жыл бұрын
@@bekaeast7346lol. gentrifying Abu Dhabi. lmao. pretty racist mindset ngl
Arabs luxury lifestyle is just so over the top it's sickening. No substance. They seem to just racing to who can build bigger, shinier things. Lavish, luxurious, but no substance.
@hello50881
Жыл бұрын
Chill
@osirusj275
3 ай бұрын
what are example of substance