OH Oman!!!

Muscat, Oman

Life can be full of the unknown. When staying opened to all possibilities we never know what might come our way. I say this because I would have never thought I’d be spending 5 months in the Middle East. Muscat, Oman. Some friends did not want me to go others were supportive but were reluctant. I do appreciate the concerns about my well being and safety, thank you for that. I’ve had no expectations nor any preconceived ideas of what the city of Muscat and the people would be like. Considering the Muslim culture I mulled over all the clothing styles to bring, I wanted to be respectful and dress accordingly. The luggage limit is 2 50 lb bags after lugging around 1 50 lb bag in Spain I was not too keen on 2 of them but reminded myself I only had to move the bags from the airport to our flat.

Deciding what to do with my time for 5 months has been a question I could not answer until I had arrived. I had thought volunteer work, but now I learn volunteering on a regular basis is not something that is done here. So now my focus is to immerse myself in the culture. This means to meet as many people as possible and to understand the people of Oman means to learn about their religion because it’s the basis of their lives purpose. Five times a day there is the Calling to Prayer to help them remain connected to the teachings of the faith. I want to understand who these people arena what is it that makes so many genuinely kind, honest people who want you to enjoy your time while visiting their country. Knowing this from time to time I may write about the Muslims and I hope it won’t offend any of you reading this. Please understand this faith is what makes Oman people who they are and as you read on you’ll see they are peaceful, beautiful people.

I am living here with Stewart and his colleague David and his wife Shira who have a flat down the hall from us. Stewart and David have been working in Muscat on and off for the past 8 years and are now working on a project that may take 5 months. They are working for the Ministry of the Environment helping them develop and manage protected areas within the country. This work will take them into the desert and up into the mountains and who knows where else. They too have many stories to be told. I may get their approval to post some of their experiences as they come along.

Stewart and I met up with David and Shira in Amsterdam and flew to Muscat together. When our plain landed in Muscat and we all scurried to customs and there we began the new experiences that has been awaiting us. The lines were so long and the people were dressed in such wonderful vibrant colors, and were mostly people of different nationalities but many from India. As soon as I took my place in line next to this young 20 yr old (Ali). He was standing there well dressed, with a big smile he says to me, “I’ve been here for 20 minutes and haven’t moved”. Of course that’s all I needed to get a conversation started. He and I talked for 1.5 hours. His family lives in Muscat; and he goes to school at the University of Minnesota and his sister also goes to school in the US. When it was time to say goodbye he suggested that we exchange phone numbers he wanted me to meet his parents, thinking his mother and I would like one another.

Immediately the experiences I have had with strangers have been remarkable. Ali’s parents took us out to dinner along with their other son, friend and daughter, Abira. who is moving to Brooklyn so if any of you know anyone who would like to meet an energetic young lady from here please let me know. The family is from Pakistan and have been in Muscat for 20 years. They took us to dinner to a wonderful Pakistan restaurant near by, wow, it was great. Our time went by quickly with all the different conversations going on around the table with lots of smiles and laughter. I felt honored that they would treat us all to dinner when they didn’t even know us. We plan on getting together again, soon.

The third day in Muscat Stewart and I wandered into a gift shop and as I was looking around Stewart comes up to me holding a small book. He says, “here is the Quran written in English”. I took the book admiring it when the store keeper comes up and says to me that he would like to give me the book. I was honored from his offer and graciously excepted.

The people I’ve had contact with so far have been so heartfelt. I obviously stand out amongst them with a head of white hair and white skin. The ladies will check me out, I smile and say hi and they usually return a hello or smile. The women who are totally covered and only have a window for their eyes are the ones who are *************nect with. I have learned that the connection here is through eye to eye contact. So when they do look at me and I smile, some will return a smile through their eyes. I almost feel as though they are not allowed to speak because their mouth is covered. But one day a woman in front of me at the grocery store drop something out of her cart on the floor, she didn’t realize it and I picked it, I said, “excuse me you dropped this” she smiled with her eyes and said, “thank you” in english. The younger children look at me with their big eyes with curiosity and most the time will smile back.

One day I was walking into the grocery store which they call a Hyper Market (which it is) called LuLu’s. As I’m walking in I realize I forgot my grocery cart and turned around to get it. there was a gentleman (muslim) behind me and motioned with his hands to go ahead. I said, “I have to get my cart”. He replies, “take mine” I said, “I can get a cart”. He then says with a smile, “you’re our guest, please” and I graciously took his cart and went inside. When I met up with him inside I smiled at him and put my hand on my heart and said thank you he did the same back with a smile. This behavior seems to be more the norm. How lovely it is to be around people who genuinely care for others.

12/25/2016 Christmas day
I have to admit I’m a diehard when it comes to Christmas and gathering with family. I didn’t realize how much it has meant to me in the past until I was here in Muscat with 3 friends and myself. Stewart, David and Shira are all Jewish. On the 24th, the first day of Chanukah, David and Shira had us over for dinner. They had brought with them a miniature menorah, they lit the candles and sang a cheerful song in Hebrew that brought tears to my eyes. Then on Christmas day we all went to the Grand Mosque that was built for the Sultan. Of course it’s beautifully landscaped and the architecture of the Minarets and Main Prayer Hall is exquisite. The ladies prayer room is opened on Monday evenings so Shira and I plan to visit again. At the end of the self guided tour you are welcome to enter a more secluded area in the gardens where there a places to sit and ask questions. I wandered down the hall and was greeted by a Muslim with a big smile and he offered me dates and cardamon coffee. I sat down and we started chatting. His son is going to school in the USA right now. I did begin to ask questions and Stewart came along and joined me. This gentlemen did a lovely job explaining the philosophy of Islam and then gave me some books, a CD and a copy of the Quran. So now I have been given 2 Quran’s in 3 days. Kind’a a message I’d say. I have begun to read more about Islam and after meeting the people I have met I see they live the life of Islam 24 hrs a day.

The next blog will be a visit to the American Embassy, shopping at the Onion Market, a welcoming invitation to an Omani family celebration and going to a goat auction up in the mountains.Oh yea, and grand invitation and treat to see a performance at the grand Opera House.

When looking at photos you can click on the first photo and it will become a larger size photo and becomes a slide presentation, which is controlled by you clicking.