Goodbye, Oman and hello Heathrow! On to Barcelona!
Thursday, June 27: I meet Abudullah from the University of Nizwa at Immigration so he can take my Omani residence card and cancel my visa. He’s very nice about it; it’s simply something that must be done by order of the Royal Omani Police. Workers must be escorted out of the country once their contracts are finished.
In the terminal, I have a long conversation with Sarah, a 29-year-old teacher at one of the other colleges in Nizwa. Their recruiter wasn’t able to commit to renewing anyone’s contracts, so she applied at the Sultan’s new Military College and got a job. So she’s off to a month in Victoria, Canada and another month in England and Scotland before she returns to work there. She’s completed her first year in Oman, and spent the preceding 5 years teaching in Japan. We talk about how difficult it is to return home…
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Ah Barcelona – fabulous city!
You are so right, Suzanne. One of my favorites of all time, right up there, and maybe surpassing, Paris and Istanbul. :-)
Woohoo! Adventure awaits!
Yay!! Woohoo is right, Ruth!! :-)
Hello! You have such a lovely blog! Ramadan Kareem.
I understand that you have just Oman, but I’d like to ask you a question anyway…
My name is Eva. I am a film producer based in Dubai. My company, Veritas Films, is making a documentary about Qaranqashoo. I know you wrote about it once and I thought you might be a knowledgable source to help me find Omani families who will celebrate Qaranqashoo and who are interested to be filmed in our documentary with at least one of their children to describe the experience.
It will be a very positive and fun film, for Arabic children and their families to watch together to learn about this tradition, how it is celebrated throughout the gulf, and how the tradition has changed over the generations.
We need to finalize our families this week! Do you have any ideas? Please email me ASAP on eva@veritasfilms.ae. I would be happy to call you if you have questions. I hope to hear from you tomorrow!
Thank you and Ramadan Kareem!
I’m so sorry, Eva. For one, I’ve left Oman. I’ve never written about Qaranqashoo and I don’t know any Omani families who celebrate it. Good luck finding someone to help you with your film. It sounds interesting!
Hello! I am in Oman and just stumbled across your blog while planning for a class on the archaeology of Oman (I was searching for pictures of Wadi Tanuf). Then I saw that you are from Yorktown. I am from Gloucester! Small world, huh? Best of luck now that you have left the Sultanate.
Wow, another southern Virginian! Thanks for your comment, Rachel. Funny you’re from Gloucester. I used to live there briefly, as well as in Matthews County. I drive through there every time I go from Yorktown to northern Virginia. Where are you living in Oman?
Hi, I really enjoy reading your blog! I had been accepted for an ESL job at your university about two years ago, but I didn’t take it. I should have! I’m going to re-apply. Are they still looking for ESL instructors? Thanks! Natalia
Hi Natalia, I’m no longer in Oman or at the University, so I don’t know if they’re still looking for instructors. I’d guess yes, though, because of the high turnover!
Wunderschöne Bilder lieber Gruß von mir und einen schönen Sonntag.Gislinde
Thank you, Gislinde. And thanks so much for visiting. :-)