Oman... the abode... the land

Lets be honest... most people have no clue where I'll be spending the next four months. Its not anyones fault; the first group of tourists to Oman (a grand total of 14) visited in 1983---So some visual aids might help.....
Though I've been so nervous about my travels... I realize how amazing this trip is going to be... the items on my "to do in Oman" list is growing, and I cannot wait to cross them off in the months to come!

One thing is to brave the heat, which apparently at its height can reach 48C or around 118F. Now, maybe the Texas summers won't be so dreadful after that!

Oman is also known for its witchcraft-- I think even if I dislike everything about Oman (doubtful), this witchcraft will provide some interesting stories.

Two words..... Sea Turtles

And lastly... I so want to try to buy a goat... or a camel! at the livestock market. Okay..... maybe not buy, but at least pretend to buy

Well, little time before my departure.. I'll be leaving Friday at 8:00am, flying through Austin, landing in JFK. I don't leave the states until 11:00pm Eastern time and I will arrive in Dubai at 8:00pm local time on the 1st (which is 11:00am central). And finally landing in Muscat at 11:45 pm local (2:45pm central)

I'll be checking my emails and writing on here as much as possible.. but if you have a desire to contact me, my mailing address is
Chelsea Marshall
c/0 Maria, LLC
SIT Study Abroad Oman
PO Box 283
PC 116 Mina Al Fahal
Sultanate of Oman

Thus, bon voyage and I will talk to you all from the Middle East!

Okay, so I'm freaking out a bit

"Six days.... six days until I leave for Oman." This phrase has been running through my head all morning. Looking at my suitcases... the clothes I doubt I can even wear in Oman strewn about the floor... Texas trinkets for gifts... my ready stash of peanut butter I fully intent to take... and about a billion ziplock bags. Yup, all of this has been about for weeks, yet it is just now hitting me in my final week at home that I am.... going to live in the Middle East for four months.

Its amazing how easy it is to forget that the world here at home will be going on without me... people heading off to campus- and I won't be there for the parties, the gossip, the concerts- my family going on with their lives- and I will miss out on a lot of the news- and my friends- who I will not be able to create new funny stories with...

Till this point, one might ask.... Chelsea, why are you going? But despite all my worries, I know I do want to go and not miss out on this outrageously amazing experience! Yet still, since it was my choice to go to Oman, I feel weak or shallow or something in between for being so nervous.... but these things are normal aren't they? Its like a roller coaster... you are so afraid to get on.. you scream, you cringe, you maybe we yell curses at the gods.... but when you step off that ride... MAN, you're going to go AGAIN!

Or at least, thats what I'm hoping for...