Thanks in Nizwa

I have a lot of things to be thankful for this year. But this year, without a doubt, family takes the cake. And yes, I do really love and appreciate you, my family. But I'm really thankful for the families that have made me feel so at home here in Oman. Being away from home has its difficulties, but I could not ask for better friends, who instantly were like family, here in Muscat and Nizwa.

Thanksgiving passed this year in Nizwa. I rejoined my Nizwa family, carting along my El Paso packaged tex-mex, planning on having a small Thanksgiving to myself and possibly cooking a small treat for my family. Admittedly, it was a strange Thanksgiving... but small and insignificant, it was not. The evening passed with my brother's surprise of dressing up as a pirate for me (partly because I gave them the Halloween costume set, partly because they knew my college's mascot is the Pirate-- hizzah!). My host mother, aunt, sister, and I cooked a half TexMex half Omani meal. Fajitas with goat meat isn't half bad! And 4 trips to the store to buy more bread-- since we ended up feeding 20 people. Oh, and I made Christmas cookies for dessert.

Quite a mix of holidays, granted. But when we sat down to eat, I didn't notice that I was sitting on the floor, Omani style, eating cold goat meat fajitas, or scraping the cookies off the plate since wax paper is no where to be found in the house.... I didn't notice that I was thousands of miles away, away from my family, away from my friends, in a Muslim country, with people who spoke a language completely different than mine. I didn't notice these things.

I noticed that I was surrounded by some of the best friends I could ask for. From my host grandmother- who constantly tells me to keep eating- from my host mom- who tries to explain everything to me, and when I don't understand, we just laugh- from my host uncle- who keeps trying to tell jokes in English- from my little host brothers and sisters- who are fascinated with making funny faces with me-and from my host brothers- who are constantly downloading movies for me to watch.... At that moment around the plastic "table" on the floor, I felt as close to home as I ever could be without the real thing. And when the entire family lifted their palms to pray together, I looked around at a wonderful group of people, said my "Marshall tradition thanks," and when my host mom looked at me, with her smile, asking if it was like home, I smiled back, and was almost the most thankful I've ever been in my life.

Mixin it Up- A Journey through Qatar, the UAE, and more of Oman

Going a little backwards... here are some photos from an Omani wedding, Dubai, and Doha:

Since the wedding party is a "women-only" affair (meaning they let loose and dont veil) this is the only picture I can really put up from the wedding. It was a HUGE deal. Hundreds of women dancing, eating, and celebrating. This is the stage where the bride enters... followed by the groom after all her pictures are taken.. and they are presented here.

I'm all dressed up for the wedding!

Our last night, we ventured into Madinat Jumeira... swank-ville. Taking loads of pictures, somehow talking ourselves onto a boat ride (which is exclusive to hotel guests only), and dancing in a Morrocan club made the night sparkly, tranquil, and magical.

At the Jumeira Public Beach. The water was so clear with a little view of iconic Dubai. Now if only all the Europeans would get out of the picture.

Just part of Dubai.. buildings with nothing in them yet, but still pretty buildings!

The gold souk in Dubai was quite an experience. The glamour, the random excessiveness, and everything you want if you have the money.... what I imagine Vegas is like. To make our experience RICHER than buying gold (okay, its an excuse to make us feel better) we talked to the shop keepers; we met people from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and India. Now, thats what I call an international experience.

At Ski Dubai in the Mall of the Emirates. I once thought mall culture was an American thing. Man, I was wrong.

Doha: The Unfinished City. Or so we dubbed it. Nothing was done in this place... construction, construction, construction. But apparently its to be the next big thing, aka Dubai II.

Well, despite its obvious cute factor.. these baby camels from Doha have a story. Our group was taken around Doha, seeing what we could of things since everything is in the process of being built. Our stop at the camel souk (another, yes) turned out to be quite the tale... two words: camel milk. Never thought I'd try it... but we got a steaming, foamy bowl of it for us all to try. Ignoring all warnings, and trying to blot out the possible consequences from drinking milk straight from a strange camel--- oh, yea, we watched him milk the camel--- we tried to gulp as much of it as we could as not to be rude. Not that it was bad, it was just a lot of milk. But definitely love the stories that always occur around camels!

At Education City in Doha. Education City is a massive complex the royal family set up where they bring in the best universities to set up campuses. Saw Georgetown University: Qatar Campus in this building!

Sadly the station does not have a gift shop with tshirts. Because I would buy them out.

Al-Jazeera English. The barely 1 year-old station thats from Doha, Qatar. We toured the facilities, Arabic and Enlgish stations, and even were able to speak to the reporter of "Inside Iraq." Was fun for all to see the set since we've been watching the show all semester. And interesting to see the perspective of Al-Jazeera since its virtually unavailable in the US

A nice trip, but had a bummer moment

I'll tell you more about my trips out of the country when I upload pictures... just wait, I know you are anxious to hear about them! Amongst all the traveling, and the colds going around, it was really nice to get back to good ol' Muscat. Realizing I really prefer Oman (and the quieter towns) over the craziness of Dubai. The last few days I have been on a mad search for my personal journal. It disappeared somewhere between Doha and Abu Dhabi.... and I am terribly vexed by its loss. Every note, every feeling, every day I hae been in Oman was in the book. And its gone.... I don't even know how to begin finding ways to try and recompile things. Crud.

Today was our last day of "class," which really was just my oral Arabic review. I think I did pretty well considering I knew nothing when I arrived! Now, I am beginning my independent study project... I am very excited about it- looking at Omani's views on US primacy and how the role of US leaders should use that power. Inshaallah I will finish on time and with good results!

More Developments

Well, I've returned from Nizwa, and had a few days to do laundry and settle in Muscat. Coming back was difficult... the change in lifestyle and trying to get back into the original flow. The contrast between rural and metropolitan is so apparent. But, I have talked to my host family in Nizwa, and I am going to return for a week to stay with them and do some work for my independent project. (Which is rapidly approaching, eeeek!)

And now, I am in Doha, Qatar. The change is already such a culture shock. For the first time in 2 months, I've seen a skyscraper. And I don't have to cover... though we are all finding ourselves more comfortable if we do. Seeing tourists along side locals is quite a trip, but that is shocking in Oman too. I am able to walk down the busy street from the hotel to the internet cafe alone... something I definitely could not do in Nizwa, and is always a little awkward in Muscat.

Tomorrow we are going to Al-Jazeera to see a component of media in the Middle East... I cannot wait- what a special opportunity!

In shaa allah, in a week I will update you all on the trips planned for this week- more of Doha, Abu Dhabi, and the famed Dubai! The experiences SIT is providing is outstanding and the personal encounters I'm blessed to have are far beyond what I was anticipating. I already know that coming home will be a little stressful... the changes.. the misconceptions... the realization of things I learned and am learning here.... I already know this has changed many aspects of how I think about.... well... everything.

Nizwa... you stole my heart

I spent the last week in Nizwa, Oman.. living with a new family, who turned out to be more amazing than I could ever imagine. We spent the week learning Arabic, traveling the mountains, visiting schools, dressing up, getting henna, eating the "true" traditional Omani way, learning about Islam, and even slaughtering a goat. All truly amazing... I already know I am going back before I leave in December. I can't leave the loving people and laid back character of this interior city without a longer goodbye.

The view on Jebal Shams

Still on Jebel Shams... overlooking "the Grand Canyon of Oman"

At Nizwa Technical College

Getting henna again at my Nizwa home. They are fabulous!

My Nizwa mom and aunt dressed me up in traditional Omani clothing

Walking along the falaj system in Jebal Akdar

Sunset at a farm in Nizwa

My little brothers (and sister in the background) holding a baby goat at the farm

Clouds, glorious clouds

My sisters in Nizwa- adorable and so funny

The older brothers in Nizwa.. preparing chicken for the big bbq on my last night

My little sister.... and the goat we just slaughtered. If you want to see how they slaughter a goat... I've got a video. Of the entire thing. Its crazy. But you know you want to watch too.