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.

Peace be with you

Peace be with you... I've said about a million times these last few days, and a million more to come. Of course, I say it in Arabic, but I dont know how to type it.



On Wednesday I got to meet my host family! After all of us waited around like little puppies waiting to be adopted, we finally all found our new homes. My mother and father came to pick me up, we went shopping for some pillows, ate some Indian food, and came home to meet the family. I cant even keep track of all of them... but there are some older brothers, who think they are regular gansters, a younger brother who wants to be just like them, grandparents, some older children who live outside the home, cousins, nephews, nieces, and a girl my age named Ahlam who I room with. Their family is from Zanzibar, so they mostly speak Swahili at home... so I'll hopefully come back with some Swahili AND Arabic. Really interesting to see all the family roles... not so sure where mine is yet.. as its only the second day, but its a little difficult to conform to the more woman does the cleaning and housework role. We'll see how thatll go haha



Yesterday they took me on a boating trip, departing from Mutrah and along the coast. A-MAZING. Really hot, but was nice to see the sea. We stopped in a little cove where the water was calm and a tropical green to eat lunch with the family and friends that came along. Talked to some of the aunts and uncles about the US... somehow a big discussion was Oprah! One woman was interested in what I thought about an episode of a Saudi woman being beaten.... and she was upset that Oprah talked about Muslim women being slaves. (Which of course is ridiculous) But it was very interesting to hear her opinion.



Tomorrow is my first day of classes (as the weekend ends on Friday) and I am excited to hear about other people's homestay experiences. And will be nice to learn some more Arabic to use in the home.



Glad to hear from all of y'all- makes being away from home so much easier! Mannn I miss being able to go to a restaurant or coffee shop by myself... sacrifices, sacrifices! haha



Some interesting meals of the week (for you mom ;) )

-Butter chicken and rice

-Chicken Biryani

-Chicken Kadai

-Beef liver, potato wedges

-Rice with salt fish, chicken, and rice

-Chicken schwarma