This trip has had many highlights, but the most significant one is the Omani people.
AMIDEAST Staff
We were welcomed by the staff of AMIDEAST upon arrival and they have been incredibly helpful and kind on a daily basis.
They have given us advice, helped us adjust to the culture, helped us change hotels when one was not as expected, helped us learn to bargain, helped look after some students who became sick for a few days, and more.
Sultan
One night Sultan, our main driver, and his brother took us to Seeb corniche for a moonlight picnic by the sea.
We feasted on Omani barbecue and chatted while we watched nearby families play with their children. There were so many leftovers that I think some people are still finishing theirs.
Fatma
Fatma, who is a former student of Dr. Allen, and her fiancée met us at Bahla castle and invited us to have coffee with them at her brother’s house.
“Coffee” was actually a very generous, multi-course meal that their family prepared for us. We talked for hours and dined on (kebsa), rice, salad, fruits, sweets, coffee, tea, and juice.
Fahad, Saif, Hatim, & Mulham
Although our excursion included more excitement than it was intended to, our drivers were gentlemen and they made an effort to look after us. Mulham was the one I rode with the most after the trip to wadi (shab) and he always made sure our Jeep full of girls had anything we needed.
Several of us girls hung out with Fahad and Saif, two of our drivers for the excursion, after we got back to Muscat.
We went to The Wave and strolled around on the boardwalk looking out at the lights reflecting on the water. They told us about the ships and life in Muscat. We asked each other questions about culture and lifestyle in the U.S. and Oman.
After that, they took us to a food truck by the side of the road in the desert. We ate some delicious Tanzanian barbecue and chatted until it was time to return.
These are only a few examples of the hospitality we’ve been shown in Oman. Everyone I’ve met who is from here is so kind and everyone I’ve met who has traveled here has stories about how generous and welcoming the Omani people are.