A quip little play on words to summarize my last three months... For those that I haven't updated yet, I'm in Oman, which is appropriate as of now, for I was talking about it for long enough that if it didn't happen I may have lost a part of me.
My summer was full of eventful weeks driving and flying all over the country in order to see my family and friends before I headed East, with a little work sprinkled in between. For the next year and a half it seems my life style will be somewhat reversed. I reflected often while approaching my departure, and was sad in many ways to leave the city of Madison that I had spent the majority of the last for years learning and playing in. In many ways my personal development and growth pushed me through into a personal renaissance. I will forever have a warm spot in my heart for that city and university, and the many people with who I shared those four years.
It was good to spend time in Green Bay, a city with which I have had a rather tenuous relationship for the better part of a decade. The city may still not feel like home, but the people that I find in it always will.
Finally, jutted up right to my departure was a trip to Steamboat Springs, CO with the most amazing young woman in the world and her family to revel in the good life before my big trip. I will forever cherish those memories. Thank you Amie, I love you.
Soon thereafter, I find myself in Oman - post a 24 hour transit from New York to Frankfurt with a little bunny hop in Doha and finally to Muscat. Besides being overtired and bewildered by the fact that my life was actually happening, everything went smoothly. In fact, my experience up to this point has been just that -
smooth. My initial installment into Oman and the environment felt like I was reacquainting myself with a childhood friend that I hadn't talked to in 15 years - meaning a lifelong of different experiences, with a solid foundation of familiarity. There are more and more familiar things popping up by the day, some reassuring and others a bit unsettling. The Arabic and Muslim culture feels familiar now after my initial experience in Morocco, over a year ago now. And I met a Moroccan guy just yesterday... ah, c'est bon de parler francais encore! An unsettling familiarity came about this evening, as our new Indian friends took us to the local mall in the area. I felt like I was back in the United States, in a place that I rarely find myself, and the only people that happened to be shopping that day were all Omani. Interesting... It seems consumerism has no physical or national bounds, or cultural for that matter. Or maybe I am misinterpreting something.
Anyway, besides the few familiarities, my relationship with Oman is fresh and vibrant. The air is stifling and humid, and so my time outside has been limited to walks from the car to whatever establishment my present need takes me - hotel, internet cafe (hehey), real estate office. The beaches around here are stunning, and I'm anxiously waiting for my first dip. The hookahs are rolling, although the partakers are often not Omani themselves. The city is clean and kept, and much greener than I ever expected due to diligent efforts by the government of the Sultan Qaboos and I assure you his efforts do not go unappreciated - much of the rest is arid and mountainous, so most of what the eye catches is rocky and brown, which has a mystical appeal all its own.
There are historical parts of the city tucked back into rocky, cavernous ports, with centuries old Portuguese fortresses and an old Souq where you can buy things with your Visa or Mastercard... or even American Express - bring your credit card if you plan on frequenting the gold souqs.
Securing an apartment has been an interesting endeavor to say the least. It is a different experience finding my digs here rather than in a familiar locale that was Madison - although part of that sensation could be me feeling more like a big kid now. We're edging ever so close, and should have it wrapped up in about two days.
Being +4gmt has presented interesting challenges, even through email to this point as I realize that I'm doing work while everyone is fast asleep, and will be for at least another 6 hours. It will be a challenge to coordinate calls and contacts with the people I love who are all being big kids too. Work schedules could pose some problems. The different weekend is throwing me a little curve as well. Friday and Saturday are good days here, and you don't really work on the good days, especially on Friday. Just go to the beach instead.
As a final thought to a long overdue post, I feel as comfortable here now as I have felt about the idea of it from the beginning. I am excited and content about my time here, and I could not have found myself in a more pleasant setting for the next 15 - 18 months to come. I will detail my adventures that follow with a diligence that has not been characteristic for some time, and with a sub-objective hand that I have never written without.
With much anticipation for what is to come.
Labels: Oman Time
