Oman Monday - Tuesday, May 28-29, 2007

Monday, May 28, 2007

On Saturday we walked up to the Royal Plaza Hotel and rented a car. It seemed odd to me to have to do this but I realize most folks do that when traveling abroad. I’ve just always skimped – tried to do what the locals do --> hop on the back of a pickup, pay a pittance and smell exhaust while the driver went around hairpin curves and passed other vehicles without enough view of what might be oncoming . . . or by bus, taxi or train. In Muscat there is not that option. We will be traveling to other cities to look at universities and hopefully get some interviews.

Renting the car was a positive experience. The man we rented from is an Omani and is the only Omani we’ve had a conversation with. He mentioned that he is a welder and that it comes in handy because his family has animals. Of course I lit up and asked what animals they had. Birds (doves, parrots), goats, dogs, chickens, a cow. He did mention that the family has some land somewhere outside of the city. I assume it is a farm. The truly delightful moment in our conversation came up when he said that Islam forbids the keeping of dogs (It is “haram” – forbidden), but he pointed out that he thinks it’s fine to have dogs and that it really depends on how one feels in their heart. Basically, he was saying that it is what you believe. Ah! now he’s speaking my language. It is all about one’s beliefs and conditioning.

Yesterday I had an interview at the The American International School of Muscat (TAISM). It was a wonderfully long interview and I believe the World Language Coordinator and I are a good match for 2nd language acquisition philosophy. The job would be part time (50%), teaching Spanish to 3rd – 6th grades. I would really like the job but it will depend where Gus can be hired. If he gets a position in Muscat I will most likely go for this job, although I will interview for other posts teaching English as a Foreign Language. I really should try to get into that as it will help me grow as a language teacher. Not that working for TAISM won’t be growthful. It seems it will definitely be growthful as there is a lot of support and colleague collaboration .

Just 5 hours later – 3:29PM – and our calendar is full of visits, interviews and entertainment – thanks to Ken. Tomorrow Gus has an 11:00 interview at the Modern College of Business and Science. We hope to then drive to a city where there is a college Ken recommends and will meet the English Dept. director. Then back to the house by 5:00 to freshen up for a dinner talk given by Mike, the author of the Tagine and Masala recipe book. That should be fun . . . and delicious. More on that afterwards.

Wednesday we meet the director of the Eng. dept. of Naswah – Ayatolah. If all goes well he will want us to come up to his college in Nazwah. This city is known for its goat market. I can’t wait to see lots of goats. If we live there maybe we can purchase a milking goat . . . hmmm. There apparently won’t be much else to do but read, write, and meditate. I’ve always wanted to be stuck somewhere with Gus with nothing to do. Trapped with him and lots of good books. Nazwah might be just the place.

Wednesday, 30 May 2007

Gus and I had a driving adventure yesterday. The streets in this city are not laid out on a grid. It’s been pointed out to us that they couldn’t do so because of the geology. This area used to be little villages and villas tucked into areas where it was possible to build. The geological layout is rock. To create a joined Muscat they’ve had to blast much of the rock and have built a major highway running through. Of course the building continues as the demand for housing grows.

Our adventure started out with the search of the Modern School of Business and Science.
Ken showed us where it was on the map saying it was close to the skating rink (yes, ice skating in the desert). Our map is not accurate nor is there such a thing because the layout of the land, the roads and building continue to change every day. But, the map was the only guide so we took the roads that were to lead to the college and stopped to ask directions when we knew we were in the vicinity. I went into an office in a strip mall and asked the clerk at the front desk. He said he did not speak English well enough but signaled that he would get someone. He called into the back room and apparently explained where I wanted to go. The man tried to tell the clerk what to tell me and the clerk motioned for him to come up to the front and talk directly to me. I guess the English speaking Omani was shy. At first our English speaker told us we were to drive another 12 kilometers so I emphasized the name of the college again and the fact that it was near the skating rink. Phew! The next set of directions were perfect and got us to the college quite easily.

The interview turned out to be not quite and interview – just a meeting. We met with Dr. Mouhiba (everyone refers to her on this “first name basis” plus, with a PhD. she is a Dr. – Ken too is a doctor – Dr. Ken – somehow Dr. Mouhiba sounds more official to my ear), a Tunisian, who casually mentioned she was sorry Dr. Bernard was not there and that we’d have to meet with him. Funny, cause the appt. was set up for that moment. Dr. Mouhiba almost seemed to not know why we were there. We enjoyed talking with her and left her with all our teaching documents. Then off we went to find our way to the highway to drive north to Al Musana where we were to meet Nihad, director of the English dept. at the Tech. College. Ken urged us to meet with her even though she would not hire us.

The drive was about 2 hours going 119 kph – once our speedometer hit 120 (the speed limit) an alarm went off in the car. The first time it happened there was a police car passing us on the left. Was our car alerting us? Did the police send out a signal? No, apparently every car has this alarm once it hits 120. Hmmm . . . then why are all those cars passing us at 125 or 130? Earplugs? No. There are 3 or 4 guys per car, relaxed, talking. They have an alarm going off too?

Our meeting with Nihad was very nice. She gave us a lot of information about what the students are like and what the department’s expectations are. Again we were told that classes would have to be very structured and that we were to be very strict or else the students would rule the class.

Ah! I almost forgot to mention, I got a call from the director of the American School (TAISM) to let me know they would like me to take the 50% position teaching Spanish to 3rd – 6th. The following year should grow to full time. My taking the job will all depend on where Gus gets hired.

More to come . . .