Pre-Departure Guide

It's finally here. The packet/manual/manuscript I've been waiting for since April 20th.  The Pre-departure guide

I will make this super easy for you readers. A neat list :D

• For the first three weeks, we'll be living in hotel apartments with five beds, a kitchen area, wireless internet (!!!!!), living space, and a washing machine. Breakfast will be provided, lunch at the Amideast center, and dinner is our responsibility. (They trust us to feed ourselves, basically) Oh and there's a gym on the 5th floor. 
• For the last three weeks we'll be living in a host family, and we will know who we are placed with (probably) when we get to Oman
•   We are going to have to take a language pledge, in which we promise to only speak in Arabic (after the first week) during our stay in Oman...unless..you know, we're dying or something.
• School: We will be divided into beginners and advanced-beginners. Also, we will have to do community service, which consists of volunteering at the "English Language Camp" <---This to me is super exciting. Because we get to learn Arabic and Omani culture, but we also get to give back, as cheesy as that sounds
• Skype is blocked, but I've already ranted about this :P
• Internet is slower in Oman, but it's there

CLOTHESSSSS (finally...I was worried about that part being left out until the last minute)

• Jeans, khakis or linen pants
• Long skirts (ankle length or mid calf)
•  Sandals!
• Shoulders must be covered at all times
• Basically, dress modestly, because we (the girls going on this trip) are representing the US and we should respect their culture and customs.
• Cardigans to cover shoulders
• Scarvessssss. I shall bring my collection

Other random essentials

• Omani money is the riyal(OMR), and that is divided into 1000 baiza
• The exchange rate as of March 2012 was $1=0.385 OMR
• The omani workweek is Saturday to Wednesday, so they have Thursday and Friday off rather than Saturday and Sunday
• Friendships form quickly, and Omanis who view you as their friend often treat you as they would treat their Omani friends. 
• Eating/passing food is often and almost always done with ones right hand. 
• I'm bringing my laptop and camera, so expect pictures and updates to come!

That's about all...I'm super excited. It's so close, I just want to go and begin learning Arabic and such: :)

Here comes the agony

The agony? How could ANYONE be in agony whilst waiting to go to Oman, you ask. It's the waiting. I hate waiting. I thought summer would be fun..but I find myself sitting at home doing absolutely nothing. I should really be studying for my wonderful SAT subject tests on Saturday shouldn't I? Oh well. Here comes the 31 days of waiting...and waiting...and waiting. It's 2012, why is there not a machine to transport you into the future? Come on, we have the technology (or at least in my mind we do).
Here are some things that actually pertain to my trip. What a surprise!

• The pre-departure guide is 46 pages...of FUN!!! 
• There is no need to veil up whilst in Oman
• All colors (clothing wise) are acceptable
• We will be going to
   1. Salalah in Dhofar
   2. Jabal Shams and the bedouin village of Nizwa
•  I don't know how I'll be able to keep my vegetarianism up during my stay in Oman
• Not many people know where Oman is
• !! I NEED to get the host family a gift..I totally forgot. Probably a scrap book or something from where I live
• The dress code after/before Ramadan is a bit more relaxed

I'm going to go start figuring out what to give to my host family..and attempt to study for SAT's...yayyy

31 days left! 


P.S: I started learning Arabic using this website. It's really tough. I'm currently learning the alphabet. My goal is that by the time I leave for Oman, I'll know the alphabet. Can I do it? There is no question. I will do it.

Airplane schedule..I think

My wonderful trip schedule. 36 days left :D

More information about the Omani trip?!!!?

So I just had the conference call. It was super informative, and all the girls (and their parents) seemed really nice, so this trip will be fun, and a great experience for all of us.

1. There are a total of 15 girls going, no guys
2. The manual/manuscript/whatever else I've called it/Pre-departure guide (the actual name!) will be coming out this week, or in two weeks
3.  Computers are allowed, so I can continue blogging!!
4. We will be in school (at the Amideast center) for four hours a day, and the rest of the time is spent either interacting with Omani youth, going around Muscat, or...doing homework, not a new thing for Lowell students.
5.  During the weekends, we will be either going around the Muscat area, or in other places in Oman to visit the country and learn more about the Omani culture as a whole.
6. For the first three weeks, we will be staying in a hotel, since we get to Oman about two and a half weeks before the beginning of Ramadan, and finding families that stay in Oman during that time to host us is virtually impossible. During the last three weeks, we will be staying with a host family, one who has either hosted an American student before through YES Abroad, or one that has children that are part of certain Omani youth programs.
7. Skinny jeans=big no no. But on the other hand, in Oman, the average daily temperature during the summer can go well above 110 degrees Fahrenheit...so why would I want to wear skinny jeans? Skirts have to be mid-calf or lower, and no spaghetti strap shirts, you have to always keep the shoulders covered.
8. During Ramadan, we are not expected to fast, but I kind of want to, just to experience Omani culture as a whole. 
9. There's a law in Oman, I can't remember the name, but it has to do with not saying anything derogatory towards Oman or anyone in Oman. I think it's a really interesting law, and I'm not too worried about breaking it. Also, swearing, even out of anger, falls under this law. 
10. We will be flying from Washington DC with United(joynotactuallythough) until Frankfurt, which, in my opinion, isn't a very easy airport to navigate, and from Frankfurt we're transferring to a flight that will bring us to Saudi Arabia, and then from there to Muscat. My mom, being a good Italian asked the program director if they were going to feed us after getting to Oman, apparently they aren't, so I can expect my mother to give me A LOT of food for when we get to Muscat.
11. Also, we're going to be meeting either the Ambassador to Oman (US) or the staff that work in the Embassy in Oman..!!!!!
12. I'm super duper uber excited!!!!!!!! Yea that's about it. 

So I have officially 40 days until I leave for DC, and 43 days until I leave for Oman. 

43 days..and counting

Today was one of the best days of my life: I finished off my last AP of junior year, and I have 5 days left of school. And 43 days left until I leave for Washington DC. And 46 days until I leave for Muscat, Oman. I am beyond excited, although I haven't received my manual yet..which is pushing me a bit over the edge, but I'll deal. Also-conference call on Monday. It's from 7-8 pm eastern time, which would have been a problem if I had school, but I don't, because it's wonderful Arena day!! No, not gladiators fighting to their death, but high school students signing up for classes in the gym. Equally horrifying, but exciting. In 5 days, I'll be able to fully devote myself to trying to learn some rudimentary Arabic, like "where is the bathroom?" or "where can I get water" since, you know, it'll be around 120 degrees Fahrenheit there. Ah I cannot wait until Monday, hopefully I'll be getting the much needed information about Oman and all the rules and regulations.

I'll leave you with a summary of how I feel right now :D

Oman vlog #3

Well that's an awkward face. Third video-log for Oman!

Not much going on about Oman, yet I feel compelled to write something.
We didn't get the manuals (that's what it's called, not manuscript :P ) yet, I really want to know what's in it!
That's about all. I'll leave you guys with a picture of the main mosque in Muscat.