First Full Day in Oman

     Today we spent the whole day on in country orientation.We learned about the main rules we need to know and discussed the itinerary. The more I learn about the intinerary the more I'm excited to acually go out, today we spent the day in the hotel for the most part since rest is necessary after such a long flight and orientation is extremely important. The main things I'm excited about is the service work we will be doing, we will get to go do a support the environment type of thing. This activity will mainly focus on decreasing the usage of plastic. We will also get to help teach English to 9th and 10th graders, and teaching is something I definitely want to look into for my future. The other thing, and what my Dad would defintely say is the best thing, that I'm looking forward to is that we get to go camping in the interiror in Arabian tents.  We also received our cellphones(over here they call them gsm's) and they're actually really nice, a pink blackberry! Apparently over here they're really into technology, and when we went out to dinner tonight I saw that everyone had really nice cars and cellphones in the city. I also heard my first call to prayer and it was about a few minutes long and they played a song on speakers that are spread across the city.

After orientation we had sometime to rest and I took some photos, here are some various photos from today:

 It's a drink full of electrolytes that's really supposed to help keep you energized.

We went out for dinner tonight and it was amazing! It was so great to have hummus in the Middle East:

   

Tortilla/bread type of thing with hummus and an eggplant paste

The meat was absolutely incredible! I love Omani food!

It was like a Middle Eastern quesadilla. It had cheese and vegetables.

For dessert we got to have fresh fruit! Papaya, watermelon, sweet melon, and huge grapes.

The Flight Of The Century...(minor exaggeration)

     The last few days have turned into a big mushed up jumble due to my lack of keeping track of the time with all the different time zones that were passed. The main point is I have arrived to Oman!!! Everything is a bit surreal, but after the several mishaps that occurred on the way here I know that things will definitely be amazing. After all before every amazing experience some bad things must happen.
  So, the crazy crazy flight. When we arrived in D.C and were waiting for our flight to leave the plane had electrical issues as well as issues with the pressure on the airplane. Once those issues were fixed it began to thunderstorm, but I didn't mind the wait because everybody on the plain pretty much just got to know each other. I ended up meeting a man that works as the director of policy and programs for a human rights company, and was able to learn quite a bit about what you need to do in order to get into working in certain parts of the company, as well as the type of work the company does. After at least three hours of delay the plane left, and we definitely missed our connection because we only had an hour and a half between the flights. By some amazing stroke of luck there was a direct flight from Frankfurt to Muscat, and we barely made it (some speedy/slightly jogging in the airport was involved). The airplane was actually really nice and the food was good, and that rarely happens on airplanes.
   The flight from Frankfurt to Oman went extremely well, except for the end one of the girls in our group got really sick and passed out during the flight, but we got an update that she is going to be fine. Oh, and our luggage got lost, it's probably having its own wonderous adventure, but I will hopefully be getting it back tomorrow or Friday. During orientation we had been told that people just hang out at the airport and people watch, but I didn't quite expect it all that much, but people really did stand at the airport and just watch everyone coming in.
    The hotel we are in is really nice, and I love that Muscat smells purely of beach. Tomorrow and Friday we will have in country orientation, and on Saturday I'll have my first class!

 Omani advertisements!

 Bangladesh School

Orientation At Its Best

      Crossing the expanse of the D.C airport to reach the luggage claim, an hour later than planned due to electrical issues on the plane, I realized that I was the last of the girls in the group at the airport to arrive.
    Orientation has been jam packed with learning, but also included some touristy things.
Today we spent the majority of the day in the American Councils building. We got a big introduction on the NSLI-Y program and its expectations of us. In a summary the two main things we need as a NSLI-Y students is 1. Communication and 2. Responsibility. The rest involved learning our target language, being a door to the United States, as well as learning the culture of our country.
   One of the parts that excited me the most today was when we got to talk with a coordinater of the NSLI-Y program that works with the State department in the public diplomacy sector. I got to find out about the different departments in the department of state that involve working abroad. I got to see alot of options that I was unaware about, as well as learn a little about the application process.
    I got to visit both the Oman embassy and the cultural center, the people at both places were ridiculously nice and extremely welcoming ( a trait that Omanis are said to have!). In the embassy we got to learn about the relations between the United States and Oman, and learn about what work in the embassy involved. In the Oman cultural center we got to talk to an intern from Muscat, Oman and got to learn about more specific things about food, as well as things that were geared more towards women.

 Goodies from the embassy and cultural center.

     The main portion of the day was spent on discussing safety during the trip and answering various questions.
    We also got to walk to the White House, which was really exciting for me, being that this is my first time in D.C, and I was thoroughly pleased that we were able to do some sightseeing on the side of orientation.

I can't believe I will be leaving tomorrow! I am beyond excited and after hearing and preparing so much for my time in Oman I truly want to see what it's all about!

On the Side: for those of you that have facebook, I have entered a photo contest for photos from students exchange trips and I have entered a photo from my trip to Paraguay. The winners are based off of the amount of likes they get, so it would be a great favor if you could like the photo. Thank you very much! https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=10151876673990257&set=a.10151876672945257.868661.227061900256&type=3&theater

  

Oman From The Sky

On Sunday I will be leaving for the Pre- Departure Orientation in D.C and shortly after I will be leaving for Oman! Just 5 days left! I thought I would share this video of Oman:
OMAN FROM THE SKY from CYRIL EBERLE on Vimeo.
   Today also marks a years since the first day I spent with my family in Paraguay. My host sister just left this morning after visiting me for two weeks before her return to Paraguay after spending a year in the United States. Going to Paraguay was truly the greatest experience, and I look back on my trip every day and am so grateful to my host family and AFS for that opportunity. There is nothing that can compare to the way in which you learn abroad. Studying abroad is basically the greatest mental exercise, working ever part of you: your willingness to open up and dare to try something new, learning a new language, having the ability to leave your home country's culture behind to embrace the new culture while still holding on to a thread of it. Exchange trips can be the best choice you ever made if you want it to, you just have to work for it and make the best of every situation.I am looking forward to another unforgettable experience this summer!

Joyfully Trapped Inside a Dictionary

     After opening the brown Amazon box, I found a blue book sitting in it, my Arabic dictionary! My first course of action was to label the whole house (an idea brilliantly suggested by my Father), and now I'm living inside a dictionary. Doing this has actually been quite helpful, even in just one day I have found that I am already soaking up quite a bit of the household words. Every little extra thing I learn will definitely be helpful!
   Flight information! I am fortunate enough to have a direct flight to D.C and the flight to Muscat, is what it was expected to be...long.


View Larger Map  However, I'm excited to go on this long of a flight and be able to remember it, and I'm excited to see what all the different airports are like. 
    One week and four days left to go!
 

Time is only in your mind...and on the clock

     Every time I think about leaving for Oman I feel as though I'm basically leaving tomorrow, but then I realize that it's still only the beginning of June. I know that my departure is close, but it's not as close as it feels.

     In the mean time I have plenty of things to be doing . My Arabic study book came in, along with my English summer reading books (1984 and Brave New World). Not only that, but my new camera came in! A Canon Rebel T3, so I will need to spend my next few weeks getting the hang of using it correctly.

   Also, my host sister from Paraguay will be getting in today! From today until I leave the days will be absolutely packed, and chances are I won't manage to squeeze in everything I want to, but even at that I'm ready to be at the airport on my way.
   I also came to a realization the other day, I will be on an airplane on the Fourth of July. I miss being in Washington D.C for the Fourth of July by one day, instead I will be on an airplane. Last year I didn't celebrate it either because I was in Paraguay, but I can't help wonder if being on an airplane(or an airport) will make it feel any different.
   Three weeks and one day left until I will be leaving!
Here are two videos of Oman:)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=US&hl=en&client=mv-google&v=E6dTJHD9AiA&nomobile=1

http://vimeo.com/22127608
  

I Can Almost Taste It

     Summer is almost here. One more final, my Spanish final. I'm ready for summer to get here. In exactly five weeks I will be boarding the plane to D.C and two days afterwards I will be on my way to Oman.
    Earlier this week I got to have a conference call with Amideast, and found out some new things about the trip. My first three weeks in Oman will be spent with the other students (there are fifteen in total, all girls) and then afterward we will be put with host families. Chances are I won't find out about my host family placement until I get to Oman. Weekdays will be spent going to classes for four hours and we will spend the rest of the day adventuring or doing homework. I also found out that we will get to take a trip to Salalah, and from mid June to August the Salalah Karif festival is held, so hopefully I will get to take part of that action.
    Everyday I become more and more mentally prepared for my trip, but my adventure will be coming soon enough.