Ma'asalama Oman

"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way again."

~ Azar Nafisi (Author of Reading Lolita in Tehran)

Sadly for us this is our final post from The Sultanate of Oman. The last three years here have been a very special time in our lives and will be cherished. It has been a busy month or so as we have put the final touches on our time here.

Recently the last of a great string of friends and family came to visit - our good friends Serey and Marcus from Canada. Sitting at our wedding a few months ago they made plans to visit and we were really glad that they were able to.

These two were taking a break from their busy lives in Calgary to venture through Turkey, Oman and Dubai. They visited in the hottest time of the year and with only a few days here they made the most of it! They saw Muscat, the local forts, drove into the desert, saw the nesting turtles and completed one of the best hikes in the country - Wadi Shab. Its was great to have them with us!

Additionally while Marcus and Serey were here I decided to go on a drastic weight loss program. Here is how it works:

1. Great pain in the abdominal area
2. Go to Hospital
3. Appendix about to rupture
4. Perform surgery
5. Wallow in self pity during recovery

It's a tad expensive but I look good for bathing suit season now.

While I have been spending all our hard earned money on surgeries Tina has been taking a few art classes. She completed a pottery class and a soft sculpture class as well. In the soft sculpture class Tina created an Omani scene that will find its way into our home in Canada.

In early June Oman recieved news that a cyclone (hurricane) was coming our way. It had been 3 years since cyclone Gonu had devastated these shores so the memory was very much alive. The country ordered two days off of work and people busily stockpiled food, water, sandbags, ice, etc.

The cyclone hit at Sur on the coast. Here in Muscat there were high winds, heavy rains and flooding but nothing compared to the effects of Gonu. The people of the coast are still recovering but Muscat is now almost back to normal. As a side note, my brother Matt informed me that the best defence against a cyclone was to run really fast in the opposite direction. This proved inneffective.

Amidst the visits, storms, surgeries and art classes we have been busily packing up our lives and memories from this great place. Goodbyes are never easy but we are sure we will run into many friends again in the future.

On June 23rd we leave Oman and head through Egypt, Jordan, The Palestinian Territories, Lebanon, Turkey and London before touching down in Vancouver on August 6th. We will do our best to post updates as we travel.

Oman has left us with such a vibrant experience with which to look back on. As the above quote alludes to, we are happy to be moving on but sad that the people we are right now won't be coming with us. It is definately time for us to be home but we will fondly remember this place and it's people.

Ma'asalama Oman.

Mexican Wedding

" Who travels for love finds a thousand miles not longer than one."
- Japanese proverb

When both Tina and her brother became over the age of 25 and started moving in with their significant others and even moving to the Middle East, I think Tina's mom had given up hope that she would ever see them get married. Well, Tina and her brother somehow decided that in 2010 they would pack in both of their weddings within six months of each other! Cory and his new wife Hayley threw her an extra curve ball announcing their wedding would take place in Cancun, Mexico!
Joel was unable to attend as the wedding would be in May and being a very important PE teacher he would be irreplaceable at work. So Tina set out for a Mexican fiesta on her own. After a major delay in London due to volcanic ash being spewed from the Icelandic volcano and a night sleep on the Miami International Airport floor - Tina said 'hola' to the heat and humidity of Cancun! (Leaving 45 degrees in Muscat she was confident she could handle any heat - but the humidity surprised her and she was soon partaking in afternoon siestas! (As was Kyra on Grandpa's lap!)


Tina was soon joined by her parents, the bride and groom, Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Ed, along with Cory's good friends Ryan, Aubry and the Stearn family. Hayley's parents, aunt and uncle, good friend Theresa, her brother's family and her sister's family and her cute nieces and nephews! There was about 28 guests visiting for either one or two weeks. We quickly made our way out to one of the many pools at the resort in Tulum and began soaking up some rays and enjoying ChiChi's and Mojitos!


One of the days before the wedding, Tina and her mom and aunt and uncle set out for a tour of Coba (Mayan) ruins. Coba was located about a 40 minute drive from the resort and Tina and Carolyn climbed to the top of the ruins for a view of the jungle and ocean. We also stopped for lunch at a traditional Mayan village where we made tortillas with the daughter of the local shaman.

On May 12th, we got all gussied up for Cory and Hayley's wedding. I had the honor of walking Kyra down the aisle and helped her throw out flower petals. The ceremony was held in an outdoor gazebo overlooking the white sand beach and turquoise waters! Breath taking!!


The groom was smiling!

And the bride was looking beautiful!

The flower girl very happy to be with daddy after the ceremony!!


The dinner took place immediately after the ceremony in the resort's restaurant 'Tequila' and we then enjoyed some dancing and drink by the pool! Kyra got to sleep over in Aunty Tina's room; we had a great night but I think Tina jumped up every time time Kyra snored!




I was very happy and proud to see my big brother get married and see him so happy with his new family. It was nice getting to spend more time getting to know Kyra and Hayley as well as Hayley's family.