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.