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My life in the Sultanate of Oman

My name is Rigel and I am Oman’s self-proclaimed number one fan! I lived nine years in Oman, and I never got tired of exploring. I don’t speak Arabic yet, although I know some useful words and phrases. I am from Venezuela and I have lived in Europe, North America, briefly in Africa and for some time I have been in the Middle East with my family.

In Oman I fell in love! From the simple and complicated of its architecture, from the relaxed nature of the Omanis, from the pride in their traditions and country, but most especially from the kindness of their people.

Although Oman is a very different country from mine, I feel very comfortable, when I traveled outside of Oman and I came back, and saw the black and white see of disdashas (men’s clothes) and abayas (women’s clothes), I knew that I was back home again. In Oman I have discovered many things about myself, while I curiously explored the culture, places and traditions. The climate of Oman is ideal for me although the summer can be relentless. The opportunities for adventure and spending a lot of time outdoors are perfect for me, I enjoyed it to the fullest with my family or with my individual initiatives. I am happy, loud, outgoing and curious person! The exoticism of Oman  gives me many opportunities to satisfy my curiosity and investigate further. I love meeting new people, especially people from different cultures, religions and ages. I firmly believe that the experience of interacting with people very different from me helps me find new concepts, values ​​and behaviors that help me think in a deeper, more complex and creative way.

I never knew about the existence of Oman, until I had to move here with my family. I knew little about this country and in my ignorance I thought it would be similar to Egypt, where I lived very briefly. I arrived in The Sultanate and little by little I discovered the country and began learning from its people, the culture, enjoying the sun and being near the sea and outdoors, finding similarities between the Omani culture and mine, and learning from others.

Between tradition and modernism, tolerance and adventure, my favorite experiences in my almost 9 years, living with my family in The Sultanate of Oman.

You’re going to die of boredom!

…It was the first thing one of the first people I met told me, a woman who had been there for many years, and she was not very happy. – “Nothing happens here, it’s very boring, this is a small town”, she said. While it is true that in Oman there are almost 5 million people in a territory larger than that of Italy, it is not true that there is nothing to do. Oman is a country with few people, the vast majority are in the capital and larger cities, but there are plenty of things to do, you just have to look, things work differently but I can assure you that in 9 years I have never lacked for things to do, on the contrary, I needed more time, and a clone to do everything that catched my attention. I have done all kinds of activities, participated in sporting events, I have embarked on adventures that I never thought I would be able to do, I have had the opportunity to meet interesting people, and I do not have space in this blog entry to list the natural beauties of Oman , its coasts, its mountains, deserts, wadis and even a very green and jungle area at the south of the country. Oman is a paradise, to live and visit, an authentic and special secret. It is a mix of tradition and modernity, enough for Oman to continue to remain authentic to its roots. It is a very safe country, where families and solo travelers marvel at its natural beauty but also at the simplicity and warmth of the Omanis. Where time passes slowly, and where you remember or learn that a new culture is neither good nor bad, it is different. Here I have discovered many things about myself, while I curiously explore the culture, places and traditions.

The Sultanate of Oman is a very different country from mine, however when traveling outside of Oman and returning, I feel at home again, seeing the black and white of disdashas and abayas. In Oman I fell in love! From the simple and complicated of its architecture, from the relaxed nature of the Omanis, from the pride in their traditions and country, but most especially from the kindness of their people.

That’s why I decided to write this blog, because after traveling around the world a little bit, and my different experiences, I feel that there is a lot to say about Oman, a great country that inspires me and makes my heart beat faster.

Maktoob

Maktub is an Arabic word with a very deep meaning: it can be translated as “it is destiny”

“Maktub!” the Merchant finally said.

-What is this?

“You would have to have been born an Arab to understand it,” he replied. But the translation would be something like “it is written.”

(“The Alchemist”, Paulo Coelho)