Job Discussion Forums

[Derkugelschrieber]

Hey folks,

Having spent a few wonderful years in Oman, I am so tired of the "experts" who post on this site after being here for one or two months. In that short amount of time, they know everything about the culture, the people, academics etc. The truth is, every experience is different! Oman is a great place to live and work, depending on who you are and what you want. Some places are good, some places are bad, I can't really speak to that. However, If you would like an overall view of what it is like to live and work here, may I suggest a book I have read that pretty much tells it like it is. The book is called MY YEAR IN OMAN. I bought a copy from Amazon but it is also available from Chapters and Trafford Publishing. If you are thinking about a job in Oman, the book tells you what you can expect inside and outside of the work environment. It is kind of funny and easy to read and I highly recommend it if you are considering a job anywhere in the Middle East.

Cheers,
Derkugelschrieber [/b]

[veiledsentiments]

Of course, that would only be the author's experience. Most of the people who post in the Oman section regularly have been there for as long or longer than him.

I just checked on Amazon and they want $39.00 for this book!!! Who are they kidding? Even if it was the optimal Oman book ever, that is ridiculous!!

VS

[Tarka_littleotter]

Hmmmm...you wouldn't be plugging your OWN book would you???????

When's part two coming out??

[Duffy]

TUT TUT Tarka, you know Vs would not profit from her experiences. Would you? Would I?

No matter what the book contains, Everybody who has been here, worked here, lived here and who love or hate this country, will give you another view on things.

So, this person has written about a year in his/her life in Oman.

BIG DEAL!!!!

We can all write about our experiences, so why should we pay attention to this person, or worse, pay to read about something which we aleady know?

Take it as it is, if it is right for you, ok - if not, Move on!!

Duffy

[kuberkat]

Duffy wrote;

[manoflettersk466]

Tarka may be on to something there.... sounds a bit like a sell to me. However there are contradictions if this is the case: Derkugel claims that he has had a "few years" in Oman ... while the book is titled "My Year in Oman." He criticizes info in this forum from would-be experts who have been in Oman for a few months, but then, by plugging this book, implies that One Year in Oman makes a person a Real Expert. (I don't think the word can really be applied to anyone who has not been in the country for Several years).

Duffy I have a bone to pick over two small matters in your message:
1. what is wrong with profiting from ones experiences? What in fact could be more natural? I believe Thesiger did it....and for that matter a whole skad of writers like Bryson & Chatwin etc. There are many of us who enjoy the combination of travel & autobiography.......
2. It may very well be a "big deal" - all we can write about, in the end, is our experiences.....don't dismiss them outright. This person may in fact be a good writer with things to say ... though I would not put money on it .....Certainly not $39 anyway......

[veiledsentiments]

[kuberkat]

Derkugelschrieber wrote:

[Duffy]

If anyone is interested, this is the author's website:

http://www.myyearinoman.com

He will sell it to you for $19.99


MoL

1.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with profiting from one's experiences, let's face it, this is what Tefler's do all the time, makes us better teachers!!

2.
Ok, maybe I was a bit quick off the mark by critcising this author, without having read the book or actually met him. However, from what I read on his site, I think I have not missed anything! From what I read, this person seems to have on some kind of mission to prove to all the folks in the Middle East that he is not like JW Bush!!

I am having my own experience of Oman and that is good enough for me.

Oh yes, Derkugelscheiber AKA "The Tranlastor". Why did you put this post out as a "public service announcement"? I may be getting skeptical in my old age but just like the old saying goes "Any publicity is good publicity"??

Duffy

[veiledsentiments]

It appears that he is self-publishing. Interesting how easy that is to do nowadays, and not all that expensive. Good for him and may he sell many copies...

I thought that the excerpt describing his first breakfast showed him to be a bit provincial. Very American... and seemed to be his first trip to anywhere other than rural Washington state or something. Or perhaps he was attempting humor... If he thinks it's 'British' now, he should have been there in the 80's.

But, I don't think it is bad advice to a newbie heading there to read the book beforehand.

VS

[Duffy]

Hmm, VS, have you read something I didn't on the authors website?

I am all in favour of self-publishing, may want to do it myself one day, and of course I would expect you to laud the efforts of your fellow country person, but where did you read the bit about his first breakfast?? I didn't see that on the site anywhere. Is the authors site larger in the US than outside? What advice has he given, again I didn't see it there.

Duffy

[veiledsentiments]

I was clicking around on the various links on the site... I think it said 'buy the book'... it has excerpts here and there perhaps. This was a very long thing on his first breakfast at a hotel where he was shocked to learn what was considered 'breakfast.' ('hot dogs' 'french fries' and 'baked beans' along with his eggs... completely grossed him out...)

VS

[verity]

Certainly in the era of easy desktop publishing it is true that it's not that difficult now to become 'published'.

I find it funny that some posts here are even referring to this writer as an expert. Surely we know that simply putting words to paper and having them bound does not an expert make.

On this book, I don't know any more than what appears in this thread, but at the risk of generlizing, for many books of this genre, the only leg up the writer has on the rest of us is that they have taken the time to put their thoughts into book form, not that they have anything more valuable to say than can be found in internet discussion forums.

[veiledsentiments]

[tiberio]

this is where the breakfast part is: http://www.myyearinoman.com/purchase.html it is basically a recital of a rude guest and waiter dialogue: