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stoth1972
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 674
Location: Seattle, Washington
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 Posted: Sun Oct 29, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| I don't know which border crossing. My friend lives in Nizwa, but I might meet her in Muscat. Which border crossings would I use for those options? |
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NadiaK
Joined: 27 Jul 2006
Posts: 206
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| Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 7:50 am Post subject: |
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The reason I was asking is that in the past, I have heard that rules seem to vary according to which crossing you use. However, the most recent information I have heard is that US tourists *can* obtain visas at *any* border.
If you haven't heard back from the Omani Tourist board, you might consider giving the Omani consulate in Abu Dhabi a ring; the number I have for them is +971 2 463 333
Good luck! |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:48 pm Post subject: Oman or Turkey....? |
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| It's a lovely country and I am now plotting a way to come work there permanently |
Yaramaz's comments about Oman, and the extra stuff in the blog about the place (Oman) were interesting.
Ghost will take up a position soon in Al Ain (UAE), right on the border with Omani town of Buraimi.
It would be interesting to know why Yaramaz would wish to leave Turkey for Oman? That is, what is it in Oman which Yaramaz finds more interesting or attractive compared with Turkey? or is it simply the novely of the place?
The advantage with Oman, one feels, is that, up till now, it has been less travelled in with expats. compared with other Gulf countries (Saudi, UAE, Kuwait, Quatar) where expats actually outnumber natives....not the case in Oman which has a more ''native feel'' to it, and where you actually see Omanis engaging in menial jobs, unlike the other aforementioned countries. For that reason, and others, Oman, and cities like Muscat have a more authentic, less artificial feel, compared with new concrete jungles like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Kuwait.
Yaramaz should be aware, however, that vacationing in a place, and actually living there, are two very different things.....and on vacation everything is usuall lovely and enticing, but when you live in a place, the honeymoon soon ends and you quickly begin to discover the negative aspects....just as ghost experienced when it went to Turkey to work in 2003-2004, after finding the country so attractive during two visits (as a tourist) in 1996 and 1998.
In addition, Oman would be much more conservative compared with Turkey, which is probably the most liberal and western Islamic nation. These are things which deserve thought. The simple act of riding a bicycle would probably be a no-no for a female in Oman.
Many things which Yaramaz takes for granted in Istanbul would probably be prohibited in Oman.
Also, competition for most of the ''money jobs'' requires at least an M.A. in Oman, which, one believes, Yaramaz does not yet have in her possession.
Food for thought?
Ghost |
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stoth1972
Joined: 16 May 2003
Posts: 674
Location: Seattle, Washington
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| Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| stoth1972 would like to know why Ghost refers to his/herself in the 3rd person. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Oct 30, 2006 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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Of course much depends on where one is working, but in Muscat there are very few restrictions on women. One doesn't see them bicycling around much, but then I never saw many men doing it either. (except for some Indian workers) Families could be seen riding around my neighborhood when the weather was cooler.
MAs are not as crucial in Oman, but they are certainly a key to getting the higher salaries. People are hired at SQU without them though they do like to see a CELTA.
As a single woman who worked around the Gulf, I put Oman on the list as the place that has the most to offer... as long as big bucks are not your main motivating factor.
VS |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:24 am Post subject: offerings in Oman |
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| Quote: |
| I put Oman on the list as the place that has the most to offer |
Just curious - what are the things in Oman which make it more attractive for you compared with the other Gulf countries?
Ghost |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:29 am Post subject: |
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| stoth1972 wrote: |
| stoth1972 would like to know why Ghost refers to his/herself in the 3rd person. |
Perhaps we should picture poor Smeagol. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:14 am Post subject: Re: offerings in Oman |
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| ghost wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I put Oman on the list as the place that has the most to offer |
Just curious - what are the things in Oman which make it more attractive for you compared with the other Gulf countries?
Ghost |
Number one... the people. The students are lovely. Omanis are working at all levels of jobs and most of them are pleasant to deal with. (the government functions quite smoothly and efficiently compared to the rest of the ME)
Number two... the country itself. I find it starkly beautiful and for those who love the outdoors it has miles of pristine beaches, lots of wadis to bash, areas of dunes to run, traditional villages to visit.
It is quiet, clean, and safe... a nice road system... traffic is saner than most of the Gulf (and yes... all is relative.  ) women are treated with significantly more respect in public. There is much less of the chronic staring and leering of the Emirates or Kuwait.
JMHO... not an exciting place to live, but very comfortable as long as one has the advantage of a dependable employer.
VS |
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yaramaz
Joined: 05 Mar 2003
Posts: 2384
Location: Not where I was before
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:46 am Post subject: |
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Just to second vs's thoughts on Oman. I am not a person who needs a mad nightlife to be happy- and to be honest, I would take a weekend camping out in Oman over clubbing in Istanbul any day. I have no illusions about moving to a country, but hell, I lived in conservative, bar-less central anatolia and liked it. I found Oman to be similar in hospitality but with none of the sexual harrassment I had to deal with inTurkey. Also, I found the Omanis to be quite genuine, sweet,and non invasive (the souk in muscat was a revelation in subtlety after dealing with the grand bazaar and khal al kalili). I'm moving to UAE after this school year to do my masters by distance, staying with my bf in Dubai, so that won't be a huge roadblock. I just like this part of the world.
I hope you, ghost, will enjoy Al Ain. It is quite conservative, and the emirati students can be a bit spoiled too, esp the boys, from what my friends there have told me. Too much money too soon. I remember the problems you had in Turkey, so please dont be surprised if you are at all disappointed. |
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ghost
Joined: 30 Jan 2003
Posts: 1693
Location: Saudi Arabia
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| Posted: Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:35 pm Post subject: Goodbye Turkiye....hello UAE |
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| I'm moving to UAE after this school year to do my masters by distance, staying with my bf in Dubai, so that won't be a huge roadblock. I just like this part of the world |
So does that mean that Turkey is finished for Yaramaz after approx. 5 years in the country? or will it be a temporary absence?
Certainly one thinks that Yaramaz will miss many things about Istanbul and Turkey in general....the basic freedom to do your own thing there, compared with the Gulf countries where she will be much more observed and under the spotlight.
It will be interesting to see how the transition works out.
Also it would be interesting to learn how much Turkish Yaramaz has learned during her time in Turkey. One has to remember that unless you take lessons, Turkish is not a language that you will simply pick up by osmosis, compared with easy languages like French/Spanish/Italian. You actually have to sit down and study the language, because it is quite complex and alien to the languages we are familiar with. That being said, Turkish is not difficult to pronounce, and simple conversations are rather easy to acquire after a certain time in the country, but reading the paper cover to cover is a different matter, because the vocabulary takes a lot of work to become familiar with.
If Yaramaz is in the Al Ain area, welcome to drop by to compare notes, and also an update on former friend from South Africa, now based in London, England.
Ghost |
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