Job Discussion Forums

[anyway]

I'm thinking of relocating to Oman in the near future. We're a family of four with two sons, 3 years and 5 months. I would appreciate hearing comments from anybody with kids...

How much does your monthly food bill run?
Have you had much experience with the medical facilities?
How about chances for socialization/playmates, etc.?

Any and all comments much appreciated. Toodles...

[lall]

You didn't mention your preferred destination in Oman. With a child that's just 5 months old, Muscat should be your choice. Remember, healthcare, though of fairly high standards in Oman, is not so forthcoming to foreigners (especially if one is other than white-skinned). The private hospitals are very expensive and are almost always very busy.

From the sound of your post, it appears that you're white. I'm guessing, though. If you're white, a visit to any of the restaurants/clubs/gyms at the higher end of the scale will put you in contact with virtually the entire white population of Muscat.

Best of luck, Lall

[007]

[lall]

I'd half expected a reply like this and had debated as to whether to enclose the word, "sound" within quotation marks.

All the same, by white, I meant a native English speaker. One can generally tell, from the style of writing, use of the ellipsis (...), lack of major errors in spelling, syntax & grammar, etc., that the originator of the post's a native English speaker.

[ETG]

Hmmm, interesting, in my country native English speakers come in all shades from black to lack of pigment so I am interested to know where in the world native English speakers are only white?

[veiledsentiments]

OK... let's get back to the questions rather than discuss stereotypes.

Anyway...

It is hard to give you much information without knowing what your work will be.

In general, Oman is very kid-friendly.

Health care is best in Muscat, especially if you only speak English.

Food costs are not terribly high unless you purchase all expensive imported pre-packed stuff. If you cook at home with fresh ingredients, food costs would probably be less than the US. (no idea where you are coming from)

VS

[007]

[grahamb]

Just out of curiosity, 007, what's your sixth sense?
Oman is definitely child-friendly, but I wouldn't say "kid-friendly"; the knives are being sharpened in readiness for the Eid celebrations and a lot of unfortunate kids will shortly meet their maker!

[007]

[lall]

Kids, as in kid of a goat.

[grahamb]

I thought communicating with the dead was haram.
Thanks, lall, for enriching 007's vocabulary. You have made him a wiser man!

[Clifford]

I am really shocked to read such rubbish from people who are supposed to be educators.

To actually imply that � white people � are the only native speakers of English !!!

All the same, by white, I meant a native English speaker. One can generally tell, from the style of writing, use of the ellipsis (...), lack of major errors in spelling, syntax & grammar, etc., that the originator of the post's a native English speaker.
Hence, white !!

What planet do you live on lall ? I am flabbergasted..

Sorry vd, I believe the point is important enough to be insisted on..

Pray, do not try to figure out where I come from either�just by analyzing the way I �sound� ..I am sure you will fail miserably

[veiledsentiments]

You must be new here clifford... this discussion has been done here endlessly for the last 10 years.

Lall was pointing out - albeit clumsily - the obvious fact that in the ME, as in much of the world, employers and students too often expect their English teachers to be native speakers and have a white face. Sad, but a fact of life.

It is also a sad fact that people with 'white' faces are treated differently in these countries. To pretend otherwise will leave one disillusioned.

VS

[Clifford]

I am indeed new to this forum.

Thank you vd for the explanation.

Nevertheless, the point was stated very "clumsily". Lall did not speak of perceptions in the ME but rather about HIS perception of what he conceives to be a natural way of thinking about native speakers.
He is entitled to his views. Nonetheless, he should not state them as if they are "common knowledge" or accepted by everyone else.

The nuance did not come through. I would be very careful about the way things are stated, Lall. More so, from a native speaker with an obvious command of the English language

Just shows that we can never command a language enough!! we are not infallible.

[007]