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Duffy · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 449 Location: Oman

A salutory lesson in being "culturally aware" could be anyone, anywhere in the Middle East.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=496460&in_page_id=1811

Duffy Crying or Very sad

omanized · Joined: 04 Jun 2006 Posts: 152

Truly ridiculous, but I would venture to say that it would not likely happen in Oman. There seem to be plenty of other motivations going on there against the school .

omzd

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

I agree with you Omanized, unlikely, yes - possible, also yes. It only takes one person with an axe to grind to have similar consequences anywhere in the region.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

It is a sad story and I hope that they manage to get her out of jail and out of the country. This is what happens when one moves into a Muslim country without a decent knowledge of Islam... especially into a country ruled by Sharia like Sudan.

I'm sure that this woman assumed that since she likely had students named Mohammed and that is the name that the children chose, that there was no problem.

Not that I was so much more knowledgeable when I first arrived, but I started in Egypt at the American University, so that gave me my first years to get a gradual introduction while in a more liberal environment. Then I moved to Oman where the Omanis seemed more amused or chagrined than upset at our missteps.

But I can't see this scenario occurring in either Oman or the Emirates. This situation in the UAE might get you deported from one of the smaller Emirates or Sharjah - as happened to the woman who brought the offending Danish cartoons into class.

In Oman, I see the most likely scenario that one of your fellow Omanis in your department or in admin would sit you down and quietly explain that this is a problem and have the children give it a new name. I really can't imagine a mob of screaming Omani parents wanting blood.

VS

eha · Joined: 26 May 2005 Posts: 355 Location: ME

From what I could make out of the article, it wasn't the parents or her fellow-teachers who complained. It was someone -- or ones--- from outside, no doubt the kind of people who go around looking for trouble, or trying to manufacture it out of innocuous events. In Oman, this kind of thing seems to be kept well under control.

QatarChic · Joined: 06 May 2005 Posts: 445 Location: Qatar

helenl · Joined: 04 Jan 2006 Posts: 1202

And that seems to happen in most instances - someone who is not affected or only very remotely, is the one (it seems) most likely to take offense and complain.

At one institution I worked at, people in cars passing by would complain about what they could see (while driving at speed) occuring on our campus. And that was only some students taking part in a game of football - but they were female students and someone didn't like it - so the games stopped.

Borealis · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 26

[quote="veiledsentiments"]
In Oman, I see the most likely scenario that one of your fellow Omanis in your department or in admin would sit you down and quietly explain that this is a problem and have the children give it a new name. I really can't imagine a mob of screaming Omani parents wanting blood.

I'd be inclined to agree with this view about Oman, but it pays not to be too complacent. As a Moslem friend commented on this subject - in the Middle East anything could happen. It would seem to be common sense for the schools to have orientation sessions for new teachers and to step in quickly when they make these sorts of gaffs before the situation escalates. That poor woman in the Sudan! It does make you wonder why people bother to go to these countries. I don't believe it has as much to do with people genuinely taking offence as the ignorant looking for an excuse to exert power.
B.[/quote]

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

For those who have worked in both Saudi and Oman, how much more easy going is Oman, in general, compared with Saudi, or do you not perceive much of a difference?

Ghost in Korea

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

True Borealis...

But I don't think that you can find two countries/cultures that are as dissimilar as Sudan and Oman - and still be presented as "Muslim" countries. Orientation sessions are a good idea, but I'm not sure that would exclude a situation like this one. There are so many ways to slip up...

Ghost... who posted as I was typing... I would say that that Saudi and Oman are completely different. A tourist knowing nothing of the Middle East might pass through each country and not see the difference, but for anyone with much knowledge of the Gulf, they are night and day IMHO. (of course, I'm looking at it from the standpoint of a single woman)

I consider Oman my first choice as a place to live and work in the Gulf, but its advantages are reflected in its lower salaries. So, if money if your key motivating factor, Saudi is the place.

VS