Job Discussion Forums

[janejohn]

At the end of Jan I'll be heading off to work for CfBT in Ibri, after stints
with IAT in UAE, and Qatar Petroleum.

Does anyone have any survival tips for an older single who likes natural
history groups, mountain/desert walking, bird watching etc., and studying Arabic?

I've heard the classes are mixed, which will be a first for me in the ME.
Does this work ok?

Any info appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[windstar]

Ibri is a small village like city. It is far from Muscat and Nizwa. It is more mountainous. Good luck. Between January 21 February 14, there is Muscat festival, i recommend you see it.

[SandyMan]

Hi Janejohn,

There are several good places for mountain walking around Jebel Al Shams, around 100 km from Ibri. I suggest you start with Misfat Al Abriyeen, a small mountain village near Al Hamra, around 100 km from Ibri towards Nizwa. It's very beautiful and the trek is clearly marked.

Here in Nizwa, we've got lots of groups going (creative writing, talking stick, academic cafe). You might consider starting your own group in Ibri -others might join.

One advantage with Ibri is that it's closer to the UAE than from most other places.

I think there are good places for bird watching a bit everywhere in Oman, though many people say that the area around Sur is the best place to go.

Good luck with the move.

[veiledsentiments]

It's a pretty small place and there won't be a large number of expats around. One of those places where one needs to be self-sufficient. Once you have a car (a 4 WD?), it is a great place for hikes and exploring. You may have trouble finding formal Arabic classes, but you will surely be able to find someone who would work with you.

I taught in the Gulf over 15+ years, and at only one place - HCT in the UAE did I teach only women. In Egypt, Kuwait, and Oman I taught mixed classes. Your entry level students in Oman will be a bit shy about it for the first semester or two and then they work out their own system for working together. Just use discretion with group or pair work until you know the class and college dynamics.

VS

[janejohn]

Thanks everyone. I will hire a car soon after arriving, and hopefully buy a 4WD within a few months if Oman looks like it's a goer.

By the way, what do you do in talking stick and academic cafe groups?
I don't suppose anyone knows if there's a book club in Ibri?

Am looking forward the new challenge.

[Neil McBeath]

I very much dpoubr that there's even a normal bookshop in Ibri i.e. a shop that swells books as opposed to stationery requirements.

In Muscat, however, Borders Bookshop has just opened in the City Centre Complex, and down at thw Wadi Centre in Qurum there is a place called The House of Prose, which sells second-hand books.

Ibri is fairly remote, even by Omani standards. You're actually closer to the UAE city of Al Ain than you are to Muscat, but again, that can have compensatrions. There are several quite good bookshops in the back streets of Al Ain, and Al ain also has a flourishing chapter of TESOL Arabia.

[veiledsentiments]