Job Discussion Forums

[Pikgitina]

Good one, johnslat . Accolade where it's due I suppose...

[desultude]

[Turbster]

You are so right, guys, our contact here has been most helpful. My ticket arrived only shortly prior to departure, and I was starting to stress out, but after a very busy last week in the UK, got everything sorted. Just to let you know that so far, progress here has been excellent. I believe I have met all of the major players among the faculty and administration, and been efficiently processed thus far.

The Safari Hotel, where we stayed initially was clean and served its purpose well. The concierge, Bernard, is a real star, and the staff quite helpful.

We taxied to the Golden Tulip for a swim and a beer when it suited us, though getting a taxi back did prove a challenge. In fact my only criticism so far is of the 'cabbies' who when they see a european, do tend to go into 'rip-off' mode! I know! Go to the next cab, but it is unnecessary, and a blight on what is a seriously good natured populace.

We have our apartment, less than a year old, and nice and cool with a great a/c setup. So my wife is busy setting that up for us now
Speaking of whom, my fellow teachers, and administrators here have really made her welcome. This has eased the stress of the move, and aided our settling in greatly.

We both had a/c bugs which take the edge off a wee bit, but I am settling into a sort of a routine now, and getting set up for a start with the students.

Talk to you later.

T

[veiledsentiments]

Great to hear that you are settling in and have your flat already. They are getting more efficient each year.

But you are incorrectly blaming your poor AC for your bugs... you were most likely to have picked it up on an airplane and the stress of major moves like this will often leave one with either a cold or a stomach bug because it lowers our immune system. (UK cold research found that all of the things that we think cause colds... AC, wet heads, a chill... don't... turns out all those things our Moms told us were wrong... but don't tell her...)

Hey maybe you had swine flu... If you didn't bring it back with you, someone else will, I'm sure. If someone doesn't bring it from the US or UK, Las Gringas Locas coming from Mexico will have their chance. Hopefully they are drowning the bug in tequila.

VS

[desultude]

[Charybdis]

Are you there now, Turbster? I'll start at UNizwa in mid-September. I saw it last spring, and really liked both the country and the university.

[desultude]

[Turbster]

Sorry to disappoint you Desi, The Safari pool is not in use, and there is NO BAR there. Also, of course, as its Ramadan there are no bars open anyway.
The big plusses here are that the administrative staff here are proving as helpful as they can be, that the cost of living is indeed low, and I have the opportunity to develop my resource bank.

T

[hellionzap]

Nizwa...very nice place.
Omani people....very nice, helpful.
The job...depends which college. I can only speak about the Univ of Nizwa. Nice. I like it and it's much improved since the English Language Center got it's new HOD. Work satisfaction getting better every day:-)
Weather...absolutely gorgeous in the winter. Yes, the summer is hellish. So 6 months good, 6 months survivable.
Location...conveniently placed 1 and a half hr. drive (150 km) from Muscat, the capital city. Close enough to go for the day but not so close you spend all your salary. Great international airport to hop to all the interesting regions nearby (the entire Middle East, and then there's Europe).
Geology...totally stunning. Old, old, old mountains. Uplifted and eroded into magnificence. Unlimited places to explore with a 4x4 and quite a few without.
Ambiance.....laid-back (except for the Omani drivers). You can relax, hide out, be a workaholic or an alcoholic, get bored if you choose, sleep, to your heart's content.
Style.....Traditional tribal structure overlaid with recent modern technology and western ideas of consumerism. Sad but, hey, it's their country and they have to go through the process of choice just like the rest of us. They'll get there eventually (just hope we in the West will get there also).
Social life.......not much going on that you don't organize yourself. No more Quiz nights at the Falaj Daris because the guy who put the effort into this is gone. But people still gather in small social events. Potlucks are popular. Amongst the Western expats, there is a rather large, middle aged community, ahem. Not tons of young people tend to stay in Nizwa. There is a small trend of previous employees who are returning to teach again at Nizwa though.
Housing....Univ of Nizwa is having a problem placing new teachers into their accommodation. There are not enough apartments available now. Some teachers have been in the hotel for seven weeks (causing great dissatisfaction) and some have gone out and found their own places by themselves. This has not been at all easy to do. They will get an accom. subsidy but not live under the Univ auspices. They didn't care as they just wanted out of the hotel.
Bottom line for me.......Nizwa is the best of the outlying colleges (outside Muscat). Proximity to Muscat is a big draw as I can get good foodstuffs, see a film, eat sushi, swim in the sea, buy second-hand books, visit city dweller friends and clear my mind of the desert mountains any time I like.
I obviously like the desert mountains well enough to live in them but I want to have options. I don't mind living in a hinterland, Muslim community and care not that I need to be sensitive to the clothing restrictions this requires. I find Nizwa to be a fascinating place and I like that I can go to the local suq for better, fresher vegies and fruits than the local supermarket. There are times living here that feel like I am living in an Indiana Jones movie, especially at the Eids or on National holidays. There are lots of frustrating moments when services are interrupted or don't function as I've always expected them to. That's just life in a developing country...and I freely chose to come here. Nizwa and Oman just suit me. I don't get bored easily, am very self-entertaining and like my own company. I am incredibly curious about people, cultures, history so I spend my time exploring and I have not even scratched the surface of what there is to discover here. I find my unique colleagues to be a constant source of amusement, solace, companionship, frustration and even friendship. I have learned some amazing things from the Omanis about how a society can accommodate the complete outsider (such as myself and most expats) without making it arrogant tolerance and I have felt an inclusiveness here that is completely new in my 17 years of expat life.

[jdl]

Welcome to Oman! You have arrived.

[Mojoski]

Wow, Hellion, I like your turn of phrase and your take on Nizwa. I've only been here two months, but I feel in accord with everything you said.

I'm working for a recruiter at NCT, so I had a flat waiting when I arrived. Not problem free, but things are slowly getting sorted out. I felt stranded without wheels. I wasn't getting around much and getting geographically oriented. I just got a car today, so I feel liberated.

The thing that bothers me the most here I think is the lack of maps and addresses. I honestly don't know how anybody finds anything in Oman. It's insane. Okay, there's another thing that bothers me: Can't receive mail??? Is there anything like a post office box or private mail box for rent in Nizwa or Muscat? There has to be in Muscat, hasn't there? I can't see sitting here until July with no mail. Anybody have a solution to this one?

Anyway, I am basically happy in Oman, like Hellion.

[ETG]

Re: post delivery - you can either rent a box from the Nizwa post office or have your mail delivered to the college address.

E.

[Mojoski]

[hellionzap]

Mojoski, there is a really good (fairly up to date) Muscat street map you can buy (2RO I think) at any Al Fair market in Muscat. It actually has street names and numbers on it. But nothing that I know of for Nizwa. It's just hunt and peck. I'm glad you are settling in here. It is a lovely time of year, is it not?
I hear there aren't enough PO boxes in the PO in Nizwa suq but it never hurts to ask. I get mine at the Uni.

[desultude]

Yes, in spite of being too long in a not so nice hotel, I love Nizwa and Oman.

I just returned from an amazing weekend in Muscat, and I am happy to be back in our little town.

I feel so lucky to be here!