Job Discussion Forums

[C76]

Hi Everyone,

So...What is life like for (Western) women in Oman?

I've heard conflicting things regarding how progressive it really is.

I need to know bc it's one of the locations on my "Second Choice" list.

[veiledsentiments]

Your question is very hard to answer. There is no way to know what your definition of 'progressive' is. If you expect it to be like the West, it most certainly is not.

Oman is a very religiously conservative country, but the people are friendly and welcoming. I lived there for quite a few years as a single woman and truly enjoyed it.

If you want to discuss more specific information, you could send me a PM.

VS

[zakiah25]

C76,
Oman is considered to be one of the more progressive and liberal countries in the Middle East - however, this needs to be clarifed. It is more so than say, Saudi Arabia but probably not so much in terms of many Western countries for after all, it is a Moslem country.
I'm currently working here - Western women are able to go to bars and nightclubs at the big international hotels but there are places where it's not a good idea for a woman to be or to travel alone. Going to work, I tend to dress conservatively because I'm in contact with Arab students and other (Arab) teachers. Also, when going out to places in the countryside, it's best to travel with a group and also to dress conservatively so as not to attract too much attention from locals. For example, a friend and I often visit local markets and even though we wear hats, long sleeved tops and long skirts, we are always stared at (she has long red hair and fair complexion). In this case, it's better to have a male friend accompany you.
Driving in this country is horrendous - I wouldn't recommend that a woman travel alone in country areas although it's not a problem to drive alone in Muscat, the capital. You just have to be careful of bad drivers.
Life can still be very restrictive for local women because of the culture although there are many signs that both Modern and Western ideas are having an effect.
I agree with VS above, the Omanis are friendly and very welcoming.
regards
Zakiah

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Zakiah

Always cheers me up to see your little dancing girl show up. As always, I agree with you - but for one little thing. (sorry to go off on a tangent C76 --)

You have written this before and at the time I didn't say anything. About those Omani drivers that you don't like. Actually, I found the roads of Oman to be the safest in the Middle East - bar none. I would consider the Emiratis and their roads to be about 10 times worse than Oman. The Kuwaitis are at least 200 times more dangerous than the Omanis. And the highways around Washington DC rank up there with Emiratis, fast approaching the Kuwaitis - much worse than the Omanis. Having done lots of driving in all those places, I just hate to see my favorite Omanis unjustly accused.

I will admit that my driving was mostly around Muscat / Seeb / on to Dubai and you have more experience out in the hinterlands. Have you ever been to Kuwait City? I think that if you could spend a couple of days on the road there, you would come around to my way of thinking in no time. Many people have told me that Saudi is even worse than Kuwait, but I don't see how that would even be possible. Every day I arrived home with the feeling that I had cheated death another time. I have never felt that way in Oman - even after spending all day on the roads traveling about.

I would actually say that driving in Oman is not much worse than driving here in smallish town mid-Western America. Both places have too many young men with no sense and fast cars - and too many that drink and drive. But, at least we have no camels wandering about - and the goats can be even worse - though at least they don't come through the windshield. To give equal time, in much of the US, there is now a major problem with hitting deer since they have become urban vermin.

OK, I'm done with my rant -- all is relative, of course. There are plenty of bad drivers everywhere it seems. I suspect that there is a link between the bad driving in the Gulf and the percentage of young male drivers.

VS

[kaw]

Women can have problems anywhere they go as am sure most people realise.
Yes, there are problems for women in Oman. The situation doesn't appepar to be too bad in Muscat - where ok - if you go to a bar you quite possibly will get (un)wanted attention. I happened to go to a bar in Muscat with my Omani boyfriend and while he was in the loo or at the bar or something some guy came over and gave me what I can only describe as a "love note" with his phone number on. The general idea seems to be that if you can be with one Omani guy you can have the whole lot......................
It is important to look at their attitudes towards realationships as a whole though. Most Omani men are married by about 25 (although there are some exceptions) - as you may know - they may have more than one wife (up to a maximum of 4 as long as they are all treated equally), despite being married however - they don't see any problem in having a girlfriend (or 2) as well. Although I don't really agree to it I can see why they do it. Most of the time it sees, these guys (and the same applpies to the girls) don't great a choice in who they want to marry - it's usually a cousin or someone - well - in rural Sur it is the case anyway. The idea of actually being in love with someone before you marry them is pretty much unheard of as the idea is to marry whoever and then "Allah" will put the love in your heart.

Anyway back to the hassle side of things - as long as you are sensible you can pretty much avoid too much hassle - yes you will get stares and sometimes comments made, from the Omani's but probably more so from the Indian ex-pats. As has been said before - don't go out in the halterneck tops, don't act in a bar as you would at home - remember that Omani women don't act like this and just keep your eyes open.

If you are thinking of heading off to Muscat then you really shouldn't have too many problems as attitudes are very diffrent there from 'provincial' Oman. I can tell you some horror stories but wouldn't want to put you off.........

[zakiah25]

VS
Yes, you are right about the driving in Kuwait, it is terrible! However, I've personally witnessed a few horror accidents in Oman so I suppose I'm a little prejudiced. Once, we had a minibus from our college involved in an accident - the driver and 14 students were incinerated. Also, at one of the Teachers Colleges that I visit, they have a notice board with pictures of car accidents that the College students have been involved in - probably displayed as a deterrant or some form of aversion therapy. Out on the country roads, you not only have to watch out for wandering camels and goats but for reckless Bedu drivers who don't bother with road rules. Recently, one came charging out of a side street in Ibra and crashed into one of our teacher's cars. Then just took off without stopping.
As I have to visit many schools in Oman, I see road accidents on a daily basis and seeing dead bodies on the side of the road is a common occurrence.
In spite of these things, I do agree that Oman is better for driving than other places in the Middle East.
I have heard a rumour that they are thinking of trialling an ambulance service. The road from Muscat to Salalah is an absolute nightmare - it's so long and boring that people just seem to lose concentration when driving along it.
regards
Zakiah

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Zakiah,

Every morning in Kuwait taking the university bus to our campus, we would count the newly crumpled hulks on the roadside and this was in the city. I bet they have the highest driving death toll of any urban space of its size and population. Oman certainly has too many accidents, and the worst of them would be out where you are driving. The lack of ambulance service is certainly a point. If you are in an accident, having some passing folks toss you into the back of their pickup seems to add to your risk. Not funny really, but this is a fact of life in so much of the world.

Middle East drivers do have this tendency to just pull out without looking. I never quite figured out if it was their attitude of assuming God's protection (insha'Allah) or just a bad habit. I was in a fender bender with a friend in Egypt - he pulled out of a parking spot without looking and was run into. After strangely quiet and calm discussion (for Egypt that is - they are usually ebullient people), the driver of the other car handed my friend money. I was shocked and asked why the guy gave him money when it was his fault for pulling out in front of him without looking. He was shocked and said that it was the other driver's responsibility to avoid him. So their attitude is never to look - just to pull out.

I found the Omanis to be exceptionally polite drivers relative to the rest of my known world. In Muscat, they always allow you to pull in front of them or out of a parking spot or merging in traffic - unlike the US where people try to run you off the road. American drivers have become increasingly rude, reckless, and non law-abiding in the last 10 or 15 years.

I heard many stories about the road to Salalah and its boredom level. It sounded like driving across the prairie states, but at least here the interstates are divided 4 lanes. Isn't the road to Salalah mostly 2 lanes? I don't envy you all the driving that you have to do. Keep all your camels close to home.

VS

[veiledsentiments]

C76

Please excuse Zakiah and my side discussion on driving in Oman. Although it is probably of interest to you as a part of living in that part of the world. It is impossible to live well there without a car.

KAW's experience with dating a local was interesting. By the time I arrived in Oman, I was already in their grandmother category (over 40), so dating wasn't in the picture.

Her message did bring up a good point about the difference between the city and the countryside. Personally, if this is a person's first experience with a country or the culture of the Middle East, I would highly recommend restricting your job to the Muscat area. Here the people are used to foreigners and more willing to accept your occasional faux pas.

The 'staring' thing is just a part of life in the Middle East, but I agree with KAW that in Oman, the majority of the intrusive staring will come from the workers from the sub-continent. They live in a completely male world and only visit their wives and family every few years. Omani culture considers it 'haram' (a sin) to stare at someone of the opposite sex, so the adult men are seldom a problem. Not that they don't try to sneak a peek at the foreign women who pass by. If you have ever visited India or Cairo, you have experienced the extremes of public staring and bother, Oman is at the other end of the scale. (US construction workers are worse!!)

As to the younger men who mingle with the foreign women, KAW, are you really blaming the 4-wife provision for their assumption that they can have more than one girlfriend? I have found that this is part of the male Y chromosome in all cultures.

VS

[C76]

Thank you all very much. I appreciate your replies. I could look far and wide on the 'net, but first-person advice is invaluable.

Gosh.

To think that over a week ago, the Middle East wasn't a place where I would have looked for work. But various people--teachers, classmates-- kept mentioning it. And a company I visited on Thurs has various positions around the world. They have a strong need for teachers in Asia, the UAE, and Oman.

I'm going to sign up, but I needed to have a few myths dispelled.

Muchas gracias!

Feel free to offer more insider tips. I'm going to copy and save your answers, try 'n think up more questions, and so on...

[kaw]

Am glad that you have had the chance to see what life is really like out here in the great sandy space they call the Middle East.

It is certainly a place to consider though I can only speak for Oman. As long as you can cope with the cultural differences and respect the locals beliefs etc you should be fine - well - as long as you can cope with the heat. Pretty much everything has air-conditioning though.
It is a pretty good life over here - as long as you can get a decent salary, they seem to have been lowered in the last couple of years.

Am glad that the driving stuff has come under discussion as finally after what seems like forever (9 months) I have finally decided that it was about time I learnt to drive. Just had my 4th lesson - and am driving just like a native - you can all work that one out.

C76 - think I know of the organisation you have applied to - a friend of mine gave me their details and applied but didn't here anything. As far as I'm aware they are pretty good - and want 100+ teachers for Oman - neither of us have any idea why they want so many teachers. Anyway I think they are paying quite well - and if you can get a position inMuscat - even better. As for the Emirates jobs they have advertised - apparently due to bad reports they have decided it's not a good idea to send women over.
Hey, if you get really desperate you could always work at SUC - have heard various things about them

Anyway I had better get off and do some work -
veiledsentiments and zakiah25 - know anything about the new Nizwa "University" - another private one, supposedly taking it's first intake this/next year - but then I guess being on Omani time could be sometime within the next 5 years.

keep smiling

ps are you guys on holiday at the moment? We're "lucky" enough to have summer school - and it seems like most of the foundation year students are coming. Oh well back to work for me.........

[zakiah25]

Kaw
Haven't heard about the Uni being established in Nizwa as yet - I know that the University of Leeds in conjunction with the Ministry of Education runs a B.ED (TESOL) programme for local schoolteachers and has 2 tutors based in Nizwa.
regards
Zakiah

[veiledsentiments]

Hi all,

I checked out the website of the organization that C76 refered to. These are called "Higher Colleges of Technology" - rather seems like an attempt to use the Emirates HCT reputation while having no relationship to it. I came away from the site rather suspicious of these people. (but I tend to be a suspicious person after many years in the ME ) Anyway, I have never heard of these 'colleges' - anyone know when they appeared on the scene? Does anyone know anyone who has worked for them?

It looks to me like they are recruiters. Unfortunately I have never heard a good word about experiences with recruiters. It is a very strange contract offering. There is no semester break and only 5 days of paid summer leave!!! 5 whole days paid - ridiculous!! Do they think they are in Mexico or Thailand or something? The pay is low especially if you look at it on an annual basis - around 740 OR a month to start with only a transportation allowance added. It seems to be only a one year contract with a one way ticket at each end. It says that housing is provided with no details of what that means - flats? shared? And it says that there is a 40 hour week!! Even HCT and ZU, the most demanding employers in the Gulf do not require those kind of hours and they are paying more than double the money with 60 days of summer leave, 2 week semester break, return tickets, etc etc...

I wouldn't consider this place unless I was corresponding to current and past teachers who would report the scoop on the organization. There seems to be a number of really dodgy employers trying to get into the Gulf market and I would be very careful myself.

VS

[C76]

Hi VS,

Thanks for your tips. I forgot to mention that the company does have a good "real world" reputation. It was spoken of positively by the director of my TESL course. Also, one of the teachers @ my school knows someone who worked for the same company. He said his bud was well taken care of.

Plus, there actually is supposed to be a summer break.

I'll p-m you more points.

C76

[kaw]

Hiya Vs and C76
A friend of mine has talked about this company for ages and as said they are pretty good to work for. Although she hasn't actually worked for them herself. As far as I'm aware teachers get the whole summer off - which seems the case for most colleges and schools here - or at least to a certain extent. There's a "new recruit" coming over soon I think - if I can get in touch with her I'll ask her to look at this and offer some of her thoughts. As for the "HCT" thing the above mentioned friend and I tried to find something on the net but came up with pratically nothing. I think what they probably do is just send you to wherever you're needed - think supply teaching - maybe. Something that made me wary was that they wanted 100 teachers I think it was. Now, unless they're sending a load to the British School in Muscat - who knows where you'll end up. It's probably worth checking out where they're going to send you before signing on the dotted line.
As for the salary - if you are getting a couple of months off in the summer plus mid semester breaks it's not too bad. Most colleges seem to be paying 600-800 a month plus of course car allowance, flat, whatever.

Got to go and teach now

Be good

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Kaw,

I'm glad to see that someone is working for a living. Many moons ago I used to do the summer school at SQU when they in effect paid you two times for the same month. Nice!! I hear they don't do that anymore.

It appears that this Canadian place is new to Oman - a situation that does not bode well for new people. I'm not big on disorganized new places who always tend to dump on the poor teachers.

Their website (which is under the Can company name - not HCT) lists out all the leave days like 1 week at each Eid and 1 week for national day. Nothing is mentioned for semester break and they specifically say '5 days summer leave' - my jaw rather dropped. So, they are giving you the summer months off with 5 days of pay? Party!! Perhaps it is a typo and should be 5 weeks.

Seems to me that with all these question marks and no track record in country, I'd put them on a list for future possibilities. But, maybe I'm just a coward!! That is what I did with SQU and the 'real HCT' in the Emirates - join after all the kinks are worked out.

VS