Discovery

Across the Arabian Sea

Leaving Pakistan was a real adventure.

In short: my visa got expired and no agency could issue a plane ticket to Oman for me. According to the rules of Ministry of Interior I could overstay in the country for 2 weeks after visa gets expired. An interesting thing though is that I can stay, but not leave the country, how smart is that! There are no fines apply to this, the only way to prolong the visa was too apply for its extension. However extension for my type of visa takes 2 weeks in the best case scenario, and I could’t afford to wait for so long.

By some luck (as it usually happens in Pakistan - God blessed country), I got a contact of an emigration service at the airport and they let me go to my flight (I booked it online to avoid visa request).

After a year in this country I knew that here in Pakistan everyone creates their own rules, there will always be a rule for you, and there will be someone in your endless network of contacts that will suddenly help you before you even realize that; all with the help of God (InshAllah)

I arrived to Muscat on the 4th of July, the Independence day of the United States of America. Very symbolic indeed: there are 6 Americans in my new the house. Some of them are working for AmidEast, an organization set up to bridge the gap between US and Arabic countries. The other part is working for AIESEC.

Extreme heat embraced me right after I stepped out of the airport. It was different from the one in Karachi, more similar to Lahore: not humid, and much much stronger, like as I jumped in the oven!

Some of the observations of my life here in Muscat:

I made banana shake, automatic washing machine washed all my clothes in 50 minutes, cooked Pakistani tea in 5, and had an awesome sleep in an air-conditioned room. It can sound funny, but after our apartment in Pakistan I was impressed how easy & simple life can get.

All streets are very clean, roads are nice, green grass and palm trees are everywhere around, along with big buildings, monuments with Oman national symbols and white villas.

Muscat is very different from all cities I have ever seen. There are several highways crossing the city connecting small oasises of life with each other. Each oasis has a few coffee shops, office buildings and universities. It takes 20-30 minutes to get from one oasis to another.

It is so hot during the day that I live in the AC rooms, cars and shopping malls. All people seem to be doing the same, so there is almost no one on the street. I feel as I am living in the long tunnel made of thick glass which I can not break.

Tristan (my team member) and I went for a walk around our area (Mawaleh) in one of the evenings when heat is getting cooler (around 10pm) and got lost. It was a nice walk though; physical activity is always a great thing!

We came to Arabic restaurant and took rice with meet, which we all ate with hands from one big plate in the middle. Arabs are very clean: they wash their hands before food, unlike Pakistanis who wash hands after food only:) I don’t mind any. I really like eating with hands.

We went to a beach to see big green Omani turtles. Our instructor from the scientific institute explained that they do not disturb turtles’ life, they just do research and create conditions to let animals live happily in the nature. Omanis are taking care about their country and all its inhabitants wholeheartedly.

The portrait of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is on the all of every building we go. His Majesty has served this country for 30 years, and led a great development that Oman has ever seen.

Omanis do not use titles like Mister, Miss etc. that I have got used to. I can simply use You, unless I am speaking to a Royal Family member (His Highness), a Minister (His Excellency) or Sultan Qaboos (His Majesty) himself.

Shops’ labels are both in English and in Arabic. It’s interesting to see how they are using branding in both versions:)

Girls greet each other by extending a hand. When I walk in a room I should greet everyone individually - it is a friendly gesture. If anyone is late for a meeting, he/she would nevertheless greet everyone in the group. Being friendly is something absolutely necessary in Oman.

Walked in the mall and saw women dressed in black and men dressed in white.

Came to a meeting in shalwar kameez. It is considered as an official outfit here in Oman. Extremely happy, I have taken all my favorite ones with me!

I have met more expatriates than Omani nationals so far.

Pakistani workers came to our house to fix AC. There are many of them traveling around by bicycles. I went to the airport in the night and suddenly thought that I am in Karachi: loads of people in brown and grey shalwar kameez were stocking arriving passengers:)

Went to lunch at 1pm and came back at 6pm. The Cafe we went is located near the beach, so after food we went along the cost line; Muscat looks like a tourist resort even in a busy working day!

And by the way, the working week in the Sultanate is from Saturday to Wednesday.

I have a challenging mission over here - to lead a young organization, an extension of AIESEC to Oman. AIESEC has been in Oman for 2 years, and I am the first President of AIESEC in Oman.

I will be working directly with two people: Tristan from Australia and Anjali from United States, two amazing individuals whose passion for work and life is so strong that keeps them doing great things whatever they have to do. I know we will make a legendary team, and looking forward to see it happening.

We have around 50 talented members in the organization at the moment, and a high ambition to build an exciting platform of opportunities for them and achieve outstanding results together.

Apart from that, I am learning Arabic, traveling around Muscat and its surroundings on weekends, and reading Girls of Riyadh.

Life is good.

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