Oman part two: Nizwa

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So, I am back in Oman again. This is the second installment in the Oman series. I am still with the college of applied sciences, though I have changed campuses. I am currently in Nizwa.

There are many differences between the two cities. Nizwa is far more modern and developed. It offers many amenities simply not available in Rustaq. A former cultural center, the difference in attitude is palpable. There are hotels, and other Western conveniences that make life far more livable than what I was used to in Rustaq. It has three academic institutions (so there's more ex-pats living here), and has quite a bit of tourism coming through it. This all makes for a far less 'xenophobic' atmosphere (for the foreigners), and an all-around more pleasant living experience. It is about the same trip to Muscat. The roads are better, and driving to 'the big city' is not nearly as harrowing an experience as it was last year.

The department I'm in is far better organized than what I was used to. Compared with my former post, the college as a whole has a sane vibe, that seems to be far more conducive to work. Though the students have not showed up yet, I am fairly certain that the academic experience here will be better than that of the past.

My agent, totally rocks! This year, I have taken employment with CfBT (Center for British Teachers), and it is a very pleasurable experience so far. The level of organization, as well as genuine care put into my experience here, quite surpasses that of my former employer. They are great. From the initial application process to follow up once I was in my flat, CfBt has taken great care of me. It has made my 'transition' a relatively easy one. True, this life has its own challenges and obstacles, but CfBT has done its utmost to defray the strain of relocation and aculturalization. Well done! I recommend them to anyone planning on taking a position with the CoAS system. The 'other' agent, well... it will be far tougher than it needs to be.

I have no pictures as yet, but I promise they are on there way.

Countdown

For those of you viewing this through Facbook 'Notes', the original post is available on www.henrickatlarge.blogspot.com.  It will enable you access to photo galleries and other multi-media material which doesn't transfer into 'Notes'

Oh well, it's after New Years.  Time to start getting 'rrrready' for what the new year has in store.  The time is ticking down until the return to the 'Gulf'.  Lots of things yet to do.

This time I am forwarned, and so I am forarming myself with the things that I would have brought, and things I would have done when I went to Oman the first time.  I refuse to

But in light of all that I could be doing to get ready, I am still faced with a lot of down time.  For the most part, I have been reading, doing stuff online and amassing digital media (to take with me).

I will post a little on some of the things I have been reading and doing.  But this is most about where I will be going.  For those of you not familiar with the 'Gulf' area, I've included a map.


View Larger Map

I have also put a link below to some images on the web of Nizwa, in case any of you are interested to know where I will be going to.

In a nutshell: Its the samw average temperature as Rustaq. A little farther away from the Capital. Though it looks greener, and it is in fact a much larger city.

Nizwa Oman http://bit.ly/6qDQxV

Well... I've got to go back to my book... so I hope to see you before I go... whoever you are...

Korea, and Narita

Leave it to me to leave a country only to fly into a blizzard! The 'luck of Henrick' is still holding, and showing me that it is not as much a phase as it is a condition. I got on my flight on the 19th at around 1oish. It was only a two-hour flight. Then, hang out for an hour, and get on a plane slightly after one.

About forty-five minutes into the flight to Japan, the captain comes on and tells all of us that there is a storm in NY and we will be delaying our arrival in the States by approximately a day. Well, that suited me just fine. Mostly, because getting angry wouldn't achieve anything. Plus I could go to Tokyo, right? That would be cool.

As it turns out, Narita is about an hour to an hour and a half from Tokyo. That ruled out a little visit. So instead, I took the bus to Narita. I was underwhelmed. Outside of the Hiragana and Kitakana that all the neon was scripted with, there was no real way to tell where the hell you were. It could have been 'anywhere' in the first world. Funny thing, how the world really is getting globalized. I can't really say I think that this kind of homogenization is  pleasing. It was very 'cold' and suburban. Kinda disconcerting.

The airline in question, I must say, did completely 'hook it up'. We stayed in the local 'Holiday Inn'. It was a nice place. They had warm showers, internet and comfy beds, I was pleased.

At 7 o'clock in the morning we got our wake-up calls. I had been up for an hour already. Ran downstairs and got some breakfast, then checked out, returned my key and the ethernet cable (, they loaned me to surf in the hotel)and climbed aboard the shuttle back to the airport.

After another fairly pleasant 12 hours in the air, we touched down at Kennedy. Everywhere one could see, as one looked out the plane windows, was white-washed with snow. It was stil lightly blowing flakes around. We must have really just flew-in on the ass of that storm. Everything was stil not plowed. The snow blanketed everything in a homogeneous and even white.

I hung out longer than necessary at JFK. Getting back by LIRR was a long procedure. The trainds were running invredibly late. They had shut down a few lines to farther out on Island, due to track conditions and such.

When I finally got to the Lindenhurst, there was only one cabbie on duty. The roads were terrible, and lets just say that his car wasn't in optimum shape. He could get me as far as the end of my block. He couldn't go any farther in fear of getting the cab stuck. Anyhow, I hoofed it up the block to my Mom's house. First thing I did when I got home was to pet the dog, and dig the driveway and the car.

Welcome Home!

Korean Barbacue

For those of you viewing this through Facbook 'Notes', the original post is available on www.henrickatlarge.blogspot.com.  It will enable you access to photogalleries and other multi-media material which doesn't transfer into 'Notes'



One of the things you will here everyone say whence returning from South Korea when you ask how it was, is 'The Food is Great"!  One of the things all Westerners seem to like is Korean Barbacue,

It goes like this:  You sit at a table with your friends and family.  In the center is a grill. Above the grill is some kind of vent.  You order.  The waitress brings you the raw ingredients, and you proceed to cook it yourself.  It's pretty awesome.  Most of the time its pork, or beef.

Above are some pictures of a 'one last time' dinner before I left. I think that this is 'Galbi'.  Its a form of marinated meat.   The last photo is of  a previous occasion. We are eating pork I think.

One of the thing I think is worth mentioning, is that there are no knives at the table.  Koreans use scissors to cut the meat on the grill.  Kind of ingenious, I think.  Well here it is.
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