9/11: A Dozen Years Passed

         September 11, 2001. A day the will never be forgotten in American history, the day the Islamic extremist group, Al Qaeda, attacked the U.S. and took nearly three thousand lives. Being only four at the time, I missed much of the widespread panic and devastating loss that struck the nation. Despite this, one of my earliest memories is watching and rewatching footage of the South Tower of the World Trade Center falling. In seconds, stories upon stories disappeared into a cloud of dust and debris. 

          My family was lucky not to lose any of our relatives or friends in the tragedy. However, 9/11 affected us anyway, we were swept up in the grief of our nation, and the blame and stigmas that were placed on the Muslim population. The American people did not consciously chose to discriminate against Muslims, or at least I would like to think not. Although growing, the U.S.'s Muslim population is very small. I had no Muslim neighbors or classmates, so when I heard the words Muslim or Islam, it was usually in the news, along with the words: terrorists or Al Qaeda.

        It easy to fear unknown. For many Americans, that's what Islam is. An unknown force that inspired nineteen terrorists to kill thousands of civilians. The truth is, any religion can be used to justify hate. The 9/11 attacks caused a few violent people to eclipse the billions of peaceful ones. Society helps us create subconscious links in our mind, associations we can either consciously ignore or accept.  

        Now I am here, in Oman. Living in the Middle East. Every morning a wake to my sister's alarm for prayers, I listen to the daily passage of the Quran at school, and I hear the call to noon prayer, no matter where I am in the city. My new friends and neighbors are almost all Muslim. It has become so normal to see women dressed in hijabs and abayas. 

        Living here has given me the chance to see how similar everyone is. I am seven thousand miles away from my childhood home, and still, girls gossip about boys, worry about their looks, and paint their nails. Boys play video games, and do pull-ups in doors ways. Many things are eerily similiar to Vermont. The greatest similarity of all: everyone loves their family and hates the news of deaths from war.

Our First Week

      So our first week was busy! We met our host families, which for me, was matched perfectly. We had several orietnation workshops, and we did various outings to the souq (a market), City Center (mall), and two tourist attractions: The Grand Mosque, and Al Alam Palace.
     The beautiful Grand Mosque that can hold 20,000 worshippers. It has breathtaking wood carvings, mosaic ceilings, and stained glass windows.

The Grand Mosque (Main prayer room, courtyard, and one of the minarets)

The world's largest chandelier found in the
main prayer room of the Grand Mosque.

For the purposes of respect all visitors to the Mosque
must cover their hair and wear conservative clothing.

Al Alam Palace in Old Muscat

Medresa

        It was my first day of school today! I woke up at 5:40 a.m., and was out the door (after my host father helped with the gate latch) by 6:20, headed to Azzan bin Qais International School. Five YES Abroad students attend ABQ: Caillean, Davan, Mae, Shanya, and me.

I've never had a uniform!

        The eleventh and twelfth graders had a meeting filled with announcements, then we went off to class. The only problem was, Caillean and I were but in the wrong one. We meant to enroll in the AS track which follows the British curriculum and replaces Arabic with Introductory Arabic for the foreign students. Somehow, we found ourselves in the bilingual track. After heading to the Dean's office with another misplaced girl, we arrived in the right classroom, unfortunately, we had already missed the majority of homeroom.

ABQ YES Abroad crew!

      I met many new people today, and I pushed myself to sit away from the other YES abroaders at lunch, and to sit with a cluster of girls from my class. I was worried much of the conversation would be in Arabic but to my surprise most of it was in English. Many students and staff helped me know where to go, and figure out how I am getting home (we had not yet been added to the bus route), everyone was kind and talkative.
     Azzan bin Qais is much stricter than my school in Vermont. At my old school we didn't have a
uniform, we could chew gum, wear baseball hats, and we addressed out teachers by their first names. Now, I dress in a longsleeved, button up, white, collar, shirt, and pull over a floor length sleeveless dress made from grey, heavy, fabric, this makes up my uniform. My hair must be pulled back and bracelets are not allowed. Every teacher and staff member is Ms. or Mr., and we to greet stand them when they enter the room.
    I enjoyed my first day of school, though it felt slightly hectic. I am lucky to have Caillean's familiar face in my class, especially at the times when neither of us know what we're doing or where we're going. Hopefully, we receive our schedules tomorrow, and I manage to find the right bus home.

Here to Stay, insha'Allah

My dad and I at the Burlington International Airport

       Last night after twenty four hours of traveling, three plans, two layovers, and three microwaved airplane meals, we landed in Muscat, Oman. In the dark of the night we drove to a hotel, and after late night sandwiches, collapsed in our beds.

Our four hour layover in Zurich, that
 caused many group bonding games. 

      Today, was our first time seeing Oman in the daylight, we've spent most of it at orientation, which takes place at the AMIDEAST offices. We've been through a survival Arabic course, host family info, and just general tips and guidelines for Oman.

My first Omani meal!

     Lunch was the first Omani meal of the trip. We ate out at a restaurant in the family section, it was my first time eating on the floor, eating with my hands, and eating in a restaurant with family and nonfamily sections. The food was delicious, we had shuwa, a delicious rice dish that I don't remember the name of, an Yemeni flat bread covered in sesame seeds and honey, and barbeque chicken. Both the food and conversation was delightful.
       Right now, I am off to meet my host family.

On the Eve of Departure

     "I'll see you in ten months." I can hardly believe it, but this is the phrase I've been uttering at almost every conversation's end these past couple days. I have come to realize all the amazing things that will happen without me, the birthdays, parties, and laughs, that will carry on. About to leap into the unknown, I am so tempted to fall back into comfortable. That is what will make leaving the hardest. I will miss my family, friends, neighbors, and teachers. I know the coming year is full of tears, frustration, and homesickness, but I also think it could be the best year of my life.
        I have watched tomorrow approach for months, but I never truly believed it would arrive. It will be a bittersweet day as I hug my dad goodbye, and board my plane alone. Finally, after an application, selection event, acceptance email, orientation, and all the anxious days in between, the adventure, which started as a small thought in a fifteen year old girl's head, is about to take off.
        My bags are packed, documents scanned, and travel clothes laid out, one restless sleep from now I leave Vermont for ten months. I am as ready as I'll ever be, excitement and nerves are duking it out in my stomach. Here's to the unexpected, the different, and the amazing, but for this minute, here's the the last night in my bed.

Here's a goodbye tribute to beautiful Vermont which has been my home for the first sixteen years and three months of my life.

Questions Often Encountered

As my departure day approaches I have been bragging more and more about my exchange year in Oman. These are some of the questions I usually get asked.

Why did you choose Oman?
I am interested in Middle Eastern culture, Islam, and Arabic. I applied for the YES Abroad scholarship which sends 65 United States high school students to ten countries with significant muslim populations. Of those countries Oman was my first choice, and the one I got!

Where is Oman?

Oman is in the Middle East, on the Arabian peninsula. It borders Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, and the Arabian Sea.

Where will you be staying in Oman?

I will be staying in Muscat, the capitol of Oman. It is located on the northern coast of the country. The six other YES Abroad students as well as the NSLI-Y students will also be staying there.

Who will you be staying with?

I will be staying with a host family which is not yet determined.

Will you go to school? 

Yes. I will go to Azzin Bin Qais International school, along with four other YES Abroad students. ABQ school is mostly taught in English, though several classes are taught in Arabic.

What language do they speak in Oman?

Most people speak English and Arabic. Many schools are taught in English, some people also speak Swahili.

Will you be required to cover your hair?

Not most of the time. If I am visiting a mosque or the interior part of the country I will, but for everyday life and school my hair will be uncovered.

Can you drive in Oman?
This is a question I have been getting a lot. Many people know that Oman borders Saudi Arabia and they wonder if the same ban on women driving that Saudi Arabia has is in effect in Oman. It is not. Women are allowed to drive in Oman, however, YES Abroad students are not, due to program rules.

How long will you be there?

Roughly ten months, I will leave late August and get back mid June.

Are you nervous?

No? Maybe it's because it hasn't his me yet, but I'm not particularly nervous. The realization that I will be spending ten months in a different country will probably happen on the plane, much to the misfortune of my fellow traveling companions.

What will you do if, for whatever reason, you can't go?

Curl up into a ball and cry for ten months.

Away we go, to the PDO!

Kennedy-Lugar YES Abroad Students of 2013-2014

Amideast offices

YES Abroad Oman

I'm sitting in the Dulles International airport. The past three days have been busy and stressful yet full of laughs and smiles. I am so tired my arms are numb. I have new perspective on the difficulty and intense ups and downs that an exchange year contains, luckily, I have month and a half to prepare.
The Pre Departure Orientation (PDO) contained a visit to the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman, the State Department, and the Amideast offices of D.C. (where I consumed a superb Lebanese chicken shawarma wrap). We also had eight workshops on topics such as blogging, health, program policies, and Islam. Most of us haven't seen each other since the In Person Selection Event (IPSE) , and it's possible we won't see each other ever again (except our country groups). We have all received this amazing, unbelievable, phenomenal opportunity, so in that way, even though we'll be scattered far and wide, in cities and rural villages, we are bonded.
Much of our time was spent with our country groups, which for Oman consists of seven lucky (and talented) ladies: Caillean, Davan, Hannah, Mae, Shanaya, and Talya. We were guided through workshops and embassy visits by staff and Emma. Having gone to Oman in 2011-2012 with YES Abroad, Emma acted as our resident expert. She taught us some of what to do, and what not to do. However, a whole culture won't fit into three days told secondhand, so we still have a lot to learn on our own! I also had time to visit with all the Finalists, especially my three roommates who are Thailand and India bound, next week! 

The PDO was much different than IPSE, while I can only speak for myself, the competitive edge was gone. We had all made it, we are the chosen ones. To me, and others, this PDO is what made it real. The excited and screaming girl who received that acceptance email on April 12th still had doubts on whether a year abroad actually happen. It was a dream a week ago, and now it is real. That is what has made this PDO so important, as informative and fact filled as it was, this turn into reality has been the best part. I look forward to see my six new friends on our flight to Oman, and now I can finally picture myself with them.

The beautiful YES Abroad T-Shirts