UHCL’s Study Abroad Program takes students to Oman
A University of Houston – Clear Lake (UHCL) Study Abroad Group set off on their adventure to the Middle Eastern country of Oman from Jan. 4 to 14.
Maria Curtis, associate professor of anthropology and cross-cultural studies; Mike McMullen, professor of sociology; Dawit Woldu, assistant professor of anthropology and cross-cultural studies; and ten students attended the trip. While on the trip, they bonded with each other, gained life-long friendships and ended the trip with plans to educate others by sharing their experience.
The Dhofar University, College of Applied Arts and Sciences in Salalah, and Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat hosted the UHCL visitors. They visited historical and religious landmarks, toured major cities and villages in the mountains, camped in the world’s largest desert, and met with His Excellency Abdul Aziz Al-Rowas, the adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for Cultural Affairs. From camel rides in the desert to drinking freshly squeezed fruit juices students got the chance to experience to Oman as more than tourists.
“I’ve found that before and after the trip, many of my friends and family had many false perceptions and fears about Oman, due to it being part of the Middle East,” said Carolyn Toombs, sociology major. “It was enlightening to experience how friendly everyone was everywhere we went, how clean the country was and, most importantly, how safe it was.”
During this ten-day journey, the students traveled through various souks (Arab marketplaces), cities, deserts and villages including Muttrah Salalah, Taqah Castel, Taqah Town, Wadi Darbat, Al Haffah, Muscat, Wadi Tiwi, Sur Town, the Wahiba Sands, the Safari Desert, Al Mudayrib and Jabal Al Akhder. The students also got the chance to explore the Grand Mosque, a national museum and the palace area and attend the Sami Yusuf performance at the Royal Opera.
They paid their respects at multiple Prophets’ tomb sites, explored the Al Baleed Archaeological site, the Frankincense Land Museum and the sinkhole in Wadi Tiwi. The group visited the Al Kamil Private Castle Museum, rode camels to travel through the Safari desert and Wahiba Sands, and then camped at the Safari Desert Camp.
“It goes without saying that spending the night at the desert camp and riding the camels was probably everyone’s favorite moment – and it was too short-lived,” said Lydia Newcomb, cross-cultural studies major. “We could’ve easily spent another night there instead of only one night.”
They also explored the Liza – a Bronze Age settlement – and looked at some of the Al Mudayrib Mud houses. They got to meet a Falaj master to learn about the Falaj – Oman’s irrigation system – and watched turtles nest on a beach in Sur Town.
“This experience was truly a unique and eye-opening journey that my colleagues and I will never forget,” Toombs said. “For the rest of our lives, we can act as advocates for telling the truth and encouraging others to learn about their people, culture and traditions instead of just the media’s portrayal of the Middle East.”
In Jabal Al Akhder, the group went on an afternoon walk along the 17th century terraces, and then they enjoyed a traditional homemade dinner with a local family.
Curtis encourages her students to build from their experience and points out the Study Abroad program is more than just a vacation overseas; the students were encouraged to “use [their] journals to recall what [they] were interested in and turn it into an enjoyable assignment.”
“Creating research projects or participating in the Model Arab League are great ways to build your resumes/CVs,” Curtis advised the participating students.
The Study Abroad students plan to use their experience to educate others by creating research presentations, lesson plans for the UHCL’s Art School for Children and Young Adults and competing in the Model Arab League (MAL). UHCL will be hosting the MAL conference in February for the second time.
Curtis would like to extend her thanks to the Omani Universities and government officials for their hospitality and enriching the UHCL Study Abroad group with their culture specifically: His Excellency Abdul Aziz Al-Rowas, adviser to His Majesty the Sultan for Cultural Affairs; the Dhofar University, College of Applied Arts and Sciences; and the Sultan Qaboos University.
For more information, visit, UHCL’s Study Abroad Program, and/or Model Arab League and the bilateral Chamber Regional MAL, Students with questions are encouraged to contact Maria Curtis, associate professor of anthropology and cross-cultural studies, or Michael McMullen, professor of sociology.
