What to Do When Your Best Friend Visits Oman

I retired the term “best friend” many years ago.  It seemed like after a certain age, the people I gave the title to couldn’t handle it with care.  My elementary school best friend was great; but thereafter, the best friends I chose didn't treat me so well.  And the fact that my expectations were so high, …

My Five Favorite Services in Muscat

More than a month ago, I was contacted to freelance as a researcher for a sustainable tourism project.  I have since completed the project and in doing so had a chance to really reflect on Oman’s continual growth and evolution and fall in love with her all over again.  I’ve been enchanted by Oman for …

Muscat’s First Vegan Iftar (Fast-Breaking Meal)

I might be going on a limb saying this, but I’m pretty sure we just made history.  On Thursday evening at Lokanta Restaurant, a table of 17 (including Z and Moulay) sat for an entirely vegan iftar meal.  Omani and expat, female and male, young and not-so-young had a totally plant-based, four-course, Turkish dinner.  Our …

Low-Impact Living in Muscat

Life in the desert gets hot—really hot. We’ve had this conversation before but after welcoming my mom for her recent visit to Muscat, Urbndervish and I reflected on how in spite of the intense heat, life in Oman has helped actualize many goals and ideals that we could only talk about while living in the United States. …

Children’s Public Library: Muscat’s Homeschool Hub

After three years of waiting, the Children's Public Library is finally open here in Muscat.  It's located in Qurm, just across the street from the Children's Museum, another great family resource.  Some moms have been complaining about the soft opening hours of weekdays from 10am to 3pm but guess what? The hours are perfect for us homeschoolers.  So …

Trying to Be Green in Oman

The produce lady sees me coming. She peers from the side of her eye and begins to mumble something. She’s not looking at the color of my skin or the way I’m dressed, because in all honesty, we can pass for cousins. She’s looking at my reusable produce bags and can’t seem to figure them …

Oman Adventures: Dimaniyat Islands

Last weekend was definitely a #iheartoman kind of weekend. July 23rd was Renaissance Day and a national holiday in Oman, so there were a number of excursion promotions being offered. What caught our attention was a three-hour glass bottom boat tour to the Dimaniyat Islands, a nature reserve about 45 minutes away from Seeb Port …

Teaching Arabic to Our Homeschooling Community

Following our camping trip in Dubai, we spent two more days in Abu Dhabi with dear and beloved friends. Coincidentally and serendipitously, I wasn’t the only visitor passing through that weekend. Another dear and beloved friend, who I consider to be more of a mentor than a fellow student, was passing through. Before babies and …

Review: Fuel Jar in Muscat

  Though two years have passed since we first left Oman, we’re still the only vegans we currently know in Muscat. We’re looking high and low, searching the web, but only finding…ourselves. Thankfully, vegan options are becoming more accessible and affordable, so we can sustain our own engine until the veggie trains pulls in to …

A Long Way Home

It has been a long hiatus. I have written little for the past three months for three reasons: we were in the US visiting our families, Urbndervish left to start a new job and he had to take our laptop with him. Even if I had the laptop, it’s not likely much writing would’ve gotten …