Category Archives: culture

Traditional Female Clothing around the Sultanate (Bait al Zubair Museum)

Posted on March 14, 2013 | 4 Comments

A beautiful visual on traditional female dresses found in different regions of Oman. This is located near the backdoor of Bait Al Zubair Museum which is probably the best museum in Oman.

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Posted in culture, Museums

Tagged Bait al Zubair museum, female dress Oman, Omani fashion, traditional female clothing Oman

Be a Host Family for an International Exchange Student Here in Oman

Posted on December 29, 2012 | Leave a comment

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“Present in over 113 countries and territories and with over 86,000 members, AIESEC is the world’s largest youth-run organisation. Focused on providing a platform for youth leadership development, AIESEC offers young people the opportunity to be global citizens, to change the world, and to get experience and skills that matter today.” (pic and photo from the main AIESEC website)

One of my old students is one of the local committee presidents and has asked me to post a request to any families who may have the space, time and interest in hosting an international student for a few weeks or months (whatever time they can). HOSTFAM-final

From the original French AIESEC stands for “Association Internationale des Étudiants En Sciences Économiques et Commerciales ” (In English: “International Association of Students in Economics and Management)

If you and your family would consider hosting a student, check out (or better yet “fill in”!) the application page at: www.bit.ly/wahahostfamily . Whether you are Omani or an expat living here, you can become an Ambassador of Oman for students coming to the Sultanate. Why not spread a little love and give back a little to those visiting this country that has been so good to so many of us?!

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Posted in Ads, charity, culture, Fun Things To Do

Tagged AIESEC Oman, host family Oman

“The Dolls of Japan” Visit the Sultanate of Oman

Posted on December 2, 2012 | 2 Comments

What on earth do dolls from Japan have to do with Oman? Great question. Well, there is a special exhibition at Qurum City Centre “to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Oman“. description of exhibition

Dragon Boy

“Kintaro is a boy of Herculean strength who appears in a Japanese folktale. It is believed that the Kintaro doll represents boys’ health.“ more dolls

lionlike doll

reading a book

Wooden dolls dressed in kimonos are a style of doll-making known as Kimekomi. colorful doll

battledores

sumo wrestler

samurai

“Kurodabushi: Samurai of Kuroda” – “This doll is based on a legend of a man who gulped down sake in a large cup and obtained a spear as a prize.” a doll

She’s quite “a doll”, isn’t she? lions mask

“Warabe Jishi: Young Lion” – “The boy plays with the mask of a lion’s head”. tag

“Kotoro: Playing Tag“ a general in armor

“The gallant young samurai in brilliant armor is about to go into battle as a general of the army.” (by Ippo Ohashi, an active artist in Kyoto) sleeping baby

“This adorable sleeping baby is Monotaro, the Peach Boy, a popular Japanese fairy-tale hero.” floating doll

“Nagashi Bina: Floating Doll” – “The girl is going to the river with her paper doll in a straw basket. It is still a custom throughout Japan to float dolls on the river while praying for happiness.“

Well, those are just some of the interesting dolls at the exhibition at Qurum City Centre. I certainly didn’t expect to experience Japanese culture when I went shopping here in Oman. After filling in a short feedback form about the exhibition, we were given a booklet about the exhibition entitled, “The Dolls of Japan: Shades of Prayer, Embodiments of Love” published by Japan Foundation. I never know what I’m going to see next out and about in Oman. That’s why I try never to leave home without a camera!

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Posted in Art, culture

Tagged dolls of japan, japanese culture