People, Languages and Lighter Suitcases: More Lessons from Oman
Gulf Diaries — Part Two
In my first reflection, I wrote about slowing down, accepting dinner invitations and finding a home. The next set of lessons comes from conversations, unfamiliar languages and discovering what is actually worth putting into that home.
1. Meet the person beyond the label.
Spend time in the Gulf and you will find yourself moving between different circles, each with its own languages, connections and familiar ways.
Even the word “Arab” holds many distinct identities: Jordanian, Syrian, Lebanese and more. The Malayali community has a presence you quickly learn to recognise. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, European and South African communities all add their own stories to the mix.
You may also notice how accents and passports sometimes shape expectations. Notice it, but do not let those labels decide how you value people or yourself.
Here in Oman, the Omanis I have met have welcomed me with gentleness, humility and kindness. That personal experience means far more to me than any generalisation about a nationality.
2. Arabic opens doors. Start with a few words.
We all agree that learning Arabic is important. Then, somehow, another week passes without us learning much of it!
Those of us familiar with Qur’anic Arabic soon discover that everyday conversation brings different vocabulary, pronunciation and regional dialects. The Arabic you hear from a Lebanese colleague may sound different from what you hear in an Omani shop.
Good English helps enormously, but Arabic adds another layer of connection. I am reminding myself that I do not need to become fluent before I begin. A greeting, a thank-you and a simple question are a perfectly respectable start.
3. Malayalam might deserve a place on the international language list.
If there is a language whose reach I underestimated before coming here, it is Malayalam.
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You encounter it in shops, offices, neighbourhoods and friendships. There is something remarkable about a community that can find a familiar connection so far from home.
I have friends across God’s Own Country, and I am beginning to suspect that they have friends across the entire Gulf.
Want your child to learn a language with international usefulness and Indian roots? Perhaps add Malayalam to the shortlist!
4. Stop converting every purchase into rupees.
Convert every cup of tea, taxi journey and grocery bill into your home currency, and you may give yourself heartbreak before lunch!
Of course, keep track of your savings and commitments back home. But everyday spending needs to make sense within your local income and budget.
Know your pocket. Plan your spending. Then allow yourself to enjoy the tea.
5. Buy less. Moving teaches you why.
There is nothing like the possibility of another move to make you question an unnecessary purchase.
Will I use this? Will I pack it? Will I eventually wonder why I bought it?
Perhaps Marie Kondo @KonMari and her minimilist living belongs on every newcomer’s reading list. A comfortable home does not need cupboards full of things. Buy fewer things, choose them well and leave yourself some breathing space.
6. Spend thoughtfully on what you use every day.
My instinct with appliances is to spend a little more when it buys meaningful quality , whether that is a fridge, microwave or kettle. (I got a new steam iron!!)
The most expensive model is not automatically the best choice. Reliability, energy use, warranty and how long you expect to keep it matter more than impressive buttons.
Even a temporary home deserves things that work well. Fewer possessions, better chosen: that is a lesson I would happily carry back home.
Oman is teaching me to listen more closely, look beyond familiar labels and travel a little lighter. A few Arabic words and perhaps a Malayali friend’s number might help along the way.
