Summer in The Sultanate of Oman

I never thought my choice to study Arabic would have ever lead me to where I am now. I remember when and why I chose to study Arabic. It was my freshmen year, orientation, and I didn’t want to continue Spanish after three years of study in High School. So I decided to pick that one language, “with squiggly lines” as I thought to myself. I believed I had everything to gain and nothing to lose. Flash forward two years later to the summer of 2014 - I found myself in the Middle East, having been awarded a Critical Language Scholarship from the State Department to study Arabic in Nizwa, Oman. The CLS program offers fully funded intensive language study through the summer, in a variety of languages. I studied in Oman with twenty three other American students from a variety of fields, ages, and universities. The program lasted approximately seven weeks, studying in a classroom for four hours a day, meeting with language partners, and endless hours of homework. Of course, all interactions where in Arabic. In addition to studying, I often found myself going to the Nizwa Souq (open market), one of the most famous trading centers in Arabia. Each weekend, with classmates, I developed my bargaining capabilities at the souq and got familiar with Omani cab drivers. I had the opportunity to listen to professors from the University of Nizwa specialized in a wide variety of areas: Arabic Calligraphy, Oman’s history with Zanzibar, and the Omani Falaj - a system of underground aqueducts stretching back to the Iron Age. Every weekend, I made the best effort to experience something new in the area. I had the greatest opportunities to truly experience Oman. Through my touring of many Omani cities and landmarks I connected with various different people, I found that our lives aren’t that different, and sometimes our perceptions are a bit misconstrued. I say this because everywhere In Oman I felt the respect between individuals as they greeted me for the first time asking about my health, family, study, and overall feelings about Oman. Every person in Oman that I communicated with was open to discussion on a wide variety of issues and topics. By the time I left Oman I was truly tied to the culture of non-stop greeting, unending hospitality, and constant discussions. The choice to study Arabic (whether destiny or coincidence) has strongly impacted my life. I have realized that, despite any perceived differences we face, as people we always have more in common than we expect. I remember now, when I began studying Arabic, the endless hours of vocabulary study in Olson, and barley being capable to remember single words. Now I am able to hold conversations in Modern Standard Arabic with various individuals with ease, utilizing the Arabic root system. I have a friend that I met my second year – an international student studying English – with whom I meet regularly to discuss a wide variety of topics in Arabic, such as: music, culture, politics, and language. I have been given a window into Saudi Arabian culture, coming to understand the breadth of diversity in the Arab world. The progress I have made in less than three years is amazing, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance, and encouragement of all my Arabic teachers, Ustatha Shayma, Amanda, and Noha. They are the foundation of my Arabic studies, as I’m sure they remember the countless hours I spent in their offices asking questions. What I learned in Oman is that there is no reason not to expose yourself to a world much different than your own. One of the biggest mistakes we make is believing we have all of the answers – there are so many cultures and languages, carrying unique beliefs and customs, for us to learn from. The challenges we face, however, are not exclusive to one people, culture, or body of knowledge. I hope other students take the step of studying something new, not tied to subjective standards of success, but rather simply for their enjoyment. It might change their life. 

About the Author: 

Estevan Sanchez is from the Central Valley and is a third year student that studies African American & African Studies and History. He is currently involved in undergraduate research in the area of global Hip-Hop studies, focusing on graffiti in Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. He is in his third year of Arabic study at UC Davis, and plans to return to the Middle East this summer to continue Arabic and research.