Visitors from the Netherlands

Hello!!

Long time no post, I know.. No excuses.. I'm just lazy. Also, I'm not sure if anyone is reading.

Last year (2018) has been filled with lots of happy moments mostly, some sad ones too because that is the balance of life, right? 
But mostly were happy ones.

We're are in the end of November now, one month till the new year, and I'm proudly announcing that my life is actually finally falling into place... Steadily, but still lots of improvement here.

So, let me tell you about the visitors from the Netherlands.

One of my teachers, from back when I used to study in the Netherlands has been contacting me since 2017, she wanted to visit Oman, with her friends. Asked me questions about where to go and what to do, and I told her about the cool places, and the accommodation, as well as the info. She told me she would come in November 2018.
Inge (that's her name) contacted me again when she reached Oman, which was on the 4th of November, a Sunday.

(for my foreign friends, weekend here is Friday and Saturday, then Sunday is the start of the week)

Sunday was a long day at Uni. I came home and got prepared to welcome them (Thanks to my mom, and the helper for preparing all the hospitality related items since I wasn't home the entire day).

They were supposed to be here by 18.30 but thanks to google maps, they ended up reaching Matrah, which isn't that bad, I mean it is still close to Wattaya (Where I Live).

(Future tip for my foreign friends, use the app "Waze" it works properly, while "Google maps" doesn't in this part of the world)

They arrived at 19.00'sh? 

I've given them a modern yet traditional Omani hospitality experience. Where there was 'Fuwala' which is the Arabic term for the fruit, coffee and some Halwa on a mat which is beautifully set on the floor, and people sit around it, eat, drink and chat.

The setting looked something like this

I anxiously waited until they arrived, with so many emotions and thoughts running in my head.. I wanted their visit to be perfect, I wanted to be a great host but I was too scared that I would not know how to react or entertain them, as I sometimes could get very socially awkward. It had been 2 years since I left the Netherlands and came back home, which means no proper interaction with foreigners for a long time, and just bunch of anxious thoughts of me trying not to do anything embarrassing or offensive. Yes, I tend to overthink unfortunately.

So, my guests arrived, and they were excited to have visited, I felt overwhelmed with joy.

We have spoken about so many things, totally random but related to the differences and similarities between the Omani culture, and the Dutch culture. About the lifestyle, places to visit, things to do here in Oman.

For a moment, I remembered that my stay in the Netherlands was in fact real, because since I settled in Oman, the whole memory of the Netherlands seemed like a beautiful dream. Sometimes, I actually seem to forget that I haven been abroad, I met these wonderful people, and I spent 5 wonderful years among them.

If you would go to previous posts, I posted something about the 'Be my guest tour' where when I lived in the Netherlands, I participated in this program, and when people visited me I showed them the Omani hospitality. So in this day, I felt we were in the 'Be my guest Tour'

Here are some of the pictures, and moments that were captured that day:

Off course, I got these:

It was a lovely day. I was truly very happy.

I think I left a good impression on them. Also considering the fact that it was their very first day in Oman, they said it started in an amazing way and were thrilled to discover Oman further, and that made me even happier.

I keep saying I have to visit the Netherlands soon, but I'm too lazy to even leave my room, leave alone the country.

Next Post is about when Moni came to visit me, for reference check this post.