HEARTC♡RE

Earlier today I read some good news from Oman that made me feel a bit excited and relieved. The news is irrelevant to those who do read my blog and partially irrelevant to me given the fact that I don't live in Oman (yet). But maybe it can give you some insight into the struggles of expat workers around the world, in this case Oman.

I am unaware of the situation before, but when I was in Oman during the last half of 2015, there was a buzz about "The 2 Year Ban." This ban refers to expat workers being forced to leave Oman for at least two years if they are interested in changing their place of employment. The only way they can avoid this two year ban is if their current employer issues them a NOC, or No Objection Certificate. Now you'd think it would be so easy to obtain that letter, but complications can happen and it is a very scary situation to be where you are just stuck in limbo. I also read that even when the employees received the NOC there were so many confusions and red tape that they were still not allowed to receive their new visa and work for the new company. It even said that the previous employers or sponsors were needed to come into the office to sign of the NOC in person. That's a bit awkward and what employer wants to waste their time with their ex employee?

The main concern for employers/businesses are the possibilities of the losses they will take when they bear the costs of training and bringing in the new employee. Sometimes the employee quits soon after arriving, or before their contract is up, for a better or higher paying job. This is a concern that should be taken into account, but why should your employer hold your future in their hands after you have completed your contract and responsibilities?

In this situation you have two options.

1. stay at a job where:

• there is no room for upward mobility, 
• it's no longer stimulating and you're not being fulfilled
• its just not your cup of tea
• all the while there is a better job offer

2. or you leave the country

Leaving is such a hard option for expats who genuinely love Oman and have built their lives here. Why would an expat buy property or invest if there is no guarantee that you will be able to stay? After spending a decade, or more or less, why would you uproot your life and live elsewhere for two years, and come back just to start from the bottom? If you have family here or are married to an Omani, what choices do you have? (I'm told if you're married there shouldn't be a problem). Why am I asking so many questions?? LOL. Personally I think I would be devastated if I have worked in Oman for lets say four years, have established life there, only to be told that I have to leave. I can't even imagine the headache of selling or moving half way across the world (even less with kids and family), start over, and experience reverse culture shock on top of that.


In today's article from Times of Oman, they shared some statistics of the growth and decline of educated expats. The number of expats holding either doctorates, master, any higher education along with current university students have all dropped from the end of 2015 to the middle of 2016. While, those with no education or only to a secondary level, have risen by 200%.

An expat with higher education who wants to stay, who has worked in Oman for a long time, has both experience and knowledge in their field along with experience in the country is 100 times better than new employee that may or may not adjust easily to life in the Sultanate, is not familiar with the business culture, and may want to leave as soon as their contract is up. There would be too much turnover in employees for any progress to really culminate and it all just seems so. . . . unproductive. I understand protecting businesses, so there should be a necessity to fulfill your contract, but not allow them to hold it over your head.

The exciting news that popped in my feed today is that the Ministry of Manpower is heavily considering removing the need for a two year ban. This is also after other GCC, specifically UAE and. . . . .  (I forgot) . . . oh yes, Qatar have began the process to be more flexible with their labor laws. Removing the two year ban is not only a positive for expat workers, but for Oman's economy as it will attract investments and new businesses.

Again, it said considering and let me quote this from the article:

“We will remove the NOC option. It will be removed. The plan is being considered seriously,” Said bin Nasser Al Saadi, the advisor to the Minister for Manpower, told Times of Oman in an exclusive interview.

So he is saying it will be removed, but right after he says considered, which is a bit confusing. I don't want to be too confident until it is properly announced and the law is amended. Again, it doesn't affect me at all now, but it's good to be aware of the laws and policies.

1/26/16 edit: In January, Ministry of Manpower & Shura Council agreed that the two year visa ban should stay for those without a NOC. But discussions are being held on the details of NOC.

The other day I was thinking of all the cons that would come with living permanently in Oman (in case it wasn't obvious, living in Muscat after I finish my undergrad in Atlanta is the current goal.) I'm sure you gasped at the title. Like I, Melissa Ortega, would actually have any cons about living in Muscat.




Every now and then I would imagine what my first apartment would look like. I imagined it nestled under a canopy of dark, green trees, and experience the changing seasons. The scenery in Muscat will be quite the contrast. Not a negative, just a point.



My real point is, I imagined coming home to that imaginary apartment with a full bag with my latest collection of unnecessary purchases from Target. Maybe have a funky chair from TJ Maxx as the latest addition to my home. A few artisan throw pillows from World Market. And guess which of those stores Muscat has? None. (I don't mean they don't have stores that can provide the same (DEBATABLE), but I have attachment issues) But actually, I do worry on the availability and affordability of the kind of decor I'm interested in. But okay that's being way ahead of myself.

I will also mention that Starbucks rewards cards and points are useless and don't exist there, they also don't have any of the Teavana line or the carbonation option, so say goodbye to green and chai tea lattes. I just opened a Barnes and Nobles membership and it dawned on me that although they do have B&N there, it is about a quarter or a fifth of the size of the ones here and I'm sure the membership won't work.

The closest Ikea is a 4 hour drive to Dubai. Did I mention there's no Target? 😟 OH and no Old Navy.. . . Chick-Fil-A. . . .
Another thing is food. . . . . Although Muscat does have a lot of dining options, I think there is really something cool about Atlanta's diverse food scene that hasn't and probably won't culminate in Muscat for the next several years.
Maybe ever, and I am saying this because the country itself has a population of roughly 4 million, Metro Atlanta alone has around 4.5 million along with high movement from surrounding states.

I don't know if some of the population's dietary restrictions (no pork, alcohol, whatever else halal entails, or vegetarian) is worth a mention as one of the factors that affects the expansion of the food and beverage industry but I'll toss it out there.

I have already talked (*coughs* complained) about restaurant prices and although I acknowledge that you can also eat for ridiculously cheap, there is no in between (fast food only?). There is not a lot of variety to choose from if you decide to play with your budget and get good food in the process.

Oh, while on the topic. Limited access to alcohol as well as the prices. Although I'm sure you can find better prices, that's where key word *limited access* comes in. Especially if you're a first time expat with limited to no connections then it will probably take you a while to figure it all out.

Fun fact if you didn't know, they actually do have liquor stores but they're really obscure and you can only purchase from there after applying and receiving a liquor license from the government. You must be a working resident and provide them with the details of your yearly salary. You then request a monthly allowance for spending, I think it caps at 10% of your salary amount. You, as well as Muslims, can still buy alcohol at bars and all, this is specifically for liquor for your home. Sorry got on a tangent, I don't think this is a necessarily a bad thing just some knowledge for you.


Oh, and you don't have mailboxes from house to house. I still haven't figured out how it works like does everyone get one or you decide for yourself, but you can have a PO Box.
But then you miss out on things like Amazon and other American businesses that don't ship internationally and if they do it's almost the same price as whatever you're purchasing aka an arm and a leg (thumbs up for tilt shift photography).


 Luckily, these are all superficial worries and although I do have more serious concerns (the majority in the areas of logistics and efficiency. maybe healthcare), they pale in comparison to all the positives. Muscat is a place I would love to call home and actually already do. It's amazing to think that I spent the majority of last year in Muscat. I also have some ideas for plans for when I make the move, but that will have to wait.

In Oman, there is no set dress code for what a woman should wear. But, it is an Islamic country after all, so there are certain expectations for what can and cannot be worn. Expat women can wear what they'd like, but you are expected to dress modestly. I am thinking, no shorts above the knees and sleeves to at least the elbow, but I am not very good with following that myself. So perhaps that's not true. I have seen expats wearing short shorts and skirts and shirts baring their midriff at the grocery store or shopping malls. So it's not like you can't wear it, but I'm not sure why you would. Especially when you can attract unwanted attention (from all perspectives).
If your house is the farthest one from the beach in all of Muscat, it is still probably only a 15 minute drive for you. There are also some expectations of what to wear at the beach. A typical bikini or exposed bathing suit should probably not be your first choice, but if it is and there is police nearby, you should not be surprised if they request for you to cover up. I have read that many expat women will attend private beaches or hold memberships to private facilities that offer pools so that they can wear what they'd like. I'd just say, better to be safe than sorry when it comes to choosing your clothes. It is a bit difficult because of the heat and if you are used to something else, but you get accustomed quickly and learn to appreciate it.

For Omani and other Muslim women, I have seen many different kinds of Islamic wear; just the hijab, niqab, I think a Burqa a few times, but the most popular must be the abaya.

So what is an abaya? An abaya is a form of dress that can be worn by Muslim women. It is a floor length, long sleeved, cloak so to speak. It is meant to be worn over everyday street clothes, when a woman is out and about. It is not considered traditional Omani dress, but a popular option especially in the GCC region. I believe they are traditionally black, but there are a wide range of options in colors, embroideries, and styles. The abaya can be paired up with a hijab, a loose headscarf, or worn without anything, and even opened from the front. The prices can vary greatly, reaching thousands of dollars for the most luxurious abayas. Reportedly, the most expensive one in the world is a whopping 17 million dollars. You can design your own abaya and have it tailored or buy it from the shop pret a porter. I've included some pictures below that will hopefully get you an idea of the variety. Click for sources.










Last night, Host mom, N, and I were in the car on our way to a delivery. I'm wearing a maxi dress, so I crossed my legs and pulled underneath me to straighten the cloth. And I feel a hole, a huge hole, running from the top to halfway down the bottom, and I freak out. How the hell did this happen? After the delivery we were supposed to go to dinner down the street. We decided to go to dinner anyways and see how we would resolve it. One option was to tie my cardigan against my waist. The second option, which we opted for was to call host dad (HD) who was in a shop around the corner and borrow his turban to wrap around my waist.

We arrived at our dinner spot, in a shopping plaza, and met HD there. He took N, while me and HM went to a nearby woman's shop to see if we could find a sort of abaya, to cover up with. We went to the first shop, but they were pricey and not worth it. I told my HM that I was interested in investing in an abaya, so I would pay the price and get a nice one. We went into another shop, belonging to an Omani designer, Kooki & Zee. Right away we found something that caught our eyes and we all agreed it was it. It was gifted to me by them and I was so happy with it!! So below are pictures of my new abaya.

I think that when people have a discussion about the cultural differences that exist between Americans and many parts of the world, the subject of personal space comes up. I think it's a universal known fact that most Americans require a bigger amount of personal space than other cultures. I don't think I've ever been to big on my own personal space. I actually consider myself to have a smaller personal space than most Americans. I'm quite touchy and I'm probably the one that intrudes on your personal space.

Anyways, I haven't experienced any invasions on my personal space (I don't think?), but there is one thing I can't stand that's been happening to me here. And thats when I'm in line. I don't think people understand how to stand at least two feet behind me when I'm at the counter. I feel it has happened to many times to just be coincidence. It's not even at like a McDonald's where it's that kind of dog eat dog line. Which BTW I have experienced, but I let it go because I mean it's McD's. But It's at an empty cafe and just two of us in line. This morning, I'm next in line so I go up, I'm trying to get the money out of my wallet (mind you, I barely understand how to pay) and the lady behind is already putting her cookies on the counter. The counter that I am standing in front of that is the width of my body. Can she not hold her 3-cookies-in-a-baggie for five more seconds? She literally had to reach over me. Also, when I am standing in line, waiting for my turn these people are like breathing on my neck. Or they're like not even in a straight line, like who's next? And as you know, I am not a confrontational person so if they cut me all I can be is mad. So if I know I'm next I just make sure to talk to the cashier first when they come back. It just happens to be that every time I have been next in,  the cashier looks to the person next to me, ALTHOUGH I AM STANDING RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE REGISTER. I'm not even directing this post to native Omanis because it literally has been every person from every walk of life doing this. I will probably start counting the hair on people's neck within the next two weeks too. Even once at the ATM I saw people too close to each other, I think in the US someone would've told you off. It is probably just selected people here, but there are enough people doing it that I notice.



In conclusion (who else started their final paragraph like this in 5th grade), I haven't had people invade my personal space elsewhere than in lines. I am probably exaggerating, but I am just very observant here. I notice everything and everyone. I think I am more uncomfortable with the fact that something as simple as a line gets on my nerves & my Americanness is coming out (which is probably always out, but that's beside the point). I will ask my host parents if they notice this or it's just me.

The Weather: Widespread Dust

So as we're shopping I see Mazola cooking oil. & I am so excited to see this Mexican oil I love so much and grew up. & So I told host dad (so weird saying that?? but HD from now on) that this was Mexican Oil and we use it ALL the time. And he says huh, I thought it was Arab and that he also grew up with it. We check and it's actually American, go figure. But to me it is still MaSola and for him it is still MaZZola. Ha.

Open Chips Oman

these guys didn't sign a photo release form