SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE NATIONAL COUNCIL
Applications Now Being Accepted for the
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations'
Seventeenth Annual Oman Cultural Immersion Program
February 13-27, 2013
Applications Now Being Accepted for the
National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations'
Seventeenth Annual Oman Cultural Immersion Program
February 13-27, 2013
The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations is pleased to offer, through its Joseph J. Malone Fellowship in Arab and Islamic Studies Program, the Seventeenth Annual Oman Cultural Immersion study visit to the Sultanate of Oman February 15-27, 2013. Fellows are required to participate in and complete a pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. to be held on February 13-14. This unique opportunity will provide a privileged first hand exposure to one of the Arab world's most demographically, geographically, and socially diverse countries.
The National Council is currently accepting applications to participate in this study visit. APPLY NOW!
http://ncusar.org/programs/NCUSAR_Malone_Fellowship_Application.pdf
American professionals in academia, government, the military, non-governmental organizations, business, religious institutions, the media, civic associations, as well as the fine arts, humanities, and the social sciences are invited to apply.
The Seventeenth Annual Oman Cultural Immersion study visit will provide participants an educational experience that few Westerners and even fewer Americans have had. The program is choreographed to provide Malone Fellows an unparalleled diverse exposure to Oman -- one of the most historically and culturally rich of all Arab and Islamic societies. Until relatively recent times, the Sultanate languished in its status as one of the most forgotten corners of all Arabia. Anyone in doubt about the extraordinary opportunity that being able to visit Oman in this manner presents need only consult any of the several National Geographic Magazine features on the country in the past two decades.
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| End Pictures: inlaid Islamic niches at the Grand Mosque in Oman's Capital Territory; Middle Pictures: Bedouin Omani girls in the Sharqiyyah Sands. |
THE PROGRAM
The program begins in the capital territory centered on the coastal communities of Muscat and Mutrah, where there will be meetings and briefings at the U.S. Embassy, one or more Omani ministries, and visits to sites of historical interest. The remainder of the program unfolds away from the capital in the Sultanate's extraordinarily diverse interior. As we traverse the countryside, we will camp outdoors amid the dunes of the Sharqiyyah Sands, an eastern extension of the Rub' Al-Khali (The Empty Quarter), the world's largest desert. In that region and elsewhere, we will visit remote villages, scale mountains, and stop in far-flung oases for rest, leisure, photography, and shopping for handicrafts, Bedouin jewelry, or antiques.
We will also explore several of the country's famous forts of yesteryear, visit the ancient mud-brick walled settlement of Bahla, designated by UNESCO as one of the Heritages of Humankind, and trek through archaeological ruins. We will visit sites that, not that long ago, housed wealthy merchants who plied their goods throughout the vast Oman-influenced territories stretching from Iraq and Kuwait in the west and north to the east and the south Iranian coast, extending through the Hormuz Strait and along the Sultanate's Batinah coast to the Gulf of Oman, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean, and from there on to Pakistan, South Arabia, and East Africa.
The delegation will also spend time with fisher folk, loom weavers, and clay potters; travel along the country's spectacular littoral fronting the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Oman, and the Persian Gulf; and sail with Arab mariners for the better part of two days on a dhow, a traditional wooden handmade Arab vessel to which modern day sailors familiar with the history of navigation and nautical sciences acknowledge an enormous debt.
As we sail north towards the Iranian coast, we'll turn east to circumnavigate the Musandam Peninsula, which straddles the southernmost reaches of the Persian Gulf and the northernmost waters of the Gulf of Oman. We will anchor at sea and sleep overnight in a cove adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz, the world's most important waterway, through which the giant tankers carrying the Gulf region's unmatched production of oil and gas must pass en route to the world's energy-hungry markets and economies.
The delegation will also drop anchor and go ashore at Telegraph Island and one or more additional coastal sites during the journey. Amid the many inlets dominating the Musandum Peninsula, participants will be able to swim and snorkel to their heart's content offshore Telegraph Island, a rugged outcropping of rock that for a brief period was once one of the marvels of mid-19th century British telecommunication. The group will also visit villages atop the peninsula overlooking the fjords of a region that has been aptly termed Arabia's Norway.
Traveling deep into the interior and along the coasts, the delegation will be transported by Omani guides in four-wheel drive all-terrain vehicles. Throughout our time in Oman there will be ample opportunity to photograph and video some of the most stunning scenery and people in all of Arabia.
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| The Indian Ocean port of Sur, home to many craftsmen of Oman's traditional wooden sailing dhows and its merchant captains of the sea who still sail to and from the Gulf, Africa, and lands east. | Omani Bedouin cameleers traverse the eastern reaches of the Rub' Al-Khali (Empty Quarter), the world's largest desert. |
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| Potential Omani leaders of tomorrow - schoolboys, their book bags strapped to their backs, returning home from a day's study in Qumzar, a small seaside village tucked into a cove adjacent to the Hormuz Strait. | A traditional Arab sailing dhow, fashioned from wood and crafted by hand in the manner of Omani shipwrights and mariners of yesteryear, plies the sea in and out of the Hormuz Strait, the world's most strategically vital waterway. |
ESCORT and GUIDES
The escort for the Seventeenth Annual Oman Cultural Immersion Program will be Dr. John Duke Anthony, Founding President and CEO of the National Council, who has been a regular visitor to Oman since 1971. Dr. Anthony's publications include The Historical and Cultural Dictionary of the Sultanate of Oman and the Emirates of Eastern Arabia; Arab States of the Lower Gulf: People, Politics, Petroleum; and Oman: Girding and Guarding the Gulf. For additional publications on Oman by Dr. Anthony, see his reflections from a 2003 Malone Fellows study visit to Oman; the past eleven years of his annual essays on Oman in the Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year; his coverage of the last GCC heads of state and ministerial summit held by Oman, December 29-30, 2008; and his remarks regarding Sultan Qaboos upon the occasion of the Council's, 33 other American NGOs, and President Jimmy Carter's presentation to him of the first-ever International Peace Award on October 15, 1998; on the National Council's website: ncusar.org.
English-speaking Omani guides will accompany the participants throughout this experience and will be able to provide historical background, cultural insight, and field unlimited questions.
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| Dr. John Duke Anthony and his longtime friend, Hamad Al-Rabbani, Chief Curator of Jabrin Fort and Castle, one of Oman's most famous historical architectural landmarks in the country's interior. | Gold inlaid Quranic calligraphy adorns the inner walls of the Grand Mosque in Oman's Capital Territory. |
COSTS and REQUIREMENTS
The fee for the Seventeenth Annual Oman Cultural Immersion study visit is $7,000.00 per person. Commercial tours of similar duration are typically much more expensive and offer far less access to the diversity of Omani geography, life, and culture. When coupled with the privileged availability of official and informal briefings included in the itinerary, this National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations program offers an exceptional opportunity.
The price includes single-occupancy rooms, guides, and meals throughout the program from the time of departure from Washington, D.C. until return to the United States.
There is no direct financial award connected to the Malone Fellows Program. Those selected as "Oman Cultural Immersion Program" participants will automatically be named "Malone Fellows in Arab and Islamic Studies." Fellows and/or their employers are responsible for the $7,000 study visit fee in addition to a nonreturnable $100 application fee. These fees must be paid in full to the National Council before final acceptance into the program. The higher actual costs of the program are subsidized by the National Council and its supporters.
All participants are responsible for booking and covering the cost of their own transportation to and from Washington, D.C., as well as two nights' accommodation in D.C. (February 12 and 13), as part of the pre-departure orientation.
All participants are required to attend the two-day pre-departure orientation program -- February 13-14 -- in Washington, D.C. The orientation provides an extraordinary, in-depth introduction to the history, geography, and geology, as well as the economic, social, and political dynamics of Oman. Leading scholars and diplomats serve as resource specialists for these sessions and provide unique insights based on their personal experiences in Oman. Program alumni have repeatedly commented that, once on the ground, this pre-departure experience has enabled them to encounter the country and its people with a heightened sensitivity to the ongoing impact of the country's past and a sharpened awareness of the present.
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| A panoramic view from atop the centuries-old fort adjacent to the Grand Mosque in Nizwa, historical capital of the former Imamate of Oman located deep in the Sultanate's interior. | Omani village pit-weavers work their magic in producing one of the multi-colored headdresses worn by Omanis. |
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Individuals interested in being selected to participate in the Seventeenth Annual Oman Cultural Immersion Program study visit to the Sultanate of Oman are required to submit a Malone Fellowship Application and supporting documentation to the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations no later than January 15, 2013.
The application can be found through the link below or on the National Council's website ncusar.org.
http://ncusar.org/programs/NCUSAR_Malone_Fellowship_Application.pdf
American professionals in academia, government, the military, non-governmental organizations, business, religious institutions, the media, civic associations, as well as the fine arts, humanities, and the social sciences are invited to apply.
Because a visa is required of all individuals entering Oman, the National Council will need to obtain that documentation for each participant. Once individuals are selected to participate in the study visit, they will be asked to submit their passports to the National Council's office along with a completed visa application, two (2) passport sized photos, and the U.S. $ 30.00 visa application fee. Note that that the visa fee must be sent as a money order payable to the "Embassy of Oman"; personal checks are not acceptable. U.S. passports must be valid for at least six (6) months from the date of departure, with at least two (2) clear visa pages adjacent to each other. All materials should be assembled and sent by traceable express (USPS, FEDEX, UPS, etc.) delivery to the National Council's Washington offices.
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| H.M. Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Bu Sa'id, Sultan of Oman, who marked the 40th anniversary of his rule and of the continuing Omani Renaissance in 2010. | An exterior view of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Oman's Capital Territory. |
STUDY VISIT ITINERARY
***PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FOLLOWING ITINERARY IS ILLUSTRATIVE AND BASED ON THE PROGRAM'S EXPERIENCE SPANNING THE PAST SIXTEEN YEARS. Scheduling of official appointments, weather, availability of transportation, museum hours, and the unknown may cause changes in the delegation's itinerary as we travel.***
Day 1 - Friday, February 15 - Arrive in Muscat
Arrive at Seeb International Airport (SIA) in the Sultanate's Capital Territory and transfer to hotel.
Day 2 - Saturday, February 16 - Discovering Muscat and U.S. Embassy Briefing
An early visit to the suq (traditional market) in Mutrah where local merchants conduct a brisk business with their daily catch of fish and latest stock of fruits and vegetables. Stroll the panoramic corniche along the Mutrah waterfront with its centuries-old architecture and experience the spirit of a bygone era. Continue on to the traditional suq. There will be time to return to the suq later in the day and visit one of the Art galleries, but this initial exploration will identify shops to explore at leisure later. Old Muscat includes the Royal Palace flanked by Jalali and Mirani Forts, built in the late Sixteenth century during the Portuguese occupation. The Zubair Museum, one of the Sultanate's finest, offers an excellent display of Omani culture, costume, ornamentation, and history.
Return to hotel for lunch and to change clothes.
In the afternoon there will be a briefing at the U.S. Embassy. [Ground rules long-adhered to by previous study visit delegations and much appreciated by everyone involved with these programs will apply. These ground rules will be discussed during the pre-departure orientation program held in Washington, D.C.]
Dinner at the home of an Omani tribal leader, then the remainder of the evening at leisure.
Day 3 - Sunday, February 17 - Exploration of Muscat and Ministry briefings
One or more official briefings with government ministries will be scheduled. Additional visits may include Bait Al Zubair Museum, which houses a remarkably vast and diverse array of Oman handicrafts; Bayt Al Baranda, a new interactive museum; the Grand Mosque, a church, and a Hindu Temple that serves the spiritual and social needs of Oman's long-established Hindu community; Oman's premiere hotel, the Al Bustan Palace; and the dhow built by Omani craftsmen in association with the world renowned explorer, Tim Severin, who together with Omani navigators and sailors, re-traced the legendary "Sindbad Voyage" of centuries earlier from Muscat to Canton (Guangzhou), China.
After lunch, the itinerary will include a visit to the self-guided Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) refinery and Oil Exhibition Center.
In the evening the group will attend a performance at the Royal Opera House Muscat ( see a summary of the performance).
Day 4 - Monday, February 18 - Final Day in Muscat
In the morning there will be additional meetings with Government officials and private sector groups (including an Omani women business social group), and a visit to Sultan Qaboos University. Then lunch with local scholars to discuss the Omani point of view regarding recent regional trends, governmental dynamics, and increased popular participation in the national development processes in various Arab countries.
In the evening the group will attend the Muscat Festival, where fellows can visit the Omani Traditional Village, peruse Omani Handicrafts, and enjoy local music and food.
Day 5 Tuesday, February 19 - Into the Desert
After breakfast the delegation will depart for the Wahibah Sands, an expanse of undulating ochre and tan dunes reaching heights of up to 200-meters (600-700 feet) with a wide variety of flora and fauna, depending on rainfall. Possible stops along the way include the dhow ship building yard in Sur, the tomb of Bibi Mariam near Qalhat (once visited by Marco Polo and Ibn Battuta), and Qurayyat to visit the 400-year old fort and fish market.
Lunch at Sur and head into the dunes and a Bedouin-style overnight experience at Al Areesh Desert Camp, complete with barbeque dinner, entertainment, and sleeping under the stars. The "camp" is comprised of tents with electricity and two single beds. Showers, basins, and flush toilets are provided for additional comfort.
Day 6 - Wednesday, February 20 - Discovering "An Omani Traditional Village and way of life in the past"
Visit oasis farms that produce dates and bananas, and learn about the traditional irrigation system (falaj). Then back into the desert. The day will include visits with Bedouin families to learn about their lives, together with their animals and other means of livelihood, the lives of their forebears, and the hopes they have for their children. The group will take an evening dune drive and watch the sunset from the top of the dunes, and again overnight at Al Areesh Camp.
Day 7 - Thursday, February 21 - Into the Interior . . . old capital of Nizwa
 Image courtesy of the University of Texas Libraries, The University of Texas at Austin. |
Lunch with a local family, then continue the journey to Nizwa, seat of the former Ibadhi Imamate and center of scholarly learning and traditional education, closely linked to historically Ibadi communities in Algeria, Libya, East Africa, and elsewhere. The group will visit the Nizwa suq after check-in at the hotel.
Day 8 - Friday, February 22 - Exploring the rest of Nizwa and Jabals
After an early breakfast a visit to the Nizwa Friday Market (the most active market in Oman), then on to see the fortress and the Grand Mosque, one of the largest and most distinctive in the Sultanate. Also visits to the pottery center in Bahla, Bahla Fort (under reconstruction by UNESCO), and Jabrin Castle and Fort, among the best preserved, architecturally stunning and most famous sites in all of Oman. Built in 1670 by an imam of the Ya'aruba dynasty (17th-18th centuries), until the mid-nineteenth century, Jabrin was the seat of a prosperous merchant community linked with the Indian sub-continent and with East Africa.
From Jabrin explore the jabals and the wadis (dry stream beds) that the mountainous terrain and periodic rainfall create. Visit Al-Hamra and Misfat Al Abreen, and view the ancient falaj system of underground water channels that makes agriculture possible in this area of limited precipitation and small land holdings. Traverse mountain trails to view the summit of Jabal Shams, the highest point in Oman, and for a panoramic view of Wadi Nakhul Gorge, which many American visitors have likened to the Grand Canyon in the United States.
After Lunch depart Jabal shams for Al Hutta cave, then return to the hotel
Day 9 - Saturday, February 23 - Return to Muscat
Travel from the interior back to Muscat with a stop at Birkat (Arabic for "well") Al-Mawz (Arabic for "bananas"), the "rainbow city," so-called because of the configuration of strata that serves as a backdrop for the locale.
Arrive in Muscat by noon, hotel check-in and in the evening final explorations, shopping, and a last dinner in the capital city.
Day 10 - Sunday, February 24 - Travel to Musandam
The Musandam Peninsula is often described as resembling the fjords of Norway with steep, crevice-strewn mountains descending to the sea. This region is separated from the rest of Oman by 70 kilometers (45 miles) and the territory of the United Arab Emirates (as Alaska is separated by Canada from the United States). The furthermost points of the promontory look out over the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime passageway through which moves much of the world's Gulf-supplied oil and natural gas. While the southern coast of Iran is situated on the far side of the strait, the supertanker routes lie almost entirely in Omani territorial waters as they transit this globally vital geostrategic passage.
Afternoon visit to Wadi Tawi, site of a series of Arabia's and humanity's most ancient rock-drawings depicting camels, ships, and warriors. Then drive up to Jabal Harim, the highest point in the Musandam, and down to view Khawr Al-Najd, one of the peninsula's most scenic fjords. Finish the afternoon with a stopover in Khalidyah Park, an Acacia forest that is home to many species of birds and butterflies, before returning to hotel.
Day 11 Monday, February 25 - Sailing the Fjords
Sail aboard a dhow to Khawr Ash-Sham, the most prominent fjord in the Musandam, stopping at Telegraph Island, for a few years in the 1860s a lone British telecommunications outpost linking London with Bombay by undersea cable. Stop at the village of Sibi and get a feel for its isolated existence. After an on-board lunch and possibly time for a swim and snorkeling, head to Kumzar at the northern extremity of the Musandam directly across the sea from the south shore of Iran. Dinner and overnight aboard the dhow.
Day 12 - Tuesday, February 26 - Return to Khasab
Wake up aboard the dhow for return voyage to Khasab. Afternoon exploring Khasab. Dinner and last minute shopping. Pack for return to United States.
Day 13 - Wednesday, February 27 - Travel to Dubai for flight to Washington, D.C.
Drive to Dubai to connect with return flight to Dulles International. From Dulles, participants are responsible for their own onward transportation.
http://ncusar.org/programs/NCUSAR_Malone_Fellowship_Application.pdf
American professionals in academia, government, the military, non-governmental organizations, business, religious institutions, the media, civic associations, as well as the fine arts, humanities, and the social sciences are invited to apply.
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