Ma'a salama Oman, Konichiwa Japan!: English Cafe'

Every fortnight the University of Nizwa hosts an event called the English Cafe'.

It is a time when students and faculty and others come together and only English is spoken there. It is a good opportunity for the students to practice their English.

They serve coffee and tea and put on some sort of a skit or show and a slideshow. There are questions proposed and time for discussion. Last nights topic was about friendship.

Before it began, I met the wife of another teacher here. She is from NY & pregnant with their first child. We had a good time talking about birth-n-babies. That was fun for me, as I never tire of that topic.

The event takes place outside and there are tables & chairs set up.
The kids were able to run around & were totally safe. There was only 1 other baby there.
The students love children! They get heaps of attention on campus. Our friend Conor said that if Rob & I ever wanted some child-free time, we could just drop our 3 off at the Uni & come back in....a week or so! We actually probably could & they would be perfectly safe & adored.

My girls have become good friends with several of the students and it was great getting to see them.
We sat at a table with Fatma. Although Noah was mingling with a table of pretty girls most of the evening.

Camilla volunteered to help with an activity on stage. She was adorable.
She had to stick her hand in a bucket of ice to try to find a 50 baisa coin. She came out with a very cold/wet hand but no coin. After a lot of applause, they handed her a coin anyway.
Conor volunteered as well & he didn't get a coin either---but they didn't give him one.

We look forward to attending the next English cafe' in 2 weeks where the discussion will be environmental issues. I hope littering is brought up. It is out of hand here. We need to start a campaign to clean up Oman!