Thank You Muscat

Dear Muscat,

Thank you for welcoming me here with a warm heart and open mind. I landed here on the morning of 6 March 2019 after the end of a tumultuous marriage, and I was looking for a fresh start and some finances to fend for my three children.

No one judged me or called me names, and I eventuality got my peace and sleep back. Muscat is quiet and I love how the system works here. Especially the Royal Police are so friendly and always ready to help.

If you are new here, just take your time and explore the country. You'll see the beauty of this city and you'll meet fantastic people, expats and local citizens alike. I also love the fact that some Omanis can speak in Swahili which is a national language in my country.

I love Muscat for its quietness and the fact that it is a five-hour flight away from my country. I love the Mwasalat buses that offer public transport. They are safe and I enjoy the rides.

The bus drivers are kind, unlike some taxi drivers who often harass ladies. The buses have exclusive seats for women and children.

I do enjoy freedom of worship here. Everyone can visit places of worship with no discrimination.

The safety of Muscat is amazing. I can be outside at any time of the night without fear of being mugged or having house break-ins. At places of work, you can have some peace of mind without fear of losing any of your electronic gadgets like iPads, laptops, or phones.

You need to have adventure, too, and explore Oman to enjoy its beauty. Along the way, you’ll get to meet amazing people here. I have friends here, locals and mostly expat families who have made me feel at home. They're my support system, especially when I get homesick.

Try different cuisines offered here and have a taste of the world. When you visit Muscat, follow basic rules regarding the dressing and public display as required by the Islam religion.

I’ve learnt to dress differently, I stopped wearing short dresses — just like the old adage says, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Muscat is my home away from home. And when I travel home for the summer holidays, I do miss Muscat!

Jakki Apiyo was born and raised outside the lakeside city of Kisumu, in the beautiful East African country Kenya. Jakki is an elementary school teacher in the Sultanate of Oman and considers her faith and family to be most important to her. If she isn’t spending time with her friends and family, you can almost always find her engaged in religious activities, in Ghala, or on different online platforms.