January Happenings in Salalah

Last week Thursday was a National Holiday for all of Oman. Omani's didn't have to go to school (where, I just learned the government gives $208 per month to every person enrolled), or work and nearly every shop was shut, including the pot planting and seed shop where I still need to get soil to pot my 10 free plants from the Ministry of Agriculture. The poor little plants are still sitting in their garbage bag homes on the front steps, being used as barf bags by the scarred and whiny neighborhood cats. Last night there was white puke #1 and yellow puke #2. Both stunk.


But, football, not puke was the occasion marker for this Omani ebullience and freedom: the big win in the Gulf Cup. Oman beat Saudi Arabia in a sudden death penalty shoot-out. In the 35 years since Oman entered the GC they have never won. The first five goals went in for each team and on the sixth kick, Saudi missed it and Mohammed Rhabir, with the best shot of the day into the top left corner, won the Cup. Oman went wild and Sultan Qaboos responded in turn with the holiday. On the drive home we joined everyone and their grandparents dancing in the middle of the street, put on our hazards and perma-horn honking. Now Oman has a chance to go to the World Cup in South Africa. A monumental day indeed. And are any of you Cape Town Brentwood kids upholding our World Cup promise and going back for 2010?