'Living Language and Thousand-Year Traditions': Students of 'Asian and African Studies' on Internship in Oman
An internship in the country of the studied language is the most important part of training for experts in Arab Studies, as it allows students to complement their academic education with immersion in the living language environment and culture of the modern Arab world. Read on to find out about the experience of studying at the University of Nizwa shared by the fourth-year students of the Department of Middle Eastern and African Studies.
— Why did you choose Oman for your language internship?
Ekaterina Piliuk: For me, Oman was the most mysterious country, so it attracted me the most from the beginning. I heard a lot about the rich culture, how carefully they keep their traditions and the calm rhythm of life.
Sofia Skorinova: I chose the Sultanate of Oman for several reasons: the dialect that is close to the Modern Standard Arabic is widespread in the country, because of its quite budget-friendly nature, and the unknownness of the direction.
— How was the educational process structured? What was the most difficult thing in the studies?
Daria Semenova: The classes lasted from September to January with three exam periods. Three days were offline, and two were online. The schedule was very convenient, all the classes were fully in Arabic—it was difficult at first, but we adapted. Perhaps, this is the hardest moment for me. It was difficult to take an exam at 9am on January 1.
The University of Nizwa doesn't have any seminar classes as we do, so all the assessment elements are included in the exam periods: in late October, early December and January. We also had a vacation, which lasted for a little more than a week.
Sofia Skorinova: To get the credits for the Arabic language required at HSE University, I had to take five courses. In my opinion, the workload was distributed quite evenly. The hardest part was attending lectures in Arabic and catching the specific terminology.
Ekaterina Piliuk: At the university, no one rushes. The study's rhythm turned out to be quite calm and comfortable, but the exams were pretty hard. Usually, we had one to four double classes per day. I chose two courses in Arabic, the Omani literature, the history of Oman and the course on the Islamic civilisation. Some courses, for example, the history of Oman and the Islamic civilisation, included written assignments, essays and presentations. It was unusual that some exams took place at the weekend.
Maksim Ustinov: In many ways, the study process is similar to the usual university system familiar to HSE students. The courses I chose were not very difficult in content, but I had to master them fully in Arabic. I think it's a great advantage because such a format gives the valuable experience of using the language both in written and oral form. I am especially grateful to the professors from the University of Nizwa. All of them were friendly and open-minded people, always ready to lend an ear and help with any difficulties that arise.
— Did you manage to communicate with the locals? How did you overcome the language barrier?
Daria Semenova: Yes, we constantly talked to the Omanis. In each double class, we had a 'language partner' who helped us with understanding of the material. I met several students who joined our preparation for the exams. I faced the language barrier only at first. Back then, even a simple question of 'How are you doing?' made my mind go blank.
Sofia Skorinova: Oman is famous for its hospitality. I made a lot of friends both at the university and outside. Most of the Omanis whom I talked to knew Modern Standard Arabic and eagerly communicated.
Ekaterina Piliuk: I managed to communicate and even make friends with the students from the University of Nizwa. All of them are very open; they always asked if we needed any help with understanding the material or completing the home assignments, and treated us to dates! At first, of course, there was the language barrier, but the local Arabic dialect is similar to Modern Standard Arabic, so over time, we got used to it. It wasn't a problem.
— Could you tell us more about your daily life and the adaptation process? What surprised you in Oman?
Daria Semenova: We lived in a big house, which was divided into male and female parts. I felt very comfortable. We easily rented a car, arranged the household routine, and the adaptation process went pretty quickly. The most surprising thing for me was the working schedule of local institutions. Most of them close before 1pm, so you have to wake up early to do everything you need. The Omanis are surprisingly sympathetic and hospitable. If you face a problem or something happens, you will definitely get some help: they won't take any money, and they will even invite you for lunch! At first, I was struck by the conversations with taxi drivers: they were sincerely interested in our lives, asked us about why we came and always kept the conversation going.
Sofia Skorinova: Getting used to the daily life there was extremely easy. I managed to get the local driver's license and buy my own car, which I sold without loss in price at the end of the internship.
Ekaterina Piliuk: The adaptation process was quite easy. I was truly surprised by the leisurely pace of life in the country—no one rushes. I liked it a lot. Simplicity and comfort are reflected in the architecture as well: there are no skyscrapers in Oman, unlike in other Gulf countries. However, I was surprised by the almost utter absence of public transport, when the taxi prices are quite high. So I recommend everyone who can do it to rent a car—in Oman, it isn't that expensive, and it will allow you to travel more. The locals are very hospitable and friendly. They always greet you, are open to communication and always try to give you a treat (dates, coffee, sweets).
— Could you share your impressions of the internship? How has the trip changed you?
Daria Semenova: I am very happy that I got into this internship. I met wonderful people, not just from Oman but from other countries too. I can say for sure that a lot has changed in me. I started to look at the world with a touch of oriental wisdom and take everything easier. Moreover, I see my educational path in a new light.
Sofia Skorinova: An opportunity to stay in another culture for five months straight and study it from the inside is a great luxury, which cannot go unheeded in a person's life. I am extremely grateful for this experience, which expanded my ideas about the world, opportunities and people who live here.
Ekaterina Piliuk: The impressions of the internship are only positive. I saw how people live in another country and how their educational system is different from ours, met amazing people, enhanced my knowledge of the Arabic language, travelled a lot, saw stunningly beautiful places, and just had a good time. I think this trip made me more confident and calm, steady, taught me to take some things easy and enjoy the little things, and also helped me understand what I wanted to do in life.
— What advice would you give to those students who are planning to undertake such an internship?
Daria Semenova: Listen to your heart, but even if you are afraid of something and feel unsure, you should still go on the internship—this is a wonderful experience!
Sofia Skorinova: To everyone who is planning to go to Oman, I would recommend travelling as much as possible and using every spare minute to explore various parts of this astonishing country.
Ekaterina Piliuk: Don't doubt it, just go. Anyway, a trip to another country will be a valuable and unforgettable experience. Perhaps, it might sound trivial, but I recommend everyone to step out of their comfort zone, communicate with people more, travel around the country and see as much as you can. The main thing is to practice the language and not to be afraid to ask for help!
On April 27, the Institute for Asian and African Studies is holding the second international research seminar, 'The Sultanate of Oman in the Historical Memory and Modern Media: Images, Narratives and Interpretations'. Young and experienced researchers will be able to present their scientific achievements, meet their colleagues and find out the up-to-date topics in history, culture, ethnology and anthropology. More details—via the link.
