American Corners: 2006-2007 News

Salalah Students See "Views of America"

On August 29, Embassy Muscat's Assistant Public Affairs Officer (APAO) presented the film "Views of America" to approximately 25 students at the Salalah American Corner.  Salalah is Oman's second-largest city (approx. 200,000), located in the far south near the Yemeni border.  The film included footage of Thomas Jefferson's home "Monticello" in autumn; a small town in Indiana; snow in the United States during the winter season; and the New Jersey boardwalk on America's east coast. 

Deputy Chief-of-Mission Visits Salalah Corner

On July 15, Deputy Chief-of-Mission (DCM) Alfred Fonteneau visited the Salalah Corner, accompanied by APAO and Public Affairs Specialist Said al Harthy.  The DCM discussed overall Corner activities with the Corner Director, and introduced himself to students in an English-language class.  Later that night, he attended the opening ceremony of the "Khareef Festival" in Salalah.

Ambassador Grappo Donates Books to Salalah Corner

In May, Ambassador Gary A. Grappo visited the Salalah American Corner as part of his tour to the Dhofar governorate.  The Ambassador was accompanied by Robert Arbuckle, head of the Public Affairs Section at Embassy Muscat, and Eric Carlson, who heads the Political/Economic section.  The Ambassador enjoyed visiting with students and staff as he donated a World Book Encyclopedia and an "Easy Reader" series of books to the Corner.  

Standing Room Only in Sohar for "Views of America"

On April 24, APAO traveled to Sohar University to present the films "Views of America" and "Views of Washington" to approximately 25 students who packed into the American Corner's audio/visual room.  The films included scenes of a small town in Indiana, celebrations of the Christmas and New Year's holidays in the United States, views of the major monuments in Washington and the three branches of government (the Capitol building where Congress meets; the Supreme Court building; and the White House where the president lives). Students also saw footage of the Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center and the Islamic art collection at the Freer-Sackler gallery.

IRO Instructs MCBS Students about World Book Encyclopedia

In April 2007, Information Resource Officer (IRO) Carla Higgins instructed students at the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) in Muscat how to use their new World Book encylopedia set as a powerful tool for reference and research in their studies.  As part of the presentation to approximately 20 students, the IRO distributed some worksheets with topics on them, which the students practiced looking up in the encyclopedia.

Ambassador Grappo Donates World Book Encyclopedia to MCBS

In early 2007, U.S. Ambassador to Oman Gary A. Grappo donated a new set of the World Book encyclopedia, and many other books, to the American Corner at Muscat's Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS).  Other titles included biographies of Michael Jordan and Martin Luther King, Jr., and a volume about American women in business.  The following day, all six Omani daily newspapers published articles and photos about the donation.

Mrs. Rebecca Grappo Visits Rustaq, Discusses Teaching Methodology

On March 19, Mrs. Rebecca Grappo delivered a presentation to teachers at Rustaq College about teaching methodology.  She asked the audience to remember examples of good and bad teachers in their lives, and to consider what about these teachers' style made them effective or ineffective in the classroom.  Mrs. Grappo also discussed a variety of issues involved with teaching, including rewards and motivation, expectations, classroom management, training and professional development, teaching as art vs. science, and the important role of experience, fainess, and objectivity in successful teaching.

"Sound Merchants" Jazz Group Performs at Buraimi Corner

In early March, the jazz group "Alvin Atkinson and the Sound Merchants" put on a  performance for approximately 500 students on the campus of Buraimi University College, where an American Corner is located.  The audience was mostly students, and included both men and women who were delighted to hear the music.  Most had never heard jazz music before, and after the show they crowded around the group to talk with them and get their autographs. 

Sharing the Dream with MCBS Students

On February 25, Andrew Lentz of the Embassy's Political/Economic section spoke to an audience of 13 male and female students at the Muscat College of Business and Science (MCBS) American Corner about the civil rights movement in the United States.  The talk was part of Embassy Muscat's African-American History Month programming.  Mr. Lentz focused on the years 1955-68 as he detailed the struggles of black Americans to gain equal rights.  A powerful theme of Mr. Lentz's remarks, based on the example of Rosa Parks, was that individuals can make a difference.  Later, a teacher at MCBS borrowed the film "Amistad" from the Public Affairs Section so that she could learn more about African-American history.

U.S. Education and Exchange Opportunities Presentation at Rustaq

On February 20, PAS presented a two-part evening program on exchanges and education to an enthusiastic audience of approximately 75 at the American Corner at Rustaq College of Education.   Educational Advisor Hiyaam al Barwani and Cultural Affairs Assistant Batool Baqer discussed  opportunities in the U.S., including the range of available U.S. government exchange programs; the APAO moderated.  After the panel, students swamped PAS staff with questions about their presentations.

Internet 101 at Rustaq

On February 19, Information Resource Center (IRC) director Mariam Al Maskary delivered a presentation to Rustaq students about how to search the Internet effectively and find information needed for research.  She also introduced students to the most prominent U.S. government sites on the Internet.

Surfin' U.S.A.! at MCBS

On February 18, Embassy Muscat's Defense Attach Col. Mark Avery enthralled a full house of approximately 50 students at the American Corner at Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) with tales of surfing in his home state of Hawaii.  Explaining how surfing was originally permitted only for Hawaiian kings on huge boards cut from old-growth forests, the Colonel described the sport's modern manifestations.  He discussed the surfing craze of the 1960s that spurred even American Midwesterners who lived hundreds of miles from ocean waves to buy surf boards, and he introduced surfing music like the "Beach Boys."  The students especially enjoyed the Colonel's photographs of his favorite surfing spots in Oman, and appreciated his use of Arabic during his presentation.

APAO Listens to Rustaq Students, Discusses American Corner

On the evening of February 13, the Assistant Public Affairs Officer (APAO) held an evening session with Rustaq students to talk with them about the purpose of the American Corner.  The APAO listened to students' ideas about the sort of books and programs they are interested in having at the Corner in the future. 

Ambassador Grappo Donates Books at Rustaq and Sohar American Corners

On February 12 and 13, Ambassador Gary A. Grappo visited Sohar and Rustaq to tour the American Corners there and donate a new World Book Encyclopedia, in addition to some "Easy Reader" books about various topics on U.S. history and culture.  The Ambassador's visits garnered prominent press coverage in "Al-Shabiba" newspaper, and "Al-Watan" also carried the news.

APAO Roundtable with MCBS Students

On February 5, 2007, APAO visited the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) for a roundtable discussion with students in order to meet them and publicize upcoming Corner programs.  Students told APAO about what kind of books and programs they are interested in seeing at their Corner in the future.

Fulbrighter Speaks at Sohar and MCBS about Islam in America and Food Safety

On December 9, 2006, Dr. Mushtaq Memon, an American Fulbrighter teaching at Sultan Qaboos University, spoke about how certain chemicals found in food can affect our health and that of future generations. He also talked about science and engineering education at Washington State University. The talk generated a great deal of interest amongst staff and students and useful talks were held on possible cooperation between Washington State University and Sohar University.  On December 29 Dr. Memon spoke to students at the Modern College of Business and Science (MCBS) in Muscat about Islam in America.  The 35 students in the audience were impressed that Muslim-Americans can practice their fath with complete freedom, without any governmental restrictions.  During his talk, Dr. Memon distributed the U.S. government publication "Muslims in America."  

Sohar Celebrates International Education Week

On November 19, 2006, Sohar University's American Corner hosted the Embassy's Cultural Affairs Assistant Ms. Batool Baqer, new Embassy Educational Adviser Ms. Hiyaam al Barwani, and America-Mideast Training and Educational Services (AMIDEAST) representative Sarah Fuller, who promoted study opportunities in the United States and the range of exchange programs offered by the U.S. government for Omanis to visit and study in America.