22 March – by Marcel Rompelman (Wetskills Program Manager) – Wetskills Oman 2023 came to an end. An event I will remember because of the warm group feeling throughout the days, thanks to all involved.
It was good to see my brother Dr. Ahmed (al-Busaidi) again. Ever since I visited Oman for the Sunglacier Challenge 2018 and the Corona-edition in 2020, I felt welcome in Oman. This year myself and the group felt especially welcomed thanks to Jamal al-Habsi, one of the assistants to Dr. Ahmed.
Jamal arranged a lot in the background and had fun showing the Dutchees around in a weekend roadtrip to the Raz al Jinz turtle reserve, Wadi Bani Khaleed and the Wahibia sands for dune bashing. Jamal introduced us to his family in a “village” near Muscat, where we were welcomed wholeheartedly by his uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces on their family farm. Even grandfather came into the garden to greet us.
A Friday family evening diner is a very special event. Thank you, Jamal, for showing us Omani life that we would otherwise never see as tourists. I’m sure I will return and I hope we touched many lives in the group that will somehow find their way back to Oman.
Shoekran, brother Jamal
