Monday, January 14, 2013

Fanja vs. Swik

Tuesday, 4th day of the week. One more day of class and we're off for the weekend. Weekends in the Middle East are on Thursday and Friday. Their Friday is actually equivalent to the American Sunday or the Jewish Sabbath. And you ask why. Just to be different? Well, Friday in Arabic is actually "el jumma," which literally means "to gather together." Most Arabic families get together for a big feast and all men and most women go to the mosque to pray the Friday prayer. Friday is the day the whole community gets together and worships Allah.

Yesterday George, a few other Americans, Abdullah our driver, and I went to see a soccer match between two Muscat clubs, Fanja and Swik. Abdullah is one of the members of the club Fanja, and though he doesn't play, he wanted us to join him in watching the match. By the end of the first half, we were not having such a fanja time. Our team was down 2-0... and I don't know whether or not they caught up, because we left before the end. One interesting thing about an Omani club soccer game is the fans in the stands with drums and other Middle Eastern musical instruments playing and cheering for their respective teams. Though the stadium was not even a quarter of the way full, it got loud. I guess you could say they were comparable to a high school marching band or a drum & bugle corps. But they're just fans. Plus they're louder. And they don't take any breaks. Definitely an interesting experience!
Oman plays Syria in soccer in early February, and George and I plan on going to that game too!

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