Zee Fairy Trip

As mentioned in a previous post, BOMU arranged a ferry trip on Tuesday, March 16th for the participant of the 1st Muscat Youth Summit.

Being the punctual type we are, our team arrived before an hour to the meeting point (National Ferries Company) in Muscat so we had to ask if we could wait at the waiting hall. 30 minutes later, the organizers of the event arrived and after a good number of students filled the place, we headed to the ferry.

For it being my first time, I was fantasized by the size of the ferry and how organized it was. At first, I was overwhelmed by the illusion of being seasick but soon though, I realized it was just my wild imagination playing tricks on me so I roamed around the ferry, enjoying the awesome view outside.

Finally, we were allowed to get up to the roof where helicopters usually lands on and lined up for a group picture:

All in all, I had an enjoyable time with friends and an amazing trip and I wouldn't mind doing it again.

Photos credit: The above pictures were taken off of Facebook group as my camera went blank and the pictures I took are gone.

Busy March

Guess what? Today is the official day of my last mock examination (not technically because there’s the ICT practical test tomorrow but I don’t usually count it as one). That being said, the next big worry is acing IGCSEs which is on May-June.

After being prepared for almost 2 months for this examination, what I desperately need is a few weeks of relaxation and taking my mind out of school and the hectic days I go through. And no, this can never be the case since there’s one month to be all set for IGCSEs after having finished the syllabus. We all have to wait and start revising from now on because (as everybody's aware of), it’s not any exam, alas, an international one. Pray for me, readers.

On the bright side, this is a very busy week for me. There’s tomorrow’s final exam, and Tuesday, which is the deadline of the photography competition (that has no theme whatsoever and that makes it all the more harder to choose) and….

.....The long awaited ferry trip (the ferry below, to be exact)

Thanks to BOMU for arranging this event, 1st Youth Summit participant are all invited. If I was allowed to go, I would meet up with the friends I made while attending the workshops back in December and the awarding ceremony in February.

Profession wise, I am working with a team of my own choice in building up a story for TheWeek’s Cubscribe challenge (finding Sultanate’s best journalist), and the deadline is on March, 25th. Besides, there’s the Journalism Workshop on March, 16th at Muscat International school in order to get some tips and get the work done easily.

As a treat, I am currently downloading Spore and Half Life 2 to play later. Are there any good video games you recommend for a noob like me?

After boring you for so long about my days, what are you guys up to lately?

For now, enjoy the rest of your day!

Youth Summit Awarding Ceremony

On 16, Feb 2010 and under the patronage of HH Sayyid Shihab bin Tariq Al Said Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan, the supervisors, sponsors and students gathered around for an awarding ceremony at AlBustan Palace Hotel.

The ceremony’s aim was to award the students and those who took part in making the Summit possible. Its program started with a welcoming speech by the organizers from BOMU (Aliya Alhosni) and the Chief Operating Officer, HH Sayyid Faisal Bin Turki AlSaid. Dr. Madiha Al Shibani, The Secretary General from the Oman National Commission for Education presented a speech about Oman’s Youth.

An exhibition was held by SQU students to showcase their work:

The evening ended with closing remarks and dinner at Majan Ballroom.

We, the students, had an enlightening experience at the past 3 days of the 1st Muscat Youth Summit at AlNahda Resort and Spa which was held from Dec 7th to the 9th 09. From there onwards, we started taking part in more serious and important local and global issues such as sustainability and global warming. We became aware of the issues surrounding us, and we now believe that an action must be taken.
On behalf of the students, it gives me great pleasure to thank the organizers at Brand Oman Management Unit, the sponsors and everyone else who made it such a memorable experience for all of us and a beneficial one as well.

Enlightening Experience

[First off, I had to write this in a hurry seeing as how I'm away from home at the moment, and yes, this post lacks of photos. I'll upload them once I get the chance to]

The 7th was the first day of the 1st Muscat Youth Summit. Students were separated into three different groups depending on their ages as soon as they reached AlNahda Resort and Spa:

• Red group (Age 14-16)
• Yellow group (Age 17-19)
• Orange group (Age 20-21)

* Day one’s theme was about Sustainability and Climate Change, divided into three sessions: CO2 Management, Energy Security & Diversity and Energy Efficiency, presented by Asim Gusbi, Qais Al-Zakwani and Ahmed Al-Jahdami.

After the three sessions, we had a panel discussion where each student from different schools gets to go on stage and become a panelist. The idea was meant for the participants to share the most important points mentioned at the previous 3 sessions and to note how they’re all linked together under the topic Energy in a presentation form.

Before dinner, Ibraim Al-Busaidi, an Omani Photographer, presented a presentation about Photography.

** Day two’s theme was about Creative Oman, divided into four sessions: A Tradition of Innovation, Exploring Innovation, iGeneration and Creativity Now! Presented by Hany Bayaa, Nourhan Beyrouti, Russell Barczyk, Jamal Al-Asimi.

Personally, the second day’s sessions and workshops interested me the most. I enjoyed the Creativity Now and Exploring Innovation sessions, and iGeneration workshop at the afternoon.

Day 2’s surprise guest: Ahmed AlHarthy, an Omani racer.

After dinner, one of the organizers arranged a last-night-celebration dancing party that included participants dancing and enjoying their last night at the lawn.

*** Day 3’s theme was about City Living, divided into four sessions: Urban Transition in a Global Perspective, Developing Products for Oman’s Tourism Industry, A Passion for Plants, Carbon Critical Design presented by Nikolaus Knebal, Dana Sarhan, Dareen Mehdi, and Richard Smith.

Whereas the day’s workshops were arranged as field trips to different areas depending on the topics students chose earlier. I went to Oman Botanic Garden at AlKoudh for Sustainable Oman - Future Thinking. Dareen Mehdi, Sarah and Craig were the presenters.

We went along with Mr. Craig who introduced the under-construction heritage center and explained that the aim of this project is to keep the environment safe and clean for the plants.

Ms. Sarah showed us the whole project’s sample and asked for our ideas in order to attract people of our age as the Oman youth represents 50% of the Omani population. The participants came up with interesting ideas and Ms. Sarah showed interest in listening to each and every one of them and note down the suggestions for later consideration with the whole team.

Visiting the nursery with Ms. Dareen was fascinating. We got to actually see the plants kept in special nurseries and conditions. The plants were all Omani in origin.

The trip ended and we went back to AlNahda Resort and Spa to meet up with the rest of the participants and have a final closing session with the organizers, supervisors and H H Faisal bin Turki al Said, chief executive officer of Brand Oman Management Unit.

To conclude this, it was one of those unforgettable events. I’m sure each and every one of the participants enjoyed their time to the max and most importantly, benefited from the experienced and educated speakers. Not to forget the amazing accommodation and treatment given by the organizers and supervisors. It was all about having fun, voicing opinions and learning in the same process.

My Article On Oman Obeserver

Here's my crappy article on Oman Obeserver (Published on the 16th - yesterday)




Have you heard of the 1st Muscat Youth Summit on Dec? Well, I'll be going next month. I've also filled the form and chose 'Pulishing and IGeneration' workshop for the first day and 'Future Thinking' for the next.

The workshops will be held at AlNahda Resort and Spa from 7th to 9th of Dec and is aimed at students of ages 14 – 21. I’ll fill you guys in with the detailed info once I get there.