On Wednesday, an Omani group, which included students from the Department of English Language and Translation, College of Art and Social Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, concluded their 10-day trip to Michigan in the United States of America. This program is one of the initiatives made by Al Amana Centre in the Sultanate of Oman. The center works with the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs as a hub of understanding and coexistence, aiming to build bridges of open dialogue and collaboration between Muslims, Christians, and other faith traditions. The center welcomes groups from the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa all year long; however, this is the first time the center welcomed an Omani group to the United States to live the exceptional experience of being in a country where Muslims are the minority.
The program aims to familiarize students with the life, culture, religion, and society of the United States while also promoting Oman’s history, culture, and tourism. This was achieved by the various discussions and conversations that the students engaged in and by distributing booklets and symbolic gifts that represent the Sultanate of Oman.
The program, which started on June 26th and ended on July 8th, included various activities and different experiences. During their time in the US, the group visited Hope College in Holland, Michigan and met with international students and employees from the international students' office. Moreover, they visited At-Tawheed Islamic Center and the Islamic Center of America to perform the Friday prayers and meet with representatives of the Muslim community in Michigan. Furthermore, the program included visits to two churches affiliated with the Reformed Church of America as well as the homes of American families to get a closer look on the American life and culture and engage in enriching discussions about history, society, and traditions.
Moreover, the group had the chance to visit The Arab American National Museum in Detroit to know more about the history of Arab Americans and their contributions to US cultural legacy. The students visited Grand Valley State University and spent time with Muslim students to know more about the challenges they face as Muslim students in the US, how they managed to overcome these challenges and create environment where they can freely practice their faith. The students experienced many different cultural, entertainment, and sports activities.
The group participated in a photovoice program that was organized by Interfaith Photovoice. In this program, the participants shared some of the photos they took during their visit and discussed their importance in a framework of coexistence and tolerance between different religions and cultures. At the end of the program, the participants held an exhibition for some of their photos that reflect their impression and vision of the trip. They also had the chance to talk to the visitors and discuss their photos and lessons learned during this trip.
It is worth noting that such visits or programs help in building awareness and deep understanding of the other as well as introducing the Sultanate of Oman and its history, culture, and people. Such visits also promote religious tolerance and coexistence values which are all traits Omanis have been known for since the beginning of time. This experience not only promoted SQU's reputation on an academic level, but also on an international level as well.