A Taste of Oman

Yesterday I went to see the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall. This year's featured country is Oman. The festival is also showcasing Latino music, American food, and the 100-year history of the Forest Service. There were musicians, weavers, potters, and chefs doing demonstrations. There were also a few camels, and what appeared to be a vineyard or garden. I stopped off at the "Marketplace" (sales tent), as I always do at the festival every year. It was not as large as it usually is, but it had baskets, textiles, children's toys, ceramics, copperwork, figurines, raw honey, chocolate, soup beans, cookbooks, CDs, jewelry, hair clips, luggage tags, key chains, and festival T-shirts for sale. Of course I immediately was drawn to the jewelry....

While I was browsing, I ran into three of my co-workers. They were very amused to see me there, since I am known in the office for my love of jewelry and other accessories. After I finished shopping, we ended up eating lunch together at the "Oman Cafe" food tent. I had a "combination platter" consisting of a beef kebab, a chicken kebab, some yellow rice, and pita bread with a cucumber-mint-dill-yogurt sauce. I also had a cup of date juice, which had a much milder flavor than I expected. The whole lunch was rather expensive -- $12 -- but it tasted good and added to the feeling of being in another country. My co-workers and I reviewed my purchases -- several Omani silver-and-glass bead earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and hair clips -- and talked about how nice it is to get out of the office once in a while. We also decided there was no need to feel guilty about taking a long lunch to see the festival because we often eat at our desks and end up working unclaimed overtime.

The festival will be running through July 4. I think I'll go take a look again some time next week. I really do need to get out more often at lunchtime, and going to the festival is a great way to get some sun and exercise while learning something new. I'm really lucky I work so close to the Smithsonian museums. There is so much to see, and it doesn't cost a cent to get in. (The gift shops are another story, though!)