The Omani coffee pot
“Omanis are incredibly hospitable and warm" - a fact that is noticeable everywhere in Oman. Far from the crazy crowd, the coffee pot is truly representative of the warm hospitality of this country, inheriting one of the oldest civilisations of the region.
With industrialisation and urbanisation rapidly increasing their pace and volume, it would be quite natural to see a dilution in the culture (in the coffee!) and inherent natural elegance of a land. Yet it is a matter of pride for the Omani people that though times have changed, Oman's basic attitude towards hospitality has been kind of set from the dawn of the country's culture.
Today Oman is a prominent nation with a modern infrastructure and a high standard of living. But it continues to preserve the traditions, religious values and dignity which have guided the nation over the centuries.
Aromatic Omani coffee awaits any visitor to an Omani home. This legendary Omani hospitality of a race apart, now lives victoriously side by side with the twentieth century amenities and luxury hotels. Almost every world class hotel chain has eyed and landed on this land and now occupies a special niche in the Hospitality Industry. ''Oman has struck an extra-ordinary balance between modernity and tradition'', commented Lord Yehudi Menuhin, the world renowned music conductor when he visited the land.
The nation has come a long way from the way-side open roofed kitchen, with fish-laden donkeys wending their way to the fish souq. Hospitality was and is always most definitely associated with a caring attitude. This has given a new dimension to the Hotel industry in Oman.
The National Hospitality Institute (NHI SAOG) offers a range of internationally accredited craft courses in Hospitality, Travel and Tourism. The institute has ushered in a welcome call to offer ample opportunities for young Omanis in the exhibition and utilisation of their skills in the expanding regional hospitality industry.
“Says HH Sayyid Tarik bin Shabib bin Taimur al Said, chairman of the National Hospitality Institute SAOG, ''We are proud to be involved in this sector of our nation's economy which has such potential to benefit the citizens as well as the country.''
The NHI is registered as an Omani joint stock company. It has very close links with all the leading hotels in the world. It commenced operation in 1995, designed and worked out to provide the best possible training for those desiring to enter the industry. To answer the needs of the local industry, the company has joined forces with the Glion Hotel School of Switzerland to design and deliver short advanced level Management Courses.
Glion, who operates in several different countries are experts in the field of hospitality training. The training progresses through various levels with increasing responsibility. The programs are accredited by the Hospitality Awarding Body UK (HAB), BTEC EDEXCEL UK and International Air Transport Association (IATA).
Buoyed by the success of its recent achievements, the institute wishes to impart more and more excellence into the courses and by occasion blend in the identity of the country
Over the years the NHI has attracted increasingly higher number of entries from young Omanis. ''Their dedication to the courses contribute substantially to our success,'' says Robert MacLean, principal of NHI, who always wants to add more to their education. ''We provide adequate information based on international standards so that wherever our students or trainees go after passing out, they would be judged purely by their skills and talent.''
The popularity of the course is directly proportional to its practical success and those passed out from the Institution are seen successfully progressing all over Oman. They are engaged in worthwhile and interesting careers in places like catering firms, hospitals, hotels, leisure centres, restaurants, airlines and passenger ships.
The institution works by a principle of ''Don't tell us, show us!'' Its logo of the coffee pot is further evocative of Oman's desert traditions of hospitality and friendliness that remain essentially unaffected by the recent years of prosperity and transition to modern life. With the growth of tourism throughout the Sultanate, career prospects do appear bright. NHI also focuses its attention on the health care system, safety and security of the working environment. Oman's health care services have reached dizzy heights compared to the facilities available to the nation 30 years ago. The country is indeed being hailed by the World Health Organisation for its remarkable performance in the field. Thanks to His Majesty's wise leadership.
Hospitality also involves catering to the all-round development of the individual, providing a sound body for a sound mind. Hence a considerable amount of time is devoted to the teaching of hygiene and food. ''Learning to cook should be great fun,'' says MacLean. ''We can make food look appealing to all our senses with very little effort. A high degree of skill is required both in the manual tasks and in the material function of the post with a sharp eye for details,'' he adds.
A fundamental knowledge of food hygiene including knowledge of areas like basic bacteriology is needed for the prevention of food poisoning and other related diseases. It is during the preparation and cooking of food that the dangers from poor hygiene occur.
In many cases, the dishes of various cultures include the same basic ingredients. But different cooking methods give the dish a special regional or national flavour. In some cultures, the way food is served is almost as important as how it is prepared.
Robert MacLean has been in Oman for 6 years, helping young Omanis through a successful career in catering. Born in Scotland, MacLean was gripped by the passion for the Hotel industry from the age of 13. After having completed the Management Training at Robert Gordon's, Aberdeen, he has been fortunate with great opportunities in the field, he says. ''I believe it is a great provider of life skills. It teaches one how to deal with people, widens one's horizon on different cultures, provides opportunities to travel and on the whole, makes you a wiser person,'' he contends.
MacLean is glad that he chose Oman to lay out his table because ,''I feel very much at home here, and home is important to me.'' MacLean's wife Gina too has been in the industry, in fact, longer than he has! Of the institution, the principal says,'' Our trainees go out for work experience. Their dedication in utilising the opportunities provided by the institution ranks them apart to uphold NHI as one of the most successful institutions in Oman.
It is not an exaggeration to say hospitality is synonymous with Omani culture. The aroma of the coffee pot with its dream-like splendor arouses indeterminate emotions through the power of association, recalling precise impressions of a fascinating blend between the new and the old. Little has coffee been diluted by the passing centuries!
Oman Observer 7th October 2001
