On the itinerary of my most recent recruiting trip to the Middle East was a stop in Oman, a visit originally scheduled for last June but canceled due to the devastating effects of Cyclone Gonu.Muscat, the capital, is a beautiful, ornate, modern city literally cut into and in between mountains, and bordered by the picturesque coastline provided by the Gulf of Oman. Our visit was centered on a meeting with HE Dr. Abdullah Al Sami, the Undersecretary in the Ministry of Higher Education who I knew had gone to the United States for his PhD.
I was ushered into a comfortable, understated office decorated in a classic Omani style by a number of articulate and obviously well-educated staffers dressed in dishdashas--simple, ankle-length, collarless gowns with long sleeves--the traditional dress of Omanis.
After the coffee was poured we launched into the small talk that builds the trust and relationships necessary to get down to business. Then I was hit with a bombshell. Dr. Al Sami proceeded to tell me that he got his doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh, took classes at Carnegie Mellon's Heinz School of Public Policy and Management, and, most amazingly, was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan!
Now, I know that U.S. football (called gridiron here in Australia) is popular around the world, not just among expats but the millions who watch the Super Bowl every year. And the Steelers are one of the league's most popular teams because of its "blue collar" work ethic and winning history. But I certainly didn't expect to find a fellow Steelers fan in the heart of the Gulf, with a backdrop dripping with all the beauty and tradition of the region.
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