My first taste of anything Arabic or Middle Eastern was with my life in the Sultanate of Oman. The biggest decision of my life was leaving Singapore, family and friends behind, as I decided to embark on a life of adventure, as the world beckoned me knowingly. Somehow I had set into motion my ancient nomadic roots which had for a while lain dormant in Singapore. In fact my ancestors had been nomadic. The fact that the Gulf War was looming ahead in 1991 was not daunting to me.

I felt life had to be lived, you could meet trouble right at your doorstep. So when I was selected to nurse in the Gulf I had the choice of Saudi Arabia or the Sultanate of Oman. I decided on the latter and ended up in the Mustaspha Sultani/Royal Hospital in the Sultanate of Oman. It was here that I felt the first stirring within my soul, I loved the folk, both the natives and the cosmopolitans around. I really began to live life and was strangly in love with life itself. Dancing and music was like food for the soul. The more I danced the better I felt. Somehow the music, rhythms and songs were like a narcotic that you either loved or hated. I was lucky enough to be invited to private functions and to the Al Busaidi household where Humood was very sweet with his compliments, remarking that one should follow one's heart. Another kind family, the Al Hamzi clan were wonderful, and treated me as their adopted daughter, to this day I still maintain my ties with them.

I also had the opportunity to mingle with the Baluchis and Zanzibari's as well as the Omani's. The hospitality and generosity of the Omani people was wonderful, be they my patients or villagers, they were always respectful. Greetings and pleasantries could take a while before you got to the bottom of the matter.

Maseirah Island is where the British Eastern Relay Station was situated, an untarnished island. The sands of the sprawling wide beaches were golden with no one else for as far as your eye could see. It was very ethereal walking along the beach at dawn with the cool, crisp air and the sky with hues of red, orange and blue. Tiny yellow crabs would scatter all about the sands in some great hurry. In the distance, the eyes met great gatherings of beautiful pink flamingoes.

Back on the ward of the hospital, an Egyptian doctor asked what I would like as a gift, 'a papyrus and a video of dances of the Middle East would be lovely' I replied. He got me a papyrus depicting a tomb painting of dancing girls in Ancient Egypt and a video of Oriental bellydancing with several dancers from the 70's. At the time there were no instructional videos on bellydance in Oman. I started to observe the way men and women danced, taking ideas from the video and friends as well as travelling to Jordan and other areas within Oman.

My life in Oman and travels to other countries in the region made a big impression on me. Thus began a quest to learn more about this dance, which I felt deep within and very natural. It was like I was on the threshold of rediscovering myself from a time long ago, things that lay hidden in the subconscious.

Arriving in Northern Ireland, I discovered the Josephine Wise Academy of Arabic Dance, a fantastic coincidence. Being able to do a Diploma in this dance further confirmed my belief that everyone in their earthly journey has a destiny in life to fulfil, to be of service to humankind. I also believe that when things happen along a course of mapped events, then that is the calling of one's destiny and purpose in life. In my instance the desert rekindled the flame within, I felt nurtured by its deep golden sands till the rhythm in my soul began to vibrate with ancient longing and yearning. It was like a personal blossoming to me, like that of a rose in the desert, finding my spiritual union, the very reason for being.

In Northern Ireland I felt it right that this love of expressing one's soul in dance should be shared with other kindred spirits. The benefits are many, physically, mentally and spiritually. My purpose now is to empower, bring joy and fun, self-esteem and encourage cross cultural ties in this beautiful part of the world.

Bismillah

Kristyene