Desert diaries - Day 5

Discussing East and West around the campfire

An international group of teenagers has been travelling across the Sharqiya Sands in Oman to try to further cross-cultural understanding.

The young people come from Britain, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Oman, Pakistan and Fiji.

They have been walking 20km each day using camels to carry their provisions. Their daily diaries are published here.

TUESDAY 13 FEBRUARY

Talal al-Sayyed - Saudi Arabian:

It's hard to express what I feel about this expedition.

I was afraid at first that I wouldn't fit in because of the language and communication barrier.

I am happy to have met people from different countries and cultures and I have learnt a lot about decision-making and teamwork.

My friends from Saudi Arabia took very good care of me because I am the youngest member. But they teased me all the time!

Thanks to the trip organisers and my father for this opportunity which I'll never forget.

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Ra'ed al-Hussaini - Saudi Arabian:

It's amazing what I've seen in this trip.

I've met fantastic, friendly people from other cultures.

I learnt about honesty, sacrifice and patience from everyone here.

I have made friends from Pakistan, Fiji, UK, Jordan, Oman and New Zealand beside my new Saudi friends Waleed and Talal.

We talked as a group about several subjects. I found no difference between east and west.

Travelling Sharqiya Sands by camel

The journey was really fun, like a dream vacation. Especially when we danced on the third day with the Bedouins. Everybody was happy.

When this journey ends I will miss everyone - especially the cameraman. He must really hate me because he hasn't interviewed me yet!

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Dawood al-Ghafri - Omani:

I really think we have made some connections between east and west.

Over the past four days I learned about different cultures, especially when we worked as a team and played games.

Everybody thought about the different backgrounds we all came from and we chose the best solution bearing this in mind.

We had to respect each other, whether we were from the west or east.

It was really interesting and we did our best.

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Ahmad al-Hasanat - Jordanian:

I am so glad to have been part of this adventure.

I learnt something new about everyone's culture and background, by talking to them as we walked during the day, or by the bonfire.

I loved it when we visited the Bedouins and saw how to deal with life in the desert.

I also introduced Jordanian culture to the discussion. Among other things, I talked about the history of Petra.

I won't forget all my new friends from Oman, UK, Saudi Arabia, Fiji, Pakistan and New Zealand, especially Mr Ali Abu Misfar, our guide, and his team.

Click here to read diaries from days 3 and 4

Click here to read diaries from days 1 and 2

Read more on the background to the trip at Connecting Cultures.