Moving to Oman Janelle and I were both disappointed that we'd miss the 100th Calgary Stampede this July. Not everyone enjoys Stampede time in Calgary but we definitely embrace it and have a great time. The pros of Oman easily outweighed missing Stampede for one year so we took it in stride.
Unbeknown to us was a hidden gem right here in Oman, the Canadian Stampede. An event that was hosted again for the 19th straight year. Our good friends Tom and Donna suggested that we consider joining the volunteer committee to help out with this years edition, a good way to get involved plus meet some fellow Canadian expats. So for the past 3 months Janelle and I have been attending the Monday Stampede meetings and have thoroughly enjoyed our time on the committee. Not only have we made great new friends (always seem to have an instant connection with any Canadians you meet here) but the committee meetings themselves were fantastic as the common practice was to have a beer or two each meeting. Plus you add in the food tasting for the buffet menu and more importantly shooter tasting for the shooter bar and you have possibly the best committee we've ever been on.
It wasn't all just sitting around drinking and eatting though, the days before the big event there was a lot of physical labour required to decorate and construct all the necessary pieces. The Stampede is regarded in the expat community as the best party of the year so there was a lot to live up to. By the middle of Thursday afternoon we had successfully transformed the Ras Al Hamra club basketball courts into the Calgary Stampedes grounds, complete with a bull, chuckwagon, hay bales galore, shooter bar, tepees, and a plywood cutout of the old Wainwright Hotel. Our committee even managed to find Moosehead beer in Dubai and get it delivered as our welcome drink for the night.
The big night arrived and our committee of about 20 were responsible for taking tickets, tying bandanas on (Janelle got blisters from tying, no joke) and handing out welcome drinks. I was even nominated to sport a fairly good Mountie costume at the beginning of the night. After the 800+ patrons had made through the door, the majority wearing pretty decent Stampede outfits, the remainder of the night quickly passed with much two stepping, line dancing, shooters, beer and a couple fights. For one night at least I could have been home in Calgary had I not known where I was.
Another responsibility of the committee was tear down the following morning. Waking up with a couple nasty headaches Janelle and I made it down to help with the last remaining tasks nursing our water bottles. A fantastic experience and one that if we're still here next year would gladly partake in again. Yeehaw!!!!!!
Unbeknown to us was a hidden gem right here in Oman, the Canadian Stampede. An event that was hosted again for the 19th straight year. Our good friends Tom and Donna suggested that we consider joining the volunteer committee to help out with this years edition, a good way to get involved plus meet some fellow Canadian expats. So for the past 3 months Janelle and I have been attending the Monday Stampede meetings and have thoroughly enjoyed our time on the committee. Not only have we made great new friends (always seem to have an instant connection with any Canadians you meet here) but the committee meetings themselves were fantastic as the common practice was to have a beer or two each meeting. Plus you add in the food tasting for the buffet menu and more importantly shooter tasting for the shooter bar and you have possibly the best committee we've ever been on.
It wasn't all just sitting around drinking and eatting though, the days before the big event there was a lot of physical labour required to decorate and construct all the necessary pieces. The Stampede is regarded in the expat community as the best party of the year so there was a lot to live up to. By the middle of Thursday afternoon we had successfully transformed the Ras Al Hamra club basketball courts into the Calgary Stampedes grounds, complete with a bull, chuckwagon, hay bales galore, shooter bar, tepees, and a plywood cutout of the old Wainwright Hotel. Our committee even managed to find Moosehead beer in Dubai and get it delivered as our welcome drink for the night.
The big night arrived and our committee of about 20 were responsible for taking tickets, tying bandanas on (Janelle got blisters from tying, no joke) and handing out welcome drinks. I was even nominated to sport a fairly good Mountie costume at the beginning of the night. After the 800+ patrons had made through the door, the majority wearing pretty decent Stampede outfits, the remainder of the night quickly passed with much two stepping, line dancing, shooters, beer and a couple fights. For one night at least I could have been home in Calgary had I not known where I was.
Another responsibility of the committee was tear down the following morning. Waking up with a couple nasty headaches Janelle and I made it down to help with the last remaining tasks nursing our water bottles. A fantastic experience and one that if we're still here next year would gladly partake in again. Yeehaw!!!!!!
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