Omanis in Fort Worth

The first photographs from this visit captured pure joy.

A group of young men and women from Oman came to Fort Worth and encountered real cowboys, horses, and longhorns. Their excitement was immediate, and it reminded those of us who live here that the familiar can become extraordinary when seen through a visitor’s eyes.

The exchange was also a learning opportunity for Fort Worth. Our guests helped participants better understand Oman, the Middle East, and Muslim culture. They could have selected many cities in North America, but they chose Fort Worth because of local projects involving innovation and economic development.

That combination made the visit especially valuable. Cultural exchange is not tourism alone, and professional exchange is not only a series of meetings. The most effective programs connect both. Visitors study relevant work, experience the identity of the host community, and build relationships that make future collaboration more likely.

The Stockyards offered a memorable introduction to Fort Worth. Kristin Jaworski, trail boss of the Fort Worth Herd, arranged a thoughtful tour that allowed our guests to experience Western heritage directly.

Special thanks to exchange chairs Derek Moffatt and Jennifer Mouhot Moffatt; Estela Martinez-Stuart of Visit Fort Worth; Dr. Diana Bowman of Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global Management; the Sinclair Hotel; Cook Children’s Hospital; and the Rotary Club of Fort Worth.

Citizen diplomacy works because curiosity travels in both directions. Our Omani guests learned about Fort Worth, while Fort Worth residents gained a more personal understanding of Oman.

The longhorns may have created the first moment of joy. The relationships created the reason the visit mattered.