In 1984, I left for the United States for higher studies. Fawzia had to stay back in Oman because we couldn't support my parents and Roy's schooling back in Sri Lanka on my scholarship. In Oman, female teachers who did not live with their husbands had to enter a teachers' hostel. Fawzia stayed at a hostel from August 1984 till 1987. The other teachers were mainly from Egypt, Jordan, the Sudan, and Sri Lanka. To go from a home with me and Roy to sharing a crowded hostel would not have been easy. My friend Sarath Jayawardena (since deceased) and Fawzia's brother Hamlin paid her regular visits.
The only person I recognize from these photos is Swarna Samaraweera, who went to Oman with me in 1981 in the first batch of English teachers from Sri Lanka. After I left for the States, Fawzia shared a room in the teachers' hostel with Swarna. I belive they cooked together. Swarna, who now lives in Colombo, called me after reading Fawzia's obituary.
Before I left for the USA, we had a home in Al Khadra on the Muscat - Sohar highway. This photo shows friends from Oman Aviation visiting us in December, 1982. Our friend Emil Fernando, who went to Oman with me in 1981, is in the photo.
January 1983, at Al Kadra.
English teachers Lalitha, Swarna, & Fareeda at our Al Khadra home. February, 1983. Fawzia hadn't begun to teach yet.
