The Turtle of Oman

The main conflict is Aref’s struggle to define home and come to terms with the fact that he will have to forge a new home for himself beyond the familiar boundaries of Oman. As Aref grows more used to the idea, he gradually realizes that with his memories and his grandfather’s stories, he can carry a version of Oman with him wherever he goes. In this way, he learns that leaving home does not mean that he loses his connection to his home, for the idea of it can travel with him.

At first, fear of leaving overwhelms Aref and fuels his reluctance to embrace the upcoming journey to the US. This inner resistance physically manifests in his inability to focus on packing, and he becomes preoccupied with his worries of how his home might change when he is gone. He does not want his room to be taken over by his cousins, and he worries about the welfare of his cat and the safety of his physical belongings, such as his rock collection.

Hidden beneath these more tangible worries is the idea that he is about to lose his home and his sense of belonging. He feels that he belongs in Oman because he has lived there since he was born.