I've lived here 29 years now and there are some fabulous things that I love about Kuwait. That or I'm as nutty as a fruit cake to stay this long. I like to think it's not the latter.
Favourites of mine, feel free to jump in and add if you think I've left some out.
1. The sea, islands and coastline.
2. The winter sun. The summer sun after being in the freezing air-con and before getting in the car.
3. The bendable rules.
4. Wasta, when it's used to benefit you ;O)
5. Tax-free, easy living. The laid back approach to bills. Anywhere else in the world your furniture would be on the pavement if you were a week late with the rent.
6. The food and restaurants. Much better quality and prices than Europe.
7. The charm and hospitality of the Kuwaitis and Arabs.
8. Excellent private education at affordable prices.
9. The great friends you make (and my very adorable Kuwaiti family that adopted me).
10. Relatively safe.
11. The opportunities.
12. Accessability of people in power. (The area MP for Kuwaitis is very accessable and will be available at diwaniyas, try talking to your MP in your country ..not so easy).
So even though we moan and groan there is something keeping us and it's not always the money..
Go for a lovely long walk today along the seafront from Scientific Centre to Marina Crescent and you'll know why you here. Have a nice day.
Favourites of mine, feel free to jump in and add if you think I've left some out.
1. The sea, islands and coastline.
2. The winter sun. The summer sun after being in the freezing air-con and before getting in the car.
3. The bendable rules.
4. Wasta, when it's used to benefit you ;O)
5. Tax-free, easy living. The laid back approach to bills. Anywhere else in the world your furniture would be on the pavement if you were a week late with the rent.
6. The food and restaurants. Much better quality and prices than Europe.
7. The charm and hospitality of the Kuwaitis and Arabs.
8. Excellent private education at affordable prices.
9. The great friends you make (and my very adorable Kuwaiti family that adopted me).
10. Relatively safe.
11. The opportunities.
12. Accessability of people in power. (The area MP for Kuwaitis is very accessable and will be available at diwaniyas, try talking to your MP in your country ..not so easy).
So even though we moan and groan there is something keeping us and it's not always the money..
Go for a lovely long walk today along the seafront from Scientific Centre to Marina Crescent and you'll know why you here. Have a nice day.
Ive only been here10 months and here are my additions
ReplyDelete1. The eggs and cucumbers are the best I've ever tasted!
2. Witnessing National Pride, its so refreshing.
3. Watching children act like children!Society here allows them a real childhood.
4. I have only met or spoken to a handful of Arabic Kuwaiti women but each of them has graciously welcomed me to Kuwait.When asked what I think of Kuwait? I have replied, "I like living here" and they have beamed with pride.
5.Camels,They make me smile, especially the babies when they don't seem to have full control of their legs, desert "Bambies".
6.The sunsets and sunrises, are beautiful.
7.The wonderfully colourful mix of ex-pats.
Lovely additions thanks..
ReplyDeleteLiving in Kuwait sucks !
ReplyDeleteA tongue in cheek guide for the newly arrived
Written by a long-time resident
Preface
First, let's get something straight. Kuwait doesn't suck and the people in Kuwait don't suck. Keep it clean and upright; no bigotry or prejudice please (although that may in fact be all around you once you arrive). The title of this short story is "Living in Kuwait sucks". Got it? Living in Kuwait sucks; the country does not suck; the government does not suck; and the people do not suck. The country may be a hell-hole; the government has the cutting edge of a dull knife; and the people here may be weird, but that does not mean the country, the government or the people suck. Living in Kuwait sucks (for many other reasons than it being a hell-hole with a dull government and weird people).
If you have time, prepare for the move
The bad news is that it may not help much. The good news is that it might help a little. Yes, preparation may be worth it. It'll help reduce the suckiness that living in Kuwait can produce. What should and should not put in your suitcase? Please do not include an Arabic phrase booklet? Standard Arabic is found in school books – learn Arabic from people here on the street. You can always spot someone who tried to learn Arabic from a phrasebook, nobody will understand them. That must suck.
Another thing to omit from the ole suitcase is your attitude. It sucks when some hot-shot from Mumbai says that they are so and so from Mumbai. Yawn. Or my favorites 'My husband works at the embassy, Schlumberger, Halliburton, Chevron, etc.' In the words of Shania Twain that 'don't impress me much'. Part of why living in Kuwait sucks so much is that it must be the worldwide geological epicenter of attitude.
part 2
ReplyDeleteRead the blogs
For all its petro-dollars, Kuwait may not have 1st world infrastructure, but it has damn good blogs. They are one thing that definitely doesn't suck in Kuwait. Whether it be desertgirl, 248am, the 4th ring road or the ladies who do lunch (to name a few), read the blogs as not only a part of your preparation to move, but also check back with them every week once you've arrived.
Review the schools (but not without a whole lot salt…)
Got kiddies? If not, skip this section. WAIT! On second thought, non-kiddy expats will still need to be intimately aware of schools in Kuwait – not for possible people to make friends with (adults I'm referring to), but because of if where you live or your transportation routes are near schools or go near schools, beware of that schools cause major traffic headaches twice a day. Whether you work in them or live near them, schools suck in Kuwait.
Ask yourself what do you need to be happy?
It sucks when you discover Kuwait doesn't have vegemite, Fruit Loops, or haggis. Actually, Kuwait does have the first two, but it has signed the international treaty to genetically remove the gene that causes people to eat haggis from the human genome. It must suck for some diehard Scot not to have their beloved mix of oats and beef lung (almost as tasty as pig's blood and oats made into something sucky called pudding, I'd imagine), but, believe me, living in Kuwait amongst Scots droning on and on about their national dish sucks. Scots don't suck, they're just plain weird.
Welcome to Kuwait
Kind of a sucky airport, didn't you think? Were you ambushed by porters at the luggage caracole? Embarrassed as your contraband was confiscated (That sucks)? Pushed by the crowds? Disgusted by the toilets? Ignored by apathetic airport staff? Blasted by the summer temperature? If so, consider yourself lucky. Welcome to Kuwait. At least you're out of the airport….
How's company housing? In my almost 20 years in Kuwait, I've actually met people who had the Sheraton, now the Hilton, as their long-term company housing. Rough assignment, it must be. If you're reading this at the Hilton, go fuck yourself, you lucky scum. (Hope you trip on the curb going to The Blue Elephant restaurant, on the company's tab of course – I hope the food sucks). Envy, at the end of the day, it's a sucky feeling. I digress. If you're a teacher or military contractor and are now complaining that the knives in your kitchen are dull, that can suck, but there's a reason for that. Your sucky employers don't want you near sharp objects once you get to know what you signed up for. I digress again but Kuwait likes dull things – dull people with dull minds go far here. Give your dull knife a hug – forget the falcon or the dhow, the dull knife is the official emblem of the Kuwait government.
All smiles as your first week on the job must be, oh but beware the days HR calls and says the mandoob will have to take you for in-processing. Those days will suck, believe me. They take your blood; they take your fingerprints; they take your picture; they take your x-ray; they take your patience; they take your humanity. A bit of advice, do the lobotomy first, on in-processing days it won't help to think at all. Actually, the more you think, the more it'll suck. Remember the dull knife in your kitchen as you get your Civil ID, residency stamp and work permit. Finally, grind the dullness down further as you try to get a driver's license. Living in a country whose government is ruled by dullness – that sucks.
Blimey.. You been here 20 years and feel like that :O( That's a problem with 'why you stay' not Kuwait. If it's for money.. there are more important things in life. May I suggest a temporary solution a big fat ice cream with everything on it and if that doesn't help a weeny bit of therapy or relocating. Sad after all these years you couldn't find anything nice to say about the place.
ReplyDelete#3 and 4 is what is wrong with this country.
ReplyDeleteAnon # points 1 and #2 are just crazy IMO
BBB
no big fat ice cream.
ReplyDeletei had 2 dunkin donuts and a tall coffee this am and feel very much better thank you
it's tongue in cheek
@ BBB Of course there are so many things that could be changed for the better.
ReplyDelete@ Anon I'm a Krispy Creamer personally :OD They have an irresistable KD1 coffee and two free donuts offer with that view at Marina Crescent is pretty darn close to a 'not sucky' experience. Thankfully life is teaching me to appreciate the little things.
I've been here for 6 years now and even managed to marry a local girl .... needless to say, I <3 Kuwait hehe
ReplyDeleteMany congrats Randy. Happy to hear it.
ReplyDeleteLooks like the list of things that is good is a bunch of trivialities. I don't much like it here either. But I tell myself it's better than living in my husband's country with his skeevy mother. I hope I'm back home by the time I hit 30. But what a way to waste my 20s--I've been here 2 years and haven't found a decent job or anything special outside of my apartment except for a few friends. Well, just pay a bit more for rent and make your apartment a mini-wherever-you-come-from if you're going to be a housebound expat wife anyway, buy an e-reader and read all the books you've ever wanted to, throw a couple dinner parties, and don't read local mags (not even that posturing crap-mag bazaar) because it will degrade your English. Also, good wifi helps. And Randy, man, Arabs are for Arabs... lol, just teasing. I'm sure she's wonderful.
ReplyDeleteOh dear! Not sure what to say. You could be right there going home ASAP might be best for you. Kuwait is not for everyone especially if you are not willing to accept the differences and there are many.
ReplyDeleteWhat's skeevy? Tried googling but nada!