Kuwait + Culture

• Don't you think Kuwait needs more museums, libraries, book stores, cultural centers?...it is so lacking these qualities...

  23 May 2007, 06:10 Larry

Replies

• Question...

  Can someone answer this truthfully?
  
  What can an American expect in Kuwait if he moves his life there? Do the locals want to meet and get to know Americans?
  
  Thank you.

  JJ 29 Jan 2009, 02:04 - Report

• Cultures...

  some are so different that one doesn't understand them. they are not understood and you believe them to be bad. they aren't bad, its the way they are. they thing you are bad too. so just understand each other's differences and don't call them f***ers, because they think you are a f***er too. so, be the better man and take the high road of understanding.

  UkH 29 Jan 2009, 06:07 - Report

• An expat teacher's musings on life in Kuwait - very well written

  If you Google American, British, or English private schools in Kuwait, about twenty-five schools will pop up. Kuwait must have the most private schools with English instruction based on American and British models and curriculum on the international schools circuit per capita. This is in part because of their wealth and the fact Kuwaitis can afford private education for their children. Children of the workers in Kuwait --Indians, Palestinians, Egyptians, Lebanese, etc.-- go to public schools. Many of the private schools operate below-board and deserve their bad reputations. But generally, I think a school with American or British in its name will be a better choice than others.
  
  In this article I’d like to talk about Living in Kuwaiti society and the culture of class and “wasta This is something t haven’t seen addressed in ISR. There are a lot of teaching opportunities in Kuwait and this article is meant to be a ‘heads-up’ for Western teachers considering teaching in Kuwait. Knowing what your committing to in advance can be a great help in making the transition and overcoming culture shock.
  
  Kuwait is a class oriented society with the lines clearly drawn and understood. There are four tiers: The Kuwaitis are far and away at the top of the social system, wealthy and powerful if for no other reason than they are Kuwaiti, and seemingly able to get away with anything, including breaking laws meant for everyone else. Then there are the professional ex-pats, including Western teachers, Egyptian, Palestinian, Lebanese and other mostly Middle Eastern nationalities who manage businesses or are in a profession requiring a college education. Third is the labor and service force. The labor force is made up of Egyptians, Pakistanis and Indians doing manual labor and the ubiquitous construction and building. On the same level is the service force which is mostly Filipinas and Chinese working as cashiers, waitresses, sales clerks, fast food workers, salon and hair professionals. Included in this class are the tens of thousands of Lebanese and Egyptian taxi drivers, etc. At the bottom of the ladder is the domestic help, mostly Sri Lankan, Filipina, and Indonesian ladies who clean, cook, and care for Kuwaiti children as live-in servants. Some people, however, would say it’s more accurate to call the domestics workers house slaves, as they are utterly powerless. I would also include in this group the family drivers/gophers (errand runners), whose lives are a bit easier than the “maids” they live with in a Kuwaiti household. It should be noted that speaking English seems to be a requisite for the professionals and service folks, and most Kuwaitis speak English to some degree or another, many quite fluently. English is widely spoken.
  
  When I was in Kuwait, 36% of the people living there were Kuwaitis, a minority in their own country, and should one morning all the ex-pats disappear and leave Kuwait to the Kuwaitis, the country would fold immediately because there would be no one to do the actual work that makes Kuwait function. It is rare indeed to see a Kuwaiti working in any capacity at all, as the tons of money they receive from the government and their savvy investing gives most Kuwaiti families enough wealth to live in opulence, although many seem to go through life without a purpose other than filling their time with the most entertaining leisure activities they can find.
  Conversations with taxi drivers sometimes turn to discussing Kuwaitis, and they will often say Kuwaitis are like lions. You’ll think they’re anything but lions, until the driver says, “Sleeping, eating, laying around, and having sex…that’s all they do.” I wouldn’t go that far, but it’s not much of an exaggeration for describing many Kuwaiti men. As class and appearances matter so much in Kuwait, it is humiliating and degrading for a Kuwaiti to be seen doing any work that requires any degree of time and effort apart from stopping in to dish out orders to the managers of their businesses, high level wheeling-and-dealing, or checking on their holdings. It should be also noted that you are only Kuwaiti by law if one of your direct forefathers were born Kuwait before 1920. Those born in Kuwait to Palestinian, Egyptian or Lebanese parents are not Kuwaiti and live their entire lives contributing to the country, never getting any of the wide-range of benefits Kuwaitis receive.
  
  I’m about to say some not-too-flattering things about Kuwaitis and their country, but let me preface these comments by saying that I was a single male teacher in Kuwait and got out quite a bit, not limiting my social circle to fellow teachers. I made Kuwaiti friends who treated me with the greatest hospitality and kindness and even used their “wasta” to get me a few privileges. For example, I once had a Kuwait Supreme Court Judge who struck up a conversation with me in Starbucks (saying he wanted to practice his English) walk into a car rental shop with me to straighten out some folks trying to screw me. As a result, they apologized profusely and offered me a week free rental for my troubles, at the judge’s suggestion. I also made a lot of friends in the Filipina, Sri Lankan, and Chinese communities and heard their stories of life for them in Kuwait. As a little side note here: Single men who may be thinking that working in an Islamic country may mean the end to your love life, no worries; there are plenty of opportunities to meet women outside of your school in Kuwait.
  
  Americans and Canadians are accustomed to seeing all people treated with dignity and respect and they expect to see the laws of the land applied to the poor and powerless as equally as to the rich and powerful. Westerners are also accustomed to common courtesies that make life run smoother for everybody. For example: simple things, like people getting at the end of a line at the cashier or slowing down to let a person crossing the street get across safely. For people accustomed to such a way of life, Kuwait will be culture shock. It was for me.
  
  There is a saying in Kuwait: “The only thing wrong with Kuwait is…there are Kuwaitis here.” Sadly, I found some truth in that. The Kuwaiti sense of entitlement and their own station in life, coupled with the fact that it IS their country and they can get away with anything, including, many believe, murder--more on that later--can make their arrogance and self importance almost unbearable for the other 64% of the population. As a Western professional, Kuwaitis will generally treat you with much more respect than your Filipina or Sri Lankan friends, or the school workers/maintenance crew, or those people who you’ll see abused and berated in public stores or on the streets. One of the problems is that non-Westerners accept this behavior from the Kuwaitis and bow or apologize or hang their heads and take it, which I think only exasperates the problem. But, these folks are really powerless, and they know that all it takes is a phone call by a Kuwaiti to the police, or his or her “sponsor,” or demands to management by a Kuwaiti, and these people will be in more trouble than was worth their dignity and self respect.
  
  Clerks and cashiers are regular targets for Kuwaitis, in more ways than one. From long conversations with my Filipina friends, who generally work in retail sales and restaurants, and from my own observations, Kuwaiti women can be the most brutal towards these girls, who are usually young and attractive. It’s not an uncommon thing to see a Kuwaiti ripping into a sales clerk, cashier, or waitress. They get away with it, of course, as embarrassing as it is for the rest of us who witness it. But interestingly, from the Filipina prospective, there is an underlying reason for the hatred Kuwaiti women hold for the thousands of Filipinas working in the stores and restaurants. The fact is, Kuwaiti men have a particular ‘thing’ for Filipinas, and thousands of Filipinas, in Kuwait making a lot more money than they could in the Philippines and supporting their family back home, are living rent-free and getting money doled out to them from their Kuwaiti Sugar Daddy–for certain regular “favors,” of course.
  
  This particular sort of arrangement is no big secret in Kuwait, and I think Kuwaiti women cannot walk into a store or restaurant without being reminded that the sales clerk they’re dealing with just might be one of their husband’s, or son’s, or brother’s little extra-curricular activities. I was taken to one apartment to pick up a Filipina friend’s coworker and there were three women living there, rent-free, all of them young and attractive, all of them at the beck-and-call of the same man. These women came to Kuwaiti poor and susceptible to these predators who have more money and time than they know what to do with. Each girl was supplied with a mobile phone and must, at a moment’s notice, become available for a visit upon request.
  
  Of course, most Filipinas, I’m sure, reject the ubiquitous offers that come their way. A good friend of mine who worked in one of the big department stores in Salmiya told me that rarely does a day go by that at least one Kuwaiti man, often no more than a teenager, sometimes a much older man, will approach with a “Is somebody taking care of you here?” or “Is there any way I can help you?” If you’re a single man and having good fun bantering with a Filipina waitress or sales clerk–they are some of the nicest people you’ll meet–and you ask her out, she may suddenly turn sad-looking, and tell you she wishes she could but she could get in too much trouble if she did and got caught, you’ll know what that means.
  
  
  In restaurants you’ll notice Kuwaitis literally snapping their fingers and motioning waitresses away from an ex-pat, fully expecting that waitress to stop helping you in order to come and serve him or her. She’ll feel obliged to help the Kuwaiti directly, and, if like me, you politely remind the waitress that you’re in the middle of giving an order and anyone else will just have to wait a minute to be helped, you’ll see that you’ve put her in a situation that could turn ugly for her. Many Kuwaitis have no shame in berating a lowly waitress for not attending to them immediately upon request. If, like me, you may yourself tell the table of Kuwaitis that YOU are currently being helped and the girl will be just a minute, you’ll see the sneers and will be able to tell the comments in Arabic are none too nice. Likewise, if you frequent fast food places from time-to-time, you’ll certainly experience a Kuwaiti just blatantly stepping right up to the front of the line bypassing the non-Kuwaitis who’ve been waiting there. What I find even worse is that if the people waiting in line are Indians, Sri Lankans, Filipinas or almost anyone but Westerners, nothing will be said and the cashier will take the Kuwaiti’s order. I’m one of those who would say, “Excuse me, the rest of us have been patiently waiting here in line and maybe you didn’t notice that, but the end of the line is behind me.” You may get the “shoo-away” gesture and ignored. On another note regarding service for Kuwaitis, you’ll probably be quite disgusted at the way so many Kuwaitis speak to cashiers, waitresses, and service people in general. There is a tone and attitude that I’ve never seen before. Even the children show a disrespect and attitude toward these people that I found really shameful. (I shouldn’t put all Kuwaitis in the same box, but it is prevalent.) But again, the workers just take it, though not with a smile on their faces. Inversely, when you, as a Westerner, are polite, friendly, respectful, even asking how they are and smiling, your waitress or cashier will beam at having a customer who is nice and respectful.
  
  You’ll notice in Kuwait the construction workers that are all over the place. These workers are from many different nationalities, but Egyptians and Pakistanis seem to be prevalent. My friends back home were amazed at the pictures I’d send them of these workers several stories up working on the flimsiest of scaffolds, in sandals, no hard hats, and in heat that you can’t imagine. You may walk by a site on a Friday (the Arab world’s equivalent to our Sunday) at 6 am and then later that night on your way to dinner and see the same crew still working thirteen or fourteen hours later. These people are abused, and apparently there are no labor laws to protect them. But no big deal; it’s not Kuwaitis up there working under horrible and dangerous conditions. In fact, as many as a few times a week you’ll read in one of the English version newspapers of a worker who has fallen to his death or had some sort of fatal construction accident. If the Kuwaitis cared at all they could easily remedy this problem, but they don’t. It doesn’t take long to realize that the only lives worth anything in Kuwaiti are Kuwaiti lives. This manifests itself in many ways, from hit-and-run deaths on the streets, to the all-too-common “suicides” of the domestic help.
  
  Let’s talk about the horrific situation of the domestic help, the poor ladies that sever as maids. Surely these mostly country girls from Sri Lanka, the Philippines, or Indonesia, had no idea what they were getting into when they came to Kuwait. First of all, as a Westerner who’ll want and easily be able to afford a “maid”. Your maid will be the most grateful person in the world to be working for someone who treats her with dignity, as part of your family (if you have one), and someone who’ll recognize her basic human rights, who’ll have her sit with you at dinner and show interest in her family back home, and who let’s her go out and live her life when she’s done with her work, meet and be with friends, or have a boyfriend, and get days off. You’ll probably pay her more than she expected to get, and you’ll actually pay her for the work she’s done. She’ll of course keep her passport and have access to communication with her family back home.
  
  For a maid in Kuwait, getting a Western family is like hitting the jackpot. Unfortunately, the vast majority of maids end up with a Kuwaiti family where their life is probably going to be a living hell, really no more than a slave, and possibly in real danger. This, too, is common knowledge in Kuwait, though things don’t change and (most) Kuwaitis apparently have no shame at treating fellow human beings so terribly. When I was vacationing a few years back in Sri Lanka, a beautiful country blessed by nature and wonderfully friendly and welcoming people, I saw an infomercial warning Sri Lankan girls not to go to work in Saudi Arabia, where no money is worth the abuse they may suffer there. They should have included Kuwait in the infomercial.
  
  I took an interest in this aspect of Kuwait culture, mostly because my own maid actively did, and I learned much from her, though there’s no big secret of these horrors in Kuwait. My own maid was a Sri Lankan who spoke English well and knew other Sri Lankan maids, though it was impossible to get close to any working for Kuwaiti families. I met some of Marlia’s (not her real name) friends who worked for other teachers, and the horror stories they had of their compatriots, and the concern they had for them was heart-wrenching. In malls or restaurants or fast food places, when maids are shucked off to the side or a wall to await orders from their masters, they’ll sometimes be in groups, talking. Marlia and her friends often spoke with them at these times, blending in as just another Kuwaiti family’s maid. Nearly all of these poor ladies had similar stories, and too extensive to get into here–but horrible. You’ll see them in public with their masters, never smiling, always looking sad and depressed, and for good reason. There didn’t seem to be a religious component to it, as Muslims from Indonesia are apparently treated no differently than the Catholic Filipina or the Buddhist Sri Lankan.
  
  With their passports taken from them by their masters, they cannot even run away and escape back home. Any sign of defiance will end up with a vicious beating or a raging verbal assault with threats. I actually saw a woman physically beat down her maid in a crowded food court of a big mall and I was the only one who went to the poor lady’s assistance; stepping between them was just a natural and instinctive reaction …and I was of course screamed at in Arabic as I made a hasty exit when I felt she was safe…for the moment, anyway. It’s not uncommon for each Kuwaiti child to have his or her own personal maid, and these children learn from an early age how to order adults around and treat fellow human beings with the worst kind of disrespect. You’ll sadly even see it from some of your young students, who seem so nice and fun-loving with you in class, but turn into little monsters when their maids and drivers show up after school to pick them up. You’ll take care of this in your own way, as I did, though you know when they get home things will be back to normal. I’d heard stories from Marlia about maids being forced into sex with teenaged boys and their friends who’d often take film or pictures to show their other friends. The maids would often be made to do humiliating things, in tears, sexual or otherwise, seemingly just to prove to them how powerless they were.
  
  And then there are the “suicides” and “disappearances” of maids you’ll read about in the papers with some frequency. Surely most–maybe all–of these are actual suicides by women who could not spend another day under such abuse and had no way of escaping it. But – again speculation – some of these “suicides” are not actually suicides. You’ll read of a maid who jumped off a balcony to her death, or a maid who drowned in the pool or bathtub, who was found hanged, or who has simply “disappeared” with a request for anyone to report seeing the lady in the picture as if she’s still alive. Well, maybe. But there’s a chance she would be one of the poor souls who ended up pregnant by the father of a household who could not let her reach the stage where she shows, or maybe it was the eighteen year old boy who gone to his dad with a “problem” about the maid that needs to be taken care of soon. Maybe the maid has become defiant, taken her beatings, not changing her ways, or maybe she stole something of worth, some jewelry or something. Of course a police report will be filed, and whatever the Kuwaiti family says is taken as gospel truth and no further investigation is needed. I realize it is a serious accusation to make, that maids are being murdered in Kuwait, however limited and in small numbers it may be (if at all). But there are few thinking people whose eyes are open to Kuwaiti culture and society who believe it never happens. There are stories. It’s my opinion, and I believe, that Kuwaitis can, and do, get away with murder. I know I’m far from the only one who believes this to be so.
  
  I do need to say that I know many Kuwaiti families are good and humane to their domestic help. They honor their basic human rights and show respect to all people whether they are domestic help or cashiers in a food court. Many Kuwaiti children are taught to respect adults no matter their station in life. These are families I can only assume have been educated in the West or spent a good deal of time in North America or Europe. Many, if not most, of your students´ parents will fall into this category. But, anyone who has lived in Kuwait with their eyes and ears open know there are too many people on the lower tiers of Kuwait society whose lives are Hell because of the treatment they receive at the hands of a particular group.
  
  I don’t regret a minute I spent in Kuwait. It was a great learning experience and helped me to appreciate my own country and culture much more. I made a lot of friends there and enjoyed life in Kuwait for the most part. The shopping is amazing, there is great infrastructure, you’ll be close to the water, and most of the people you meet will not be Kuwaitis but other nationalities there like you are, working. As an American man with youth, size and fitness, I probably appeared to many Kuwaiti males that I may not be the best person to mess with. It wasn’t often that a Kuwaiti just cut in front of me in line as if he was entitled to be helped immediately, though everyone else had been waiting. Kuwaitis understand Western men are bound to tap them on the shoulder, as I had to do a few times, and remind him the line forms at the rear and my time was as important as his, or even more since his time is probably all at his leisure. But it’ll happen. When I’d come out from a store and find a new Mercedes 500 SL or Jaguar parked behind me blocking my way out because the driver couldn’t bother themselves walking an extra fifty yards, forcing me to wait for the person to return, they’d usually apologize in their convincing and charming way, offer me a card with their name and number on it, and offer to help any way they could if I ever had a problem in their country. No thanks, keep your stupid card for the Filipinas.
  
  The Kuwaiti kids, spoiled rotten as can be, can actually be very fun and a joy to spend your days with, and they enjoy learning and have fun doing it. But know that if you go to Kuwait you will be exposed to a myriad of things that upset you and you have no power to change or help. And though your kids’ parents will be charming and nice to you, it doesn’t mean they’re charming and/or nice people. They may be, but they may not be. Like I said at the beginning, I had Kuwaiti friends whose company I enjoyed and who enriched my experience in Kuwait, who were very generous and displayed the famous Arab hospitality, and most of the parents were very nice and easy to get along with. But whether they were a part of the seedy culture we’re not supposed to talk about…I liked to think they weren’t, but they probably were.

  kuwait hero 04 Feb 2009, 07:26 - Report

• Kuwait Hero

  Thank you for the informative text. I appreciate it. Can you please tell me what it is like for a Western, white, single male living in Kuwait? I taken a professional job there and would like to know what dating is like. Thank you for your time.

  America 04 Feb 2009, 03:15 - Report

• kuwait hero and kuwaiti blues

  I have thoroughly enjoyed reading what both of you have written about daily life and culture in Kuwait. I am a single woman living in North America and seriously considering teaching in Kuwait. I have a couple of questions for both of you about this.
  After working and teaching hard all day - how easy is it to develop a social life with the expat community (not necessarily other teachers!) but to become part of embassy staff events?
  How easy is it to meet a Kuwaiti family and to learn, from them, about daily life? I have traveled all over the world, am use to speaking with pretty much anyone but have also heard that looking at Arab men could get me into trouble - how true is this?
  How evident are the 'religious police' on a daily basis?
  thanks for your reply - continue writing such insightful and perceptive pieces.

  tango 11 Feb 2009, 01:17 - Report

• To Q8 girl

  Hi Q8 girl, for your information, I LEFT Kuwait! I'm not one of those who sticks around when I don't like it. So don't be too worried about that. For your information, whether I'm still in Kuwait or have left Kuwait, it's not gonna change the fact that Kuwait sucks. What you're suggesting is no different from what Saddam Hussein did when he took power: Saddam Hussein simply eliminated members of the parliament who hated him so that Saddam can win an anonymous vote from the remaining members of the parliament. so if this is what you're trying to do by asking people who hate Kuwait to leave so that the remaining people who do like it will remain, you still haven't solved the problem! you're simply trying to eliminate people with criticism.....did you guys just say that Kuwait is a democratic country??? heheh....what a great joke!! I don't know where you come from lady, but democracy means freedom of speech! if you don't like what I'm saying, then you better revise the true position of Kuwait....I'll give you a hint: Kuwait is NOT a democratic country!!!

  Tarek 13 Feb 2009, 05:07 - Report

• kuwait

  After all those i feel depressed because its just been few month here for me and i am already felt like i made a mistake coming here..but i guess i didnt had much options to choose from..

  syed 13 Feb 2009, 12:20 - Report

• $

  Kuwait is a place for expats to help the locals. In turn, they pay us well. The expats know that one day they will go home, they can see the light at the end of the tunnel. If it as bad as you say, which I've heard from several friends from there that its not that bad. Most of this crap on here is from disgruntled people who hate everything... Try looking at the bright side, your have your health, your create your own happiness; many of you are relying on someone, or something to make you happy. Just deal with it, earn and plan on going home with some money in the bank. So, just shut up and make it work. All we need to survive is infrastructure, a gym, food, self induced happiness and law.

  UAE 13 Feb 2009, 08:23 - Report

• Kuwaitis are useless

  and I'll prove to you guys that the Kuwaitis are one useless freaks. First of all, it's no longer a coincidence that every Kuwait with a "branded" family name is having a good job. In Kuwait, a "branded" family name gets you the job rather than how good is your qualification. Hey kuwaitis, wanna test your competencies?? how about you step out of Kuwait and just see whether you can at least land with the same type of job that you're getting in Kuwait? the truth is that no one would hire you guys. In reality, you guys would drawn because that's how useless the world perceives you! and that's how unqualified you kuwaitis really are!

  Kuwait Buster 14 Feb 2009, 06:16 - Report

• I'm With You

  u r right man...ur right in everything u said...it will come a time that all the foriegners will leave this racism country and i bet u when that happenes kuwait is gonna fall and it won't be shit

  LLL 18 Feb 2009, 09:44 - Report

• Kuwait

  I just moved to Kuwait and I think its pretty bad ass living here... What are you guys talking about? I have no idea where 90% of the info on here comes from.

  American 25 Feb 2009, 09:22 - Report

• Kuwait sucks

  I am a Kuwaiti from the royal family, it the worst i have no rights nothing it fucked up people are fucked up i haaaaaaaaaaaat kuwait

  Unnominous 26 Feb 2009, 07:29 - Report

• To American

  American,
  
  Then only reason you think that Kuwait is awesome is that you're an American! come on, try to look at things from a non-american perspective: Americans EVEN IF THEY ARE UNQUALIFIED are valued in Kuwait! the salaries of an American are at least 4 times as that of a non-American! Even if the cop stops you at a check out, the moment the cop realizes that you're an American, you're automatically treated well! Try to make friends with any non-american and non-kuwaitis and then you'll have a much better understanding of what I'm talking about.

  Tarek 27 Feb 2009, 03:30 - Report

• I praise Kuwait

  To all readers:
  Gentlemen you should too praise kuwait bcoz
  1) You will not find any other country in the world that has three constitutions one for King Family, one for Kuwaiti, and last one for expatriates.
  
  2) You will not find any dusty country like Kuwait where the laws for expats changes like dress of kuwaiti.
  
  3) You will not find any civilised country in the whole world like Kuwait where the Human rights utterly voilated under the name of Labour Law.
  
  God Bless you KUWAIT

  Chatworms 27 Feb 2009, 04:38 - Report

• Tarek

  I see your point, I talk to the non-americans lately and they are not happy. I am sorry from my one sided perspective. It is difficult to see that side from where I sit. But, I see your point & what you are talking about. Do your best to remain strong, I know its not easy for any of here. Just put your time in and look forward to going home one day... The best to you!

  America 28 Feb 2009, 11:14 - Report

• To American

  American,
  
  Well, I already left Kuwait about a month ago and have moved to Toronto, Canada....wow, what a difference! The people in Toronto are much friendlier and much more civilized than the Kuwaitis. In Canada, you progress in your career based on your competencies. In Kuwait, you rather progress by how branded is your family name and whether you're carrying a western passport. I was born and raised in Kuwait for over 22 years, yet I'm no different from any foreigners who just arrived. You can't own a house, and even if you can, the Kuwaitis would designate a very specific area for you to buy in a far away area as if you were a bacteria to society. and if I want to open my own business, I can own maximum 49% of the business, while a Kuwaiti must own 51% of the business. Why do I need to force myself to remain inferior to a Kuwaiti? fuck them. I have the skills and competencies, and don't want to share it with a Kuwaiti who will eventually give me a hard time once the business turns successful.
  
  In Canada, they have already given me a permanent residence due to my qualifications and will eventually become a citizen ofter only 3 years of living here. I have all the rights and freedoms to do whatever I want. I don't need a local sponsor every freakin time I try to move a muscle like how it would be in Kuwait. I can own a house, work in a company without needing a sponsor or give away my passport like the retarded Kuwatis have been doing, and best of all, I can own my OWN BUSINESS 100%.
  
  so fuck the Kuwatis. Kuwaitis are even racist among themselves. They even have a passport of three classes, which are first class passport, second class passport, and a third class passport. If Kuwaitis are even racists among one another, then a non-kuwaiti like myself should ran as far away as he humanly can! loool...

  Tarek 28 Feb 2009, 06:39 - Report

• Tarek

  I'm glad you are now happy, as life should be for you! Enjoy

  america 01 Mar 2009, 07:18 - Report

• Life in Kuwait-A serious non-insulting response.

  Life in Kuwait is very hard, that is true. There is no night life, it is a very small country, we are a HIGH CONTEXT culture, meaning we are very family orientated (whether this be good or bad is not my point), we are people that generally stick to our kind and do not like to go out on a limb for foreigners. So as a foreigner you are probably not just going to GO out and meet Kuwaitis at a coffee shop. We can come off as arrogant and rude.
  This is all true.
  
  Here is SOME ADVICE:
  
  
  1. If you are planning to move here for work, make sure you are getting a proper package at a good company because as an expat a lot of your connections will come from WORK, be it social or future career moves.
  
  2. Travel a lot, that is a benefit of living here. You will get a lot of vacation time and a lot of incentive to travel to countries. If you are disappointed by the LACK OF CULTURE in KUWAIt, than go somehwere else for vacation. That way you will have learned about the world by traveling. *If anyone wants to ask about my opinion on Kuwaiti Culture I can put it up on another post*
  
  3. Life is a lot slower here, if you have had a HECTIC time working in a CRAZY office and want to slow down without loosing your job or career this is a good place. *again this is a MAJOR generalization... research the company you work for*
  4. Get involved in the kuwaiti expat and local community through the net...I am not talking myspace here! But I had two european friends that moved here, they worked for the same company and were teh same age, one guy stayed in his apartment RANTING and RAVING about HOW SHITTY kuwait is for an ENTIRE year. The other guy? He got on a small world, made a whole bunch of friends, got invited to parties, met me, two years later when I went to his goodbye dinner he was actually SAD to leave...
  he met good friends
  traveled all over the place
  managed to save some money
  
  
  Life is what you make of it people. Just make sure you know what you want out of where your traveling and be honest with yourself and your surroundings. When I went to the states, I did not fight for or get OUTRAGED by the way the mexican/latino community was being treated. OR the fact that a retard was voted for president ( no offense to anyone who voted for him.. this is just my opinion) . It is not my place, I enjoyed america for WHAT IT DID PROVIDE ME... an education, night life etc.
  
  So I suggest you do the same with Kuwait.
  
  Take care.

  Kuwaiti female trying to be helpful... and unbiased. 09 Mar 2009, 10:41 - Report

• kuwaiti female's Life in Kuwait.. a good post

  very good post.. sums its all up pretty well...
  
  am an expat from the indian subcont.. recently moved here from Dubai.. worlds apart.. but hey, i like the quiet life here.. ..the traffic here during rush hour is less than what I used to encounter at my parking lot in Dubai. further it helps me get less stressed out and hey - i get to spend some quality time with the family.. ..a lot of unwinding etc.
  
  yes I bump into an occasional lunatic at some government department that is hell bent of letting you know that he is God's gift to manking, but the chances of that happening way too often look remote.. ..or unless you have a extended streak of bad luck !
  
  in my firt week here, whilst I was coping with the culture shock and the barrage of what to expect from Kuwaitis.. I was pleasantly surprised when a middle aged Kuwait lady officerfrom the Immigration department on seeing my plight got herself out of her seat, took my papers along and got it all sorted out by seeing all the top officers in their respective cabins !!!! I think I even managed to embarass her with my thank you's etc. etc..
  
  so hey, things ain't all that bad here.
  
  do i have a wish list for here?? yes I do..now i only wish (amongst a whole bunch of things) we had a better english language FM station, a good English daily and a decent postal service.. all my magazines (very much in line with the local customs/religion etc) seem to get lost in transit..
  
  The English FM station takes cost cutting to new heights.. the Morning Show DJ also does voice over for most of the commercial jingles !!!!! Yikes.
  
  The english papers.. the less said the better.. unless ofcourse you are American !
  
  yep the local population seem stuck up with themselves.. but hey, I tend to do the same and stick to my crowd.. i would love to have a Kuwaiti friend or two.. but heck they are hard to find in my age.. perhaps things are different if you have a whole bunch of them at your work place.. ..or perhaps if you did college with them..
  
  the current bunch of kuwaitis are mostly well travelled and well exposed to the 'real' world out there.. so it is pretty harsh to bracket them all as bums. The old timers are mostly gonners and could end up being ripe candidates for some Human Rights trials in the Hague.
  
  You also need to note from where the bulk of the expat population is/was from? That should give you an idea of some of the other ills that plague Kuwait.
  
  anyway, i am here to earn a living.. i wish things were a little more cheerful here, it would be swell if perhaps people from the indian subcon got a little more respect.. but what the heck... you never get it all your way.. do you?
  
  well that could be us in our 'head buried in the ground ostrich moment'.. but life goes on.. and i am glad that i ain't perhaps in Saudi...

  pure o rama 10 Mar 2009, 10:42 - Report

• Pure o Rama

  Thank you for your informative post. You are very constructive as well as honest.

  Kuwaiti female trying to be helpful... and unbiased. 11 Mar 2009, 11:46 - Report

• Kuwait rocks..

  Kuwaiti female.. thank u and hopefully there are a lot more of you out there !
  
  well, if anyone needs to know more of the very little i know of this place - mail me at
  [email removed] and i can give you a mouthful.. ..besides, with the state of the economy as it is.. I have loads of time !
  
  Cheers and God bless.

  pureorama 15 Mar 2009, 06:55 - Report

• Recreation in Kuwait

  I hope this doesn't seem inappropriate, but I have a variety of questions about recreational activities in Kuwait. I will be relocating there in five months, for a period of two years. I'm an American, and a single man.
  
  First, the thought of going months on end without a beer is very discouraging. How available is alcohol? And, what are the risks?
  
  Second, the thought of going months on end without the company of a woman is even more discouraging. Are there opportunities to date? Sorry if this sounds naive, but can women spend the night with you? Are there many single women among the expat community? Likewise, can an expat date a Kuwaiti woman, or is this considered inappropriate?
  
  Thanks so much for your help.

  Single American 27 Mar 2009, 02:48 - Report

• Kuwait , The heaven of IDIOTS and bastards...

  Kuwait is the worst country I have ever seen. Kuwaities were best known for their genoursnes but now kuwaities are the worst uncultured adaments in the world. I hate kuwait
  If i get a chanc to fuk all kuwaities i will not hesitate to do that 100 times. DOWN KUWAIT
  You may hve oil and money; but these things are not etrnal... What will u do once your oil is finished? Send your wive and daughters to other countries to sell flesh...
  Let this be a mssage for all Kuwaity Bastards...

  Kim 03 Apr 2009, 08:52 - Report

• IF MIDDLEEAST IS A HOUSE, DUBAI IS THE DRAWING ROOM, SAUDI IS THE KITCHEN AND

  kuwait is the worst country to live in. f*** those who defend it by saying that they've got money. who said that kuwait is the only country in the world that provides money? most expatriates who live in kuwait are arabs who have a passport that doesn't allow them to work easily outside of the middle east, so their best choice is kuwait since the middle east is shit. kuwait is basically the best of the shit. but once those arabs end up with proper passports, they don't end up staying in kuwait for another second! that's the truth you bunch of kuwaiti camel f***ers! go back to purl hunting...once your oil runs out, you're only best option is to export machboos!
  You(Kuwaities) guys treat non-kuwaitis like shit! just because you know a kuwaiti who studied in america doesn't make that kuwaiti respectful....that only means that the kuwaiti can speak english...but having the moral values or attitude is still f***ed up! the moment you guys get angry, you no longer become classy people, but rather turn into tribal freeks! so don't use this stupid analysis that you know this so-called "new generation" kuwaitis cause those people only know how to speak english...basssss!!! and most of the kuwaitis study in some shitty schools in the states and then they come back here showing off that they studied in the states....studying in a states doesn't make you civilized by default.
  All kuwaities should not forget your past. Just go back 30 -40 years. Most of the kuwaities were perl divers and fishermen. They didnt know how to brush their teeth. They naver had a currency. They have never seen a toilet soap. They knew nothing other than some tribal arabic. Now they have oil and money. But for how long? You idots would have got better respect if you assholes were with iraq or iran.

  Lee 03 Apr 2009, 09:06 - Report

• KUWAIT THE LAND OF UNCULTURED BARBARIANS

  DO U KNOW ONE THING? KUWAITIES STARTED BRUSHING THEIR THEETH JUST 30 YEARS BACK....
  
  DO U KNOW WHAT THEY WILL DO ONCE THE OIL IS FINISHED? THEY WILL SEND THEIR DAUGHTERS TO BROTHEL...
  
  IDIOTS.. GO TO HELL...

  KEEMA 03 Apr 2009, 09:11 - Report

• good article on Dubai.. same applies to Kuwait minus the booze

  http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/johann-hari/the-dark-side-of-dubai-1664368.html

  kuwaiti thinker 09 Apr 2009, 11:06 - Report

• Backword arse place to be

  I am an expat here working with the military but my job has me driving into the different 'suburbs' of Kuwait City a few times a week. I am not here taking Kuwait's money, so no complaints about that from the few locals on here.
  
  I routinely see Kuwaitis' in their fancy sport cars speed right past police cars and cameras like they weren't there. I routinely see people get cut off, to a point of nearly causing a fatal accident, because some Kuwaiti decided he/she wanted to speed in the left lane until the after the last possible second.
  
  They have no respect on the road for anyone except themselves.
  
  I routinely see them walk past a line full of people to be waited on first and yell at anyone who says something. I routinely see them yell when they are forced to wait more than a few seconds to be helped.
  
  They have no respect for anyone except themselves.
  
  I have never seen a Kuwaiti working. I pass a Kuwait military gate often and have seen them sleeping in the middle of the day in their gate shack.
  
  The only work they know is how to get paid doing nothing.
  
  I hear the call to pray 5x each day but I never see a Kuwaiti or other Muslim pull of the road or go to the prayer rooms in offices to perform the prayer. I have heard of the desert parties that are full of alcohol and adultery.
  
  Kuwaitis are Muslim, or at least they are mostly Muslim, following the rules they wait to.
  
  The only reasons I am staying here working with the US military is because I enjoy supports the troops and the job pays decently.

  ExpatKuwait 02 May 2009, 11:42 - Report

• kUWAIT A NICE PLACE TO LIVE/??

  Then why is the death toll on the road so high that you can't even find stats on it??? This inshallah attitude they have toward driving on the roads and not strapping in their kids but letting them hang out the window and out the sun roof and letting them loose and packed a dozen to a seat in the pack, is atrocioius and frightening! The children are the victims who don't have a voice - who don't know to ask their parents to invest in a decent child seat restraint...they trust in adults who let them become missiles when brakes are slammed and metal crushes against metal. Having the Fahaheel expressway listed as one of the deadliest freeways in the world is not something to be proud of as a nation. The roads are in pretty good condition given the extreme weather, the cars are new, so it's down to driver error and irresponsible, discourteous driving. why doesn't the govt invest in training their traffic police, start imposing serious fines and enforcing the laws that supposedly exist (instead of sitting in their car sleeping or chatting on their mobile as someone zooms by at 200Km an hour, or a woman with a child on her lap and a mobile to her ear weaves in and out of traffic, or some moron drives past a line of traffic in the emergency lane). A little care and a little common courtesy is all that's needed! Come on Kuwait...join the civilised world in terms of driving practices!!!

  Frightened Driver 03 May 2009, 09:53 - Report

• Ask me

  My name is Ayad , a freshly graduated student from Carleton university in Ottawa with a Bachelor degree in Political Science and Sociology .Just ten days ago I back to Kuwait , the country where I was born and raised . Beside my job as a Soci-politic researcher I will be opening a business of academic services to promote international education between Canada and Kuwait . Also , it will be my pleasure to provide any type of cultural advises for those who are moving from Canada to Kuwait and vice vercsa . Also , voluntary I am more than willing to help Canadians with all kinds of help they might need such as living , papers , immigration , jobs search , and even pick them up from airport . Canada gave me a lot and I want to pay something back . I am still using my Canadian phone number ; 819-208-9999 or email [email removed]

  Ayad 10 May 2009, 04:10 - Report

• Ask me

  My name is Ayad , a freshly graduated student from Carleton university in Ottawa with a Bachelor degree in Political Science and Sociology .Just ten days ago I back to Kuwait , the country where I was born and raised . Beside my job as a Soci-politic researcher I will be opening a business of academic services to promote international education between Canada and Kuwait . Also , it will be my pleasure to provide any type of cultural advises for those who are moving from Canada to Kuwait and vice vercsa . Also , voluntary I am more than willing to help Canadians with all kinds of help they might need such as living , papers , immigration , jobs search , and even pick them up from airport . Canada gave me a lot and I want to pay something back . I am still using my Canadian phone number ; 819-208-9999 or email [email removed]

  Ayad 10 May 2009, 04:11 - Report

• you wrong

  I lived in kuwait .and culture is a big thing there.they have a daily programmes on TV,sad you dont understand the language.not to mention the national kuwaiti museum in the city.you can go to the sea sites ,and see pictures and local msuic.so the idea of lacking culture ,dont really hold wait,not to metion kuwait is not that old nation.so before you accuse a nation that they lack culture,do your study and learn arabic.it will help

  Adam 23 May 2009, 02:54 - Report

• Kuwait still sucks!

  Hi Adam,
  
  Before you act "politically correct", let me enlighten you with something: I'm an Arab, and I can speak Arabic REALLY WELL, yet Kuwait STILL sucks!
  
  In fact, you're better off not understanding Arabic. Because if you were, you would understand even MORE how dumb and retarded Kuwaitis really are when they speak! hahaha

  TA 23 May 2009, 10:09 - Report

• Life in Kuwait???

  Guys, I am planning to move to Kuwait, I have been in the country and loved it. I've met loads of people and they were fantastic. However, I never lived there... I am interested about the life and expenses in there, particularly medical and school... what is the good minimum salary for average life in Kuwait???

  UK GUY 15 Jun 2009, 03:38 - Report

• Haha

  Mate visiting this place is one thing, living in it is hell.

  Scotland 22 Jun 2009, 03:41 - Report

• Any one feel proud to be a Kuwaiti???

  Is there any Kuwaiti born for a single father??? Is there any one who can openly say that they feel proud to be a Kuwaiti????? Its not the fault of Kuwaities that they are uncultued... Its because, they are born for Kuwaity bastards....

  Al sabah Al Ali 06 Jul 2009, 06:39 - Report

• Light at the end of the tunnel

  I walked into a shoe shop today, expecting the usual poor service, expecting to have to speak english in a broken staccato way to have myself understood, and be frustrated as the sales assistant followed me around like I was going to pocket on of the display shoes...however, as I asked for me size to a very tall young man who approached me, he answered back in a polite cultured voice in perfect English which took me aback! Turns out he was a 17 year old Kuwaiti kid who decided not to sit on his arse for the summer, but (despite many protests from his parents) went out and got himself a job to keep himself occupied and get some customer service experience prior to taking a year's exchange program in the US next school year. I told him he was unique and his parents should be very proud of him. It nearly brought me to tears...they are rare but there are some good ones out there. Hopefully enough to eventually come back and make a difference.

  Impressed 07 Jul 2009, 05:50 - Report

• marriage to a girl from Juwait

  Two years ago, I met a beautiful girl from Kuwait who was studying here in southern California. Given some school problems, she returned to Kuwait with her father. He's forbidden me to contact her so we haven't seen each other for two years except for a few days when I flew to Kuwait through Dubai and we met secretly. We do text and she calls when she can. That's about it.
  
  I don't know why he is so against me, Yes, I'm American and I'm Christian. I'm also well educated, a systems engineer,and in short, I can take care of her and we can have a good life together.
  
  I've never asked this lovely girl (age: 21) who will be a university graduate this year and who expects to be able to attend graduate school in London any of the hard questions: will your father ever accept me and if so, under what conditions? If we could marry, would we be able to live and raise a family here in the States or would I be expected to live and work in Kuwait?
  What would happen if she was to defy her father and come here to be with me? In her culture, what is the result of a girl defying her father
  
  I'm 26 and it's up to me to take responsibility for the consequences of our being together without her father's permission. It's up to me to know what problems we will both face.
  
  I wouldn't want love to turn into suffering for either of us. I would appreciate hearing from anyone out there who knows the culture and can help.
  
  Bill

  Bill Williamson 11 Jul 2009, 08:57 - Report

• Another important point!!

  Hi Bill,
  
  I have another important point worth mentioning: In Kuwait, the Kuwaiti government gives away 70,000 Kuwaiti dinars (which is about $210,000) as a cash wedding gift whenever a Kuwaiti man marries a Kuwaiti women; however, when a Kuwaiti women marries a non-kuwaiti man, then the Kuwaiti women will not be entitled to receive the cash wedding gift. So the government bribes its own people to stick to their own kind.
  
  Also, the Kuwaiti women would loose her Kuwaiti benefits when she marries a non-Kuwaiti.

  TA 14 Jul 2009, 03:45 - Report

• Kuwait is the best

  come and see real Kuwait Haters!

  Kuwaiti88 19 Jul 2009, 11:25 - Report

• When only the Kuwaitis among other nationalities believe that Kuwait is the best, you know that we've got a problem! hahah

  Kuwaiti88,
  
  What the HELL are you talking about?? are you being a typical Kuwaiti who talks about only a handful of Kuwaitis who are actually normal??? So those handful of Kuwaitis that you're trying to refer to are actually representative of the entire Kuwaiti people?? COME ON!!! hahaha!!!

  TA 19 Jul 2009, 11:57 - Report