A Kuwaiti Myth vs. The Secret

Remember the movie The Wedding Planner with Jennifer Lopez in 2001? Ever since she was a little kid, JLo's character in the movie Mary Fiore would marry off her Barbie and Ken. I don't know if this is true of all little girls, but I always dreamt of a big white wedding with all the trims.

Growing up I even saved a couple, and I promise only a couple, of pictures of what I would love for my wedding. When I was in college I discovered MAGAZINES! I had subscriptions to practically all of them ranging from InStyle, to Vogue, to Harper's Bazaar, and many more. I love fashion and anything that has to do with it. One day I was at the grocery store, and while checking out I got introduced to InStyle Wedding. OH! How I loved those issues. Checking out bouquets, dresses, hairstyles, rings, it was like having a piece of chocolate after a day of fasting.

Fast forward to when I moved back home after graduation. Over here (in Kuwait) we have our own superstitions/beliefs including the normal ones such as if you walk under a ladder or a black cat crosses your path you'll get bad luck. Once I started working, some of my acquaintances mentioned in passing that in order for me to get married I shouldn't keep my nephew's car seat in my car, not wear any rings that resembled an engagement ring, or buy any wedding magazine! I was also told to stop thinking about marriage, because if I don't, it will never come true.

For over 6 years I have stuck by these rules, well the last three rules anyway, safety first and all. One day my sister hands me The Secret, eventhough My Mom was begging me to watch it for months, and asks me to watch it, and once I did, it made all that was said to me in the past seem like old wives tails. The Secret tells you, as my beautiful cousin reminded me a couple of days ago, that in order for you to get what you want you have to believe in it, live it, and imagine it to be true i.e. imagine that ring on your finger, see your wedding, see your honeymoon, or your new home with the husband and children.

Now I ask you, which one is the right way to go? The Kuwaiti Myths or The Secret? I for one have already tried The Secret and so many wonderful changes have happened. I have yet to meet Mr. Right, but I know he's out there somewhere. Positive thinking leads to positive results, and whatever God has planned I know it is always for the best.

Last Night

Last night was a great night for some Kuwaitis and a not so great night for others. I live near a sports arena called Al-Arabi club. There was a game going on that night between the Al-Arabi team and the Al-Qadsiya team, and as I was leaving for my cousin's engagement ceremony, cars were parked on pavements, on highways, even in front of people's houses just so they could go and watch the game.

You might say that it's wonderful that so many Kuwaitis support football, but as I said before, it was a good night for some and a bad night for others. The Al-Qadsiya team won the game 1-0. So as all the supporters left the stadium they were greeted with a nice parking violation. Every single car parked illegaly was ticketed.

Now, you might side with the law, but I'm siding withe the supporters. You know why, because the only reason they parked illegaly is because the stadium's management got authorization from the government years back to take out about 3/4 of the already existing parking lot and turn it in to a squash court. Where were people supposed to park? Do you blame them for having to park on the streets? Granted, they could have parked at the supermarket's parking lot right next to it, but as I couldn't see that far I don't know if it was already full or if it was pure laziness on their part. All in all, I still blame the government for not thinking about this situation. Growing up in this town, it is expected that if there is a game going on there will be a large crowd and it will be hard to find proper parking. Fix the problem already or tear down the stadium and move it to a non-residential area.

I'd also like to take this opportunity to add a little positiveness to this article and say CONGRATULATIONS to my cousin H who got engaged last night. H you are a wonderful person, I wish you all the best, and I just hope he knows what a star you are ;)

Sex and the City

I'm SO excited! FINALLY the Sex and the City movie is underway; eventhough I think they waited too long, I'm sure everyone is looking forward to it just as much as I am.

Here are some pictures that I found online, which will get us all excited to see it when it's ultimately released! YAY!

OH OH OH! (and no I'm not being Father Christmas!) I see a wedding dress ... wonder what that means ....

Kristin Davis i.e. Charlotte York Goldenblatt in the series/movie looks GORGEOUS in her bridesmaid dress. I wish they had done a better hairdo than that though.

Kim Cattrall (Samantha Jones) and Cynthia Nixon (Miranda Hobbes) as bridesmaids in the movie as well.

I have to say each dress is utterly divine ...

Doesn't it seem a little too red, white, and blue to you though?

No release date as of yet, but it seems they're going to have to re-shoot some of the wedding scenes. I hope they don't make us wait too long.

Kidnapping in Kuwait

I have to warn everyone this is quite a horrible story to hear. I also have to admit that I heard this through a cousin, and I don't know if it's true or not, but I just HAD to do my civic duty as they say.

As many of you may not know. Kuwait is a pretty safe place to live i.e. you can leave your car on and get cash from an ATM, you can leave your handbag on a counter while shopping in a boutique and not worry that it'll be snatched, and you can also hang your handbag on your chair when in a resaurant. When we were kids, you could play in the streets and not worry about any problems such as kidnapping, robbery, murder etc.

Times are changing, and this story spurred me to tell all. But before I tell you this story that I heard a couple of days ago. There's another story you need to hear.

I am a month shy of 28, and yes I have a curfew and yes I still live with my parents, but in our culture you kind of don't have a choice. Anyways, my mother consults for the Ministry of Interior i.e. the Police and she hears all the gory details of women beaten up while trying to get in to their car or a mother who was stopped raped and beaten up by a couple of men etc. and now I am banned from going out after 10:00p.m. without a male escort LOL. It's SO 1900!

Now the real story ... My cousin and I were discussing different topics the other day, one of which was corruption, when he told me that he heard a shocking story a few days ago. A woman was shopping with her daughter in a supermarket, and turned for a few seconds while picking up some groceries. Next thing you know the daughter disappears. A search is done, her name is called out on the loud speaker, and the next thing you know she's found in the men's bathroom. The daughter's head was shaved, a wig and a new set of clothing on the floor. It seems the kidnappers heard the loud speaker and ran.

I was shocked beyond belief. THIS of all things happening in OUR home country. You'd expect it to happen in Brazil, Italy, or God knows where, but not in a country as safe as ours USED to be. For the past 6 years since I've been back from college I am seeing Kuwait become more unsafe every year and this IS due to all the corruption we have here.

My message to all living here .. start watching out for yourself and be careful PLEASE!

FRIENDS

My Mom always says "Friends are there for a reason, a season or a lifetime."



Sure people grow apart, people have lives, they have disagreements once ina a while, but for me friends will always be friends even if it takes me 3 months to call them back. I love them all, I support them all, and hope they all know that.


This poem is dedicated to all my friends:

You're a true friend,
that I want you to know,
Our love for each other has helped us to grow.
We've been through some tough times,
but we've made it through,
The only one I ever trusted was you.

You helped me through anger,
you've chased away fears.
You held me through sadness,
and kissed away tears.

You stayed by my side
when the world turned away.
You helped me see joy
when the skies were all gray.

You were the rainbow
at the end of the storm.
You help me be different
when I shouldn't conform.

You held my hand
when you knew we would fall.
Every heartache,
you saw me through it all.

I'm not sure
I'm always the best friend to you,
I know I'm not perfect,
but this much is true.

When life gets you down,
And there's nowhere to turn,
I'll help you through and
I'll share your concern.

I'll try my best to return every favor,
When you're sure that you'll drown,
then I'll be your lifesaver;
Even if we both go down.

Whether we sink or swim
doesn't matter at all,
Just know that I'll be there
whenever you call.

I'll pull you out
when life pulls you under.
I'll be the sun
when there's lightning and thunder.

And when it's all over,
And we've fought every war,
There's one thing I promise,
Of this I am sure,
When the time comes
that we're put to our rest.
Be sure that you know that,
My friend, you're the best.

And if there is a Heaven,
then I know you'll be there,
That if you die first
then you'll hear every prayer.
And soon I'll join you,
but just know until then.
That I'll miss you each day
'til I see you again.

At the end of the tunnel,
you'll be my guiding light,
You'll lead me to heaven,
away from the night.

We'll be there together,
and we'll never grow old.
And we'll walk hand in hand
On the streets paved of gold ... (Anonymous)

Justice System

I just can't help myself. Here's my latest displeasure ...

Last night (our last day of the weekend for some who don't know), I'm unwinding after a long day of spending time with friends and family. I switch on my brother's TV (shshshsh don't tell him), and decide to watch a couple of episodes of HOUSE MD. I was planning on watching one actually, and then try and go to bed at around 10p.m. I know that's a bit early for some but I had to get up early to go pick up a friend before going to work the next day.

Anyways back to my story. I was watching my first episode of HOUSE when I jump out of my seat NOT because they were giving the patient a colonoscopy while AWAKE, but because people were lighting fireworks in our neighborhood. I let it pass the first couple of times (kids will be kids you know), but then they would re-light 15 minutes later again and again and again.

Now my father sleeps early and I was really worried about him the most.

It was at 10:15p.m. when I got really aggravated. I called my Mom downstairs (No, I did not actually call her. It was on intercom.) and told her that if they do it one more time I was going to call the police. My father has Parkinson's disease, Cholestrol, Diabetes AND high blood pressure, and I wasn't about to let anything rattle him.

10:45p.m., they are at it again and I had finally had enough. I call 777 (that's 911 over here) and give in my complaint. They graciously take all the information and say they are sending a patrol car right over. PHEW! I settle back down and decide to keep watching my THIRD episode whilst I calm down. A few minutes later the noise stopped and I was very proud of myself.

Once the third show was over I called my Mom downstairs again and told her what happened. Guess what, turns out that the police called back a few minutes later . . . I didn't here the phone ring in mybrother's room . . . to tell us that if we wanted something done we had to go all the way down to the police station and make a formal complaint. Can you believe it???

My mother said no thank you. The gentlemanly police officer said eventhough we weren't going to file an official complaint that they were still going to tell those people to stop.

As my older sister always says "What the Help!" I told Mom that I was shocked at this kind of attitude from our justice system as I know that fireworks are illegal in Kuwait. Mom disagreed, but the detailed journalist that I am, I called my sister (a corporate lawyer) and asked her if it was or wasn't illegal and she confirmed not only is it against the law to USE fireworks in Kuwait, but that it is also illegal to SELL fireworks in Kuwait. So there!

Now you know the whole story ... I think our justice system needs a few lessons from NYPD or Scotland Yard right about now.

Now tell me, don't I have a right to be aggravated at the sheer stupidity of what they said?

Personalized Items

I don't know about you, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE personalized items. Whether it's my name carved on a wooden plate on my desk, or the gold chain around my neck (just like Carrie's from Sex in the city but mine's in Arabic), or even my specially designed paper bags and cards for when I have gifts to giveaway!

If you're a lover of personalized items, or you want to get them as a gift for someone (hint hint), or if you're just a beginner and want to try it out, check out these sites and products I'll be mentioning or just check out the stores nearest to you.


My biggest catch, thanx to my friend Anthony, is shopintuition.com. They have a full personalized items section, and below are just some of the pieces they do.

DEESH personalized tote bags for $60, and guess who already owns one TERRI HATCHER!










DEESH Personalized Hoodies @ $99










Personalized Baby Bib and Hat Set $38

You can also order personlized baby burp cloth sets, baby onesies, and baby hoohded cuddle towels.

There are so many things to find at shopintuition.com. Have FUN!

A EID GODSEND!

Hello Everybody! I know I haven't been writing for a VERY long time and I got a lot of beef for that from my friends, but I had two very reasonable excuses: 1) I was out of the country for a month and 2) I was so sick of writing negative things about what is going on around me that I decided to stop until I found things that I am positively proud of, and I am proud to say I found them. YAY!

Now as per the subject of this article I came across this site while surfing through facebook I think. The add caught my attention and I found the most amazing tops and accessories you can imagine. Clutches as low as KD 11, tops or dresses as low as KD 6, and adorable accessories as low as KD 5! I immediately told my cousins about this site and they started shopping. Two days later my cousin shows up dressed up in items all bought from nafnofy.com.

Ladies AND Gentlemen! Don't waste time. Click on Nafnofy.com and start buying! EID is JUST around the corner ...

My Embarrassment!

This post is related to my earlier article Water & Electricity. Since that post the Energy Ministry has launched a full scale media campaign called "Tarsheed" meaning conservation. There are billboards, flyers, MUPIS, booths at malls, even people calling you at home asking you to turn the AC up or switch off your lights when it is no longer needed. This is NOT the embarrassing part. The embarrassing part is when other countries, international medias AND emails are sent out making us look so bad I am actually embarrassed to call myself a Kuwaiti. I just got this joke today and I felt like Carrie at the prom with pig's blood all over me.

"A Man dies and goes to hell. There he finds that there is a different hell for each country. He goes to the German hell and asks, "What do they do here?"He is told: "First they put you in an electric chair for an hour.Then they lay you on a bed of nails for another hour.Then the German devil comes in and whips you for the rest of the day." The man does not like the sound of that at all, so he moves on. He checksout the American hell, as well as the Russian hell and many more.He discovers that they are all more or less the same as the German hell. Then he comes to the Kuwaiti hell and finds that there is a long line of people from all nationalities waiting to get in. Amazed, he asks, "What do they do here?"He is told, "First they put you in an electric chair for an hour, and then they lay you on a bed of nails for another hour. Then the Kuwaiti devil comes in and whips you for the rest of the day." "But that is exactly the same as all the other hells. Why are there so many people waiting to get in?"The answer goes: "Because maintenance is so bad, there is no electricity so the electric chair doesn't work. Some Bengali has stolen all the nails from the bed. And the devil is a retired Government employee, so he comes in, signs the register and then goes to have tea and eats his falafel."

For once I want to say, KUWAIT YOU MAKE ME PROUD! and shout it from the rooftops.

Instead, I say Kuwait you make me sad! And all of you who think it's funny to make fun of us.

Stop being bullies and GROW UP. There are worse things going on in the world.

Ramadan eeesa comin'

We've heard it mentioned in TV shows and Hollywood movies when people have lost their "Christmas Spirit."

In our country, I feel many have lost the "Ramadan Spirit."

Ramadan, Islam's month of fasting, used to be a gathering of family, of funny and dramatical tv shows, of Gergean (the Arabic trick or treat), of peace and spiritual relief, and it still is to some.

However, I've noticed a shift lately, or perhaps it's the fact that I'm "still growing up."

I was booking a business trip and I unfortunately have had to push it so that I show up a day before Ramadan, and there were no empty seats on the plane back as people are returning to Kuwait last minute.

I also know and heard of many people who leave Kuwait during the Holy Month of Ramadan as to not partake in this ritual.

So my question is, What's happened to the "Ramadan Spirit"? I know it's not a lack of faith, as many Kuwaitis seem to be more religious then when I was a child. Is it such a bother to fast and pray vigorously for one month?

The whole point of Ramadan is to thank God for the good things he has giving us in life, and to remember that there are poor people worse off than us.

Are some people in a state of denial? Do they not want to remember that there are other people suffering in the world, or do they just not believe in God anymore?

New Law

As a Kuwaiti I was priviledged to be able to study abroad, work minimum wage jobs because I loved the work when I really didn't need the money, and drive at all hours of the day and night knowing that I'd be safe.

Why, you may ask, did I feel safe? It was because I knew 911 would be there if I needed them whether it be a police officer, an ambulance, or a fire truck.

Including the fact that while I was living in the USA, I sometimes found police officers patrolling my building when they never had a need too.

Now, I'm back home in my beautiful country; however, here I see police officers, and their senior officials not focusing on the places they should be i.e. not patrolling towns or malls, but standing at a traffic light. Like anyone is going to run a red light or speed when he's right there! To me that's PURE laziness.

Two weeks ago a new law was requested that all women cannot work after 8p.m. Ofcourse any one would wonder why, and the answer is that it's for our safety!

Now, my argument is this. If it's for our safety then instead of minimizing our (the women living in Kuwait) chances at making a decent living, and having the freedom of choice then increase your patrol cars where you've sited trouble. Make it a law for all restaurants, companies, buildings etc. to increase their security, but DON'T submit another law preventing women from doing what they want!

My Hollywood Frustration

Has anyone seen the latest updates of Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan, Brittany Spears, Nicole Richie, and last years fiascos from Mel Gibson and other celebrities. I understand that stardom comes with A LOT of pressure, but ruining your reputation and your health is NOT the right way to go.

Little girls look up to Lindsey and Paris and in the end they see one go off to re-hab (for the second time!) and the other to jail.

Lindsey is 20 and shouldn't even be drinking OR clubbing and I'm sorry but she looks at least 30 now with all the alcohol, cigarettes, and partying she's done.

Paris disregarded the law (great role model), and is now in jail crying her eyes out. This from a woman who is over 25, who has her own show, her own perfume, her own CD, and STILL acts immature.

Brittany Spears is another example. She's adored by many young ladies AND young men, but what kind of role model is she giving when she marries a guy who we all knew was not good enough for her, a man who was using her, and in the end she ends up drinking, partying, and finally having a nervous breakdown, shaves her head and enters a re-hab clinic.

But of course the drama doesn't stop there. She ends up coming out of re-hab and goes straight back to drinking and partying. Again she's over 25 people!!!!!

Now Nicole Richie is a different story. She keeps a low profile, but when she is in the spotlight she looks so immaciated and malnutritioned that her belly is sticking out as if she were pregnant. Her father Lionel richie said ina n interview that she just doesn't eat, but for someone who has everything she could ever need, why is she starving herself. Something is amiss and I recommend a Psychiatrist to help STAT!

And last but not least, Mel Gibson. Mel is an absolutely AMAZING actor from Hamlet to the Lethal Weapon movies to the Passion of Christ. This man has a gift. Ok so he fell off the wagon. Ok he apologized, but why did he put himself in that situation in the first place. If it was the Lebanon/Israeli conflict that was bothering him then HEY! it bothered me as well, but you don't see me run across the street and beat up the first person I see to let out MY frustration. No I just set up a blog ;) hehehe

But seriously, the point of this whole article is that I've been seeing more and more stars fall down due to stupid mistakes that they should be able to control. Even Jane Fonda said in a recent interview that the stars of today don't take acting and show business as seriously as they did in her days.

Unfortunately we have to face facts that children look at what the cool people are doing and not what their Moms, Dads or Aunts and Uncles do. My question is, What can we do about it? Ban our kids from watching TV or listening to Music? Educate them? Stage a protest against such behavior? What do YOU think should be done?

Water & Electricity

I’m sure people all over the world have water and electricity problems in their country or home towns, but when an OIL rich country has that problem as well, you question it. Lucky me, answers were provided.

Before I ruin the story by sharing the answers I want to tell you what I went through. In March and April of this year I was late to work at least once a week, because by the time I wake up to take a shower in the morning there was no water!

Of course as soon as I found that out I would go back to sleep and try again a couple of hours later. Thank God my company doesn’t have any sign in sheets or finger print machines, just cameras that tell if you came in that day or not!

Now my already ignited frustration was increased when I found out a minister in the government had bought a generator before the summer season even began, knowing what this summer and the government had to hold for us i.e. the water and electricity rations and rolling blackouts from 1p.m.-5p.m. everyday! See http://ansam518.blogspot.com/ for another story on the topic.

More gasoline was added to the fire when my sister told me a couple of days ago WHY we’re having these problems? Do you want to know why?

It turns out that for the past few years a former Energy Ministry was working on an energy plant knowing we were going to end up with this problem that we have now, and it was delayed because he was trying to give his brother’s company the contract! A Korean company in which his brother had a big stake in.

Suffice it to say the government found out about it, which is why he was removed and Mr. Mohammed Al-Aleem is now in charge. It also explains the electricity, and water problem we are facing today.

My question is, how long are we going to stand by and let our country be used for other people’s pleasures? How long do we have to sit around and watch specific governmental, royal, or merchant figures suck Kuwait dry ad leave the rest of our countrymen behind?

Stop thinking of "What you country can DO for you, but what you can DO for your country!"

Beautiful Song

It just proves the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0dzZTPWrSM&mode=related&search=

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En0A8KGMgq8&mode=related&search=

Masha'Allah ... They have a huge future ahead of them both!

Take Care of Our Kuwait

I’m not a huge supporter of environmental activism i.e. I don’t protest, it’s not on my agenda everyday, and it does not control my everyday thoughts; however, over the past year I have noticed some shameful abuse of our country’s environment and generosity that has led me to write this post.

Granted our country has a lot of catching up and organization to do, but what aggravates me is the abuse our own countrymen and visitors are causing.

My office in Kuwait City overlooks a stoplight intersection. During the day, cars push their limits by crossing the line after the red-light has flashed causing grid-lock, and then the horns start blazing. It’s so loud; I literally jump up from my seat. My question is: Why pass the line in the first place when you know you don’t have that far to go? Is it going to kill you if you wait another 3 minutes before the stop light turns green again? Don’t you know you’re causing noise pollution? And especially ME a headache?

I’m just getting started. How about the air pollution and littering that I see. Why do we have to employ people to pick up after us in the streets? I salute McDonalds for doing their part and handing out little baggies you can fill your trash with. If you don’t like the smell of old cigarettes in your car then don’t smoke in your car, and certainly don’t drop your cigarettes on the streets, parking lots and wherever you find convenient. There IS something called a garbage bin. If you don’t want any trash in your car then don’t drink, eat, or sneeze in your car, but don’t make it someone else’s job to pick up after you. What are you? Two years old? My niece picks up after herself and I don’t even have to tell her.

What I’m trying to say. To appeal to all who live in this beautiful country of ours is PLEASE be reasonable. Once the stop light turns yellow, stop at the line. Once your done with something in your car, stuff it in the ashtray or a bag and then dump it in a trash whenever you the get the chance.

Let’s make Kuwait as beautiful as it should be.

PLEASE!

Keeping Our Children Safe

I’m no parent, and I can honestly agree that I know half the anxiety and pressure a parent is under when taking care and educating their children; however, I am an Aunt of 9, and I take pride in saying that I have influenced most of them (some were born with a head on their shoulders! Masha’Allah).

Now that I’ve told you my family tree, I’ll explain why.

I live in a small, quiet town in Kuwait and I love it. We have an embassy and country offices in this small town. We have a stadium, banks, and a huge co-op, but what we don’t have are parents who watch out for their kids and what they are doing.

One of the things I like doing in my town is walking, and the town recently opened a new garden for children to play. The garden has a basketball court, swings, and other children’s toys. The garden wasn’t open 6 months before I found graffiti all over the basketball court’s walls and on the toys supplied by our government.

Our town’s high school just had a new wall erected around it, and as I was driving to work the other day, yup you guessed it, GRAFITTI!

Want more? A couple of years ago, I was in my car on my way home. School was out, and as I was turning in to my drive way when these kids just charged in the middle of the street on their bikes without looking right or left. I nearly hit two of them. I didn’t get angry. I called the eldest and sweetly asked him to be careful, to take care of each other, and that I don’t want them to get hurt.

Later on that day I was on my way home again with a friend. My friend was driving and the same kids walked right in front of us. I had had it by this time. I wasn’t about to have a child’s death on my hands, so I got out of the car and started screaming at all of them. You know what they did? They just walked off. A gentleman even got out of a neighboring diwaniya and started doing the same. We were both on our last nerve. Now ask me, was there a maid present at any of these events? No. Were there any parents around? No. Were some of the kids younger than 6? YES!

Another shocking story: The night my sister got married, my brother and I were on our way home when we saw a baby boy (max. 3 years old) out on the street. We picked him up. My brother dropped me home and he went from house to house asking whom this kid belonged too. Again, where were the parents? It was 3a.m. for goodness sakes???

And my latest frustration, I did mention I love walking in my town, especially in cool weather with my iPod blasting. We have a couple of new houses being built on our main street, and as I was passing by the construction site two kids crawled from under the construction walls and ran like little mice. I was so shocked and scared beyond belief. What if something had happened to them? What if one had slipped and fell through the iron spikes they have set up?

My plea is not only to the parents but also to our men in uniform, the police. Keep a look out for kids astray and vandalism, and formally inform the justice system and the parents of the children you catch.

And PLEASE parents! Pay attention to the kids. If you’re exhausted send them to your sister or brother, or even your mother’s house to play, but don’t neglect them, and please parents don’t let your kids learn about vandalism. Let’s keep our country clean and our children safe.