Yes, we are still here!
Day to day life has taken over. We mostly go to school and back. We socialize a bit with a few of the couples in our building. On weekends, Alan and I try to get out to someplace new. The big news is that winter is here. It actually rained for 2 days straight – enough to wash off cars and make a real mess of everything. It’s the most rain anyone could remember. The temperature has dropped down to the high 60’s. (My feet are cold right now.)
School is what it is. We are actively checking out new prospects for next year. It seems early, but schools want to know now before they go out to the recruiting fairs. One school will interview us by Dec. 19 if they are interested. At this point, we are looking in the Mid East, Northern Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia), and the Far East. (Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are hiring!) Europe basically isn’t viable because of the local taxes. Central and South American just don’t pay well. We’ve learned quite a bit that should help us make a decent decision – or at least a better one.
We essentially are looking to leave Kuwait. The lack of history and culture and … leave a rather bland country. The people are nice enough but their social life revolves very much around their extended family. They don’t even socialize with each other, they’re not going to invite us in.
But day to day life is still amusing.
We have finally turned on the hot water heater. When we arrived the hot water heater was off because it is inside the building and therefore cold water. The cold water tank is on the roof, and therefore very hot. So you have to remember to work backwards.
Grocery shopping is actually fairly normal. Everyone shops at large supermarkets. We can find most everything we need except pork, although there are many replacements. I just bought turkey bacon today. There are very few specialty markets except the lamb butchers. Not high on my list of places to go. We just visited the one large fish market. It was huge and very clean and bustling. Almost made me want to learn a bit more about fish.
Alan and I are thankful we were never tempted to buy a car. This place is crazy at warp speed. It’s a country full of foreigners, but I don’t think they follow any rules. Obviously, a three lane road is made for five cars; three in the lanes and two straddling the lines. On and off ramps I would assume are one lane – meaning two cars. Round-abouts are the scariest. Cutting off three cars is the norm if you need to exit. Luckily, the school provides transportation to and from school and a once a week shopping trip!
The very best thing to happen to us is Kayliane. We wanted to hire a maid for once a week. Kayliane works for others in our building and came highly recommended. (In fact she still had a key for our apartment from last year.) She decided that instead of once a week she would just stop in and do what ever needs doing. How much you may ask - 25 KD, about $80. A week I ask, no, no, a month. My underwear have never been folded so neatly. She cleans, changes beds, does laundry and irons. Now she is even cooking for us!
At this moment, Alan is busily brewing tea, a euphemism. So far, apparently being from Napa somehow rubbed off on us. Everybody is asking us for advice because our “tea” is actually drinkable. We will spare all of you and not send any home.
Thanksgiving was nice. The main apartment building held a pot luck that really looked like most Thanksgivings. However, a Thanksgiving without family and football is just odd. This year Thanksgiving coincided with a major Muslim holiday, so we too had a 5 day weekend. We didn’t go anywhere, but it was a nice break.
We are greatly looking forward to Christmas. Both kids are flying in and we will be spending 10 days in Jordan. Last year, Christmas was horrible – jobless, broke, in Florida without family. We’re counting down the days.
I'm still having trouble with this set up. I will try to add a few photos to my facebook page - might be carol50little - not sure. And I have to learn how to do that. Enshallah.
As always, hope all is well with everyone.
