Salam wa aleikum!
Trying to write this blog from the Arabic site is quite interesting. Sooner or later you do hit the correct button.
Life is continuing to roll on as it always does. There are always lessons to plan and papers to grade and annoyances to complain about. However, Alan and I agree that the last year and a half actually turned out pretty well. We’ve read about the pink slips in California and realize our timing worked for us. We had always talked about ending our careers working abroad, we just got here ahead of schedule. We now realize that if we had known then what we know now, we would have made this move even sooner. Teaching and living overseas is definitely not for everyone, but if you think you might be interested in it, it’s worth a try. We have young singles, young couples, young families, and old singles, old couples – you get the idea. There isn’t one right time to try this. From what I hear, the families and the couples settle a bit longer at one school, but moving around, and moving “up” is quite common. Internet and Skype have made the world and teaching community quite small. Ultimately, our year here in Kuwait has been good. It’s put us on a great path.
Sooooo Kuwait. We have come to the realization that we will never get to know a Kuwaiti. The culture so revolves around the family, Kuwaitis are not interested much in the outside. Of course there are exceptions, but I don’t where you meet them. North Americans are needed here, so we fill that space. Wanted – that’s a different question. People here are definitely judged for their wealth and family status. You can imagine that a teacher is not going to be very high on that scale. We have had two offbeat encounters with Kuwaitis. Once, we were walking around the old souk (bazaar). We were admiring a hallway that seemed to house architects or other small businesses as two men walked toward us. Suddenly, one stopped and started explaining the history of the souk and how it was being preserved. We talked for about three minutes, he was obviously proud and enjoyed sharing the history. It made us realize how little we get to talk to Kuwaitis about Kuwait. Months later, Alan was in a store trying to decide between the 500 types of dates. A man started explaining the differences. Alan was so startled; he looked around to see to whom the man was talking. They chatted for about 5 minutes. Both conversations made us realize how much we miss talking and learning about Kuwait from them. Nice people, but we will never get to know them. In the meantime, Westerners fill the void with their own conclusions. This usually is not good. I don’t understand the veils and abayas, long black coverings. I don’t understand how a fully veiled woman seems to be close friends with a completely western dressed Kuwaiti. To me, they seem like they would be light years apart, but you see it all the time. Obviously, I don’t get it. Hopefully, I will find a way to ask someone.
The country of Kuwait is still rebuilding from “The Invasion” as it is always referred to. Although there are some wild modern highrises, they are likely surrounded by run down old and probably semi-bombed buildings. Litter is everywhere. Nothing seems to get truly finished. Rubble piles are allowed/tolerated for years after a building is finished. It is not pretty here. Kuwait brags about being the first to rebuild their country with modern architecture; Dubai and Qater seem to actually do it. Everyone seems to question whether or not the Mid East has heard of the word maintenance.
Driving here is CRAZY!!!!! Although we live about 15 miles from school, we didn’t buy a car. The school provides a bus to and from our apartment building during the week. We take taxis everywhere else. We have to bargain every time, but really we pay between $5 and $8 to basically any place we go. Since we rarely go out during the week, using taxis is much cheaper and MUCH SANER than driving. It also means we haven’t learned our way around as much. We’ve had one serious near death experience on a freeway and one small fender bender. Obviously, we’re still here to talk about it. We have bought a car in Qatar from a leaving teacher. There are fewer taxis in Doha; it’s not easy to rely on them. The driving is also much slower – partly due to congestion and partly due to the fact that is Doha is built using city streets. Kuwait is built around freeways and Mazzeratis and Porches that need to go fast. (and naughty boys driving them)
Will Qatar be any different? I’m sure it will be in little ways, but it’s still a Muslim country. We’ll be there longer, so I assume that will help us understand it better.
There were supposed to be photos of Kuwait attached today. However, it rained today. Go figure, we thought we lived in a desert! The good news is that the rain packs down the sand in the dunes, so we might have fewer sand storms this spring. Hmmmm.
Hope all is well.
Love,
Carol and Alan
