On my Desert Girl Facebook page, I wrote a little diddy about having a fun fling with a handsome Kuwaiti friend. I discovered - by basically stalking him on FB - that he is dating a friend-of-a-friend. Likesay, it was only a fun fling and I hadn't even had the chance to really get to know him before all this happened, so no loss. He was a good kisser and it was wanaaaaaaaaaaaasa. Sigh. (And okay... to be honest... where do you draw the line for when cheating starts? At kissing?) I do feel bad for his girlfriend, however. She seems like a sweet girl; totally in love. She's all over facebook with it (people would you learn how to set your security?! Dayum.) Probably doesn't have a clue. ...WAKE UP!!!
I used to be that innocent. Now my ears are highly sensitive bullshyt detectors. I learned, like many of us do, the hard way. Now unfortunately I'm one of those jaded women (not girls) who tends to anticipate the negative first before allowing myself to hope for the positive. I'm the poster child for why men date stupid, young, innocent girls who don't know any better.
Then, I got responses from people saying that I should tell her. Uh... no thank you. Why - so she could hate ME and tell her friend (who is also my friend)? So she could run back to him and tell him I told her? Why would I want to do that? Hurt her? Maybe she's cheating too: I don't know. Not my business. I can only stay away from him and wish them the best.
So anyhoo, the Facebook string opened up a whole can o'worms on the subject of cheating. Some Kuwaiti ladies even chimed in that it is cultural.
What do you think?
What do I think? I believe that certain species of animals like wolves and maybe swans mate for life, but humans: not so much. I'm just not a believer anymore. Wish I was, Peter Pan, but those days are gone. I'm still waiting for the magic to return to Never-never Land.
In this part of the world, there is no monetary punishment for cheating, so it is kind of game-on. In the States, if you are married and you cheat, you have broken the marriage contract and you pay for it when you divorce. Not here. Nope. Dude can have 4 wives. If a woman cheats, however, the whole world has ended (totally 'nother story).
Historically, there is this whole thing about wealthy men who had concubines (mistresses) on the side that they did things with that they would never dream of doing with their wives. (I was friends with a Kuwaiti couple and they were joking around with me one time. He said that he asked her to do something and then was like, "WHAT?! I can't do THAT with YOU! You're my WIFE! They laughed about it, but that is the way some men here feel. That's pathetic.) The concubines were often treated better than wives. Well, are things so different now?
I get e-mails every now and then from women saying, "I think my guy in Kuwait is cheating. What do you think?" What do I think? Hell YES he's cheating. If you have to ask the question, you already know the answer. God gave women intuition for a reason. My momma always used to say, if you sense danger, get out. You are sensing it for a reason. Guys, how many times have your women known something that they couldn't possibly know, but they just KNOW it? That's women's intuition.
Would I cheat? That's not really our topic here, now is it? But if you want an honest answer, I'll give it to you: If the guy is devoted to me and gives me everything that I need in a relationship - why should I wander? If I'm not getting what I need and I'm feeling slighted or disrespected, why should I be with him? If I love a guy, I would walk through fire for him and that is the truth. I wouldn't consider doing anything to hurt him. But alas, finding that person is a rare rare thing.
So anyhoo, those are my thoughts in a nutshell.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
How Kuwait Lost It's Moustach
In the 80s, ALL Kuwaiti men had big moustaches (kind of like walruses). If they didn't, it would be a disgrace; dude would be less of a man. There was none of this manscaping stuff that came in the 90's; if you even suggested that a man trim his moustache, it was met with indignation, "What? I'm a MAN!" To shave off ones moustach was almost sacreligious. You didn't discuss it for fear of insult. Wives begged their husbands just to trim the thing. "Ana RIJAL! Yeh!" All men carried a little comb and the corners of their moustaches were constantly being played with. Yeah, kind of gross, but honestly, it wasn't about the facial hair itself, but what it stood for: masculinity and pride.
I miss those days. All that bravado seems like ancient history.
How did Kuwait lose it's moustache? How did everything become so metrosexual up in here?
Don't get me wrong, every once in a blue moon you can still see a father or grandfather with an 80's moustach, but most of them are gone and have been replaced by the "dirty look" or the "secsooka" (goatie which my friends and I call the "sexy-sooka"). Some Kuwaiti men go for the completely bare look which to me personally is just too damn feminine. Ick. It would be like kissing another girl. Ew. I don't want to see your naked face! Where is your PRIDE? Int mu rijal?
So what happened? When we lost the moustach, it seems like all that pride and machismo went right along with it. Everything became wishy-washy and the lines kind of morphed together. Where are those tough guys I used to know? The same guys are still here (and were there all the time under the symbol of pride), but now it is gone. Now they carry man purses.. For the love of God! What has the country come to?
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| Ghosts from my past |
How did Kuwait lose it's moustache? How did everything become so metrosexual up in here?
Don't get me wrong, every once in a blue moon you can still see a father or grandfather with an 80's moustach, but most of them are gone and have been replaced by the "dirty look" or the "secsooka" (goatie which my friends and I call the "sexy-sooka"). Some Kuwaiti men go for the completely bare look which to me personally is just too damn feminine. Ick. It would be like kissing another girl. Ew. I don't want to see your naked face! Where is your PRIDE? Int mu rijal?
So what happened? When we lost the moustach, it seems like all that pride and machismo went right along with it. Everything became wishy-washy and the lines kind of morphed together. Where are those tough guys I used to know? The same guys are still here (and were there all the time under the symbol of pride), but now it is gone. Now they carry man purses.. For the love of God! What has the country come to?
Thursday, October 11, 2012
The Murse Hits Kuwait
I really don't have a lot of fascinating things to say today, but I had my oatmeal for breakfast and I thought I would throw around some random thoughts.
Kuwaiti men have started carrying man-purses and I don't think I like it. I have a few friends who pack toiletry bags full of their stuff and carry them around with them. They seem to believe this is masculine. I think it is .... well.... an excuse to carry a purse. First off, it is a toiletries kit and I always wonder if they are going to whip out some after shave and a razor. (Or just wonder if they're there for the night? Come to my house carrying a toiletries bag and my mind does tend to wander.) But no... it is the "fashion" in Kuwait (and Kuwait always has their own "fashion") for guys to carry around their 4 cell phones (tablets, padlets, 007 decoder phones whateverthefucktheyare), 2 packs of cigarettes, lighter/s, a pen and paper, and perhaps some cologne in their murse. Yes, that's right - I would have almost the same stuff in mine but with a lipstick too. (I'm not asking them about that.) Wouldn't it be far more masculine to don a tool belt? Or cargo pants with pockets? Or maybe leave half your crap in your car? What's up with the murse?
Kuwaiti men have started carrying man-purses and I don't think I like it. I have a few friends who pack toiletry bags full of their stuff and carry them around with them. They seem to believe this is masculine. I think it is .... well.... an excuse to carry a purse. First off, it is a toiletries kit and I always wonder if they are going to whip out some after shave and a razor. (Or just wonder if they're there for the night? Come to my house carrying a toiletries bag and my mind does tend to wander.) But no... it is the "fashion" in Kuwait (and Kuwait always has their own "fashion") for guys to carry around their 4 cell phones (tablets, padlets, 007 decoder phones whateverthefucktheyare), 2 packs of cigarettes, lighter/s, a pen and paper, and perhaps some cologne in their murse. Yes, that's right - I would have almost the same stuff in mine but with a lipstick too. (I'm not asking them about that.) Wouldn't it be far more masculine to don a tool belt? Or cargo pants with pockets? Or maybe leave half your crap in your car? What's up with the murse?
The other night, a friend (who shall remain nameless as to guard his masculinity) came over and put his murse on the counter near my purse. I have a Swarovski pen which is black on one end and full of tiny crystals on the other end. It was sitting on the counter. He looked at it strangely for a while and then retrieved the same pen from his murse and showed it to me. Em..... that was going too far: We have the same stuff in our purses. I'm looking at him differently now (can't help it).
Man up, Kuwait!!!
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Crackdown on Bedoun Activists
Stop, children what's that sound? Everybody look what's goin' down....
Disclaimer: The below is a re-post of previously published information available to the public through any quick internet search or via Twitter.
Crackdown on Bedoun Activists LINK
Arab Times
KUWAIT CITY, Oct 9, (Agencies): Police in Kuwait have arrested seven leading stateless activists for “instigating” demonstrations and are hunting for eight more in a clampdown aimed at preventing protests, a rights official said on Tuesday.
Among those detained was the head of the Kuwaiti Bedouns (stateless) Committee, Ahmad Al-Tameemi and his assistant Ali Al-Enezi, the director of the Kuwait Society for Human Rights, Mohammad Al-Humaidi, told AFP.
Twenty-three stateless protesters including five teenagers were arrested on October 2 during a demonstration, said Humaidi.
“Today, the public attorney freed the five teenagers on $715 bail (550 euros) each pending trial. They are between 14 and 16 years old,” said Humaidi, adding that the youths were interrogated on charges of illegal assembly.
The remaining 18 adults, including a Kuwaiti activist, are still in detention facing similar charges, he said.
Police used tear-gas and smoke bombs to disperse the stateless demonstrators who were demanding citizenship and other basic rights, injuring at least three people.
Around 200 stateless men, arrested in previous demonstrations since Bedouns began staging protests in February 2011, are facing trial for illegal assembly, assaulting police and resisting arrest.
Some have been acquitted by the lower court while others still await verdicts.
Authorities in Kuwait insist that non-Kuwaitis living in the country have no right to protest, unlike the 1.2 million citizens.
Bedouns, who number more than 105,000, claim they have the right to Kuwaiti citizenship, but the government says only 34,000 qualify for consideration, arguing that the rest hold citizenship of other countries.
Kuwait has launched a campaign against Bedouns to force them to prove their original identity, depriving them of many basic rights despite criticism by international human rights groups.
Kuwait has long alleged that Bedouns, and in some cases their ancestors, destroyed their original passports to claim the right to citizenship in order to gain access to the state-provided services and benefits.
In an attempt to force the Bedouns to produce their original nationality papers, Kuwait has refused to issue essential documents to most of them, including birth, marriage and death certificates.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said that in response to a call by John Moore (Twitter @JohnFMoore), a member of American congress, several Bedouns organized a rally on Al-Najashi Street since securitymen banned them from gathering in Taima Yard.
Reportedly, John Moore had encouraged the Bedouns through Twitter two days back to demonstrate and demand Kuwaiti government to grant them their rights as Kuwaiti citizens.
Among those detained was the head of the Kuwaiti Bedouns (stateless) Committee, Ahmad Al-Tameemi and his assistant Ali Al-Enezi, the director of the Kuwait Society for Human Rights, Mohammad Al-Humaidi, told AFP.
Twenty-three stateless protesters including five teenagers were arrested on October 2 during a demonstration, said Humaidi.
“Today, the public attorney freed the five teenagers on $715 bail (550 euros) each pending trial. They are between 14 and 16 years old,” said Humaidi, adding that the youths were interrogated on charges of illegal assembly.
The remaining 18 adults, including a Kuwaiti activist, are still in detention facing similar charges, he said.
Police used tear-gas and smoke bombs to disperse the stateless demonstrators who were demanding citizenship and other basic rights, injuring at least three people.
Around 200 stateless men, arrested in previous demonstrations since Bedouns began staging protests in February 2011, are facing trial for illegal assembly, assaulting police and resisting arrest.
Some have been acquitted by the lower court while others still await verdicts.
Authorities in Kuwait insist that non-Kuwaitis living in the country have no right to protest, unlike the 1.2 million citizens.
Bedouns, who number more than 105,000, claim they have the right to Kuwaiti citizenship, but the government says only 34,000 qualify for consideration, arguing that the rest hold citizenship of other countries.
Kuwait has launched a campaign against Bedouns to force them to prove their original identity, depriving them of many basic rights despite criticism by international human rights groups.
Kuwait has long alleged that Bedouns, and in some cases their ancestors, destroyed their original passports to claim the right to citizenship in order to gain access to the state-provided services and benefits.
In an attempt to force the Bedouns to produce their original nationality papers, Kuwait has refused to issue essential documents to most of them, including birth, marriage and death certificates.
Meanwhile, unconfirmed reports said that in response to a call by John Moore (Twitter @JohnFMoore), a member of American congress, several Bedouns organized a rally on Al-Najashi Street since securitymen banned them from gathering in Taima Yard.
Reportedly, John Moore had encouraged the Bedouns through Twitter two days back to demonstrate and demand Kuwaiti government to grant them their rights as Kuwaiti citizens.
---
If you are on Twitter, there is a HELL of a lot of activity on the Bedoun cause and what is happening NOW in Taima, Jahra (Northern Kuwait) to the Bedoun. This is your neighborhood. Get educated on local current events. You won't always read about it in the newspaper.
This is a post of an AI bulletin re-tweeted by Mr. Moore.
Other Information:
Twitter:
#FreeStatelessInKuwait
@BedoonRights
@globalvoices
@monakareem
@MARYAMALKHAWAJA
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Kuwait Visa Article 18 Process
I get asked this a lot: What are the requirements for obtaining an Article 18 visa? Well, it changes almost on a daily basis and it depends where you are from and how much wastah your sponsoring company has. A few years ago, I documented the process in flowcharts. Disclaimer: things may have changed. This is to give an overall "big picture" approach to what is required and approximate timeframes. You'll still have to talk to people who are in the know officially (I'm not). Companies like CIBT (www.cibt.com) can help. They also expedite the security clearance attestments and offer other services. You can also try to find out from the official applicable Kuwaiti Government department (ROFLMAO).
So here is the unofficial version of the big picture for Western applicants:
So here is the unofficial version of the big picture for Western applicants:
If you have trouble viewing the diagrams and you want a better copy, write to me and I'll send you a file (amerab@gmail.com). Sometimes photos don't upload so well to Blogger.
Sunday, October 07, 2012
Dog Story
My 18 year old nephew is a natural-born writer. He's been writing exceptional stories since he was quite young. Now, he's in his first semester in college and wrote the story below and blew.me.away. His professor said that the first essay kids hand her during their first year is about the death of a grandparent or a pet. She said that when she read this story, she sat on her sofa, reading it to her boyfriend, and they both cried.
(This happened when I was home in August and I'm glad I was there with the family. If it had happened while I was in Kuwait, I would have been a basket case. I'm so glad we were all together.)
Alex, I hope you keep writing. Your talent is too special not to continue. Love you, boyyyyy.
Rascal
Eleven years earlier I woke up to a much happier sight. My mom had got me from my room to bring me outside by the garage. I was an eager kid and old for my age so I was expecting big things for my birthday like an apache helicopter to a jet pack or the power rangers; almost anything a seven year old boy could come up with or thought of. However I definitely wasn’t expecting a best friend, let alone two. But there they were two yellow lab puppies so small you could scoop them up with one hand. As I ran over to the crate and rolled around with them as they made their puppy sounds and teethed on whatever part of clothes they could find. I knew right then that it would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
(This happened when I was home in August and I'm glad I was there with the family. If it had happened while I was in Kuwait, I would have been a basket case. I'm so glad we were all together.)
Alex, I hope you keep writing. Your talent is too special not to continue. Love you, boyyyyy.
Rascal
I woke up that morning earlier than most. Summer was coming to and end and it was the week before I was to leave for college. I got up around 7:30; I must have heard my parents already up. As I peaked down stairs I heard no noise, no barking coming from my usually obnoxious dogs and no sign of my parents even though their door was open. As I turned around the corner into the kitchen I’ll never forget how I felt as I looked into the laundry room. I was confused and broken hearted to see my parents huddled around him I had never hurt so much from a bad girlfriend or a lost football game or even a broken bone. But when I saw him lying there I kind have wished I were feeling any other pain.
Eleven years earlier I woke up to a much happier sight. My mom had got me from my room to bring me outside by the garage. I was an eager kid and old for my age so I was expecting big things for my birthday like an apache helicopter to a jet pack or the power rangers; almost anything a seven year old boy could come up with or thought of. However I definitely wasn’t expecting a best friend, let alone two. But there they were two yellow lab puppies so small you could scoop them up with one hand. As I ran over to the crate and rolled around with them as they made their puppy sounds and teethed on whatever part of clothes they could find. I knew right then that it would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
My mom, being the liberal as she is, let me name one all by myself, and back then that kind of power was a huge deal. We named the lighter colored one Beau as a family and I decided to name the darker colored one "Rascal" after the movie, “The Little Rascals”; as it just so happened to be my favorite movie at the time. As the years went on I would soon be very frustrated at my decision because it turned out that Rascal was the least trouble out of all of our dogs. Rascal was obedient; he was playful, but only when one of us initiated the playing. He also turned out to be the smartest and wiser of the bunch. He was nothing like the Little Rascals depicted in movie, sadly. He was timid and didn’t like to swim, which often made me mad. All the other dogs knew how to swim except for him…
I guess if the worst of your problems as a dog father is your dog being obedient and not being a “little Rascal” then I guess you could say that I had minimal problems.
Rascal might have been the fattest dog on the planet. He could chew threw a brick wall if he was hungry enough. After finishing his dinner he would stand by the drawer where he knew the treats were concealed. Even after he had his “post-meal” snack he would then proceed to lick his bowl digging for whatever scraps he could find. All this contributed to how he got his more common name, “Fat Rascal”. Wherever he went in the house he waddled; he would waddle into the kitchen he would waddle into the den and out the back yard chasing a ball. My mom would always see him coming and say, “Hey, hey, hey here comes Fat Rascal.” Yes he was that fat.
He was a loving dog most of all, he loved his momma (my mother) and boy did he love his dad (my step-father Wayne). He would follow that man into hell if he had to. Wayne couldn’t go to the bathroom without that big lethargic mutt waddling on after him. Wherever you so Wayne around the house you most likely saw Fat-Rascal waddling alongside.
I never realized how much time I spent with him until I sat down to think about it one day. He was there with me through elementary school; every time I would get off the bus there he was barking his head off in the window waiting for me to come inside. The big guy was with me through all of high school, he even was up late nights coming home from parties or after games. Rascal and I have been through a whole lot in our lives. I was there when he was sick, feeding him his pills or picking the ticks off of him. He was there for me when I was sad or sick and he was always damn proud to be by my side. Its not often you find a friend like that. I don’t think I ever will again. He was the brother I never had.
Eleven years later and summer was coming to and end and it was the week before I was to leave for college. We were all sitting in the living room watching TV like we did most nights as a family; my parents and I and our three dogs Beau, Rascal and the newer edition to the family, Lola. Beau and Lola were off doing their own things playing with each and my parents were dozing off. Rascal was surprisingly awake it was really unlike the old guy -lately usually he was either eating or sleeping but not that night. That night he crawled over to me like he used to as a puppy and started hitting me with his paw.
He and I rolled around on the carpet for a good hour that night. I didn’t see it then but I sure see it now. He was loving on me and licking my hands and face like he hadn’t done in a long time. He was just playing, playing like a new puppy. I didn’t think much of it at all; I was too caught up in the moment. Now I see that he might have just been telling me how much he loved me and reminiscing on all the great times we had. He was saying goodbye.
That night he couldn’t walk down the steps to go outside and use the bathroom. Of course I thought nothing of it; he was an old dog and this was usual. If I could go back I would have played with him all night, I wouldn’t have let him fall asleep, I would have rubbed his big fat belly all night. I would have done a lot of things different if I had known that was the last night ever that he was going to fall asleep for the rest of my life.
I got up around 7:30; I must have heard my parents already up. As I peaked down stairs I heard no noise, no barking coming from my usually obnoxious dogs and no sign of my parents even though their door was open. As I turned around the corner into the kitchen I’ll never forget how I felt as I looked into the laundry room. I was confused and broken hearted to see my parents huddled around him I had never hurt so much from a bad girlfriend or a lost football game or even a broken bone. But when I saw him lying there I kind have wished I were feeling any other pain.
There he was, lying there on the floor, so peaceful, just the way he lies when he naps. This time it was a different nap, I knew this nap was the one that he wouldn’t be waking up from. It was the first time id seen Wayne cry, ever, in all my life. My parents moved away so I could see him. I can still feel the heavy sadness in my head and in my gut like it was yesterday. I saw him lying there and all the times I shared with him kept flashing through my mind. I thought my dogs were invincible, I thought my dogs could never die. As much as I could have prepared for seeing him like that, nothing could have kept me from feeling the heartache I did.
Mom called the vet as Wayne and I wrapped him up in towels and took him to the car. Before they took him to the vets they let me say one last goodbye to him. I held him, crying. His body was cold and hard but he was the same color and had the same face as he did when he slept. I don’t know why I thought he would look different. I thought holding him would feel like he was less real. But sadly it didn’t feel less real at all, he felt like the same little Rascal I was holding last night. I couldn’t think of anything to say so I just kept holding onto him as if it could bring him back. I thought maybe the longer I hold on, the more memories I’ll have with him. When they left to the vet and I was alone, I don’t think I’ve ever cried so hard in my entire life. It was as if my best friend had died. A best friend I’d watched grow since he was a puppy running around with a ball in his mouth until he was a big wise old dog chewing on a bone. One of the biggest persons in my life had just passed on.
Rascal was my dog. He was my best friend he would do anything for me and I would have done anything for him. I realize now that there are only a few rare people you come across in life that can love you unconditionally and will always have your back no matter what. You have your mother and your father and then… you have your dog, mans best friend. I know Rascal couldn’t stick around forever; all I can do now is cherish the time I had with him and accept his passing. Not a day goes by where I don’t think about him or hear someone say in my head, “Hey, hey, hey here comes Fat Rascal.”
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Pink Eye AGAIN!!
'Tis the season for the Pink Eye. Fa la la la laaa, la la la laaaa.
Yes yes, I'm infuckted again. Some biotch gave me hot eyes.
I’ve had pink eye several times throughout my years in Kuwait. It is nasty and really hard to get rid of. I’ve got it again now. It started about 2 weeks ago, lasted approximately 10 days, and now it’s back. It is not purty. A lot of my friends have been getting it recently. It really is the season - either in the Fall or in the Spring in Kuwait. And it NAS-teh. If you get it, you'll find that it lasts longer than other places in the world - probably because it is so damn dry here.
Let me just state - emphatically and for the record: PINK EYE SUCKS!!!
First, if anyone wears contact lenses in Kuwait, they should consider getting lasik surgery. This is what I eventually had to do. Kuwait’s weather is not conducive to contact lens wearing; dry weather and dust is a bad combination. Lenses must be cleaned more frequently than cooler climates. And, if you think that humidity in Kuwait is any relief; it is just the opposite, as humidity in Kuwait carries dust particles with it.
Any time someone develops pink eye, they should immediately see a doctor (ophthalmologists at most clinics will take walk-in patients if you've got eye infucktions) to determine the best form of treatment. Pink eye may be either viral or bacterial and the medical treatment will be different depending on the doctor’s prognosis.
For a long time, I truly believed that there was some kind of “bloom” in Kuwait during the Spring as I almost always got pink eye at that time of year; usually at the end of February. I developed the worst case immediately after being in the desert near Shuaiba during this season. I was not alone; my friend came down with it at the same time I did as she was with me that night.
Here is what I received from an environmentalist friend in Kuwait:
“Certain eye tissues are more sensitive than others, and during the fluctuating change of temperature and during the fall and spring season, temperature changes trigger infection resulting from irritation of the eyes. Humidity during this period (with temperature suitable for bacteria growth) causes infection that has been reported to hospitals and clinics. Sand/dust storms carry micro-organisms with it of which cause such cases; further, fine dust has an abrasive force that irritates the eye and causes redness. In addition, such cases were reported at the industrial sectors south of Kuwait at Shuaiba, and some locations at the oil field Gathering Centers. This is not an epidemic of any sort, but affects a small percentage of the population from time to time. Therefore newcomers to Kuwait should be aware of such eye infections, and persons with sensitive eyes should have at all times eye cleanser prescribed by a specialist physician.”
Over-the-Counter Drops
For viral pink eye, which can't be treated with antibiotics, there is an over-the-counter eye drop for adults and children called Similasan Pink Eye Relief that relieves redness, burning, and discharge.” (I developed an allergy to Simsilasan that made the Pink Eye worse and caused the skin around my eyes to dry out.)
Eye Drops for Pink Eye
Eye drops used for pink eye (conjunctivitis) may be
antibiotic eye drops prescribed by a doctor or over-the-counter drops used to
soothe the symptoms of this common eye infection.
Antibiotic Eye Drops
Antibiotic eye drops are prescribed when the doctor believes the cause of pink eye is bacterial. Some commonly used antibiotics in the treatment of pink are Garamycin, Gentamycin, Tobramycin, Polytrim, Sulfonamides. These are all relatively old medications. Newer drugs, such as Ciloxan, Vigamox, Ocuflex, and Quixin, are becoming more commonly prescribed because they have not developed as much resistance to bacteria as the older drugs and they tend to work faster.
Antibiotic Eye Drops
Antibiotic eye drops are prescribed when the doctor believes the cause of pink eye is bacterial. Some commonly used antibiotics in the treatment of pink are Garamycin, Gentamycin, Tobramycin, Polytrim, Sulfonamides. These are all relatively old medications. Newer drugs, such as Ciloxan, Vigamox, Ocuflex, and Quixin, are becoming more commonly prescribed because they have not developed as much resistance to bacteria as the older drugs and they tend to work faster.
[I’ve been prescribed Vigamox both in Kuwait (this time around) and the US Kuwait
Over-the-Counter Drops
For viral pink eye, which can't be treated with antibiotics, there is an over-the-counter eye drop for adults and children called Similasan Pink Eye Relief that relieves redness, burning, and discharge.” (I developed an allergy to Simsilasan that made the Pink Eye worse and caused the skin around my eyes to dry out.)
I went to an ophthalmologist at International Clinic, Dr. Abdusamad Abdullah, who was very good (most private clinics/hospitals have an ophthalmologist). Kuwait also has a specialized eye hospital, Al Bahar Hospital, at the Al Sabah Medical Area in Shuwaikh (you must first receive a referral from a government hospital or clinic before going to the specialist hospitals).
Dr. Abdusamad recommended frequent use of eye drops in Kuwait (he prefers drops without preservatives which may further bother the eye). You should also wash your hands frequently and use hand sanitizer as Pink Eye is contagious. Also, bad news for those women who (like me) feel naked without make-up: absolutely no eye make-up as it may be an additional eye irritant. (And Dr. Abdusamad told me to throw away all my eye-make up as it may have been contaminated.) If you wear contact lenses, you must also switch to glasses until the pink eye is cleared. Lightly washing your eyes with warm water helps relieves pain although you should be careful not to cross-infect by using the same cloth/same area on both eyes.
Here are several medications for the treatment of pink eye (from the internet). They may have other brand names in Kuwait. Doctors usually prescribe drops and/or ointment.
Just remember it is never a good idea to self-medicate (tried that too). Your sight is valuable and it is nothing to play with.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Moving concerns?
Are you relocating to Kuwait? Are you concerned about the Arab Spring? Demonstrations? Iran threat?
I received an e-mail from a woman moving from the States with questions concerning the current climate in Kuwait and thought I would post some of the information I provided to her. Feel free to leave comments. Everyone's perspective is a good perspective.
I received an e-mail from a woman moving from the States with questions concerning the current climate in Kuwait and thought I would post some of the information I provided to her. Feel free to leave comments. Everyone's perspective is a good perspective.
Your post about Bedouin and their issues have been more frequent this year, and you did report on "protests" on this issue. You have also mentioned having a "go-bag", which did not make me very comfortable.
"Bedoon", not "Bedouin". Bedoon (means "without") refers to a group of people who have lived in Kuwait for generations, but have NO NATIONALITY. "Bedouin" refers to a group of people who were nomadic tribesmen - similar to the American Indians in many ways.
Bedoon are protesting for their basic human rights. They are peaceful demonstrations and are isolated to the North of the country in an area where Westerners/expats will probably never see.
Go-bag: I have heard lots of alarming statements over the past 16 years of living here. The notifications, announcements, advice you will hear from people is often not reflective of the true pulse of the country. Many corporations don't know the slightest thing about the pulse of the country because the only people coming here from companies are their business development or operations people; their business is not to collect cultural information about the country, but to get down to business. They pass what limited information they collect on to HR people, who, in turn, form their own opinions and pass it along to people moving to the country. It is like the Chinese whispering game where it keeps turning WRONG down the line.
There are very few books written about Kuwait by people who have actually lived here for any amount of time.
I'm very concerned about our personal security. I have two small children and as a mother I do not want to put them in ANY danger in exchange for some monetary gains.
My Western friends in Kuwait have children your children's age. This is an extremely child-friendly country. (And I believe this is a question best posed to other parents who live in Kuwait.)
I know that no one can predict the future, but with your 16 year experience in living in Q8, how do you feel today about your personal security? Do you know if US embassy has any plans to ensure the security of the US expats?
It is not the mission of the US embassy in any country to ensure the security of US expats. Be very sure about this. Their mission is diplomatic. They will assist in the event of an evacuation, but only in extreme circumstances (you and your family will most likely be long gone by that time). I have friends of friends who were evacuated during 1990. The embassy flew them to Dammam, Saudi Arabia (a 30 minute flight). They were charged $10,000/per person for that 30-minute flight. I discovered all this information when I participated of a mock-evacuation of Americans in 1997. We met at the US embassy. They showed us the evacuation forms we were to sign in the case of a real evacuation; stating that we had X number of days to repay the US Government for getting us out (the worse the danger, the more expensive the cost for getting us out). They took us on busses to an area where Chinhook helicopters (personnel carriers) took us out to an aircraft carrier. It CAN be done, but it is highly unlikely that it will ever happen.
The American company you/your husband is employed by would be more likely to evacuate family members first. That is usually the norm from my experience if they feel there is any type of a threat. Don't worry. They'll say, "family members/dependants are advised to leave." Then, you'll get a vacation to the States for a while.
There are 20 US military facilities around Iran. There are many Patriot missile sites located around Kuwait guarding civilian populations. Do I think it is a threat? War is a threat everywhere - including Hometown, USA these says. Is there a safe place anywhere? My cousin wasn't safe in Manhattan on 9/11 for example...
I have made a conscious choice to stay in Kuwait and I have never regretted my decisions.
The crime rate in Kuwait is very low. The majority of violent sexual crimes are committed against the less fortunate (Asian workers). Murder is not common. Justice is swift and there is the death penalty in Kuwait (although I don't believe anyone has been hanged since this Emir has taken power). There used to be public hangings before him. It is a huge deterrent to crime. Guns and ammunition are both against the law (unless specifically for hunting what is left of the wildlife). In Virginia where I'm from, there is a concealed weapons law; anyone can have a gun in a week. You never know who is packing. Not in Kuwait.
The driving is the worst crime. Reckless, unchecked road-rage at very high speeds. National driving maximum is 80mph on the highways and everybody goes faster (like who really remains on 55?) Get a bigass American-made SUV! Most people also don't see the need for child seats here.... need I say more? Crunchy airbags.
If you and the Desert Dawg had to move to Q8 today, would you do it knowing what you know now?
I don't feel my personal security is threatened by anything going on right now. I feel completely safe. I stayed here in 2003 and experienced SCUDS and US cruise missiles and even then, it was not a deterrent.
(I do, however, feel threatened by the growing number of blondes moving to the country!)
I feel completely safe now. I don't feel a threat to myself or my dog. Would I move to Kuwait now? Sure! However, I'm not 29 anymore (although I’m 29) and I doubt that I would have the courage to do it again alone at this age.
Kuwait and The Arab Spring: Perspective
Following is an interview that appeared in the Arab Times a few days ago, titled, "Street movement seeks reform Kuwait democratic experiment lagging behind in region". Thanks, Hamad Al-Sabah, for pointing it out on Twitter.
So, these tribes want to be truly enfranchised, similar to the labour enfranchisement movements of the mid 19th century in Europe. It was only the property owners who could vote back then, and the lower classes wanted to be enfranchised as well. To absorb all these aspirations of the masses of tribes, we need political parties, political agendas and so forth. We need better educational systems, better healthcare services and so on. We can’t be telling them even today that they are newcomers to Kuwait.
You can’t keep them out any longer on the grounds that their tribes are newcomers to Kuwait or that they have dual nationalities – some still carry a Saudi nationality. You can’t discriminate anymore on the basis that their tribes did not fight the Jahra battle. Instead let’s appreciate the fact that they fought against Iraqi invasion, which was a much bigger war than the Jahra Battle, and which impinged on the sovereignty and existence of Kuwait to a much greater extent than the Jahra Battle.
You need to have a new approach that can unite the whole of Kuwait – Sunnis and Shias, urbanites and tribes to create a modern and progressive Kuwait.
Q: You referred to a systemic change towards a constitutional monarchy in the next ten years. Is a change of that magnitude possible in such a short period of time? Do you expect the youth movements to take their struggle to a higher level of resistance, more violent perhaps, to push for these changes?A: Yes, 10 years may be too short a time for big changes, but if you analyse what happened with the Arab Spring you will know that you don’t need a lot of time for big changes to occur. So what could be accomplished in 10 years could be accomplished in one year also. We never know.
Every leader, every president or every head of state in the region is racing against time. They know that change is imminent, and are doing everything possible to contain the damage as much as possible. There are mass movements every where, and there are government initiatives for change. It depends on which of the two will overwhelm the other. If mass movements get stronger, the governments will change. If the government initiatives for change get the better of protests, then the mass movements will be absorbed into the system of change.
Sometimes, it’s only a matter of weeks for this equation to play out its full course. In the case of the Mubarak regime in Egypt, you would notice that the drastic changes in policy happened over weeks. One week he said there is no question of stepping down, and the following week he was announcing the date of his renunciation of power.
So, this is a historical period in the region. It is bringing out forces in the society that had been dormant for years. It’s a movement of awakening. The best approach is to be a visionary, to think ahead.
Some of the leaders have lost the moment, like President Bashar Assad. He has lost the moment. He has procrastinated for a long time. He took all the wrong decisions since the beginning of the revolution in his country. He is out. It’s only a matter of time. 2012 will see his end. But there are regimes in the region that are still loved by its people, by more than 50 percent of the people, which is a good support base.
Q: My question is about the move towards that bigger change in Kuwait. So far, the change of the Prime Minister, dissolution of the Parliament and fresh elections... all these were within the framework of the Constitution. But for the deeper structural changes, such as a move towards constitutional monarchy we need to go extra constitutional. How smooth do you think that change would be, and how would the leadership react to such a demand?A: What we have now is elections. This will bring more reforms as the majority in the Parliament after the elections would be the opposition. This does not mean that we will automatically have solutions once the Parliament is formed. We will have to see how the government will perform. To what extent will it be able to move forward. A lot will depend on what the government is able to do after the election. At the same time, you have a structural problem. One of it is that even if you have a majority in the Parliament of one political group, we still have 15 ministers, who are members of the Parliament. This means they have a vote on every issue raised in the Parliament and they will invariably vote in favour of the government. We want to hear more demands to change this status quo. So the majority in the Parliament is not out of 50, but 50 plus 15, which is 65.
This is where the lack of a political party system will be most felt. So, we will see a lot of demand coming for the legitimization of political parties.
Q: For these demands to be passed constitutionally, you will need that magic number in the Parliament, which as you just pointed out would be very difficult. So, then how will the protest movements get around this stumbling block to get their demands? How do you think the leadership will receive these demands for change?A: They may be rejected. But now what you have is there are people who have gotten used to going to the streets. Therefore, I think that the youths in the streets will be a characteristic of Kuwait in the coming years. The street movements will become very common. This will bear a great influence on the way that everyone thinks, including the leadership. The leadership will be keenly listening to pulse of these youth movements.
The way I see it is that these youth movements will see how their demands are not being met politically, leading to their scepticism of the Parliament. So, they will lose faith in their own representatives in the Parliament. When Parliament in their eyes becomes less legitimate, then the street becomes more legitimate. The only way you can make the street less legitimate is by empowering the democratic institutions in the country. That’s what happened in the West. They gave their Congresses and the Parliaments real power. And that’s why most of the protest movements withered away. People’s faith in the democratic institutions was restored and so they ignored street protests.
So, in the near future, I see the streets in Kuwait getting much stronger. The youths of the country will court arrests willingly, and imprisonment of street protestors will become a common narrative in the country’s politics. This will also lay the foundation for the next generation of leaders. They will be the MPs, ministers and prime ministers of the future.
Q: Is there a consensus among these disparate youth movements on what exactly they want?A: Not exactly. Sometimes, these movements build bridges, and get on with a gut feeling. They build on experience. They tend to take initiatives. Every initiative is by a different movement, and there are new groups emerging. If you look at the recent protests in front of the Ministry of Justice asking for the release of the arrested protestors, they were led by women activists. They were independent and did not belong to any group. So, youths are learning and evolving. We are entering this era of mass protests. However, what is good about Kuwait is that we have an Amir who sees these developments, is empathetic to the real needs of the people, and is able to act in a timely manner to diffuse tension. The leadership has to deal with this situation gently with an eye on the long-term consequences.
Full Story in the Arab Times HERE. Includes Dr. Ghabra's bio.
THE Arab Spring has overshadowed the democratic credentials of countries like Kuwait and Lebanon. Now, we are lagging behind as the culture of freedom sweeps across the Arab landmass with people wresting power from the hands of discredited regimes. Dr Shafeeq Ghabra, political analyst, in this interview to the Arab Times, connects the dots to allow the true picture of the political conflicts in Kuwait to emerge. The nod is certainly towards constitutional monarchy or some system where the Parliament will be in the driving seat, he notes. And for that ultimate transition the streets of Kuwait, more than any institution, will have a major role to play.
Question: Do you think what’s happening in Kuwait has a connection with the revolutions in the region?Answer: Yes, there is a definite connection between what’s happening in Kuwait and what’s happening in the region. However, what has happened in the region has far surpassed the Kuwaiti experiment, and if you want even the Lebanese experiment. Now, we are lagging behind other countries in the region in terms of the democratic experiment.
This is on the one hand, but on the other, changes and movements in Kuwait are not seeking to overthrow the political system. They are peaceful. We are only seeking political reforms. Whereas the other countries in the region, especially the republics, sought to overthrow their regimes.
Q: So from that perspective, can we say that Kuwait’s protests are different from the Arab Spring?A: Arab Spring has two components. In monarchies it’s only a reform agenda. It could lead to constitutional monarchies ultimately – look at Morocco and Jordan, while in the republics it’s touching a much deeper level, affecting even the highest echelons of power. It’s a deeper change. Therefore, it’s revolutions in the republics, and reforms in the monarchies. So, monarchies that fail to reform could face revolutions.
Q: Therefore you are suggesting that there is a very serious lesson for Kuwait to learn from these changes. Is Kuwait on the path to reforms or is it on the path to revolution?A: The recent initiative of HH the Amir of respecting the popular demand is a positive sign. There is a level of flexibility at the highest rungs of power. This flexibility is needed to be able to go forward.
Q: You said that Kuwait is lagging behind in its democratic experiments when compared to the changes in the region. Isn’t that too premature a judgement because, yes, while some regimes have been overthrown, we are yet to see what exactly is going to materialize in these countries? Egypt has gone into elections, but we can see that there’s still a standoff between the people and the army. Your remarks.A: What I meant was that in the past Kuwait and Lebanon were models that the region looked up to, we were the most democratic systems in the region. Now that image has been dimmed. The countries where changes are taking place are already aiming at a system that’s much more democratic than ours. The Arab Spring has raised the ceiling very high. The freedom, the criticisms, the levels of organization, the level of involvement by various factions in the society, the call for change, the ability to challenge authority has been taken to a totally different qualitative level in the Arab region. With these changes, we, that’s Kuwait and Lebanon, can no longer say that we are the most democratic countries in the region. That’s true of Iraq also. Even the Iraqi model, which replaced a dictatorial regime, can’t claim to be a leading example of democracy in the region any more.
Q: Kuwait’s democratic culture has always been rated very highly, it was next only to Israel in the whole region. We know that our media is very unsparing of the politicians, including the Prime Minister. So, don’t you think a more correct take would be to say that the region is catching up with our standard of democracy rather than ours going down?A: I am not saying that our freedom in Kuwait has gone down, neither has it gone up. We are in the middle of a change environment. What we have today is a bolder generation. A much more critical mass. It is willing to speak out and there is no limit to what they want to speak about. The bar certainly has gone up over the last two years, generally speaking of the region. Even in Saudi Arabia, Qatar or anywhere in the region. The people are willing to take initiatives. Everywhere the issue of challenging authority is getting stronger, the issue of fighting corruption is getting stronger, the issue of enfranchisement of the people is getting stronger.
Q: What do you think was actually happening in the region when very strong regimes one fine day suddenly collapsed one after another like a house of cards? What is your reading, is there something more to these events, are these events just a small part of a larger script that we are failing to see?A: A tree could look okay in the middle of a desert. It could look great and strong, standing tall for hundreds of years. But when a disease hits its roots and spreads inside, it could get hollowed out, yet keeping its appearance. All of these regimes were hollow inside.
Q: Coming back to Kuwait, what is the real yearning here? Is it only a political wrangling over the change of the Prime Minister and a reshuffle of the Cabinet or is there a thirst for a deeper structural change?A: Kuwait has been frozen for a long time. No initiatives by the government, weak development, weak educational system and so on have tested the patience of the people to its limit. The stalemate between the government and the Parliament kept prolonging, while everything else was slowly deteriorating. There are no formally recognized political parties in Kuwait, the Parliament couldn’t form governments. The conflict between the Parliament and the government made it look as if we were governed by two equal and opposite authorities, constantly locking their horns. One has to give in to the other for there to be any progress.
The youth of the country were now forced to take the initiative to break this impasse between the authorities. So, the demand for change permeates every level of politics, at the level of the Parliament, the government and the structure itself. However, the people are looking at radical changes, we only want reforms to get the system back on track and running. It was in this context the slogan for changing the Prime Minister began. They wanted the Parliament to be dissolved. They also wanted a fresh start, fresh elections. Next, the issue of corruption surfaced strongly, because it was eating into everything: politics, economy, you name it. Corruption is big time. MPs were accused of malfeasance, accepting money from undefined sources.
So these youth movements are playing a role to facilitate a third path between the government and the Parliament to get things moving. They are strengthening the parliamentarians who want change, and individuals in the opposition who want to do something constructive for the nation. So, what we are seeing is a part of the larger change. The result of all these changes could be a constitutional monarchy. May be in the next 10 years, we could be a constitutional monarchy.
However, it doesn’t mean the way to that end could be easy. There could be many impediments and setbacks. But we are definitely moving towards a system where the Parliament will become the driving seat of the government. So, what we are seeing today is just one angle of this overall struggle. At the same time the civil societies are also getting stronger in Kuwait, which will catalyse this change.
Question: Do you think what’s happening in Kuwait has a connection with the revolutions in the region?Answer: Yes, there is a definite connection between what’s happening in Kuwait and what’s happening in the region. However, what has happened in the region has far surpassed the Kuwaiti experiment, and if you want even the Lebanese experiment. Now, we are lagging behind other countries in the region in terms of the democratic experiment.
This is on the one hand, but on the other, changes and movements in Kuwait are not seeking to overthrow the political system. They are peaceful. We are only seeking political reforms. Whereas the other countries in the region, especially the republics, sought to overthrow their regimes.
Q: So from that perspective, can we say that Kuwait’s protests are different from the Arab Spring?A: Arab Spring has two components. In monarchies it’s only a reform agenda. It could lead to constitutional monarchies ultimately – look at Morocco and Jordan, while in the republics it’s touching a much deeper level, affecting even the highest echelons of power. It’s a deeper change. Therefore, it’s revolutions in the republics, and reforms in the monarchies. So, monarchies that fail to reform could face revolutions.
Q: Therefore you are suggesting that there is a very serious lesson for Kuwait to learn from these changes. Is Kuwait on the path to reforms or is it on the path to revolution?A: The recent initiative of HH the Amir of respecting the popular demand is a positive sign. There is a level of flexibility at the highest rungs of power. This flexibility is needed to be able to go forward.
Q: You said that Kuwait is lagging behind in its democratic experiments when compared to the changes in the region. Isn’t that too premature a judgement because, yes, while some regimes have been overthrown, we are yet to see what exactly is going to materialize in these countries? Egypt has gone into elections, but we can see that there’s still a standoff between the people and the army. Your remarks.A: What I meant was that in the past Kuwait and Lebanon were models that the region looked up to, we were the most democratic systems in the region. Now that image has been dimmed. The countries where changes are taking place are already aiming at a system that’s much more democratic than ours. The Arab Spring has raised the ceiling very high. The freedom, the criticisms, the levels of organization, the level of involvement by various factions in the society, the call for change, the ability to challenge authority has been taken to a totally different qualitative level in the Arab region. With these changes, we, that’s Kuwait and Lebanon, can no longer say that we are the most democratic countries in the region. That’s true of Iraq also. Even the Iraqi model, which replaced a dictatorial regime, can’t claim to be a leading example of democracy in the region any more.
Q: Kuwait’s democratic culture has always been rated very highly, it was next only to Israel in the whole region. We know that our media is very unsparing of the politicians, including the Prime Minister. So, don’t you think a more correct take would be to say that the region is catching up with our standard of democracy rather than ours going down?A: I am not saying that our freedom in Kuwait has gone down, neither has it gone up. We are in the middle of a change environment. What we have today is a bolder generation. A much more critical mass. It is willing to speak out and there is no limit to what they want to speak about. The bar certainly has gone up over the last two years, generally speaking of the region. Even in Saudi Arabia, Qatar or anywhere in the region. The people are willing to take initiatives. Everywhere the issue of challenging authority is getting stronger, the issue of fighting corruption is getting stronger, the issue of enfranchisement of the people is getting stronger.
Q: What do you think was actually happening in the region when very strong regimes one fine day suddenly collapsed one after another like a house of cards? What is your reading, is there something more to these events, are these events just a small part of a larger script that we are failing to see?A: A tree could look okay in the middle of a desert. It could look great and strong, standing tall for hundreds of years. But when a disease hits its roots and spreads inside, it could get hollowed out, yet keeping its appearance. All of these regimes were hollow inside.
Q: Coming back to Kuwait, what is the real yearning here? Is it only a political wrangling over the change of the Prime Minister and a reshuffle of the Cabinet or is there a thirst for a deeper structural change?A: Kuwait has been frozen for a long time. No initiatives by the government, weak development, weak educational system and so on have tested the patience of the people to its limit. The stalemate between the government and the Parliament kept prolonging, while everything else was slowly deteriorating. There are no formally recognized political parties in Kuwait, the Parliament couldn’t form governments. The conflict between the Parliament and the government made it look as if we were governed by two equal and opposite authorities, constantly locking their horns. One has to give in to the other for there to be any progress.
The youth of the country were now forced to take the initiative to break this impasse between the authorities. So, the demand for change permeates every level of politics, at the level of the Parliament, the government and the structure itself. However, the people are looking at radical changes, we only want reforms to get the system back on track and running. It was in this context the slogan for changing the Prime Minister began. They wanted the Parliament to be dissolved. They also wanted a fresh start, fresh elections. Next, the issue of corruption surfaced strongly, because it was eating into everything: politics, economy, you name it. Corruption is big time. MPs were accused of malfeasance, accepting money from undefined sources.
So these youth movements are playing a role to facilitate a third path between the government and the Parliament to get things moving. They are strengthening the parliamentarians who want change, and individuals in the opposition who want to do something constructive for the nation. So, what we are seeing is a part of the larger change. The result of all these changes could be a constitutional monarchy. May be in the next 10 years, we could be a constitutional monarchy.
However, it doesn’t mean the way to that end could be easy. There could be many impediments and setbacks. But we are definitely moving towards a system where the Parliament will become the driving seat of the government. So, what we are seeing today is just one angle of this overall struggle. At the same time the civil societies are also getting stronger in Kuwait, which will catalyse this change.
What I am saying is that the society itself is gearing towards that change. For example, a majority of Kuwaitis are from tribes that come from the desert regions. This majority is not duly represented in the Parliament though. I am talking about Kuwaitis who come from Jahra, Fahaheel and all these tribal belts. They are not appropriately represented.
Because they are a big mass of people, and because they are not well represented, they have to resort to backdoor connections to get their rights. For these people, Parliament is the only mechanism that can empower them. This is the reason why Kuwait can’t dissolve the Parliament. To dissolve the Parliament unconstitutionally is tantamount to saying that this majority has no say at all anymore. That will never happen. That’s also one reason tribal affiliations are very strong here. They don’t have the workaround or the money that the elite of the country enjoy. They fall back on the tribe to get what they want.
Because they are a big mass of people, and because they are not well represented, they have to resort to backdoor connections to get their rights. For these people, Parliament is the only mechanism that can empower them. This is the reason why Kuwait can’t dissolve the Parliament. To dissolve the Parliament unconstitutionally is tantamount to saying that this majority has no say at all anymore. That will never happen. That’s also one reason tribal affiliations are very strong here. They don’t have the workaround or the money that the elite of the country enjoy. They fall back on the tribe to get what they want.
So, these tribes want to be truly enfranchised, similar to the labour enfranchisement movements of the mid 19th century in Europe. It was only the property owners who could vote back then, and the lower classes wanted to be enfranchised as well. To absorb all these aspirations of the masses of tribes, we need political parties, political agendas and so forth. We need better educational systems, better healthcare services and so on. We can’t be telling them even today that they are newcomers to Kuwait.
You can’t keep them out any longer on the grounds that their tribes are newcomers to Kuwait or that they have dual nationalities – some still carry a Saudi nationality. You can’t discriminate anymore on the basis that their tribes did not fight the Jahra battle. Instead let’s appreciate the fact that they fought against Iraqi invasion, which was a much bigger war than the Jahra Battle, and which impinged on the sovereignty and existence of Kuwait to a much greater extent than the Jahra Battle.
You need to have a new approach that can unite the whole of Kuwait – Sunnis and Shias, urbanites and tribes to create a modern and progressive Kuwait.
Q: You referred to a systemic change towards a constitutional monarchy in the next ten years. Is a change of that magnitude possible in such a short period of time? Do you expect the youth movements to take their struggle to a higher level of resistance, more violent perhaps, to push for these changes?A: Yes, 10 years may be too short a time for big changes, but if you analyse what happened with the Arab Spring you will know that you don’t need a lot of time for big changes to occur. So what could be accomplished in 10 years could be accomplished in one year also. We never know.
Every leader, every president or every head of state in the region is racing against time. They know that change is imminent, and are doing everything possible to contain the damage as much as possible. There are mass movements every where, and there are government initiatives for change. It depends on which of the two will overwhelm the other. If mass movements get stronger, the governments will change. If the government initiatives for change get the better of protests, then the mass movements will be absorbed into the system of change.
Sometimes, it’s only a matter of weeks for this equation to play out its full course. In the case of the Mubarak regime in Egypt, you would notice that the drastic changes in policy happened over weeks. One week he said there is no question of stepping down, and the following week he was announcing the date of his renunciation of power.
So, this is a historical period in the region. It is bringing out forces in the society that had been dormant for years. It’s a movement of awakening. The best approach is to be a visionary, to think ahead.
Some of the leaders have lost the moment, like President Bashar Assad. He has lost the moment. He has procrastinated for a long time. He took all the wrong decisions since the beginning of the revolution in his country. He is out. It’s only a matter of time. 2012 will see his end. But there are regimes in the region that are still loved by its people, by more than 50 percent of the people, which is a good support base.
Q: My question is about the move towards that bigger change in Kuwait. So far, the change of the Prime Minister, dissolution of the Parliament and fresh elections... all these were within the framework of the Constitution. But for the deeper structural changes, such as a move towards constitutional monarchy we need to go extra constitutional. How smooth do you think that change would be, and how would the leadership react to such a demand?A: What we have now is elections. This will bring more reforms as the majority in the Parliament after the elections would be the opposition. This does not mean that we will automatically have solutions once the Parliament is formed. We will have to see how the government will perform. To what extent will it be able to move forward. A lot will depend on what the government is able to do after the election. At the same time, you have a structural problem. One of it is that even if you have a majority in the Parliament of one political group, we still have 15 ministers, who are members of the Parliament. This means they have a vote on every issue raised in the Parliament and they will invariably vote in favour of the government. We want to hear more demands to change this status quo. So the majority in the Parliament is not out of 50, but 50 plus 15, which is 65.
This is where the lack of a political party system will be most felt. So, we will see a lot of demand coming for the legitimization of political parties.
Q: For these demands to be passed constitutionally, you will need that magic number in the Parliament, which as you just pointed out would be very difficult. So, then how will the protest movements get around this stumbling block to get their demands? How do you think the leadership will receive these demands for change?A: They may be rejected. But now what you have is there are people who have gotten used to going to the streets. Therefore, I think that the youths in the streets will be a characteristic of Kuwait in the coming years. The street movements will become very common. This will bear a great influence on the way that everyone thinks, including the leadership. The leadership will be keenly listening to pulse of these youth movements.
The way I see it is that these youth movements will see how their demands are not being met politically, leading to their scepticism of the Parliament. So, they will lose faith in their own representatives in the Parliament. When Parliament in their eyes becomes less legitimate, then the street becomes more legitimate. The only way you can make the street less legitimate is by empowering the democratic institutions in the country. That’s what happened in the West. They gave their Congresses and the Parliaments real power. And that’s why most of the protest movements withered away. People’s faith in the democratic institutions was restored and so they ignored street protests.
So, in the near future, I see the streets in Kuwait getting much stronger. The youths of the country will court arrests willingly, and imprisonment of street protestors will become a common narrative in the country’s politics. This will also lay the foundation for the next generation of leaders. They will be the MPs, ministers and prime ministers of the future.
Q: Is there a consensus among these disparate youth movements on what exactly they want?A: Not exactly. Sometimes, these movements build bridges, and get on with a gut feeling. They build on experience. They tend to take initiatives. Every initiative is by a different movement, and there are new groups emerging. If you look at the recent protests in front of the Ministry of Justice asking for the release of the arrested protestors, they were led by women activists. They were independent and did not belong to any group. So, youths are learning and evolving. We are entering this era of mass protests. However, what is good about Kuwait is that we have an Amir who sees these developments, is empathetic to the real needs of the people, and is able to act in a timely manner to diffuse tension. The leadership has to deal with this situation gently with an eye on the long-term consequences.
Emergency book sale for PAWS
Facing eviction from its premises at short notice, the Protecting Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) is in a desperate situation. With no time to lose, we need the entire community to rally round and help this dedicated, hard-working group of volunteers in their fight for survival. The lives of some 150 animals in their care depend on us, not to mention the plight of many future rescues.
An easy way for you to come to their aid is by purchasing books by local photojournalist Claudia Farkas Al Rashoud. Dame Violet Dickson and What the Camels Said to Santa are being sold, with all proceeds going to the PAWS emergency fund.
Dame Violet Dickson, “Umm Saud’s” Fascinating Life in Kuwait from 1929-1990 is the remarkable story of an extraordinary Englishwoman and is also a history of Kuwait. Affectionately called “Umm Saud” by the Arabs, she became a legend in her own lifetime. She lived in Kuwait for 61 years, first as the wife of the British Political Agent to Kuwait, Colonel H.R.P. Dickson, and later as a widow. During this time she lived through the age of ancient bedouin traditions into an era of affluence, and ultimately, with the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, a period of horror. The book is illustrated with over 70 photographs including rare and previously unpublished pictures of old Kuwait from the Dickson family collection. Dame Violet Dickson is also available in an Arabic edition.
What the Camels Said to Santa is a children’s book about Kuwait’s desert environment, with full color photographs of Santa Claus, his friends the camels, and other local desert creatures. Meet the gerbil, the Common Black Beetle, the Lacertid Lizard, the Spiny-Tailed Agamid, and of course, the camels, and find out what they have to say about the situation in Kuwait’s desert.
Also on sale for PAWS is another charming children’s book, In Kuwait, by Pattie Meyer, with original illustrations by Margaret Bosworth’s local art students.
The books are conveniently-priced at 3 KD each or two for 5 KD, so why not take care of some of your holiday gift buying while supporting a worthy cause. You can find them at Greensac, shop number 12 on the mezzanine floor of Galleria 2000, Salmiya; Sandouq Al Sharq gift shop on Sayed Yaseen Street, Block 17, Building 1, Salmiya; and Images Salon and Day Spa facing the Fourth Ring Road in Salmiya, Abothar Al Gafari Street, Fouad Al Rashid Building, number 4, first floor. They will also be sold at PAWS events and upcoming holiday bazaars. For delivery of large orders and for any other information please call 97485666.
Leaving Kuwait? Know your legal obligations!
I got a question from a reader which was interesting and I thought I should reply to and post on the blog for others’ information.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer. I do not pretend to be one. I am writing from personal knowledge/experience.
Lady’s son was here on a contract with an American company (but that had sponsorship through a Kuwaiti company), left Kuwait because of an emergency, took another job somewhere else, then returned to Kuwait, only to be arrested at the airport for absconding.
As y’alls know, it is a pain in the derrier to get a residency visa (that’s a whole ‘nother post). Security clearances, fingerprints, medical tests, etc. So, when it comes to leaving, you can’t just pack and go. There are things that you must do (legally) to “close out.”
Those cars you see at the airport parking lot with flat tires and covered with dust: probably belonged to people who did not properly close out.
American companies often do not fully understand what they are getting themselves into when starting operations in Kuwait (see last paragraph/note of this post). Then, it becomes a Chinese whispering game to explain the rules of the land to their employees. There is an American Business Council here, but they will most likely only provide you with the name of a lawyer. It is also NOT the mission of the US Embassy (here, there, anywhere) to assist Americans: They are on diplomatic missions in the countries where they are. Plus, add to the problem that most embassy staff are only here on 2 year rotations and may spend their time with other Americans working at the embassy. In fairness, 2 years is not sufficient time to learn everything about the country where they are posted. They also can't help everybody with everything. Not their yob.
The relationship between the sponsor and the American company:
Kuwait requires that businesses are owned 51% by Kuwaitis. So, if Western companies wish to do business in Kuwait, they need to set up a business with a Kuwaiti partner (at 51% - which is why many Western companies choose not to set up operations here) or a joint venture of some kind where a sponsor company will allow (for a fee) the Western employees to work under the sponsor company's business license - which includes visas. Some companies provide visas for a fee independently of any shared business interests. In the US, it would be similar to you or I having a company, and sponsoring a foreign worker on an H1 visa. You, as the sponsor, are responsible for the whereabouts of that worker. If he "skips" - you have to fill out a whole lot of paperwork and may be responsible for associated fees (legal and otherwise).
What happens when a person leaves Kuwait without properly "signing out" with the sponsor and the Kuwaiti government:
Each company is only allocated X number of visas per year. The sponsoring company must prove to the government that their workers are being paid and treated fairly. (For example, if an employee suddenly stopped getting paid, the sponsor company should – in theory – get in trouble as salaries are being direct-deposited.) If an employee leaves without handling the proper paperwork, the government fines the company and can either close their file (meaning they can close the company for a period of time) or the government can decide not to extend any additional visas to the company; therefore the company loses money. It becomes exceptionally more difficult for the company to file paperwork on an employee - like lady's son - who has left the country without handling his paperwork properly. There are costs incurred and time spent. They must (legally) register a case with the Kuwaiti court (to prove that they are no longer sponsoring the employee) that the employee has "absconded". Sometimes, they must even post a public announcement in the newspaper with the employee's photo. This also covers the company in case the employee has committed/will commit a crime (like theft, murder, whatever... or just decide to hang around illegally in the country) in the future.
Then it becomes a matter for the government to find the person who has skipped and figure out why they are still in the country; basically, the employee has a “warrant” on them at this point. If they leave Kuwait and return, they can be arrested – just like the States where if you have an open warrant, you will be arrested until you can resolve the matter. (Like one of my friends who closed his US bank account and forgot a check still out for $9. He was arrested on a bench warrant at Atlanta airport as soon as he got off the plane. Not fun to spend 2 days of your vacation in jail.)
Then it becomes a matter for the government to find the person who has skipped and figure out why they are still in the country; basically, the employee has a “warrant” on them at this point. If they leave Kuwait and return, they can be arrested – just like the States where if you have an open warrant, you will be arrested until you can resolve the matter. (Like one of my friends who closed his US bank account and forgot a check still out for $9. He was arrested on a bench warrant at Atlanta airport as soon as he got off the plane. Not fun to spend 2 days of your vacation in jail.)
(As a commentor wrote today, teachers who "pull a runner" can be blacklisted in the entire GCC. If you have a REALLY bad experience with your employer, please seek legal assistance from a local lawyer before it comes to that.)
Anyone moving to a foreign country MUST know the laws of that country. Don't take the word of me, your company, or anyone else. Research and educate yourself.
Anyone moving to a foreign country MUST know the laws of that country. Don't take the word of me, your company, or anyone else. Research and educate yourself.
I’m not saying that the lady’s son was to blame. It may have been that the American company he went to work for did not properly advise him of his obligations, but that would be hard to prove in a US court, lengthy and expensive.
What should her son have done?
By law, anyone residing and working in Kuwait must provide 3 month’s notification to their employer before ending their employment. (The company may make the determination to let the employee go prior to the end of the 3 months, but it is to their discretion.) Then, the company should make arrangements with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor to close out the employee’s file. He/she will be given 30 days to stay in the country before having to leave Kuwait (and accruing daily fines). Employees can also go to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor (MOSAL or “Shaoun”) and cancel their visa, but I believe they require a release letter from their employer. They may also require a bank clearance.
So, her son should have given his employers’ notice that he had an emergency (in writing). If he had to leave same-day, he should have returned to Kuwait and cancelled his visa – or – before leaving Kuwait the first time, hired a lawyer and signed a power of attorney to deal with his affairs.
*NOTE: American companies operating in Kuwait or lawyers requiring assistance in writing “What to Expect” manuals for their employees living working in Kuwait: Write to me! amerab@gmail.com. My rates are reasonable and I can facilitate/customize your requirements.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Kuwait Charity Run: November 17, 2012
This is a charity run to benefit Pumps4Kids (providing insulin pumps to children diagnosed with diabetes so they don't need injections with needles - scary!), K'SPATH, Bayt Abdullah, and Kuwait Association for the Care of Children in Hospital.
Registration fee is 15KD. Run management encourages people to get pledges from their friends and family (pledge X amount of money for each mile/kilo that they run for charity.)
Kuwait Marathon: 3 November 2012
Kuwait Marathon is a footrace taking place on the 3rd of November 2012 for the first time in Kuwait. It will be held in the northern desert of Kuwait on hard sand and varied terrain. There will be several Marathon Distances held on the same day. Visit KMarathon for more details.
The website says that the event is being managed by Aymstrong of Kuwait (their website is under construction Who are they?). (Do you think they meant "Aimstrong"?) Registration fees are between 7KD and 60KD. I don't know if I agree with their concept of "Prizes for Female participants (for full run) will be determined based on the number of female participants in the Full Marathon."
Hey - we're in Kuwait. When did dollars become the national currency? And yet, entrance fees on the website are in Dinars. Hmm.... innnnteresting. So let's say maximum 60KD/$213 entrance fee (for the full marathon) and you may win up to 562KD/$2000. Let's try to remain consistent, shall we? (It is the editor in me.)
I do think that it is great that Kuwait is getting so much more fitness-minded!
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