Rock Star Parking
Ya’ll know that a lot of this blog is about cross-cultural experiences, but this one is cross-cultural in our own family.
You know, every family, every tribe of us, has its own rituals and ways of doing things, and even when you marry someone you think you know very very well, you are in for some surprises.
One of the surprises in our marriage was that my husband thought I was supposed to fill the gas tank. Hello? Fill the gas tank? That’s MENS stuff, don’t you know? We had some tense moments in our first couple months of marriage working that one out, especially when I would leave him with nearly empty gas tank. My husband was rightfully flummoxed by my ability to be both a feminist and a princess, thinking that filling the tank and fixing car problems was HIS work. I learned *huge sigh* to watch the level of gas, to fill the tank, and to take the car in for services. *another big sigh*
But one thing that drove my husband right up the wall was my thing about parking close to the door. Well, I will give him this, he did not grow up in Alaska or in Seattle, he doesn’t know about freezing cold winds and mounds of snow and driving rain and winds that turn umbrellas inside out. My husband didn’t know that husbands, like daddies, are supposed to find the perfect spot as close to the entry as possible, every single time, or to drop us off and meet us inside. No, given I was a feminist, he expected to just take any old spot and I would just walk with him to wherever we would go. We never got that one worked out.
Not until a couple years ago. I learned that my mistake was all in trying to explain the irrationality of family culture. I learned that it was all about marketing, about positioning, something that normally I am very sensitive to and very good at doing. I was hopelessly blind in my approach and hopelessly single tracked.
It all changed when we were taking a new employee on a sight seeing tour of Kuwait. When we got to the grocery store, suddenly a spot opened up right in front of the store.
“Wooooo Hoooooo!” hooted the new guy, “ROCK STAR PARKING!”
I could see my husband straighten up and preen a little as he thought of himself as a person who got “rock star parking.” The light went on. Once he started thinking of himself as a “rock star parking” kind of guy, I never had to walk a long distance to the entry again.
(Woooo HOOOOOOOOO!)
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Didn’t you know its all about our egos?!? That realization alone is worth more than its weight in gold!
lol well welcome to the country of wannabe-rockstar parking!
its actually not that different from your description of alaska in that one of the things you try to do is park close to avoid a long walk under the sun in the case of kuwait.
having said that, one thing that does infuriate me to this day is when i’m riding with someone and we wind up going round in circles for 30 minutes, stalking potential departers for that one perfect parking spot, to save an extra couple of minutes. not that i dont do it sometimes too π
but waiting for the rockstar parking is justification enough to explain your fashionably late arrival π
which i must admit is something i find myself doing at times hehehe π
feminist and a princess – LOLLL! I love you! See, am like that & people think am contradictive! WOHOO You ROCK!
I love how you gave up eventually & tried to “show” your hubby what to do without hurting your mouth π – smart woman! I do not fill tanks myself because IT IS a man’s job as for parkings, any person would love to have the Rock Star Parking! I’m glad your husband came around π
Thatβs so funny girl! I canβt remember any surprises with my husband! OH π¦ !!!! I will have to think of something!
Out of subject; I wrote a bit of my past in my blog explaining few things that made me leave Kuwait! And yes I left July 2000!!!
Rock Star Parking ROCKS! wooohoooo indeed *wiggles eyebrows*
well, rock star parking aint so cool here in kuwait… because you will most likly be blocked by a nice (inconsiderate) gentleman/lady in a hurry to finish their shopping ,, i learnt this the hard way so keep it in mind AM π
Jon – hadn’t thought about that! π
Skunk – LOOLL! Sometimes – like at Marina Mall – you drive around looking for ANY spot, even an illegal one!
Chikapappi – Yeh, there’s no rule that we have to be rational or consistent! π And I have to admit, in the US I really miss having someone to pump my gas; I get spoiled in Kuwait.
Noracassandra – I read your blog. Your story is amazing. Holy Smokes, kidnapped! I am sure your father meant well, but what a trauma for you. You sound happy, now, and that is what matters.
Swair – I have a feeling about you. I have a feeling you fall into rock star parking just by luck and determination!
Abdulaziz – LLLLOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLL! I had not thought of that at all. You are SO right.
And, my friends, as much as I love rock star parking, Abdulaziz’ entry has reminded me of another issue. As much as I love rock star parking, I would never NEVER park in a handicapped spot. Why? First, it’s against the law. Second, my own Dad had breathing problems, and my Mom had hip problems, they both have had handicapped stickers and they NEED those spots. There are folks in Kuwait who need them, too. People with family members in wheelchairs, etc. Please, my friends, leave those spots for the people who desperately need them.
(Smiling)
In the end it is all about ego boosting tactics to get what you want
Uh yeh! For the record, AdventureMan wants you all to know he was not preening. π
lol! amazing! I think this type of resolve is the way to go! I sure fancy the idea of a rock star parking, and oh does it feel that way indeed!
It feels like God reached down his hand and says “You get a break today. Today you are special.” It makes me feel like dancing.:-)
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