Menace on the Roads
LOL, AbdulAziz sent these fabulous close-to-sunset-in-Kuwait photos. Here is the first:
Isn’t that beautiful?
And here is the one taken just before it:
AbdulAziz, I hope you were at a stoplight when you took these photos! I imagine you driving down the road, camera in one hand, one eye on the photo and one on your rear view mirror and you might come into conflict with one of those bus drivers! Watch out!
Rain in Kuwait
Lots of rain, peals of thunder, lightning strikes and lots of rain! The Qatteri Cat is totally freaked out, running from the leaking window with it’s new drip drip drip to the windows – he thinks the rain drops are bugs or something, and makes that eh-eh-eh-eh-eh sound cats make when they see birds. Rain!
I am laughing; who would think this PacificNorthwest gal would be celebrating rain – we get so much rain out there in the PNW. But even when there was a huge rainstorm here in Kuwait last year, we didn’t see any where we live, or only a drop or two, not even enough to smear a window or create a puddle. Now Rain! Real rain!
When it started, I was driving. We got home as soon as we could; the first rains turn the highways into grease slicks.
Remember – this is not California, where people might stop and dance for joy at the parking lights. (California has droughts, too.) Dancing for joy only allowed in the privacy of your own home!
Update – an hour later it is still raining, and I have towels under several of my windows to collect the intrusion!
New Buses, Mixed Blessing
As many of you may remember, I am a supporter of public transportation. I would SO much rather have the time to read a book or magazine than to be stuck in traffic. When I saw the bright, modern, fast new buses hit the streets recently in Kuwait – during the last year – instead of the clunky slow, old buses they had, my heart rejoiced.
Hmm. Not so fast.
I drive on a major local road regularly. The buses have become a menace. They drive way fast. They halt, and then merge back into traffic as if they have the right of way, which as we all know, in Kuwait there is no right of way. I guess they figure that because they are big, and faster, they are king of the road. I can tell you for a fact, they don’t like being passed by a woman. Imagine, being chased down by a bus!
Buses cause accidents on Sixth Ring Road
KUWAIT: Sixth Ring Road was the scene of two accidents caused by public buses.
A man driving a small car suffered serious injuries when he hit a public bus after the bus driver lost control of his vehicle and hit the barrier and then stopped at the middle of the road. The man was taken to the hospital by a fellow citizen to seek medical assistance.
Ten minutes later, another bus driver repeated the same scenario of the first accident except as he hit the barrier he also hit a small car. The car driver suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital to seek medical assistance. The two buses caused serious traffic congestion but police officers managed to move them to the side of the road and continue the traffic flow.
I don’t know what training the drivers receive before they head out in their buses. I have a suspicion that it isn’t much. I think they need to be trained in safe driving practices, and warned against aggression on the roads. I think they need to use their rear view mirrors, their signals, and they need to be an example of proper driving, because they are a visible, public model of state policy.
Not-Stormy Sunrise
When I got up this morning, the sky was thick with clouds, and I thought to myself “I will call it Stormy Sunrise,” but by the time the sun came over the horizon, the clouds had dissipated, and it was an entirely different sunset.
Did anyone else hear a loud clap of thunder last night? I heard it, but it was when I was too much asleep to care enough to get up and watch. If there was an electrical storm, I missed it. I can see that we have had some slight sprinkles, though, recently, because I have drop marks on our windows.
Here is what the today and tomorrow are supposed to look like:
Interesting Twist on Hijab
From today’s Al Watan:
”Policewomen must comply with Islamic attire”
Al Watan staff
KUWAIT: In reaction to a statement by the Director General of Sheikh Saad AlـAbdullah Academy on policewomen”s uniforms, MP Mohammed Hayef noted that the current uniform requirements for female police contravene with the spirit of Islamic law as well as the Constitution, which guarantees personal freedom.
According to him, the announced uniform will ban policewomen for wearing a veil, even if they chose to do so.
The lawmaker reiterated his resolve to stand against the uniform to ensure that Islamic law is observed.
He also criticized the period during which policewomen will undergo training, arguing that 12 hours is too long for the female conscripts, considering their physical abilities.
Describing the training period as similar to hard labor, he called on the relevant authorities to reconsider their decision on this particular matter.
Last updated on Tuesday 28/10/2008
What do you think? I think that there are ways of covering your hair that are not inconsistent with being a policewoman. If the uniform forbids hijab, in my mind, that is as bad as the parliament requiring hijab, for the same reason – wearing hijab or not wearing hijab is a personal decision between a woman and her God. It is not to be mandated by state or mankind. Instead of getting into a big fracas about it, why not have a fashion-design contest to design a professional headgear that a covered woman could CHOOSE to wear as part of her uniform?
As to the 12 hours – well LLLLOOOLLLL! How many hours of hard labor per day do women put in with taking care of children, cleaning, shopping and meal preparation, not to mention family obligations? Working a 12 hour day training to be a policewoman? Piece of cake!
Women in all parts of the world are working as soldiers, police, fire protection, etc. They train as hard as the men, and they get the job done. Think of the female doctors in Kuwait, and the hours they work! Think of their sacrifice! Our estrogen issues are no more diverting and/or debilitating than male testosterone issues!
(thank you, thank you, I’ll get off my soapbox now)
Aware Center: November Schedule
If you are feeling a little clueless in Kuwait, the Aware Center is a great place to get started. They offer classes in Arabic, in addition to multiple opportunities to understand the culture and all that Kuwait has to offer.
AWARE Center November Calendar
“Advocates for Western-Arab Relations”
The AWARE Center is a non-profit and non-governmental organization that was established in 2003 by a group of Arabs and Westerners whose aim was to promote positive relations between Westerners and Arabs through dialogue and friendship. Since our opening in 2003, individuals from more than 50 countries have visited AWARE to take part in our cross-cultural activities.
We hope you will join us as we share the culture of the Arabs and Muslims through a variety of programs scheduled during the month of November.
For further details on any of our programs, you may contact our staff by telephone at
2 5335280 or by email at info@www.aware.com.kw or delores.aware@gmail.com or view our webpage atwww.aware.com.kw
November at AWARE:
Nov. 2-8
Tues. 4th Nov. Diwaniya: “The Status of Women in the World and Islam’s Response”, by Dr Teresa, 7:00pm
Wed. 5th Nov. Cultural Orientation Course: “Cultural Clothing of Kuwait” by Iman Martin, 7:00pm
Thurs. 6th Nov. Arabic Winter Courses Begin (Please refer to the attachment for a full schedule of class offerings)
Nov. 9-15
Mon. 10th Nov. Tour: Tareq Rajab Museum Please note: This tour meets directly at the Museum at 5pm. For directions and further details, contact amina@aware.com.kw
Tues. 11th Nov. Diwaniya: “What is the Real Jihad?” by Shayma Mahmoud, 7:00pm
Wed. 12th Nov. Cultural Orientation Course: “Etiquette when visiting Kuwaiti Homes” by Wadha, 7:00pm
Thurs. 13th Nov. International Friends Film and Coffee Social: “Inside Mecca“, A National Geographicdocumentary film, 7:00pm
Sat. 15th Nov. Tour: Grand Mosque 9.30am Please note: This tour meets directly at the Grand Mosque at 9:15am. For directions and further details, contact amina@aware.com.kw
Nov. 16-22
Tues. 18th Nov. Diwaniya: “Globalization Vs Universalism“ by Kevin Stoda, 7:00pm
Wed. 19th Nov. Cultural Orientation Course: “Kuwaiti Weddings & Islamic Married Life” by Iman Martin, 7:00pm
Nov. 23-30
Tues. 25th Nov. Diwaniya: “Why are human beings different?”, by Hassan Taha, 7:00pm
Thurs. 27th Nov. Carpet Exhibition & Lecture, “The Art of Persians Carpets”, by Nazi Riasati Al-Dashti, 7:00pm
Rosy Dawn with Chills
Wooo HOOO, Kuwait! Look at this temperature at 7 ayem!
And then look at the humidity and the dew point! No wonder we all feel a little clammy!
The dawn is moving further and further to the south, and this morning was briefly rosy as the sun struggled to break through the thick haze:
When my husband and I prayed together this morning, we prayed to be able to keep our minds and hearts on the things that are really important, and not the things of the world. As financial empires crumble, we want to be thankful for all the riches with which we have been blessed – our marriage, our son and his wife, our families – for good jobs, and good friends – and we pray to be safe on the roads.
Even the Qatteri Cat likes morning prayer time. 🙂
She Kept Her Head
From today’s Arab Times:
Police arrest youth, hunt for two in kidnap, rape bid of schoolgirl
KUWAIT CITY: Police have arrested a Kuwaiti youngster and are looking for his two other accomplices who allegedly kidnapped a schoolgirl, drove her to a deserted area and tried to rape her, reports Al-Dar daily.
The girl told police that the youngsters got scared when she screamed for help and drove off; however, she managed to note down the plate number of their vehicle and it led to the arrest of one of them.
God bless this scared, screaming girl – she used her head. The miserable cowards who abducted her and intended to rape her dumped her, and she wrote down their license number! Wooo HOOO on you, girlie!
An Insult – and 3 Dead Kuwaitis
From today’s Arab Times. How many hearts are breaking in Kuwait over one young man’s lack of self-control? I know, I know, this is Kuwait, and things are different. Because of an insult, three brothers are dead, and one in intensive care. Two families devastated, one with dead sons, one with a son who is a murderer. Three crashed vehicles, one from an innocent man who only stopped to see if he could help, and ended up with his car stolen and crashed, too. . . the whole thing is tragedy, from beginning to end.
Three brothers dead: Three Kuwaiti brothers in the age group of 25-30 years died in a road rage accident in Mina Abdullah while their fourth brother is currently confined to the intensive care unit of Adan Hospital, reports Al-Anba daily.
According to a security source, a Kuwaiti youth’s car broke down on King Fahd Expressway. The youth reportedly called his father to inform about the breakdown and told that four Kuwaiti youngsters had insulted him. When his father went to help the youth, the latter took his father’s vehicle, drove at full speed and crashed into the Jeep of the four brothers. The Jeep overturned due to the impact and one of the brothers died on the spot. Two others died in Adan Hospital and the fourth one is confined to the intensive care unit.
Meanwhile, the youth, who appeared disoriented, left his father’s car at the site of the accident and drove away with an Asian’s car who stopped to check what happened. He was eventually arrested after crashing into another car.
How does the law work in a case like this?
It says the young man was arrested. Is he still in jail? Can you get bail after killing three people in an act of rage?
Is his driving license taken away?
is an insult considered justification for a crime of rage?
Does he go to prison, or if he pays blood money, does he walk away free?
If he is convicted of murder, what is the likely sentence?
Will he also go on trial for stealing the Asian’s car and crashing it?
Not a legal question:
Does this cause an unending feud between two families? Or is this just another chapter in an already ongoing feud?
How many drivers am I sharing the road with who have killed?
Barely There Sunrise
This morning, I was up, looking out my window-on-the-world, hanging on to my coffee for dear live at 0600 in the morning, Qatteri Cat was with me, purring and making those little kitten noises that mean “Hiya, Mom, any chance you’ll pour me some fresh cat food?” and I have my camera . . . but there is no sunrise. There is light, but whatever is hanging over Kuwait is SO thick that the sun can’t break through, not for half an hour after sunrise.
This is what it looks like when you can finally see the sun:
What is really scary – we are BREATHING that stuff!
It is 72°F / 22°C at 0700 (Wooo Hoooo!) and althought it doesn’t feel so humid today, we have the possibility of rain later on this week. And look at those temperatures! Get out the long underwear!
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