Unpopular opinion

One of the recurring topics which usually appear when two or more foreigners meet for the first time in Kuwait is the general opinion about life here and how each one is coping with it. It is very interesting the way in which each person addresses the issue depending on the length of time living here. Even though this country is always in the last positions in the surveys about the favorite countries for expats, sometimes there are people with more favorable perceptions who wouldn’t mind staying in this place some years more. They mainly value the possibility to save some money, the safety and the tranquility. Personally, this is not the ideal country where I would like to settle down, but I already reached a point at which most of the negative aspects I highlighted one year ago upset me less and less and I have been learning to appreciate more the positive factors.

If someone read at that time my first posts in this blog, he or she would remember that my thoughts about Kuwait were not hopeful at all. I especially felt annoyed because of the distance between my residence and my work, the time I spent on the bus, the extreme heat, and the absence of areas for walking and going out. Once I also mentioned the difficulty for socializing, something related to the previous factors. All this made me think about the idea of leaving after the winter holidays. It is good that I didn’t give up and I decided to finish my contract, because otherwise I couldn’t meet who is today my wife and the main reason why I started to change my attitude towards my life in this place.

Benditas carreras de camellos

At that moment, I still thought it was a joke when someone said that Kuwait is not so bad. Now I understand that, at the end, it is not the country but the circumstances around each person what condition our opinions. In my case, I already commented at the beginning of this school year how my conditions improved at every level, both economically and professionally. Of course, there are still some annoying things here but they almost don’t upset me.

On the other hand, I have been widening my social network and discovering areas and places where it is possible to spend a good time.

Regarding boredom, which is the main complaint among expats, I actually I almost have no time to feel it since I don’t stop doing things but, talking about leisure activities, you just have to investigate a bit to find something to do every weekend.

I talked once about Aware association, which organize a lot of activities for both locals and foreigners. It is very convenient subscribing to their newsletter to be informed about their program. Besides, there are some websites compiling different cultural, sport and entertainment events for all kind of people. I usually check the agendas of 248AM or Kuwait Upto Date. It is also important to review some groups in social media where people publish some interesting things.

As I said, I don’t see Kuwait as the best place in the World to live, regardless how each one is doing, but it is true that at the end each person decides how to cope with it. It is possible to live with a negative attitude, complaining every time for everything and missing better times, either trying to value the positive aspects that we still have (even living in Fintas). And if you can´t find anything good, there are still 193 countries else where you can try to have a better life, although I think that who is pessimist will be pessimist here and in the Bahamas.

All the best for everyone and try to see life with more optimism and humor.

By the sweat of someone else's brow

A couple of weeks ago, I read an article about a study from the World Health Organization, which analyzed the frequency of physical exercise in 168 countries. The result places Kuwait in the last position of the list, ranking as the laziest country according to this. The surveys showed that 67% of Kuwaitis don´t practice enough sport. According to the WHO, the physical activity should be at least 75 minutes per week if it is intense, or 150 minutes if it is moderate exercise. Here you can see the complete report in case you want to check in detail:https://www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(18)30357-7/fulltext

One of the reasons of this shortage of sporting habits can be the weather. Everyone knows that heat provokes drowsiness and the high temperatures limit the chances of running or biking outside, for example. However, this shouldn't be an excuse since the number of sport clubs and gyms in the country is increasing. On the other hand, there are several sport competitions, especially from November to April. Other cause, related to the previous one, is the huge car dependency of many people to go everywhere. The most remarkable situation I ever saw is when some drivers stop outside any shop or restaurant, using their horns to call someone to come and attend them, and then asking for what they wish without leave their cars. I think I never ever watched a bigger sign of laziness in my whole life.

A group of aerobic entertaining and motivating the participants before the Run Kuwait For a Cause race

This data regarding the low frequency of physical exercise in Kuwait could be seen as a simple anecdote if it was not for the health hazards related to sedentary lifestyle. This factor plus the increasing tendency of consuming fast food among the Kuwaitis, lead the country to be the first in the ranking of obesity in the World, with a 42% of people with this characteristic. This is something I realize when I go to some mall, the place where locals spend more time. What is especially worrying is the prevalence of child obesity. I hope they can react soon and organize some awareness campaign about this matter because it is getting serious.

 

For my part, at the moment I didn't go running since I came back, mainly because I don´t want to faint. These days I am just doing push ups, abdominal crunches, skipping and other exercises at home in order to keep fit. I am waiting for the weather to start being a bit better, at least in the night, to recover the running habit as last year. I also would like to play badminton again but first I need to find a good place in Salmiya area for this. Let me know if someone would like to join!

The "mega museum"

Last Thursday I had the chance to visit for the first time, together with my girlfriend and friends, the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Salem cultural center, inaugurated just few weeks ago. This complex of 13 hectares, which includes six themed buildings and a theater, is one of the biggest of the world related to culture and sciences, and it already became of the main landmarks in Kuwait, which continues moving forward in its modernization process.

Each building of the complex is dedicated to one field of knowledge. Just at the beginning, on the right hand, you can find the Space Museum. In front, on the right side, the Arabic Islamic Science museum, which also includes the Fine Arts Centre. Continuing walking towards the end, after passing the theatre on the right hand, you can see the two buildings of the Science and Technology Museum and, at the end, other two structures hosting the Natural History Museum. Each one of these buildings is divided in themed halls with a very interactive and innovative format.

One of the best part I saw was the Natural History Museum. I really enjoyed all the part of the history of life in the Earth, since the first multicellular organisms until now, through the age of the dinosaurs and other extinguished species. It reminded me my hobby when I was a child, when I felt interest about books of animals and I had a nice time reviewing knowledge that I still have in some part of my brain. Other interesting area is the one about ecosystems, especially the part of the rainforest, amazing.

The Science and Technology Museum is divided in two buildings. We only visited the human body section. Here you can review the physiologic functions and the parts in our anatomy, including a corner related to psychological processes, where you can test your short memory and check your personality profile doing a short test, among other things.

The whole experience was great but everyone was exhausted at the end. In two hours and a half, we just had time to see a third part of the complex, so we will need to repeat. In this link you can find all the information about this place, including prices and timetables: https://www.ascckw.com/

I recommend you to go now these days, when weather is still no too hot, it is really worthy.

Over the hump

Few days ago, AWARE association organized another great activity for foreigners in Kuwait to discover some costumes and particularities in this country. This time were the camel races, an event which is celebrated between November and April, and it normally attracts both locals from all kind of social sphere and visitants who want to know more about this peculiar tradition.

Camel races are not just taking place in Kuwait, but they are also popular in other countries in the Middle East. The main difference compared with other places is the use of remote-controlled robots instead human jockeys. It was normal before that short height people and even children do this role. Humanitarian organizations used to be provoked into outrage by this and their pressure convinced the organizers of the races to use new technologies since 2005. The robot is a small artifact with a plastic stick emulating a whip, which is hitting the camel on the back during the race. Meanwhile, the owner of the camel follows the race inside a car, directing robot’s movements using a kind of remote control.

The distance covered by the camels (although I think it is better to call them dromedaries because they only have one hump) in a race depends on their age. The youngest ones run 3 kilometers, while the oldest ones can finish up to 11 kilometers tracks. The maximum speed this animal can reach is around 65 km/hour. Normally light complexion camels are selected for this competition, and they are usually trained in special farms with a strict diet composed basically by milk, corn and some vitamins.

The fact of using animals for races, considering that they can suffer, outrages logically animal rights groups. However, although without any intention of justify this cultural practice, the camel is one of the most valued, beloved and well treated animals in Kuwait. I don’t have any doubt if I think of everything camels can contribute, such as means of transportation through the desert or providing food, like milk and butter, which we could try just there.

 

  I have to admit that the races didn’t make feel too many emotions; actually I felt a bit uncomfortable watching those devices shaking their sticks, but at the end it was not so bad. It was a good opportunity to leave the city, reaching the border of the desert, and having the chance to see closer these animals. Some of them are quite tame and you can stroke them, but with others you have to be careful. If you have some free Saturday, don’t hesitate and go to the Kuwait Camel Racing Club to have a look, it is actually a curious and different experience.

In great shape

Kuwaitis have a reputation for being people who tend to be sedentary, who do almost everything from their cars or their sofas, and whose habits don’t fit exactly in what we can called a healthy life. However, actually there are all kind of sport clubs around the city and it is possible to see many locals keen to exercise, especially in this period of the year, when the perfect temperatures for going out to burn some calories.

Apart of plenty of gyms and swimming pools, you can find many sport facilities in Kuwait to practice any kind of sport. In my neighborhood, for example, there are a couple of football fields, which you can rent for hours, and outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, near to the beach. For those who can afford it, there are also multiple options for practicing water sports, such as sailing, yachting or scuba diving in some coastal areas.

But, undoubtedly, my most motivating sport and the one which became one of my main hobbies, is running. I always try to find time to have a short race, one of the few funny things I can do in the area where I live. Now in Kuwait there are several running races, such as the Run Kuwait or the Gulf Bank G42 marathon, just last Saturday. I could participate in both in the 10 km. It was very good actually and it is not only a sport event, but also a opportunity for socializing and having fun outdoor, something that in this country is not very usual, beyond the families who go for picnic on the beach.

I am keeping running and I hope I can find more chances to participate in a race. As I said, it is one of the few activities in which I could socialize since I am here, and it also keep me motivated enough to continue living here. Is someone joining next time?

Shall we meet?

Before coming to Kuwait I spent some time investigating in Internet about the pros and cons of this place. One of the most usual complaints among other foreigners who already lived here was the difficulty of making friends and socializing. There was all kind of people, of course, but most of them lament their small social circle and the lack of opportunities of leisure. I didn’t think it could be so frustrating but, after some weeks, all these opinions started to be confirmed. I don’t know if it is because of personal or situational reasons but, among all the countries I have been, this is the one where I am finding more complicated to find persons who I can call friends.

Starting with my personal circumstances, I don’t think that living in a neighborhood like Fintas, far from all kind of center of leisure and socialization, can make it easy if I want to know and meet new people. I already commented in other post that this country is made for vehicles, not for persons, and moving from one side to other is very tired because it is very time consuming. This is by the way other of the factors which hinder meeting someone: the lack of time. I have a very busy schedule and, if I add the master I started two weeks ago, I almost don’t have hours left. But anyway, every weekend I seize the opportunity to go out and do something else than working and studying.

Seaside in Salmiya, where almost every Friday go for running

Other intrapersonal factor, which also affects to many migrants in any other country, is the continuous wheel of farewells and bye byes. People who have been for a long time out of their countries tend to be exposed to this situation very often. Kuwait is not one of those countries where people stay too long, and most of the persons come here for a short period and they leave as soon as they can (there are obviously some exceptions, but this is like that at least for those who come alone). This implies that there is people who don’t want to get involved so much in a friendship, because they don’t want to experience again the same situation. In my case, I must admit that I feel something similar and, after so many years traveling around, I still couldn’t normalize these “mourning” processes when I have to leave my beloved friends behind. But that doesn’t stop my wishes to socialize and make friends as something paramount whenever I go.

Talking now about external factors, totally out of my control, I would start for the usual profile of foreigner coming to this country. It is still early to make a precise description but, according to other comments I read in social media and conversations with other expats, I see there are many people who come here merely because they want to make money, without caring about social life at all. These are individuals who focus only on their work and they even use their free time to do extra hours in any other place. In the other hand, I also see there are many expats coming with their families, in some cases with children, with a set of recreational habits in somehow far from the single ones’, like in my case. Even so, I have to say that in all these years I met wonderful people in this family situation and I really enjoyed with them (although I tend to keep myself apart when the plan for Saturday is going to a theme park for children…).

Kuwait, apart from its planned for cars urban design, doesn’t offer too many activities and leisure places. I mean, it has nothing to do with Dubai, for example, although, if one explores well, it is always possible to find something interesting to do. Other related to leisure time factor is the absence of alcohol. For me it doesn’t mean any obstacle but I know people who don’t feel so comfortable socializing without having any alcohol around. However, this doesn’t mean that there are no pubs in Kuwait. I was once in one, where there were no spirits but shishas. If you are not bothered by the itchy eyes of the remaining smell on your clothes,, then it is not a bad place.

Despite all these circumstances, in the last weeks I have been meeting new people who I can arrange meetings and activities with, like running, now when the weather is very convenient. It is a question of time, that’s it, as in every part of the World, although here it is a bit more complicated. By the way, does anyone fancy a cup of coffee?