Kuwait-Unraveled

One would have heard that life is not only black and white it has shades of grey too.Well in kuwait the life is bit different.It has mostly shades of brown.This is because most the buildings are made of sand stone and people prefer not to change the natural look of it.

Now that I have spent about 3 weeks in Kuwait,I have been able to observe the city for a while and can pen down my observations.

Kuwait has a well structured network of roads.This was made after Kuwait gained independence from Britain.This beautiful road network makes driving fun in Kuwait.The cars move at speeds of 120 Kmph as a routine.Also,if you thought women were bad drivers,you will be amazed by the speeds at which they drive in Kuwait.They are also safer drivers then men.For a country which boasts of one of the highest accident rates in the world,the number of women drivers in those accidents is dismal.After seeing New York and Kuwait both,I think Kuwait would have highest assortment of cars per square feet in the world.This love for cars translate into a healthy second hand market which allows even the expats(70% of Kuwait) working in Kuwait to own wheels.This cars are the most visible testimony to the western influence to this young nation.

Kuwait is absolutely safe, crimes are probably limited also because of prohibition of alcohol.So the vices which an average Kuwait citizen indulges is cigarettes.When one sees around,you find people smoking cigarettes and Hooka.It has become a part of their lives.no wonder,cigarettes here are very cheap.It is very common to see families coming down to beaches,community parks with children and their cycles or skateboards.Many barbecue  stands are set and the smoke spreads in the surrounding.One gets to smell the aroma of multiple delicacies all for free.

One thing which points towards the strong religious beliefs of Kuwaitis is their perseverance to the ritual of Namaaz.Be it office,mall or shops there is an area earmarked for Namaaz and when it is time for Namaaz,people gather together irrespective of time of work their attire.Also one finds young and old generations wearing the traditional Dishdasha.While one finds young Indians slipping into Jeans and T shirt,the attachment and continuation of Dishdasha in Kuwait is really surprising.While you may find the young generation of Kuwait wearing western clothes,the same person would be wearing the Dishdasha the very next day.While many a women from Kuwait wear Burqa,it is quire common the natives  wearing a head scarf with their dress instead of the Burqa.

Most of the Kuwaitis go out after primary school to western countries for further education.Same is the case for expats too who normally send their children to their native countries for higher education.This change is resulting in an average Kuwaiti being more informed and educated then those in the middle east.

There are no tourist visas given in Kuwait.The government keeps a tab on not only work permits but also driving licenses issued to expats.So if one is in Kuwait he is definitely there for "work",fun can be just an add on.
One can roam around freely anytime of the day as long as one carries his passport and visa and does not offend any religious sentiments.The country is promoting Kuwaitization in a big way where in for any contarct/job you do in Kuwait,it will be through a Kuwaiti Company or a Kuwaiti national.So whether one wants to implement a software or be a taxi driver in Kuwait,you have to have a Kuwaiti sponsorer.This system has worked well for Kuwait.



One can get along easily by speaking English.Due to the influence of western world one can find all the major brands.For Indians who know Tamil/Malayalam one would probably feel at home as the majority Indian community comes from south India.All said,Kuwait grows on you.

Community Parks

I had heard about community parks in a localities  but had not lived in a locality with these parks.One comes across articles in newspaper when citizens raise campaigns to save the community parks around their homes.I would normally just ignore it as another trivia news.However I realized the value of community parks not in India but while I was in Kuwait.

I was staying at Salmia in Kuwait and decided to go for a jog daily to the only green space amidst  the concrete jungle.The park is maintained fairly well given that the water scarcity and weather in Kuwait makes it difficult for trees to grow.

If one removes the rows of trees in the park,one can mistake the cemented path in the park as a busy street.People,majorly from Indian sub continent are the ones who frequent the park in the evening.For the people of all classes who live in the community,it is the most affordable and achievable option by which they can take care of their health.After a busy working day,people of all classes come down to spend some quite time with themselves.It is a delight to see both young and old on the same path if not the same platforms.

Many a children have only this outdoor space,it is here that they breath fresh air and bind socially..something which is getting lost in the  individualistic society.Many ladies get way from the monotony of daily chores to share their space with other ladies.

For an outsider,it is difficult to realize what the park means to the locality but if one spends few evenings in such a park,he will know what the park means to the community.

While other things change color and shapes in a locality..its the green of the community park which stays on..reminding the residents of their memories and also  helping them live long enough to preserve these memories.