A visit to Fahaheel..suburb of Kuwait

Beautiful mall with dancing fountains located at the beach and marina.  South of the city of Kuwait.

Commercial fishing boats and luxury yachts….. 

Art, design, fabric, making friends …..

Well, to my delight, my driver delivered me to the meeting right on time.  The whole way I was trying to capture street names and highways and landmarks to tell John, because he was coming for me in the afternoon.   Well for one thing, honestly unless it is a McDonalds, or Burger King,….all the buildings and native landmarks….sort of look the same to me.  Besides, who really can concentrate on landmarks when you are frightened for you life driving in this city!  And I wasn’t driving, only watching and it confirmed to me why I had a driver!!!

I felt at home as soon as I was seated.  The room was filled with 40 women who are passionate quilters, artists and designers of  fabric and paints from all over the world .  I was greeted by an American from Colorado , a woman from Venezuela, another from England and Germany, and India and Canada and Saudi Arabia.  Oh my gosh…..I was in awe…..of what I was experiencing.  I joined the group and signed up for workshops and you know…I am so glad I packed my sewing machine….and quilting supplies.  There are upcoming events; shopping at fabric souks and garden parties to look forward to.  After exchanging emails and phone numbers and receiving many tips on living in Kuwait from the experienced expats, I headed out front to wait for John.   Thinking there is no way he really will be able to find me.  So, I thought I will call him and have someone give him directions…..only my phone wouldn’t work….it needed a pin #….I wasn’t told about a pin #…my phone is broke, and all my numbers are in the phone…so, I can’t call John.  But I could call the manager of our housing( I had his business card)…oh he will send a driver, no, he doesn't know John’s number, but don’t worry we will find you.  My new friends gathered around to witness my saga,  and to keep me company until I was found.  An hour later, I am apologizing and embarrassed and trying to send them on their way, when JOHN pulls up in front. How did you get here?……I’m so glad to see you…..what’s wrong with your phone….oh call off the driver,  goodbye new friends…see you next week….MAN, did they have to know how I am so soon?????  No matter where I go….some things will always stay the same…..Guess it’s good they know right up front.

Out in the country for some quiet and fresh air

Wish I had brought a shovel and a bucket…can you imagine the kind of sand castle I could build?

KTAA

I scour the newspapers daily.  Reading the world news is particularly interesting from the Middle East point of view.  So we subscribe to both the Arab Times and the Kuwait News.  It gets delivered to my front door each morning.  So I read about what is happening in Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Korea, Australia, US etc….there are many pictures of the White House in DC buried in snow!  I want to know and I suppose am now more interested than ever….what is going on,  literally, in my back yard.  The second reason is to find out What’s Happening!!  That is where I found out about the KTAA…Kuwait Textile Arts Association.   Tuesday evening I attended a meeting held at the Sadu House..to hear a woman speak about textiles in Mali.   (John was my driver to take me to the event. )  I walked into a room filled with women of many nationalities.                     Leotta Haynes (in the blue robe) talked of Malian Textiles

The fabric is white to begin with and using a dye they make out of leaves of a plant and rich river mud.  They paint the dark leaving a design in white. This fabric was tie dyed. Leotta showed pictures of a Mailian woman              stirring dye in a large kettle over an open fire.

Knowing I was going to this talk, I spent over an hour researching the people and country of Mali.  Thanks to the internet I treated myself to learning of another culture, in Western Africa.

My adventure out this evening resulted in meeting a woman from Canada who is the Group Coordinator for the Kuwait Quilt Group, inviting me to attend their meeting the next day.  Oh yes….I am going to meet some ladies!!!

Camels

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We had read in the Kuwait Times of camel races this weekend!!!  However, it wasn’t really clear as to where.  We received directions from a manager of our housing and after a bit of wandering asked again at a gas station…..the man was extremely happy to help us out and to practice his speaking of the English language.  We had asked, where are the camel races?   He gave us a very odd look as if we were asking where are the igloos.  That may be why his directions did not lead to the camel races either.  However, when we saw the sign at the next exit indicating DESERT…..we figured that was a good start.   It wasn’t too long, and not far from our villa when we had to come to a stop. CAMELS! in the road, crossing the road, running through the sand.  One was very curious  and began to approach the car.   John has the camera aimed and focused thinking the zoom lens was working great…no realizing he and the camel were face to face until he snapped the photo.  Both he and the camel startled!!!!!

I suppose this is no different than coming upon deer at the road back home, but camels????  We were excited.  We drove into the desert to see the herds closer. They make a very odd sound……sort of like a moo and a growl.  Other than that sound, the desert is a very still and quiet place.  It helps us to understand the many “camps” in the desert.  It is a peaceful rest from the city life.

My ears, eyes and heart are wide open!

I am sooooooo glad that this is not my first time in the country!!! I think the Culture Shock hit me hardest then. Standing in the airport,walking on the streets, it is obvious we are foreigners. I've traveled with John many places in Europe where we really don't dress or look much different from those who are German, English, French..until we speak. Here I am light skinned, dress different, I stand out in the crowd. The stranger who can be seen from afar, I am stared at; surrounded by "cultural" difference. The one thing that is universal, I have found that if I give a smile, I most often get one in return.  Even the women whose eyes are all that can be seen, a smile is detected .  There are many nationalities here in Kuwait. I am very thankful most all people speak English, and for some, several other languages as well. (that in itself is very humbling)

There is a lot of western influence seen here; McDonalds, Applebees, Sears and Ace Hardware for example. The malls are large, modern and actually expensive. There is a store, much like Walmart, with groceries as well as household products, toys etc. There are many things similar; yet even more things different.

I ventured out for grocery shopping on my own yesterday. I walked around wide eyed like a little girl in a candy store.   The variety of foods was astounding. The produce section in particular. Its not so much as what was there, but where it came from. Basically nothing is produced in Kuwait. Its a desert. So almost everything comes from another country. The avacado is from Kenya, potatos from Saudi Arabia, green beans from India, plums, Spain and strawberries from S. Africa. Lettuce and squash I bought from Holland, and peppers from Italy and dates and raisins come in from Iran. I also got Egyptian beef sausage to put in spagetti sauce and we are trying Phillipino toast for breakfast.  What a hoot! I was giddy inside myself to discover my world getting larger.

Challenging the Bright Side

My oldest daughter, Amy Jo got me set up with my own blog. Unlike her,(you must read The Little Moments)I didn't feel as though I had too much in my life to write about...at least that others might find interesting or amusing. Until maybe now. So in keeping a promise that I would write during this adventure, I am resurrecting the BLOG. I have thought of changing the name to more accurately describe where I am and what I am doing....but thought again that I may be challenged to find the Bright Side in life now more than ever and that IS what I am doing!!

My husband John works for GE. A few months back he accepted a position/assignment that has taken us to the country Kuwait. KUWAIT????? who goes to Kuwait? Well, we did; having just arrived two days ago. So this will be the background of my musings,adventures,joys and tears. I hope you will join me on my journey as an expatriate in this very foreign country, keep me company with your comments. My hope is this will be a tangible way of keeping all those I care deeply for close to my heart as well as meeting new friends.