Since I try to keep some tension here, I will not tell you the manufactures name... if you know it... please keep it for yourself.
Daily Column
Thinking like a Kuwaiti
Published Date: February 21, 2007
By Dr Sami Alrabaa Mohammed
Al-Saleh writes in his column in Al-Qabas, Feb 19 the following, implying/referring to Kuwaitis in general:
Work is something sacred. Do not touch it. Postpone your work until the day after tomorrow if you can't postpone it until tomorrow. Do as little as you can and make the others do the job for you. If you feel like working, take some rest until that wish evaporates. Work is healthy. Therefore leave it to the ill. I would add, also implying/referring to Kuwaitis in general:If you have Wasta, (if you are well connected), why bother with the law. If you have Wasta, why bother to learn and exert yourself. You will get the job you want and the others (expats) will eventually do the job for you. As a Kuwaiti skip work. Because you are a Kuwaiti you will never be fired. Wear an Islamist mask and behind it do whatever you want. As an Islamist you must be pious. Pretend you are a devout Muslim. Go to perform noon prayers. From there go home. If people ask where you are, we will say you are praying. Make a list of excuses from "work". One day, your wife is ill, the other, it is your son Mohammed, the other Ali, etc. If you are a high profile official, do what Islamists tell you. They would love you and leave you to do what you want. Make debts, borrow a lot of money and buy whatever you want. One day, these debts will be wiped out. Carry on asking what Kuwait can do for you, but never what you can do for Kuwait. Do not forget to sing: I love Kuwait. Throw your litter out of your car. Litter all over. Public places are no-man's land. Why do we have Bangladeshis? They would be jobless without your litter. Leave all your bulbs and A/C on all the time, waste as much water as you can. Only the dumb pay their electricity and water bills. Do not read. Do not inform yourself. The more you know, the more depressed you get. The more you learn about other societies, the more you are convinced, you live in a mad house. Wrong are always the others. Although you are as corrupt as the others, as lazy as the others, blame it on the others. You are perfect, but not the others. Committees made out of Kuwaitis spawn only other committees. They are not built to propose solutions. In public, condemn Western "decadence", but in private enjoy its products. Praise local traditions, no matter what anachronistic they are. If you employ an expat, exploit him/her as much as you can. They should be thankful to you that they earn a couple of dinars. Back home they would die of hunger. When international human rights organisations blast Kuwaitis for ill-treating expats, refer them to the humane labour laws in Kuwait. Do not learn from expat colleagues. Punctuality and hard work do not pay off in Kuwait. Expats are there to do the job and not to learn from. Never teach your kids "Do it yourself". Otherwise, they run the risk of learning independence, discipline, and creativity. It is cheaper to get all these things for KD 30. It is not worth it. Have you ever seen a Kuwaiti reading a book in a public place like, parks, cafes, or libraries? What kind of books do Kuwaitis buy? Books about deciphering dreams and cooking. If Kuwaiti women were free, really free and not shackled to the rules of tradition, not to say suppressed by men, they would expose men and prove that they are simply paper tigers. Men know this. Therefore they subordinate women to their will, arbitrarily. Do you know why Kuwaiti men, for that matter most Arab men, walk at least two to three steps ahead of their wives? They want to shield them from the lusty eyes of male strangers. Men-women relationships are abnormal in Kuwaiti society. This abnormality is justified by anachronistic norms and pseudo-Islamic rules. Roman women envied their Muslim counterparts for being allowed to fight and conduct business transactions. Nowadays, most Kuwaiti and Arab women need the blessing of their men for every movement they do.
Now, expats are addressed:If you are an expat, just do what makes your Kuwaiti employer happy. Never disagree with your boss or Kuwaiti colleagues, even if they do not have the slightest clue. On the contrary, keep flattering them. Honesty does not pay off in Kuwait. Keep your advice and frustration in yourself. Lock them up. If you are an expat teacher, do not be demanding. The more students complain about you, the shorter your employment chances will be in Kuwait. Students must have enough time to play video games and watch TV. At roundabouts and queues give way to Kuwaitis, regardless of traffic rules. Do not rush Kuwaitis at government departments. They hate speeding at work. In some areas, the speed limit is zero. Besides, the poor Kuwaiti employees, they stay up late at night fulfilling their social duties. Do not expect a "thank you" from a Kuwaiti. You are doing your duties. Kuwaitis are not racist. Assigning demeaning jobs to Bangladeshis and Indians is simply a kind of division of labour. Generally, a Kuwaiti man does not bring his wife to your mixed social gatherings not because he is misogynist. It is because she does not want to. She prefers to stay at home and wait for her husband. Some Kuwaitis believe that their maids are robots. Indeed, some maids show no feelings, never complain, and speak like robots: Yes, no, ok, etc. That is why some Kuwaitis make their maids work for 24 hours.
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=2214886019&topic=2121
Do you find yourself?? I do in some parts and I am an expat living here (maybe too long already)...
Shoot me should I ever be so stupid ...
Hey there!
I was gone for so long that I could hardly remember how to log in ... :o
So many things have happened in over 1 year of bloggins abstinence. Too many things to mention them all.
Most important is that I am still in Kuwait and I am still driving with no further accidents... :P
So short update on my situation:
- New Job (since 4 months)
- good position / prospect
- great projects
- Private life very messy right now
- Family coming over to visit me
- My wheels changed to something... hmmm... ok ... but not as nice as before...
- Sourrounded by families with children (3 other apartments on my floor with a total of 7 kids!)
Since I don't want to spread my private life here, I will tell you about two projects that are coming up that are very much in line with this blog... cars / road rage / traffic caos ... :P
Project number ONE:
Nano. Ever heard of Nano Technologie?!? Sure you have! If not ... google it! :P
Ok... I (or better we) bring a product on the market that will help you to raise the resale price of your car dramatically ... and not only this ... you have noooo troubles keeping it spotless clean with minimal work while owning it.
The secret?!? It's a coating that we apply... It seals your car from any outside effects (dust / water / ...) and gives the color a tremendos boost in shine.
Basically it's very small Nano molekules that build a shild that acts like the leave of a lotus flower. No idea what this means?!? Lotus flower effect?!? Google it ... :P
Try to find a short movie explaining it ... if I'll find one I'll post the link.
Boring project?!? Well ... wait ...
Project number TWO:
Wie***** (edited to keep the tension). I am pretty sure you never heard this name before ... and if then you have either met someone in Germany that coincedently had the same name or you are a car fanatic!
Wie***** is a car manufacturer from Germany. Very exclusive, beautiful, powerfull cars... hand build, with unlimeted color choices that makes each car unique.
Ok... no reason to google it: (stole the link ... follow my blog instead)
Take a look and give me your opinion... would really apreciate!
And if you are seriously interested or just want to see the car in real life then let me know so I can give you an invitation to the official launch in Kuwait in September (en shallah).
My internet connection here sucks... so I will post some pictures of Wie***** later with a better connection.
Till then... take care and let me pass!! :P
Got a question for all of you.
If you would have to pick a symbol for oil, what would that be?
A barrel, a oil pump, a pipeline??
Have you ever seen real crude oil?
So here I am ... back in Kuwait.
I spent a great time back home and I saw all the people that I wanted to see. But I am telling you people ... 1.5 weeks is not enough! There was so much I wanted to do and I just ran out of time. But the most important thing was that I saw my family and my closest friends!
So now back in Kuwait...
I actually spent new years here! I went to a nice party! Really enjoyed it even though it might have looked like i didn't like it at all! I was sometimes just sitting there and smiling and watching whats going on... GREAT! Thanks again for the invitation and for the great hospitality!
So since the 3rd of January I started working for my new company. VERY CHALLENGING! Really enjoy it since I have great responsabilities and I can actually show what I am capable of.
So another 2.5 months and I have a one year contract ... :)
Wish me luck people!
Just wanted to let all of you know that I am still alive and kicking!
Happy Eid!!! back to work ... :P
Ha! I made it!
I am home!
And it couldn't be better! We have snow and it's cold! LOVE IT!
Went shopping in the morning of my arrival day and bought everything that you need for a typical breakfast and everything you can't get anywhere in Kuwait. Hmmmm ... GREAT !
Still suffer under my cold. :( My sinuses (is that spelled correct?) are still hurting and it doesn't look like it wants to get better...
Tomorrow I'll go to the city to do some christmas shopping. There are a few orders from Kuwait and I still need stuff for my family!
Anyway... just wanted to let you guys know that I am still alive and I am good!
Have fun in Kuwait (I know it's hard since I am not around :P) and stay sober!
OHHHH! And thanks for all your birthday wishes! But my birthday is on the 24th!!! :P
Before I leave Kuwait, I need to say: THANK YOU !!! Muuuuah!!
Thank you everyone who was there yesterday for my surprise birthday party! (even if it was like 9 days early... :P)
Really didn't know anything and everyone kept quiet about it! So it was really a big surprise!!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
Now I am in a big hurry ... I still havn't bought ANY presents for my family at home and I fly tonight! So... guess I just race down to Fahaheel and buy some Sandelwood, the funny looking thingy you burn it in and some other "arabic" stuff made in china... :P
Then I'll be on my way to Germany. I will leave Kuwait, my "old" Job and friends behind. But no worries ... at least not my friends! I'll be back! PROMISE! Since it looks really good with a new Job in Kuwait! So ... sorry guys from L..... C........ and O.T.C. ... you'll have to find someone else doing all that crap! :)
So on the 28th of this month I'll come back so I can celebrate the new year with all of you!!
Till then,
take care and keep posting so I know whats going on in Kuwait! :)
Tagged by Unknown Entity
YES! I do have a Desktop with a girl wearing a Niqab... :)
And you know whats strange? All the guys coming into my office and see it... they want to have it! But no no no! MINE !!! :P
So who do I tag now?!
1. Drunk'n'Gorgeous
2. Mariam
3. Jazz Central
How and where to start? OK... my contract with my current employer will not be extended. So my last working day for them is the 31st of this month.
Why? We lost a big project in Iraq and it seems like we'll lose more in the near future... so there is no need for "over head" like me. I don't bring money ... I just cost and spend it...
So am I sad to leave this company?
Yes and no. On one side I can remember times in this company where it was very stressful but fun to work and on the other side I see how the company has developed in the last 4-5 months and I don't like that at all. More and more restrictions and bullshit came from our customer and instead of saying " ok ... that's it ... you crossed the line " they just went on and said nothing.
I will miss very few people that I worked with and that accompanied me thru almost 1 year of HR work.
I was not shocked, mad or angry and I did not even have to ask why when they told me since I was expecting it for quite a long time already. The only sad thing is that I knew it was coming and so did the company management and management did nothing to keep the "work flowing".
It was a year that developed skills in me and that thought me a lot about people/Kuwait/dealing with dickheads.
So what's going to happen now?
Since I knew it was coming and I didn't feel well in the company anyway, I was already looking for something else. I wanted to get away from a very good paid but very insecure job and get hired by a local Kuwaiti company with a long term contract. So ... as it looks right now I do get a chance with a company here in Kuwait. I expect their offer today and I could start most likely on the 1st of January 2006.
So keep your fingers crossed for me!!
I had a conversation yesterday that made me think about my "friends"...
I am going for a vacation pretty soon to see my family and friends and to celebrate my 30st birthday. My mom want's to know how I would like to celebrate and where, with whom and so on ... So I told her that I would like to see ALL my family (it's not 200 or more people like it may be common here in Kuwait... more like 10-15) and my friends... So since she knows our family she asked me how many of my friends will show up ... That started me thinking!!!
In school I hung out with maybe 60-70 peole on a regular bases and I knew about 300... then I joined military ... I hung out with maybe 20-30 people ... then i started working in a civilian job ... i hung out with maybe 5-10 people ...
NOW I am in Kuwait ... there is a bunch of people I hang out with ... friends ... hmmm ... don't really know ...
Most of the people I would call friends maybe still in Germany ... but it's not more then 2 or 3 people that would come to my birthday ...
Where did all those people go and why don't we see eachother anymore ... ???
Sad and strange... isn't it?
GET ALIVE!!!
What is it today?? A little rain and everyone is driving like he has highly explosive stuff in the trunk! People honk at you to tell you that you should clear their path even though they are still 150 m away from you and they only drive 30 km/h (that’s 18 seconds till they pass you!). People seem to orientate themselves on the middle concrete wall on the highways because everyone is driving on the left. People have set their windshield wipers to "tropical hurricane level 5" because a raindrop hits their windshield every 30 - 45 seconds (but this is still better then the ones that have no wipers at all!). Warning lights flashing because there is a ditch on the road that is 2,35 cm deep. High beam and fog lights turned on to warn the cars 2 kilometres in front and behind you.
I know ... there is oil on the roads and the water is flushing it onto the surface (thank you RKFM for reminding all of us every morning about the dangers on the roads! :/)... the dust and sand form an ice like substance... but still... THE ROADS ARE DRIVABLE!!!! NO REASON TO COMPLETLY ACT UP!!!
The only time you see this kind of behaviour on German (or better European) roads is when you have heavy snow or ice rain. That's the time where you can figure out who has winter tires on his car and who not (winter tires are for pussies!! :P ). Can't wait till I get to Germany to hopefully drive in snow again! It's slower traffic then usual ... but not even half as crazy as over here!
People, I need to rethink the whole idea about breaking the land speed record for Kuwait...
This week is the Kuwait Motor Show... I have been there yesterday and what can I say... I need to rethink my attempt! With my Peugeot 407 I will not be able to compete AT ALL!!!
If you been there ... saw the Audi's, Lamborghini’s, Porsche's and BMW's?!? HOW CAN I COMPETE WITH THEM???
I totally gave up on the idea after being the passenger in an Aston Martin DB9. You know the feeling when you are flying and the plane hits an air pocket and your stomach feels funny!? Ok... you have this feeling in a DB9 from the second the engine is running ... acceleration is AWSOME! Top speed beyond 300 km/h (still may not be enough to break the record). REAL NICE!!
But not only because this car costs more then I earn in a year I would not buy it ... no ... there are other reasons also ... Picture this:
My friend and I where on highway 40 driving the BB9 with about 120km/h ... on the lane right of us pulls up a car ... he get's his camera out and clicks pictures of the car ... !??!?! WTF?!?!
Since there are only (I think) 29 DB9 in Kuwait, people will always know where you are... don't really know if this is good or not ... but I like to have some privacy even if I go to public places.
Well ... my friend would probably kill me if I tell you that a DB9 is not a car to buy ... it is!! Awesome manufacturing! Hand build, though designed and absolutely individual! If I would not have to worry about what's paying my bills ... I would have one ... and a Vanquish right with it!! :P
But seriously now. There are real nice cars at the motor show and some real jewels as well! Maybe if you talk to the guys from Audi real nice they'll show you their treasure! Well hidden and very exclusive! And while you are there ... check out the RS4 and A8...
Right next to Audi you can find Volkswagen. Check out the Phaeton!!
Porsche displays the Porsche Carrera GT ... a monster!
For the guys that like the H2 ... the H3 is presented ... for me the H1 is still the best out of their series ... but this is just me ... :P
In the same hall you can find a real classic race car ... the Ford GT! They have one on display that seems to be a customer car ... he still has his radar warner in the front windshield!! :P Hope for him that police won't recognize...
And what would cars be without beautiful women?!?! Skoda won the unofficial beauty contest with a hostess named Hannan (if I remember right). She was trying to sell us a car and showed us the features of it ... when she explained that we could fit our skis in the trunk by sticking them thru the rear seat I tried hard not to crack up ... SKI?!?!? THIS IS THE KUWAIT MOTOR SHOW!!! NO SNOW!!! NO MOUNTAINS!!! But still ... she won!
Well ... so for me it's back to the drawing board ... and if I really want to break the record ... I think I need a filthy rich sponsor!
Anyone?!? No?!?
No... I did not die yet on the streets of
My average time to work is getting better day by day... maybe because I decided that it's a waste of energy to flash the high beam ... I decided to leave it on ALL the time. It seems to work. Well, almost... Convoys and their beloved commander’s don't give a shit. But since they have the bigger vehicles I step back and let them do. Hmmm ... maybe I should also get a truck and start tuning it to not only break the land speed record for cars but at the same time for trucks!
So like I said everything is running smooth and easy.
BAAAANG!!! CRACK!!!!
What the **** !!! That Beamer in front of my on 6th ring road just lost some major solid part from its engine and decided to drop it onto my hood and into my windshield!!! WTF!!! I only saw it for a split second and I thought it's coming thru the windshield so I covered my face and duck down. Nasty loud sound ... windshield still there ... Beamer still driving ...?!?!?! WHAT WAS THAT?!?! Ahhh ... there is the one to blame!!! LEFT side of the highway is a truck and a driver to it that looks very confused and is looking at his truck and kinda wonders why it's not running anymore. Duh!!! Hey pal, the part you are looking for was trying to kill me and the cars following me are spreading it out on to the highway!!!
This truck was one of the kind where you kind of wonder that they are driving at all. The tank is strapped with some wire, the tires already have 2.5 million kilometres of Kuwaiti and Iraqi roads behind them and would be forbidden to be used in Formula 1 since they have no profile left, the smoke coming out of the exhaust looks worse then the smoke from the Doha power plant, the back of the trailer is following the truck 2m to the side, the "hood" is held with wire, the air pressure hoses for the brakes of the trailer dangle in the wind, the 16 break lights on the trailer don't work, etc. etc.
Did the government ever think of something like a technical inspection for vehicles on their roads?! If not ... they should start thinking about it. (If a government official is reading this and needs some help or guidelines, please leave a comment and I get back with you)
Well, now I have this big ****ing, nasty dent in my hood and I need a new windshield. My boss will tell me again that this would not have happened if I would have driven only 120 km/h and I have to tell him that when this happened I actually was driving 120 km/h since the driver of the beamer didn't really know where the throttle or the middle lane is.
So now I start thinking if I may need a different car for my record attempt. I had nothing but luck with this one ... AC not working / transmission problems / sudden window combustion / trucks hitting / heater (YES! It's cold in the morning!) and now people throwing their junk on my hood.
The rental company is informed and delivers me a new Evil Knievel car ... I figure it's going to be a Mazda 6 ... nice car but no records will be broken with it.
In real life it looks worse
Why are you doing this to us (and I believe specially to me!)?
I know that being the leading vehicle of a convoy is a very boring job ... specially here in Kuwait. No enemy's to fight back, no roadside bombs and no people rushing on the street cursing you out. Your car could go much faster and most likely you would love to drive faster to take your shower and go to sleep. I been there and done it... it's the most boring thing to do!!
BUT... before I let you go to bed I have a few questions:
I know ... it's a lot of questions for you to answer. So let me help you a little... told you... I did the same thing.
I hope I didn't keep you awake to long and you find some sleep so you can wake up tomorrow and beat me on the traffic light and let your drivers do the same crap the did yesterday.
Yours truly,
Evil Knievel
