Saying Goodbye
You want to have closure when you leave a place. You want to be ready; not weeping because you aren't, or doubting you are making the right choice. On the other hand, you don't want to leave hating a place either; getting a bad taste in your mouth when you remember your time there. It is a precarious balance and much of it seems out of your control. I have definitely had my ups and downs in Kuwait, even within this last year.
Looking back to my first year, it was a time of focusing on being a new teacher, of mourning trees and sidewalks and a lot of time spent watching television. I found cultural things to do, I did some traveling and made a few friends, but I was much more home bound than I liked.
This year, in contrast, I haven't watched any television and I traveled more than ever before. I started this year determined to do things differently. I intentionally cultivated thanksgiving for Kuwait, and at the same time, I deliberately became more social and more busy. It was good at first, and needed, I think, but I did become weary and I think I missed out on more depth in a few relationships, because I was spread so thin. My life is a pendulum. I'm constantly in the process of swinging from one extreme to the other, occasionally reaching equilibrium. But isn't that just the way of things?
Thankful
I, fortunately, feel very confident about my decision to leave Kuwait, though it wasn't an easy one. I feel it is the right time to move on, but good things are happening here and kindred spirits are present.
I appreciate the different experiences I've had while being here. I am thankful for what I have learned in the classroom about student engagement and management. I have loved living among a population that speaks a different native tongue than me, practices a different religion than me and dresses differently than I do. And I'm amazed, again, that wherever I go I find like minded people from every tribe and nation who I can connect with.
Different
I am grateful to have lived in a Muslim country that bans pork and alcohol and enforces fasting during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Some may be taken aback by such a statement, but I am intrigued by the sociology of it all and I love trying to grasp cultural norms and religious mindsets. Islam is a major world religion. Roughly a fifth of our world identifies themselves with it. I'd go so far as to say it's improving my character to try to understand more about it and how it manifests in people's lives.
Ramadan
Ramadan will begin the day after my last Kuwaiti teaching day. I will be here for 3 days of it before I say goodbye to Kuwait. This year will be the first time I will be in Kuwait during it, because it has happened over summer break for the last few years. Ramadan is a Muslim holiday where the revelation of the Quran to Mohammad, peace be upon him, (that is a complimentary phrase used when you mention an Islamic prophet) is celebrated. The dates of the festival is based on the position of the crescent moon.
Ramadan is a time of fasting and feasting. Muslims fast for the entire month from food, drink and smoking, though only during daylight hours. The idea of no beverages when temperatures are daily in the triple digits, is startling. From what I understand, its purpose is similar to why I, as a Christian, occasionally, fast. It is meant to be sacrificial/ it clears time to pray and read the scriptures/ helps you hunger for spiritual things.
In the hours of darkness, feasting occurs. Long time foreign residents have commented that, many people in Kuwait just change their sleeping pattern during Ramadan but to be fair I doubt they sleep from 330A to 700P (the hours of daylight in Kuwait right now) so some restraint from eating is being shown. I do worry for the migrant workers, many of who do construction work, in the sun. I believe their working days are shortened to accommodate. Arab residence's working hours are shortened for the length of Ramadan. There are some exceptions to who must fast. Young children, the elderly, and pregnant and menstruating women are excused from fasting. Though I hear menstruating women 'should' make up those days. During this time, you can be thrown in jail (for a day) if you consume food or beverages in public while the sun is up. Restaurants are closed during the day and open late into the night.
Remembering Kuwait
Kuwait has honestly been a tough place for me in some arenas. At times I've felt overlooked and the need to second guess my actions and words, but I've learned a lot about human nature and myself. In contrast, I've realized how lucky I have been, in my life to have been loved so well.
At the same time, Kuwait has truthfully been a great place for me. A place where I found some kindred spirits and I thrived.
Kuwait will always be home to the first school I taught in. Kuwait will always be the place where I did the majority of my graduate classes, studied Arabic, and got more of an understanding of Middle Eastern culture than most. It will be the country I was in when I started running, got my first smartphone (monumental) and a place where I was in some great, fun groups. Kuwait will be what afforded me the money and locality to travel to beautiful places like Cambodia, Egypt and Ethiopia. Kuwait will also be the move that prompted me to start writing a blog.
Kuwait will likewise be where I spent very little time outside and a very dirty place that I lived. And I hope it will become one of my toughest teaching jobs, because it has not always been easy.
It's been dark at times, but there has been light, too. And light is what extinguishes darkness. It's not clear yet how I will look back at this time, but I feel as sure I was meant to be here, as I do that it's time to move on, for now at least.
*My time here is very inadequately represented by photos. Many people not pictured have made a lasting, positive, impression on me during my time in K-town, Kuwait. Noticeably absent are my wonderful Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday families.
You want to have closure when you leave a place. You want to be ready; not weeping because you aren't, or doubting you are making the right choice. On the other hand, you don't want to leave hating a place either; getting a bad taste in your mouth when you remember your time there. It is a precarious balance and much of it seems out of your control. I have definitely had my ups and downs in Kuwait, even within this last year.
Looking back to my first year, it was a time of focusing on being a new teacher, of mourning trees and sidewalks and a lot of time spent watching television. I found cultural things to do, I did some traveling and made a few friends, but I was much more home bound than I liked.
This year, in contrast, I haven't watched any television and I traveled more than ever before. I started this year determined to do things differently. I intentionally cultivated thanksgiving for Kuwait, and at the same time, I deliberately became more social and more busy. It was good at first, and needed, I think, but I did become weary and I think I missed out on more depth in a few relationships, because I was spread so thin. My life is a pendulum. I'm constantly in the process of swinging from one extreme to the other, occasionally reaching equilibrium. But isn't that just the way of things?
Thankful
I, fortunately, feel very confident about my decision to leave Kuwait, though it wasn't an easy one. I feel it is the right time to move on, but good things are happening here and kindred spirits are present.
I appreciate the different experiences I've had while being here. I am thankful for what I have learned in the classroom about student engagement and management. I have loved living among a population that speaks a different native tongue than me, practices a different religion than me and dresses differently than I do. And I'm amazed, again, that wherever I go I find like minded people from every tribe and nation who I can connect with.
Different
I am grateful to have lived in a Muslim country that bans pork and alcohol and enforces fasting during the daylight hours of Ramadan. Some may be taken aback by such a statement, but I am intrigued by the sociology of it all and I love trying to grasp cultural norms and religious mindsets. Islam is a major world religion. Roughly a fifth of our world identifies themselves with it. I'd go so far as to say it's improving my character to try to understand more about it and how it manifests in people's lives.
Ramadan
Ramadan will begin the day after my last Kuwaiti teaching day. I will be here for 3 days of it before I say goodbye to Kuwait. This year will be the first time I will be in Kuwait during it, because it has happened over summer break for the last few years. Ramadan is a Muslim holiday where the revelation of the Quran to Mohammad, peace be upon him, (that is a complimentary phrase used when you mention an Islamic prophet) is celebrated. The dates of the festival is based on the position of the crescent moon.
Ramadan is a time of fasting and feasting. Muslims fast for the entire month from food, drink and smoking, though only during daylight hours. The idea of no beverages when temperatures are daily in the triple digits, is startling. From what I understand, its purpose is similar to why I, as a Christian, occasionally, fast. It is meant to be sacrificial/ it clears time to pray and read the scriptures/ helps you hunger for spiritual things.
In the hours of darkness, feasting occurs. Long time foreign residents have commented that, many people in Kuwait just change their sleeping pattern during Ramadan but to be fair I doubt they sleep from 330A to 700P (the hours of daylight in Kuwait right now) so some restraint from eating is being shown. I do worry for the migrant workers, many of who do construction work, in the sun. I believe their working days are shortened to accommodate. Arab residence's working hours are shortened for the length of Ramadan. There are some exceptions to who must fast. Young children, the elderly, and pregnant and menstruating women are excused from fasting. Though I hear menstruating women 'should' make up those days. During this time, you can be thrown in jail (for a day) if you consume food or beverages in public while the sun is up. Restaurants are closed during the day and open late into the night.
Remembering Kuwait
Kuwait has honestly been a tough place for me in some arenas. At times I've felt overlooked and the need to second guess my actions and words, but I've learned a lot about human nature and myself. In contrast, I've realized how lucky I have been, in my life to have been loved so well.
At the same time, Kuwait has truthfully been a great place for me. A place where I found some kindred spirits and I thrived.
Kuwait will always be home to the first school I taught in. Kuwait will always be the place where I did the majority of my graduate classes, studied Arabic, and got more of an understanding of Middle Eastern culture than most. It will be the country I was in when I started running, got my first smartphone (monumental) and a place where I was in some great, fun groups. Kuwait will be what afforded me the money and locality to travel to beautiful places like Cambodia, Egypt and Ethiopia. Kuwait will also be the move that prompted me to start writing a blog.
Kuwait will likewise be where I spent very little time outside and a very dirty place that I lived. And I hope it will become one of my toughest teaching jobs, because it has not always been easy.
It's been dark at times, but there has been light, too. And light is what extinguishes darkness. It's not clear yet how I will look back at this time, but I feel as sure I was meant to be here, as I do that it's time to move on, for now at least.
*My time here is very inadequately represented by photos. Many people not pictured have made a lasting, positive, impression on me during my time in K-town, Kuwait. Noticeably absent are my wonderful Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday families.
