Keep Calm and Culture Shock On

C-c-cold

One of the things that got me on the plane headed back to Kuwait and responsibility was knowing my destination was warmer.  It was over 70 degrees Fahrenheit in Kuwait during winter break and for the first few days I was back. But right now my neck and head are bundled up in an attempt to stay warm in my apartment. The high tomorrow is only 59 degrees Fahrenheit. There is central heating in my apartment but it's not working. I need to get someone up here to fix it.  It is 60.8 degrees in my apartment according to my thermostat and I'm c-c-cold.

Not me, but pretty similar.

NOT ME, in any way.

Culture shock
I think I am past the honeymoon phase of culture shock in Kuwait.  Things don't seem as exciting as when I first arrived.  Since a few things are ruffling my feathers; getting under my skin; rubbing me the wrong way, I will steer clear of sharing too much, Kuwait, this week. 

Looks like it may get worst if this graph is accurate. 

Very relevant for short term trips

Book Club
There is a new book club in our community.  I am hosting the first meeting. We are reading Wild by Cheryl Strayed. You know the movie that just came out with Reese Witherspoon- that book. Here is the way we are running it: since I volunteered to host this month, I get to pick the book we read, come up with a few questions and invite the members to my apartment for the meeting.  We read the book before we meet.  Next month we repeat with a new host and book.  I'm curious how many of those initially interested will turn out.  It is understandably hard to read during the school year for a lot of teachers. 

Secret Group
We have a secret group for our community where we share info, ask questions about the city/ school and sell/buy things.  I asked if anyone would be interested in selling a treadmill.  I knew it was the worst time to ask, at the beginning of the year, with New Year's resolutions and such. But I got one! I guess it is a gift to myself for Christmas.  Let's not point out the many other things I could consider gifts to myself including trips to Hungary and The Czech Republic. 
(Why do I always want to say The Czech Republic?)

Random picture. See the Egyptian pillow cases?
Gift from a student. Love how colorful they are. 

My spare bedroom with my treadmill.

Trying to use the panorama to capture the teeny room.
BTW, no closets thus the wardrobes.

Gifts
This was a week of gifts.  I got some more extravagant chocolate, Turkish delight and homemade Christmas cookies(from Nebraska!). They were late Christmas(my sister and her family and my grandpa) and New Years gifts(I think) from students. The Fitbit I got from my sister, came the day after I bought my treadmill. It's a tiny pedometer that counts the steps you walk. What a great match. So, now I can go walking in Kuwait. I could also RUN on it, but...   

Also, not me.

This is my type of Fitbit.

Until next time, 

Are you a Family or a Bachelor?

Movies in Kuwait
I went and saw the new Hunger Games movie this week.  I was expecting movies to be released later in Kuwait than in Nebraska, but it was out earlier.  I went to a 5:30 pm showing on the 20th. The theater was not full.  I don't know if it was censored, but I've been told it is better to go to the earlier showings because movies get more censored the longer they play.  I did notice that when I went to see The Giver a kiss was cut out.  

I went online the night before to buy my Mockingjay tickets.  I had to enter if I was a family or a bachelor.  This made me hesitate since I am neither.  My hunch was confirmed, I am a family.  Single men have their own section.  It's unfortunate for them that it is in the too close, up front, section.

My hunch was based on this sign I had noticed at a small park in my neighborhood.  No single men are allowed to enter the park.

Parent Teacher Conferences
I survived Parent Teacher conferences.  In fact they were good.  I hadn't met some of my students' parents and it was a nice break from the normal routine.  The classroom was much quieter than a typical Thursday.

I also received lots of quality chocolate. I don't mind that at all.  

That is my new rug, under the Godiva.

A Dust Storm Hit our Room
One day this week, after we lined up for Arabic class, I called a child over to the other side of the room with me and asked, "Does it look like a tornado hit our room, to you?" "Yes." he replied nodding. "Like a dust storm hit our room." Of course that does make more sense here. Cute.

Walking

Another picture from the Marina mall trail.

Office Max in Kuwait?
I thought this logo looked very similar to Office Max's store front. It is actually a Dollar General type store.

Down Time
I think being a teacher is getting a bit easier because I actually read an entire book this week and had enough energy to cook.

Stuffed peppers, it's been too long.

This about sums up the excitement of my weekend.  But then again, I wasn't looking for excitement. 

Spending Time in Kuwait

Walking.

I'm still searching for places I feel comfortable to walk. I took a nice-ish walk from our neighborhood this week. If you take one of the walkway across the highway, you come to a nicer neighborhood with a walking path. I'm not sure how far it goes because it was getting dark the day we ventured over (so we headed back right away).We also went to the corniche (walking path) near the city center gulf road and it was ah-mazing. The weather is great right now. There was such a variety of people we blended right in.  The moon was full and low that day, as well. The unfortunate thing is it is a 10 dollar taxi ride from my home. The worst and the best.

Being a teacher sure has its ups and downs. Love the kids but... my patience fails to withstand their testing at times. I have finished my report cards. They were a lot. Of. Work. 

Carpet shopping in the Old Market.

Our night of new experiences at the Mubarakiyah souk(market) was kicked off with Egyptian fare.

After eating, we went shopping for an Iranian/ Afghan carpet. I went with a friend who was in the market for a rug. She purchased one for a third of what she would have in America. It is made of lamb neck wool (there is probably a more elegant way to say that) and took around 4 months to make. And it's gorgeous. 

A typical taxi in Kuwait.

The money exchange place.  All out in the open(behind glass) and no guards.

Later, we returned home by bus.  It was my first experience on a public bus in Kuwait.  The front is for women.  We were the only women on the bus so some men got up and gave us their seats. It was comfortable and very inexpensive.

Down time, you are missed.

One week of relative down time (Ha. I mourn for my down time.  I haven't seen any for weeks) before parent teacher conference craziness.  But, not too much longer before Christmas break in Budapest and Prague. 

Where will I go for spring break?

I'm in the middle of planning my Spring Break trip now. Hopefully I'll have some details to share soon.