Buying an Abaya

Baking in a Foreign Country.
You convert grams to cups and meticulously measure. You use foresight to buy and bring a Fahrenheit temperature gauge from America. Your experience warned you that your foreign oven will either have a Celsius gauge or, more likely, no way to measure how hot it is. And still they don't turn out. Those chocolate chip cookies you wanted to make for your book club are just okay, even though you spring for the brand name chips, the expensive butter and the rare, and thus, pricey brown sugar. Is it because the oven heats differently, because of the strong molasses aroma of the sugar, or maybe quality and price of butter don't match? Who knows. I sure don't. As a baker I hate extending energy and not getting perfection. In that regard, my book club baking was a fail.  Baking in a foreign land.

Book Club.

Book Club was great though. I squeaked through it and had to call in sick the next day but that was not a result of the meeting or the baking. (And we did eat all the cookies.) 

Next month we are reading:

I've never heard of it, but I'm up for it.

In March it will be:

Calling in Sick/ Teaching without a Voice.

At the end of the day, my patience is thin and student's attention is waning. I had laid out his 2 choices, 1) stop blurting during the lesson or 2) continue to blurt. If he did the first he could remain in class, the second would result in leaving. He chose the latter so I told him go sit with the class across the hall. He began to argue, so, in my most serious do-NOT-argue-with-me voice I said "Go!" What came out was a chipmunk chirp. Everyone was quiet but, I couldn't help breaking into a smile and so the entire class fell into hysteria. Minus my 2 sensitive children who were telling everyone, "It's not nice to laugh at the teacher."  They were also the ones who offered to read for me, asked if I needed water, and looked intently concerned the entire day. The poor choice making boy left the class and I called in sick the next morning.

Free Medicine

Here when I send a child to the nurse, (I have to write a very specific pass EVERY time, but I digress,) the children actually get medicine provided by the school.  *Bonus. So do I. I got some awesome, numbing cough drops which I was too lazy and cheap to get for myself.

Snow Day.
I pinned this to my Middle East Pinterest board way back thinking, funny. Though applicable for Nebraska, it's ironic for Kuwait.

But in the middle of winter, in Kuwait, I did just receive 2 unexpected days off. It will never have a cute poster on Pinterest though. "Due to the Saudi king's unfortunate death there will be no school for students and faculty..."

A little more about that here:
The King of Saudi Arabia, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, died Friday at the age of 90 from a lung infection. Many Arab nations, including Kuwait, announced a period of mourning. All government ministries have shut down for three days. The king was an ally during the Gulf war. His brother, in his late 70's and also reportedly not of the best health, is the new king. I read an article reporting that no policies or political changes are expected to take place in the kingdom. 

Buying an Abaya.
Because of the above, my planned Old Kuwait City tour was also a cancelled this weekend. Boo. Instead I went to a Souk(market) and purchased an abaya, hijab and nicab, all in black.  An abaya is the long sleeved, loose fitting dress women often wear outside over their clothes.  The hijab is the scarf you use to cover your head and the niqab is the square that goes across your face, only showing your eyes.  All three pieces are sold separately.  At least, that was the case in the ones I purchased. I've heard it is wise just to have one in case of an emergency.

Do you know how to wear a hijab? Well if you are curious, check out this video:

Send me a picture if you try it out. :)

About the above picture: I have never seen a burqa here. Chadors are rare. Hijabs are the most common, but Niqabs (worn with the hijab) is also quite common, though I've never personally talked to anyone with one on.

Biweekly.

I have been grappling with the idea of only publishing my blog every other week, or biweekly. Because I just don't have many novel things to share anymore. I then wondered, Biweekly? Wait, does that mean once every two weeks or twice a week? There is a big difference between those.

Quick Google search reveals:

adjective & adverb
1. appearing or taking place every two weeks or twice a week.  For example, "a biweekly bulletin".

Well. That clears things right up. 

Regardless, I'm planning to publish every other week from now on.

Camels and Things I've Observed

Classroom Life 

A Roller Coaster 

One day last week I wrote, "I feel like I may be getting into my groove a bit. I find myself joking around with the class more. It's fun."

But then, last Thursday (our last day of the week) I mourned my lack of patience and was annoyed by my abundance of frustration.

It is definitely a roller coaster ride.  The class has, in general, improved at classroom procedures and matured. And, overall, it's easier.

My days are still long and exhausting.

Okay, enough.

Random Things I've Observed in Kuwait

Pets

Dogs are rare in Muslim countries (Google that if you want details) and I can't say I've missed them. I am not a big pet person, in general, but I've had bad luck with dogs in the past. (They have big, scary teeth.) Anyway, they are not very common here so when I do see a dog, it's a bit shocking. I ran into one on the corniche this week. It was on a leash, but...I haven't missed them at all.

On the other hand, stray cats are everywhere. 

Vices

There is no alcohol allowed in Kuwait. You knew that, right. Smoking, on the other hand, is allowed in most places. Shisha, tobacco smoked in a hookah with other favors, is quite common also. Seems odd to me but who am I to compare and contrast vices.

Dress

Many women here do where the black abayas( the black robe like covering).  Some are boxy shaped and plain, but some have lace and glitter. I saw a sporty abaya recently. It was made of breathable wind suit material and it was adorned with Nike type stripes.  Many women, though, wear jeans, tunics and simple head scarves.  

I am planning to get a head scarf soon. Just to have. If I get one I'll give you a tutorial of how to wear it.  I didn't know this before but a skull cap is worn underneath.  I'll still will look foreign though. I'd have to lay on the eyes liner and get some fake lashes (which will not happen. ever.) to pass, even at a quick glance, as Arab.  

Another First and Second

Riding a Camel

My death grip.  This was ride two, I knew what was coming.

You must hold on!

  

Someone's riding shoes.

Camel Races

No one actually rides them when they race. Here they are bringing them out.

A 14 second video of racing camels!

One month in Kuwait

When in Rome

I went on a Grand Mosque tour. We had to wear a head covering, long skirt and long sleeved shirt. I was dressed like I normally dress (capris and a tee), so I needed to cover with an abaya (long black covering) and a hijab (head scarf). They had free ones available for tour go-ers to borrow.

Very sweet, cute, sincere man explained Islam to us from his point of view. 

THIS is What I'm Talking About
Then we went to the towers.  I was hoping to eat lunch in the rotating cafe in the top of one of the towers, but it was still closed for renovation. So, we took pictures and ate lunch on the waterfront (at Chili's- my first time eating American food at a restaurant here.)

We also got a personal car tour by another teacher. By the end of the day I was feeling like I'm actually seeing Kuwait now!

Also returned to Al Kout mall to buy groceries and eat dinner this week. 

We ate at an Iranian restaurant. Huge pieces of bread and teeny strong cups of tea, at the end.  

BTW- feta cheese and soda are cheap here. Feta is only $1.80 for 18 oz. and a can of sodas is less than $0.50, even at convenient stores. I also discovered store bought fatayer (fa-thai-ya) that I mentioned a week back. Not as good as the stone oven-baked version, but I regular shopping item nonetheless. Also cheap- about $0.50 each.

School Stuff

2 weeks into school and we had a parent only Open House. I had to give two, 15 minute presentations. I was a bit nervous beforehand but it was fun. Less than half of my parents showed up but I have met most of them by now. 

I had 2 new students this week but I'm still waiting for 2 more.  

Exploration

So happy to say I have explored my area a bit more. I can now add Starbucks, Lebanese and Thai food to my repertoire.  

Going to a new (to me) shopping mall today. Marina mall . Planning to see my first movie in a theater here.

Can't wait for the weather to cool down a bit so I can stroll the corniche. 

Corniche- a road (in this case they refer to the walking trail) running along the coast.

Next Weeks Goals

- Planning to start Arabic lessons next Saturday. They will be 2 hours a week for 6 weeks.

- Another mall to want to visit, the 360 mall.  

- Want to walk to the gulf from my house, at least once. 

I did not meet my last week goal to exercise... full stop.

Up and Coming Breaks

We have a week off of school in October but I can't leave the country until I get my civil ID, so I may just get to know Kuwait better, which would be okay too.  

But, I bought my ticket to BUDAPEST for Christmas break. 

Bridge walks, trolley views, subway pastries and goulash- here I come.

Christmas Market, mulled wine and outside ice skating- HERE I COME.

Modesty and Islam in Kuwait

Kuwait is a Muslim country; Islam is the official religion of Kuwait. You must dress modestly. Let me rephrase that, you must dress in a way that corresponds with the Kuwaiti opinion of modesty. Some women will be in the black abayas, wear head coverings or be completely veiled, but it is not required. For me, I think, that will mean capris and short sleeve shirts. Your knees and your shoulders must be covered. 

Women vote and drive in Kuwait. One site said, there are more women in the labor force in Kuwait than anywhere else in the Persian Gulf. 

Alcohol is not allowed in the country. There will be a call to prayer 5 times a day. There are Catholic and Christian churches in Kuwait and there is freedom for foreigners to worship, but the churches must be registered with the government. Unrecognized groups are reportedly free to worship in private.

Ramadan is a holy month for Muslims. During Ramadan no eating, drinking, or chewing gum is allowed in public during daylight hours. Yes, for the whole month. If you are guilty of any of these things you can be thrown in jail. I will most likely not experience Ramadan in 2014 because it will occur during summer break from school.

Kuwait seems to have beautiful beaches.

So, what do beaches +Kuwaiti dress code =?

Swimming is allowed but you must go in fully clothed.
From what I've gathered there are public beaches and private beaches. They both offer separate women's only days. There are also private beaches where you can wear a 'normal' swimming suit.

So, I either go in the water in my capris and t-shirt or opt for a private beach. To be honest, I rarely swim at the beach, but walk along the shore, get my feet wet and read a book under an umbrella. Nonetheless, I plan to experience it all; visit the public beaches, go to a private beach and check out a women's beach day. Maybe I'll even swim fully clothed. 
For the record, I do not plan to buy the above swimming suit.