Drowning in Nostalgia

Some of the best moments of my life were set to the musical stylings of the Backstreet Boys.

Don't knock it, because Pop will never be lowbrow.
Unless you listen to crap, in which case I shall keep you in my prayers.

Takin' em to Church,


S.

PS - Everyone knows the words to at least one Backstreet Boys song, and that's been confirmed by Recent Studies.

Taking The Cake

I'm not actually going to talk about brownies, or anything to do with baking for that matter. This is just a sneaky ploy attempted at attracting readers' attention.
In my time spent studying Kuwait and it's inhabitants, I've noticed something. Kuwaitis (Read: All Arabs) really, really like to eat. The love they express towards food is almost sacred. I mean, I enjoy eating. I like to look at pretty food. I'm a disaster in the kitchen, but that's alright as I don't really plan on cooking for anyone...anytime soon. I have a career to chase. However, I digress. What really I want to say is that it would be so beautiful if for just one day, one tiny particle in space and time, we were all as sweet to each other as those brownies are. I mean being kind to everyone. To our annoying siblings, our trying company, our tired maids, even to the freaks you go to school with. You never know, maybe that freak will someday grow up and start a blog. I don't know about you, but I'd love an honorable mention. Because I love attention like that.

If you were to be remembered for one thing, what would you want it to be?

Lacing up my metaphorical sneakers,

S.

Shattered Times

Debbie Harry will always have a place in my heart. Despite her tiny frame, she's always been able to command any given stage with all the gusto of a drill sergeant. Everything about this performance blows me away. The vocals, Debbie's get-up, the lively audience....every second is worth the watch. Further proof I was born in the wrong generation, stick around and here what this majestic blond had to say in regards to the nuclear arms race of former years.   

Warming up my icy heart to the sound of disco,

S.

PS - I strongly dislike 90% of the topics/things my generation occupies themselves with. B....B....M....*Grinds teeth*

If Does Not Mean When

If I were a boy.

If I were indeed a boy, my life would be very different. I could come and go as I please, bust my way into Ministry buildings, demand immediate attention, be brash and rude only to have it shrugged off as me just being a "reckless young man." I could spend hours in my friends' dewaniyas, just hanging out and goofing around, because KU requiring a lower grade percentage for each faculty in the male division means I wouldn't have to kill myself to ensure a future that will be waiting for me. A future that sits there waiting for me to finish living up my bachelor days. A future that hears no evil, sees no evil and certainly will not speak of past evil. If I were a boy, I would be immune to society.

Should I decide to grow up, I'll have a mother eager to see her son married.  A father proud to see I've settled down, and eager to see it happen. Arrangements could be easily made. I wouldn't have to worry about the consequences of my past behavior because no one cares to pass judgment when you're a boy. 

I'm not a boy. 

S. 

When Two Worlds Collide

Does anyone else see the uncanny resemblence between M.I.A and Kuwaiti actress Maram Al-Bloushi?
Images of Arabic celebrities aren't always easily obtained, but I found one that supports my point.

Maram

M.I.A

Bros & Cons

Someday, I hope to see a world where we are all equal, regardless of gender. That can't always be said in Kuwait, but no worries because S. is here. I'm young, and painfully naive, but I've got big plans for us Kuwait.

Until then, I shall share with you a little story that I find amusing. Despite the painfully patriarchal set-up we have in Kuwait, there is a silver lining to being a woman here. At times. Case in point: It was a hot, sticky day in August of this year. I had to go to KU's Shuwaikh campus to register for my classes. At one end of the hall you have the women's entrance and at the other is the men's. In addition to picking my classes, I had some other paperwork to deal with and so I was taken to see someone who could help me...at the other end of the hall. The men's end of the hall. I know.
I'm just pulling your tails, it was fine and there was hardly a difference...except that I was hit with a sudden headache due to the excess amount of cologne I had just inhaled. (Some of the Kuwaiti youth really need to familiarize themselves with the concept "Less is more"). After I had finished everything I needed to do, I decided it was time for me to get myself back home. Being my rebellious and occasionally lazy self, I decided to exit from the men's door. My Dad was walking in front of me, and led the way. When we reached the actual doors, he stopped because the area was congested with Kuwaiti guys eager to pick their classes and get out of there. I waited for about two minutes, produced a delicate little cough and watched as those dishdashas parted like the Red Sea to let me (and my Father) through. I was Moses. I was the chosen one. I was on my way home in five seconds flat.

Tell me if you have ever used/manipulated cultural aspects in regards to gender to get what you want. I won't judge you. I promise.

Pawning the silver lining,

S.

Mechanical Hearts

(I am really loving this song right now. So should you. Enjoy.)

You're very cute Kuwait. I like you, I think. I can't help myself. *Blushes*

When I first set foot in Kuwait's airport two years ago, the first thought that sprang into my head (Well, the second. The first was "Oh, they have a Cartier store here? How nice!") was "Two years, and then I'm outta here. Two years and then I'm back home!"
That was all fine and dandy until I woke up one day and realized that I was happy. Here. Yes, you read that correctly. Don't get me wrong, the bad often outweighs the good in Kuwait. The weight is evenly distributed between neon makeup and Bedazzled Hummers. The traffic is atrocious. Hawalli is an eyesore. There isn't always much to do, other than go out to a restaurant or bum it out with friends in a mall.
However, and I highly stress this point, there are some magnificent people in Kuwait. I've met some of the kindest, funniest, most outrageous people here. I'm lucky enough to call them friends, and even luckier that I decided to defrost my attitude enough to allow friendship to take root. Plus, the fact that having been raised in Canada has given me something of an "exotic" edge it just truly ironic. Canada is many things. Exotic is most definitely not one of them.

To wrap up this post, I want you to tell me about a spot in the world you've visited that turned out to be different than you imagined. I remember driving around Parisians suburbs and thinking that this was the farthest thing from glamorous. It was too much for me, and we hurriedly zoomed back to our hotel. Much glamorous fun was had that vacation.

Sighing somewhere in a galaxy far,

S.

Fun Times

In my regular McChicken fashion, I am going to wish everyone Ramadan mubarak! (That's how we say it in Canada). This is my *FIRST* Ramadan in Kuwait, and my first one with all the lovely people I've met over the past two years and so naturally I am very excited. Another added bonus is I'm working on getting my driver's license, so that's another highlight to look forward to this month.

Without rambling on forever, I once again wish everyone a fabulous and righteous month. Spread the joy, share the love and pass the laban!

Trying to fix this case cotton mouth by drooling at the thought of Eid cash,

S.

Tik Tok

Apologies for being AWOL for the past few days, University prep has seen me running around in a rush trying to get things done. Luckily, I've pretty much covered everything I need to take care of, and so now I have a good two months to kick back and relax. I can't deny that the experience has been bittersweet; I always imagined myself attending a university in Canada with my childhood friends, but life is like that and I've learned to embrace all and every opportunity that comes my way.

Anyways, I've got my first semester courses picked out (Biology, Chemistry and English). Two of my Profs are Kuwaiti and the third is Egyptian, not that it really makes much of a difference what nationality someone is. As I mentioned earlier, I start classes September 26th, so I've still got quite a bit of time to kill. I hate to admit it, but I'm rather excited about starting this next chapter of my life. I am so unbelievably done with high school, all its drama and embarrassing moments. It's over and done with, and I can't say I'm complaining. What I can say is: Bring it on KU!

Sharpening my #2 pencils,

S.