I like
- The housekeeping services: I have a maid that makes my bed, irons my clothes, does my laundry. She also cooks every evening, and her food doesn't exactly hit the spot, but its certainly edible.
- The price of gas (along with the fueling process): I left Houston around mid July when gas was $147 a barrel, and it cost me about $85 (approx $3.60 per gallon) to fill up my tank. Although the price of oil has plummeted since then ($113 a barrel...crazy eh?), I filled up my tank in Kuwait for 3.150 KD, which is around 12 bucks! According to my math, I paid $0.93 per gallon for gas yesterday, and you can round it up to a buck because I tipped the guy that pumped it for me. I did not even have to get off the car, and press those stupid buttons on the gas pump (almost as frustrating as texting on an i-phone)...aahhh welcome to refueling paradise!
- No more speeding tickets: I have spent almost $1000 dollars just in 2008 because of traffic fines...partially because I speed at the most inopportune times, and I don't deal well with cops on a power trip. Now in Kuwait, everybody rants about how bad the drivers are...and honestly as long as you drive (posted speed 120KM)140KM/80mph+ in the fast lane, you'll rarely have people cut in you're lane. There are speed camera's posted everywhere, but as long as you know where they are... you know when and when not to speed.....so no more goofy ass cops hiding out on the other side of the bridge with their radar guns looking like they're posing for some hollywood cop flick.
- Being in a Muslim country: One of the best things about moving back to the east is I'm back in a Muslim environment. At noon, there is a prayer call on the speakers in the office, and almost everybody in our building proceeds to the prayer halls to pray. Also, during Ramadan my work hours change to 830AM -230PM....as opposed to the 8AM-8PM I had to look forward to had I still been in Houston. Also a personal favorite, they have hand held bidets (muslim showers) in every bathroom in kuwait.....Enough said!
- Used Car prices (Audi's especially): Apparently the Kuwaitis have no appreciation for used anything... I have seen some used A8's new advertised as low as $10K, which appear to be in pretty nice condition. Now I was explained two causes for the increased loss in value for the cars here. 1- The upholstery and engine itself is not well suited with the Kuwait climate and 2- people treat their cars like shit here, I asked a guy if he ever changed the oil on his car, and he asked me "whats an oil change"? - Since new car prices are higher than the US because of taxes, shipping, ect...I will probably be buying a used...and if that piece of shit gives me any trouble this bullet point will be on a different list.
Man it cracks me up when I see these fools doing this!I Dislike
- Work Ethic: This will take some time to get used to since every one is sooo lazy. I mean they have coffee boys at my office that I have to call just to get me a bottle of water for crying out loud (In the US we call them interns). It's almost contradictary for me to have this as a bullet point when I like the shortened work hours, but my fear is getting overly comfortable and falling in the mode of complacency because I believe laziness is contagious and I'm trying not to get infected.
- Kuwaitization: I have heard mixed stories about the distinct rights that exist for Kuwaitis...and non-Kuwaitis. There are a lot of subtle variations that really get under my skin. For example, a kuwaiti that has a child recieves an allowance from the government, where as a non kuwaiti has to pay for every time he/she has a child. Only a Kuwaiti can own (purchase) property....period - If I haven't caught your attention yet, this should really knock your socks off. My client has a division called Kuwaitization, and they are primarily responsible for balancing the kuwaiti workforce. Currently, theyre getting a lot of flack for being below 79% when the goal is 84% of all employees should be kuwaiti. Thankfully, us contractor's do not fall in that remaining 16% or I would have been looking for a new job already ;) I guess the civil rights clause...a workforce cannot be discriminated based on Age, Race, Religion, Gender ect... is something us yankees shouldn't take for granted. Although, I don't know how true that really is because I wonder if I could get job at Hooters....or why do most bars in the U.S always have short hispanic dudes picking up the drinks....hmmmm?
- Night-life: I really miss those short hispanic dudes darting by oh so smoothly...you never even knew they were there. It brings me to my next point on how there is very little to do when the sun goes down. Granted I might be a bit myopic to all Kuwait has too offer...but this sure aint a place for a bachelor. Akahol is obviously illegal, so you can either milk you're network to get a bottle or make it yourself. As of now I have had some homemade vodka where after 1 drink I was better off downing my mom's bottle of nail polish remover...plus it gave me the shits the next day, what kinda hangover story is that? My decision to quit alcohol and continue down the sober path has become much easier now.
- Women...what women?: Every place I go has herds of dudes...makes me feel like I'm in one of those movies where women are mythological creatures that make a guest appearance erry now and then. Kuwait has like 6 malls (just like the galleria) and the "cool" thing to do on the weekend night is to get decked out, call your entourage of hairy chested dudes...and walk around the malls checking out girls with head scarves...obviously no conversation...just eye fucking for 3 hours straight and calling it a night when you have had enough. What's funny is, it's a bloody mall and aint no nobody got shopping bags and there aint a damn soul in the stores except for the people that work there.
- Price comparisons: Yes gas is cheaper...but don't get it twisted by thinking cost of living in kuwait is cheaper. There are a plethora of places to eat BUT don’t ruin the taste by converting into dollars because you’ll only find yourself feeling like fool after realizing you spent 30 bucks (7 Kuwaiti Dinar) on a breakfast. I went to a local health club (they're pretty big here) and the membership fee is 600KD ($2400) a year for single males...which is about $200 bucks a month (I miss LA fitness) for a prissy health club that has its own private beach. Yes I know a private beach sounds cool....but it's not really the case...I know you're thinking Pamela Anderson lifeguards, cocktails with the little straw hats, 6-pack Abs, people rollerblading or playing volleyball.....uhhhh not exactly - picture this...there were like two dudes sharing the same cigarette on my left side, and on the right side I have a pasty looking european chick reading a book....Sheeeit....the kappa party in Galveston is more popping than this friggin "private beach" - actually I take that back, I remember gagging the last time I saw pictures of Kappa week in Galveston : P
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