Category Archives: Kuwait

Generating Art Project

Come Fall, I’m planning to walk around the city and neighborhoods and take pictures of the various artwork one can find around Kuwait. I touched on this on my last post “Musings“.

One of my projects is to explore the art that covers up the electricity generators/hubs in neighborhoods. You could be walking around the city and you pass this on your walk. Art Kuwait City Electricity Generator HubWould you even notice it at first glance? Would you wonder what was inside?
Would you think it was an electricity generator/hub? I’ve had many friends who lived in Kuwait for years without noticing them until they were pointed out. The art serves its objective at disguising the hubs and not drawing attention to the buildings that stick out like a sore thumb.

Some of the artwork that is painted on these generators represent Kuwait’s history. Others promote national unity, with patriotic messages. Others still have religious messages and/or morals. Sometimes it just depends on what neighborhood you’re in. One of my plans is to visit different neighborhoods and see which ones stand out.

I’m not sure who is in charge of painting the artwork. Is it funded by the government or sponsored by various organizations? Maybe it’s the neighborhoods that decide? I have no idea. Hopefully I’ll learn more when I start researching them.

Here is a close-up of the artwork pictured above. I’ll make more of an effort in the Fall to take better photos. I just zoomed in for this one. The text above the clenched fist says “الكويت يد واحدة” that is “Kuwait is one hand“.

Art Kuwait City The hand has been colored with Kuwait’s flag: black on the left, green on top, white center, red on bottom. Below in orange, you can see a skyline of Kuwait.

If you look at the blue section near the palm tree, you’ll see the same flag is painted on an outline of Kuwait.

I’m excited to discover all the different artworks available in neighborhoods. It will also force me to truly look around and see what’s around me.

So We Talked…

Do you remember the friend I mentioned from my Let’s Talk post?

Well, we talked…

Let me just start off with saying, I didn’t plan to talk to her. It happened organically. And in a nutshell, it was pointless. I’d go as far to say as it was a waste of time, but it wasn’t really. It helped me come to terms with the fact that this was who she was and nothing was going to change.

Maha and I were at a friend’s place (Noor). Maha came over and sat down next to me. She started asking me about how I was doing and what I had been up to. I shared some news about the latests projects I had been involved in and she gave me some backhanded compliments. I called her out on them. I wasn’t confrontational. I just asked her in a calm voice why she said her statements in that way. I don’t think saying “I didn’t know you were smart” and “I didn’t realize you had so many friends” are always meant maliciously, but Maha’s tone and when she inserts comments like these just give off a negative vibe. From her expression, it was clear that she was taken aback. She had gotten so used to making comments like that they didn’t even register as shade to her anymore. Or maybe they did but no one called her out on them and held her accountable for her words.

I explained why her comments bothered me. Maha shrugged them off. From her responses I could see why she didn’t see why I was offended by them. It didn’t register on any scale. To her, this was a normal conversation and saying those things to me was fine. I didn’t escalate the matter. I just needed confirmation that this was the type of person she was. She may not be trying to undercut me but her comments come with such negative energy that I can’t be bothered to deal with it anymore. I’d rather I have as little to do with her as possible.

If you want to be my friend, you need to be supportive. You should want me to succeed. My success doesn’t take anything away from you. Maha may think competing with a friend is normal but I value support, and she just doesn’t give it to me. This is important to me because I’m the type of person that will always cheer a friend on. I will always wish the best for them. I always want them to shine. Having them shine doesn’t dim my light. And so, I’m done with Maha and the other Mahas in my life. Moving forward, I want people who care around me and who push me to be my best instead of trying to tear me down and undercut me.

Upside Down Inside Out

Ramadan has got me turned upside down and inside out. My routine has been shot to hell. I haven’t been sleeping enough which has translated into me being groggy/cranky most of the time. Forget about being productive. It’s impossible in these circumstances.

I’m usually on top of my game at work and know the status of every project I’m working on, but for the past three weeks I have been oblivious to what’s on my plate. I don’t know what’s coming in and what’s going out on my desk anymore. For those reasons, I’m glad Eid is coming up this Friday. I will miss five-hour work days but at least I’ll have my sanity back (who am I kidding, I lost that years ago!).

Ramadan started on a sad and tragic note the first week due to the suicide bombing. Many of my friends were scared to go out the first few days after the tragedy, but then all they wanted to do was meet up and unite. It was nice to have that sense of kinship and community during a low time. I’ve been pretty active socially this Ramadan. Many people cancelled their ghabgat (Ramadan gatherings) but closer friends decided to meet up. I think I’ve seen more friends over the past two weeks than I have during the past six months.

I’ve done a lot of introspection during this month and I came to the conclusion that I need to make changes to my life. I’m going to take the steps to live a healthier lifestyle (AKA diet&workout) and be more social and outgoing (AKA date). I’ve also decided there are certain people in my circle that I have to phase out of my life. It’s not that they’re bad people, it’s just that most of their energy is negative. And I’m done with negativity. I can’t anymore. I need positive people who are out there doing interesting things. If all you’re doing with your life is complaining, I’m sorry but I can’t be around you. GYST (Get your shit together) and then we’ll talk.

Yesterday

Imam Sadeq Mosque

Yesterday was a tragic day in Kuwait’s history.

During Friday prayers, a suicide bomber walked into Imam Sadiq Mosque and killed 27 people and injuring over 200. ISIS quickly took responsibility for the incident rejoicing at having struck out at a Shi’ite mosque.

What the “Islamic State” don’t grasp is that it doesn’t matter what mosque it was or what Muslim faction was praying there. When you strike at Muslims (especially during prayers in the holy month of Ramadan) you are striking at Muslims. A strike on Kuwait soil is a strike against Kuwait. And that is unacceptable.

The response to the incident has been overwhelming. The people of Kuwait rallied around the victims of this senseless tragedy and their families. I have never been more proud of Kuwait and its residents, both citizens and expats. The Amir was among the first to visit the site of the tragedy. The Kuwait Central Blood Bank initially said they would open after iftar at 7:30pm but had to open immediately due to the overwhelming presence of all the donors that showed up at its doors clamoring to help in any way they could. Doctors, emergency personnel, and security forces all came out in droves to help out in any way they could. Sunnis and Shiites stood together in prayer in response to this attempt at sectarian division.

The outpouring of support and unity is a testament to the Kuwaiti spirit.