Since I have had a few people email and ask about this, I figure I'll address it here so we can "nip this in the bud" so to speak.

How does one become a Kuwaiti citizen? They don't. See how easy that was?

OK, it's not impossible to become a citizen of the lovely little State of Kuwait, but it's not something that comes easily either. This is where I think America should take some notes from Kuwait and jump all over this bandwagon. In the states we give away citizenship like it has no meaning or value to it. Therefore, anyone going to the states seeking citizenship will treat our country the same way. Meaningless and without value. On the other hand, Kuwait treats their citizenship like gold (perhaps because there are monetary benefits) and citizens here are proud to be Kuwaiti. Not that Americans aren't proud, because I am certainly proud of my country and all that it offers. But I still don't agree that we should just leave our doors wide open for virtually anyone to enter, stay, and obtain citizenship.

In Kuwait, if someone comes here to work from another country they are here on a work visa with sponsorship. They are paid wages based upon the cost of living in their country....not Kuwait's. After all, they're sending their money earned here back home where it will benefit their country. While they're here the basic needs are met (housing, food, etc), and they recieve a salary for their services. There is no "minimum wage" and if there were these people would not be eligible for it considering they're not citizens.

In America we open our doors to everyone, provide them with every possible "benefit" offered to Americans, even if they're not in our country legally. They work, rent housing, get medical care, and even qualify for welfare benefits which my taxes pay into. So now not only are we allowing people into our country illegally, but we're supporting them financially, and forcing the hard working American citizens to participate....like it or not.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that we shouldn't allow "outsiders" into America. But I am saying if we as Americans treat our country, the benefits of it, and our citizenship with higher regard, so will the others who come visit.

What would be the harm into welcoming others into America for work, on a temporary work visa which upon expiration either renew or return to their country, being paid a rate of pay comparable to their country's cost of living? Would we be considered cruel? Or smart? If we did such a thing, our economy would thrive, jobs would be filled at lower rates of pay, prices would drop due to less expensive wages, and we would all win in the end.

Though I am very proud to be American, I don't necessarily think we always make the smartest decsicions when it comes to the best interest of our country. I believe at times we're trying so hard to be "politically correct" and "less offensive" that we're hurting ourselves.

Recently I have been having the wonderful experience of furniture shopping in Kuwait. Yeah, I could walk into a retail store and purchase from the showroom like in the states, but I have found a much more intriguing side to all of this.

Dajeej!

It's like a journey into the depths of dirty basements. But once you get beyond the traffic, crowds, and difficult parking, you venture down the escalator into furniture bliss. It's all very sneaky, apearing to be mostly rugs hanging on the walls with a few pieces of furniture scattered within. But once you talk to the man who owns the shop (take an Arabic speaking person for sure!) you find that what is on the floor is only a tiny fraction of what is actually available. See, you don't go here to buy furniture....you go here to design it and have it made! Yes, they actually make this furniture to your exact specifications. You choose the heights, widths, fabrics, and even the quality of "stuffing" you want inside. They have books which consist of actual photos, or you can take a picture of something you have found elsewhere, and they will duplicate it.

And guess what? It's inexpensive!

For example; I went into a few retail places and found a couple of sofas and chairs that I kinda liked. You could tell they weren't of great quality, but would have met my needs I suppose. I would say if IKEA is a 2 on a scale of 1-10, this furniture was a 5. Basically, I would have been settling, which isn't something I do very well when it comes to shopping. These items were around KD795
($2,957). However, at Dajeej, where I chose exactly what I wanted, the pattern I love, colors, everything to my specifications I will be paying less than half of that for furniture that could be compared to some of the higher quality items we have in the states...or maybe even better.

So, if any of you in Kuwait are looking for quality furniture that you plan to keep for a long time, ship back to the states, or just prefer higher quality, then I suggest taking the trip to Dajeej.

Oh, they will also come to your home to measure your windows and make the custom curtains to match the furniture you chose for a fairly reasonable rate as well. I find in the states custom window coverings are way overpriced.

Then of course once you have all of that picked out you take a look around at all the rugs hanging on the walls and choose from them to complete the look. You can choose from the handmade silks (again, this is where an Arabic speaker comes in handy), all the way down to remnants.

Being a woman I could spend days there, decorating everyone's home! I have a pretty good eye and love to decorate. However, my male counterpart was semi exhausted after a short time with all of the shlonacks, shokbaraks, hugs, and kisses (other men of course). Shopping is more of a social event for the men as they just sit and wait for the women they inevitably see someone they either know, grew up with, or are related to. Or all of the above.

Year may be dustiest ever

KUWAIT (KUNA): The year 2008 is expected to be Kuwait’s most dusty year, astronomical researcher Adel Al-Saadoun said. He told KUNA the year 1979 was the worst year in Kuwait, with 235 dusty days, although the quantity of rain was above average, adding that the amount of rain that fell this year was much less than what had fallen in 1979, making it possible that 2008 would break the record. Al-Saadoun said that a tide of low pressure was spreading across the Arabian Peninsula, resulting in 50-kilometer winds carrying dust, pointing out that the dusty weather in Kuwait had reduced the vertical vision to less than 500 meters. He said the northwest winds are a result of a monsoon that hits the Indian Peninsula from early June to late July every year. If the speed of wind exceeds 45 kilometers per hour, it carries dust from the Iraqi, Saudi and Kuwaiti deserts, he said. Dust increases during the day and decreases in the evening when the wind calms down, he added. The astronomer said that dust is expected to decrease by the end of this week, before increasing once again, adding that dust will continue until the end of the monsoons in late July. He called fishermen to be careful and advised people not to swim in the sea as the tide could be high.

For some reason, this month, I have received numerous emails from American women asking what their rights would be if they married a Kuwaiti man, is it possible to marry a Kuwaiti man, how to marry one, etc. I am assuming they haven't actually found one yet, so we'll leave their "rights" till the end.

First and foremost, if you have this dream of coming to Kuwait and marrying some rich Kuwaiti man....wake up. Immediately! "Rich" they are not. Sure, you have a few Sheikhs roaming around the area, but rest assured he is married, and married, and married, oh....and married again. If he's not married to 4, he certainly has 1. And she is more than likely his cousin, or at least from his family. Like the British Royals, the Kuwaitis believe in keeping it in the bloodlines as well.

In Kuwait you have different classes of Kuwaitis; Class 1, Class 2... I'm not sure what determines which class they fall into, though I am certain it has to do with family relations.

Kuwaiti men are like men all over the world (though much better looking). They want an expensive car, and many women. OK, of course this is not true for all of them, but don't think for a minute they have a higher set of morals here. However, I do know some Kuwaiti men who are incredibly loyal to their wives, and would never think to betray their family. Then again, I know just as many who think that "cheating" is just part of life and not necessarily a betrayal to their wives. They feel they already did the right thing by marrying their cousin (or woman their mother chose), had children with her, and provide her with a good life and a home. They have fulfilled their duty as a husband, and now they can do what they want outside the home. In some ways I see their point, but as a woman I have to disagree.

Also, in Kuwait there is no such thing as a credit score, or credit report. Kuwaitis receive a salary based upon their job, their marital status, number of children, etc. So, if you see a man in his mid 30's driving a 2008 BMW 745LI, you can safely assume he's married with a few kids. Or, you can assume he's rented the car for the weekend in an attempt to get as many phone numbers as he can on Arabian Gulf Street. I often wonder what they tell the woman when they see her again and they drive up in a 1998 Mitsubishi Galant. "It's in the shop"? The point is, in Kuwait, you're only supposed to be allowed to go into debt with half of your monthly salary. Which means if you have a house payment, furniture payment, and a loan payment, but now want a new car, you are limited as to what your monthly payments can be as to not exceed half of your income. However, there are many ways around this, and belive me, they do it. I know a few Kuwaitis who drive a new Lexus, yet are broke before their next payday. I also know Kuwaitis who take loans from the bank to go on vacations a few times a year. Most of them live their life on borrowed money and struggle between paydays. Very similar to Americans, huh? So, remember, expensive car does not mean "Rich Kuwaiti" but more than likely means, "Married, kids, bills, broke." Got that?

Another thing -- Kuwait has some restrictions about who a Kuwaiti can marry. Of course marrying an American is fairly acceptable here, and though it isn't common, it is certainly not a shock to see a Kuwaiti and an American together. But, a Kuwaiti who is serving in the Kuwait Military is not allowed to marry anyone other than a Kuwaiti woman. Not sure if other sectors impose that restriction, as that's the only one I have heard of.

Finally, there are benefits for a Kuwaiti man when he marries a Kuwaiti woman. Monetary benefits. These benefits are not offered when marrying an American woman. It's yet another bit of encouragement to "keep it in the family" here in Kuwait.

Now, is it impossible to marry a Kuwaiti man? Absolutely not! But keep in mind, in their mind, there are different kinds of marriage.

1. Marriage on paper -- This is the marriage that means he probably cares for you to some degree, but you will never be "part of the family" and you are a second or third wife in most cases. However, if you are marrying legally, with paper, then there are benefits to you both. A) You may eventually get citizenship if he chooses to grant it (don't expect he will do that). B) He could be granted US citizenship after 3 years (don't expect him to want that).

2. Halal marriage -- This is the marriage that basically means he wants to have sex with you, but has absolutely no desire to marry you, make you the mother of his children, or bring you into his home. This is a marriage where you will just say "OK, we're married now" and then get into bed. Don't even bother asking if he has another wife, because if you're willing to do this kind of marriage with him, then rest assured, "it's not your business."

3. Temporary marriage -- This is the one where you pretend to be married (like the Halal marriage), he will usually pay a few bills, take you shopping sometimes, and treat you like a boyfriend should treat a girlfriend, but without the love. You just accept you will never meet his family, he has a wife and kids, you respect his family time, you don't call and ask him questions, and when he's done with you, your phone number will be given out at dewaniya on Friday night. Got it?

4. Real marriage -- If he really loves you, and chooses to truly marry you, then he will. He will more than likely be divorced, as he still has to serve his duty to his family by marrying the woman his mother chose, and having children with her. You will be part of the family, welcomed into the home, and cared for like his mother and sisters. Life will be grand, you will feel like you have never met a man so wonderful in your life, and in 6 months (if he's good) you'll start to realize steps 1, 2, and 3 are being fulfilled elsewhere.

Is this the way it is with all Kuwaiti men and American women? Of course not. The truth is, a lot of Kuwaiti men absolutely adore American women. We're soft, and kind, and have a "white heart." We love passionately, and give willingly. When we love our men, we treat them like a king. Kuwaiti men know and understand this very well. Many of them are just happy to be friends with an American woman to experience her kindness. This is not to say Kuwaiti women are not soft and kind, but they are usually very close to their families, and have more than likely married this man because she was "chosen." Therefore, she probably lacks the passionate love that we all long for.

All that being said....if you're coming to Kuwait to find a husband, remember, you already have a blue Passport!

And if you're coming to Kuwait to find a rich husband.....get a JOB! You're going to need one to pay HIS bills.

However, if you want to come to Kuwait to admire their big eyes, clean white dishdashas, flawless skin, and gorgeous smiles....then this is the right place to be!