So it seems the moon has determined Ramadan will indeed begin tomorrow morning.

Ramadan is the holiest month on the lunar Islamic calendar — a time for fasting (unless you are ill, pregnant, elderly, a child, or traveling) taming human passions, and developing compassion for those less fortunate ("O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you, that ye may acquire self-restraint " Qur'an 2:183).

Ramadan is coming!

In 4-5 days (depending on the moon) it will be Ramadan. This is the most holy of all months in Islam, and a time when people sacrifice many of their own comforts, and become much more generous.

I want one thing from you all...

Bipartisan Legislation - HR 6520

Everyone who knows me, or reads my website, understands my passion for bedouns (stateless people). So, as a gift to me, please click the link above and submit. Your information will not be stored, sold, or used for any other purpose than to express concerns to Refugees International.

Thank you.

Happy Ramadan!

To the man who wrote asking if there's anywhere in Kuwait he can get a "full body massage" given by a woman, the answer is no. Not legally anyway. In Kuwait, a legal massage is provided by the same gender as the person receiving the massage. Sorry, dude.

However, I have heard you can ask your maid (that's the one who actually cleans your apartment, not the one you meet in front of Al-Kut mall and drag home for a night, but happen to find your apartment clean the following morning) for massage services. From what I understand they will show up in the evening, and for a few KD they will provide a full body massage. Keep in mind, this is not legal. Furthermore, when it's all said and done you're going to find yourself in the same position as one of my previous posts.....about American men dating the lovely women of Fahaheel and Al-Kut Mall. First it's a massage, and before you know it you're giving away green cards, blue passports, and spending every dime you have to support an entire little Asian family who now sleep on the floor of your living room.

Skip the full body massage. Otherwise you're going to find yourself listening to sob stories of "horrible sponsors" who "beat and abuse" their housegirls, and all they need is a good (aka stupid) man to protect them from the "mean sponsor." You're going to be all wrapped up in that nonsense, and find yourself in a position you really don't want to be in. She's going to be deported, and you could end up in jail.

And it all started with a full body massage.

Unless you're not one to read international news, keep up with semi-political events, or just live under a rock, then you're fully aware women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive. Not just Saudi women, but women from any country regardless of the driver's license they hold.

Why is this? I have no clue. Is it because women have more accidents (due to lack of training)? Is it a fear that a woman will leave the house on her own and could possibly engage in a conversation with a man? Or perhaps it's just that we're so "small minded and child like" that handling something as powerful as a large moving machine with tires is far too complicated for a simple woman. Blah! Give me a break! I drive better than the vast majority of men I know. OK, not really, but I am perfectly capable.

Well, now it seems there's a good chance Saudi will give women the right to drive. See article below.

Yesterday afternoon, as I'm driving home from work, I realize this guy behind me is obviously trying to get my attention. Lights flashing, turn signals, etc. This isn't rare here in Kuwait, so this part didn't surprise me. Remember...the only qualification for getting a man's attention in this country is to be a female. Looks don't play a very big role in their desires.

What I did find rather disturbing was what he did next!

Fortunately I live in a fairly secure building, where our workers and building harass keep an eye on us, the cars in the garage, and the people coming and going. They are familiar with most of my guests, and will not hesitate to ask questions if they're not comfortable with a situation. I am a female living alone, so they're pretty good about keeping an eye on me.

So, I turn to go to the back of my building, which is where the entrance to the parking garage is. To enter the parking garage you must have a key card which you scan and the gate opens to allow entry. However, this is also an area where many people (men and women) pull over to talk, exchange numbers, etc. becuase it's off the main road and not many people can see them, but at the same time, it's right on Arabian Gulf Street, so they don't have to go too far out of their way.

Anyway, this guy in a little blue Chevrolet something or other follows me onto this back road. I thought nothing of it, knowing once I get to the entrance of the parking garage he will realize I live there and he'll move on to the next poor woman who wishes he would leave her alone.

Not the case...

As I enter the parking garage I see him behind me, as if he's entering too. Though I know all the cars in my building, so I know he doesn't live there. I enter, he then starts to back up and appears to be leaving. However, when I get out of my car and start walking towards the elevator I see this man walking down the driveway into my garage! This man parked his car, got out of it, and walked into my parking garage!! I think once he realized I really did live there, was actually going home, and had not invited him to share some secret afternoon random sex in a garage, he turned around and walked away.

Either way, this was scary to me! Parking garages are not always the safest feeling places on earth. Especially for a woman. People don't generally "hang out" in the garage, and it's often more hot down there than it is outside!

So for any man reading this -- make a note; most women do not want to be chased up and down the road. We find this to be rude and it makes you look desperate and childish. More than that, women do not, under any circumstances, want to be followed to their home. That's where we live, it's our security, and privacy. It makes us uneasy when a man is following us for miles, and then eventually comes all the way home with us. And furthermore....never, and I mean NEVER follow a woman into her parking garage. If you do not have a clear invitation from her to enter any part of her place of residence, then do not do it. This is scary to a woman. It really makes us uncomfortable, and we contemplate dialing 777.

It's bad enough that we can barely do the simple things like shop at the mall, get coffee, or buy groceries without somehow having our personal space invaded. But walking into a woman's parking garage? ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!

20-year-old critical after fight; Four Saudis, 2 Bedouns arrested

KUWAIT CITY : A 20-year-old Bedoun was rushed to the Intensive Care Unit of Jahra Hospital with a deep stab injury while six others — four Saudis and two Bedouns — were referred to Taima Hospital following a violent fight among them, reports Alam Al-Yawm daily. According to a security source, differences between the Saudi youths and the Bedouns led to the fight and both parties used sharp weapons to settle scores. The condition of the 20-year-old is said to be critical. Investigations are going on to determine who started the fight.

This is a fairly typical article in the newspaper here in Kuwait. Limited information, no clue what really happened, and not even sure what the "sharp weapons" were. I mean, were these guys chasing one another around with razor blades or knives?

Furthermore, it seems an investigation is now open to determine who started the fight? Whaaaat? Are they kidding? According to the article "both parties" used these mysterious sharp weapons, and both parties were equally involved in this dispute. Yet only one man ends up in intensive care. So who started this fight is important why? Don't we have 4 guilty men here?

"Differences" led to this fight? What differences? No...physical violence isn't unheard of here, especially in Jahra and amongst bedwin men. But more often than not they are capable of settling their "differences" without resorting to violence. Then again, these guys were young. But still, "differences" should be defined instead of leaving us wondering and guessing about what could have happened and why.

By the time I'm finished reading the Kuwait newspaper, I find that I know less than when I started. I have more questions than I did before I opened the website. And I am calling Jahra friends to ask if they heard about the fight, who it was, and why! Perhaps I am a little more curious than I should be. but if the newspaper answered reasonable questions and provided a good source of information, I wouldn't have to be so curious!

Unfortunately in Kuwait you can't get all of your salon services done at one place. Not if you're looking for qualified techs and quality results. You really have to shop around and determine what meets your needs. Perhaps one day I'll take the time to do a post about who does what the best in my opinion.

I will say, the Hilton Salon (Fahaheel) does the best threading. She's awesome and pain free.

I absolutely loved the hot stone massage at JW Marriott, Kuwait City. I also had a facial there that I was more impressed with than the one I got at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai a few years back. And less than half the price.

Microdermabrasion is another story in Kuwait. I have had it done once here and wasn't very impressed. I eventually made my way to a "medical center" that does it, but when I was reading the procedures they offered and saw "Penis Enlargement" I knew I probably wasn't dealing with the most ethical...or honest people in Kuwait, so I didn't stick around.

Manicures and Pedicures I am settling on doing myself at home. It's difficult to find a place here that uses sterile equipment, or you can bring your own. Not sure about most people, but I don't normally tote around a sterile mani/pedi kit in my bag, so I'll pass.

    ...equals Kuwait Saturday morning.

Though I am old (shhhh) and my partying days have long since passed me by, I still remember what Friday nights in America were like. It wasn't just about the club, or the bar, or the party. But it was about the feeling of ahhhhh. The week was over, people were relaxing, and plans were being made.

Yes, Kuwait has weekends as well (Friday and Saturday). But it's completely different. First, there are no clubs, no bars, no legal alcohol. Sure, there are parties all over the place, and it's not difficult to find what you're looking for...if you're looking. But because there's no real work ethic here, then the feeling of the 'American Friday Night' doesn't exist. Yes, the streets are more crowded, more men are chasing women, and more women are resembling a gorgeous Bozo the Clown. But honestly, you can find this (in smaller numbers) any night of the week.

Not many people here have a real time to report to work on Sunday morning. Or a time to get off of work on Thursday. They pretty much just roll in when they feel like it, and leave as soon as they get the urge. It's almost like they're in a constant state of ahhhhhhh, and just don't realize it.

It's quite easy to get spoiled here as I have mentioned many times before. I don't pump my own gas, I don't get out of the car for things such as Diet Pepsi and Water. Maids clean the apartments. Building harass' wash the cars. However, I do have a job which requires me to work a schedule. I don't have the luxury of coming and going as I see fit. I don't get to sleep until noon, and if I did, I think I would go into a fit of uneasy, thinking I had missed my entire day.

Yesterday, I was in Starbucks around 11am'ish. This is very late for me, as I am usually there while the sun rises, standing out front as they unlock the doors, panting, begging, and pleading for my "beverage." So, while I'm waiting for my coffee, a friend calls me and asks if I'm still sleeping. Sleeping?!? At 11am?! Well, it seems he had just woke up, and even commented on how early it was! 11am wake up is early?!

I suppose there are times when I wouldn't mind sleeping till noon, rolling into work when and if I felt like it, and staying awake until 3 or 4 am knowing I had no where to really be the next day.

But then there's the American side of me. I took a 2 month vacation at the beginning of this year and thought I would lose my mind. I find that not working prevents me from being organized. I have no idea how to manage my time, and I lose all ability to be responsible. It's only when I get back to work that I realize how much I can actually squeeze into 1 day.

I believe people need a schedule. I believe work makes us stronger. And I believe a strong work ethic defines many aspects of a person.

When we work hard all week, Friday nights are much more appealing. Yet if we work for nothing at all, then we appreciate nothing as well.

Thanks to a very bright man and his vast knowledge of internet/HTML/computer stuff, you can now view my website in Arabic. Of course the translation is done via Google, so I can't promise it's perfect. However, with the assistance (OK, he did it all) of the educated, bronze skin, camel eyed, juicy lipped Saudi my website is viewable in another language!  

OK, not only is he absolutely gorgeous, but he's incredibly patient. As I am explaining what I want, how I have tried to do it, etc. etc., he is patiently walking me through steps of how to get this done. I believe at some point he eventually gave up on the idea that I was ever going to accomplish this, and pretty much took over and did it on his own.

I'm not much of a step 1, 2, 3 girl. I am more of the "I want it now!" type. Him, being of the Middle Eastern culture seems to not only understand this, but even accepts it. Perhaps this goes back to the childlike woman syndrome? Remember that lesson from yesterday? I pretty much whine, giggle, and give up, and he sits back, listens to me, and does it.

See how easy life is as an American woman in the company of a Middle Eastern man?

Although, it sometimes feels as though I am the Middle Easterner, and he is the Westerner. For being a bedwin man from Saudi Arabia, he sure is Americanized (details not required). Now if we can just remind him that the dishdasha is a requirement, he will be as close to perfect as they come!

Either way, the AmericanGirl is now available to view in Arabic!

(Thank you Y)

"Progress isn't made by early risers. It's made by lazy men trying to find easier ways to do something."

A friend asked me today if I thought Arab men catered to their wives as often as they do out of guilt for cheating. Well, not all Arab men cheat. Some are truly loving, kind, and compassionate. So I suppose the answer to that question would be "no". And let me assure you, the ones who are cheating feel no guilt...so again, the answer is "no".

For some reason, many people have this idea that women on this side of the world are all abused, beaten, forced to cover from head to toe, and locked in the house. Is this the case with some? Of course. However, this is the case in some homes regardless of what country or culture you're visiting. Is this the standard treatment of women in the Middle East? Absolutely not!

It's been my personal experience that men of this culture treat women with the highest regard...in their way. Is there respect the same as the American respect? Of course not, the cultures are completely different. In America a man thinks if his wife looks like she just stepped out of Playboy magazine and dresses as such, and he has no problem with this, then he respects her. On this side of the world if a man's wife looked like that, it would be seen as one of the worst forms of disrespect towards her. The ideas are different, therefore the treatment of women in general is different. It's not our place to determine what's right or wrong...as nothing really ever is.

Perhaps I have been one of the more lucky women in Kuwait, but I rarely have personal experiences with disrespectful men. All of my friends treat me as if I am their sister, protect me in their way, and genuinely have my best interest at heart. I am also not some silly woman running all over Kuwait seeking attention from any man in hopes of finding a relationship and/or husband. I have a realistic view of what many men here are seeking (we've established that in prior posts), and I am mature enough to avoid those type of men. That goes back to that being grown up thing...woo hoo, maybe I am more adult than I previously thought!

Long story short; No, I don't think Arab men are good to their women out of guilt. I think it's just who they are. If a woman respects herself, then he will respect her too. If she is behaving in what would be considered a disrespectful manner on this side of the world, then she can expect to be treated accordingly. Remember...this is their culture...not ours. Accept it, don't judge it, and don't ever think you're going to change it.

Simply put -- the Middle East is a man's land...period. Women are viewed as "child like" and as long as this means I can behave as immaturely as I see fit from time to time, I have no problem with this. My intentions are not to be a Middle Eastern ruler one day, so what's the harm in being cared for like a child by gorgeous men in dresses? (And one currently in the states who isn't wearing his dress Y) As long as I am treated with respect, they can think I am a child from now to eternity.

Sure, we can get into the "How respectful is it to view a woman as a child?" debate. But again, this is their culture. I can either judge it with negativity, or smile and make it work to my advantage.

Lemons...lemonade...you know the saying.

Now what?

What's up with the education system over here? I suppose I can safely assume there is no "Sex Ed" but what about education for simple, normal, real medical conditions?!

I was talking to a male friend of mine a few days ago who is apparently quite astute; he asked why it is that every few weeks I become "fussy" or cry when I watch anything on television. He's not married, and though he's quite an attractive man, he's had few long term relationships. So knowledge of PMS is something he hasn't yet experienced. Anyway, like the good woman, I explain all of the symptoms, reasons, and frequency. I mean, he should be prepared for the day he "gets a wife." I figure considering I am a woman, I am educated, and well, I do experience PMS, who better to provide information about the topic to a curious man?

Get this...

Another man! Whaaaat?!

Yes, he calls a married male friend of his after our conversation and asks if he's ever heard of this. Of course he can't ask if his friend's wife experiences it, as that would be waaaaay out of line over here. But there's an understanding -- "You have a wife, I don't. I have a woman question, you have the answer." So he asks his friend about this PMS stuff, and his friend seems shocked by this outrageous claim. What on earth was he talking about? How would something like this be possible and after 4 years of marriage he has never heard of it? Possibly because he spends 10% of his time at work, 60% at dewaniya, 15% traveling with male friends, and shares the remaining 15% between the wife, kids, and other various family members. If she were PMSing he would more than likely have no clue at all because he wouldn't be around to experience it. And God forbid she get a little irritable or cranky about something, she would have to hear the, "I am the man, don't talk to me like that" speech. 

So, for all of you women here in Kuwait with PMS....I understand! If your man doesn't -- send him to dewaniya and spend as much of his money as you possibly can at the salon. I'll meet you there with credit card in hand!

No, I still haven't grown up, don't fret.

However, I do try very hard to take responsibility for my own life. Sure, I make mistakes and post them here for everyone to read about, but in the end, my decisions get me where I am today.

Einstein once told me (or did he just say it and the message was conveyed to me through my father?), "Insanity; doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results." Well, that's about the most intelligent thing I have ever heard in my life. I suppose my dad and Einstein were both pretty smart guys. Not that they knew one another and shared ideas.

Anyhoo, if our decisions dictate our destiny (to a degree) then how is it there are people who continue to make poor decisions, refuse to take the advice of anyone else, and feel entitled to handouts from the same people they refuse to take advice from? Considering this mimics the behavior of a 2 year old, I am led to believe adults who behave this way are highly immature.

Growing up is a very difficult thing to do, and I'll be the first to admit it. Heck, in many ways I absolutely refuse to. But when it comes to the care of my family, my personal needs/wants, and my financial obligations, there is no choice but to act in a mature manner. Finding yourself on the edge of homelessness because you have fallen into the pseudo riches of Kuwait is just outright failing yourself as a person. Even more appalling is verbally attacking others for not making the same poor decisions, and judging them for maintaining a fairly quality life.

Coming into difficult times financially is part of life, and the vast majority of us experience it from time to time. It's the decisions we make, and the actions we take during these times that determine our character.

Hard times are temporary. Lack of morals aren't. Blood is thicker than water. The truth shall set you free.

Ahhh! I have no idea what happened, but apparently my web host went down for a while, and I have disappeared!

I assume I'll be back up and running soon!

Whatever you call it....I wanna go!!

Yeah, I am a little spoiled, so from time to time I feel this overwhelming need to spend my day being poked, prodded, pulled, pushed, beaten, and abused. All for a very hefty price I might add. The reward? I feel beautiful afterwards! Whether or not I actually look it has yet to be determined.

Many moons ago I started off with the necessary manicure, pedicure, wax, and the occasional massage. I mean, who doesn't need a good massage from time to time?

It didn't take long for me to move right into facials, skin peels, and skin/body treatments/sea salt (oils, lotions, wraps, etc).

Now I am the very happy recipient of microdermabrasion, medical facials, epidermal levelling, and laser skin tightening.  

Does any of this really work? I have absolutely no clue, nor do I really even care. But I can slowly feel myself moving in the direction of Restylane and Radiesse. Not far behind that will come nose jobs and face lifts.

Many people I know do tell me that I don't need fillers, that I do look younger than my ripe old age of **, and that getting additional procedures is just a waste of money. But I think I have become an addict. Not sure if I'm addicted to the actual process of having procedures done, or if I'm just addicted to feeling incredibly pampered. (Keep in mind, all that pampering is quite painful)

Well, fortunate for me I suppose, I haven't run off to the cosmetic surgeon just yet. And as a matter of fact, I have found some new things to occupy my desire for painful beauty treatments.

Sugar and Thread!

Hair removal is a huge market in Kuwait. (Remember the post about the small monkeys in makeup?) Yes, we have our hair removed in America as well, but it's not such a mandatory thing, nor do we run off every other day to have this done since most of us are rather fine haired creatures. On this side of the world people have very thick, fast growing, dark hair. Don't misunderstand me, it's absolutely gorgeous, unless of course it's running down the back of an attractive woman.

That being said, hair removal here is an art. And they're good at it! Forget the days of messy waxes, and painful plucking....we have sugar and thread! Literally...sugar and thread.

When I go to the salon here for my many lovely services, eyebrow threading is one of my favorites. This little Indian woman gets out her spool of white thread (yes, like sewing thread), wraps it around her fingers and thumb is some way I could never figure out, and then next thing you know...zip, zip, zip, you have the most perfect eyebrows you have ever had in your life. The pain really is minimal with this procedure, but the sound of the hair being ripped out through thread as it's pulled across your skin is almost like being numb while the Dentist is drilling. You don't feel it, but the sound is highly painful. I have to stop her often just to allow the chills running up and down my spine to relax. It's like my body is preparing for a high level of pain that never comes.

Sugaring is much less stressful, though much more painful. My "Sugarist" (is this what she is called?!?) actually gave me the recipe they use, and told me how to do this procedure at home. I have on days I don't have time for a trip to the salon, but really need to remove hair. It's awesome! The sugar acts as an exfoliant, and since it's done on the majority of the larger body parts, and the remnants washed off with warm water, you leave feeling almost like you had a sea salt scrub. Your skin is hairless and glowing. Very little redness, and almost no chance for irritation (unless you're allergic to sugar).

So, for now I will skip the cosmetic surgeon, and continue to seek out alternatives. New salons and medi-spas are popping up daily here in Kuwait, and as long as they have a clean, sterile environment, and well trained staff, I will gladly try them out!

This is so simple to me -- solve all problems by making moral decisions and behaving ethically. See? Simplicity!

Last night (as I watch the time I usually fall asleep pass me rapidly on the clock), I am engaged in this deep conversation about right and wrong in Kuwait. Seriously...if everyone in Kuwait only discussed all that needed to be fixed in this country from the time they woke up (at 5pm) until they went to sleep (at 7am), they would never run out of things to say. So referring to my conversation as deep is almost a joke.

I'm getting to the point, be patient!

My friend is Kuwaiti citizen. He lives the typical Kuwaiti life of rolling into work when he might happen to feel like it (maybe twice a month or so), or when he has to sign his timesheet, getting a salary because of what he is and not who he is, spending countless hours in dewaniya, and well....talking to other women while his wife is at home with their 4 children. Of course as a woman I ask the typical questions of love for his wife, guilt for seeking other women, etc. And as a man, I got the same answer, "I am not like them, I am different." BLAH, BLAH, BLAH is the best I can reply to that with.

Interestingly enough, though my friend is a citizen and reaps all of the monetary rewards for his jinsiya, he still has a very clear view of real Kuwait. And even broke it down better than I ever have.

1. All Kuwaiti homes have maids.
2. Maids raise the children, cook, clean, baths, bedtimes, etc.
3. Mothers attend school functions and government required events for the children (passports, civil IDs, etc.)
4. Fathers sit in dewaniya, chat on the internet, play cards with their friends, seek out other women, and maintain several different girlfriends.
5. Though Kuwaitis are usually given jobs in the ministries, rarely do they actually go to work, yet they still get their salary.
6. Maids are doing the jobs of mothers - mothers are doing the jobs of fathers - fathers aren't doing any jobs at all - and "wasta" dictates everything in Kuwait.

Bottom line; they all know it's wrong from top to bottom, yet none of them really want to see it changed.

When the oil dries up I am selling tickets! 'Cause it's going to be one hell of an event over here!

I am pasting an article below that I found to be very interesting, and I learned something that I wasn't too aware of...the high population of lesbians in Kuwait.

Kuwait is a country where men and women are purposely kept apart for pretty much their entire lives until they "get a wife" (that saying drives me insane! "Get a wife" like he is "getting a new car"! What is she? An object?!).

Anyhoo, people are people, regardless of the country they live in, their religion, the clothes they wear, or the culture they were raised in. Sorry to disappoint the government, but the hormones of a 15 year old boy are much stronger than the values and morals his parents attempted to instill. Don't worry, he'll remember them a few years later when his brain moves back into his head and out of his pants.

So, when a country such as Kuwait chooses to put as much distance as possible between men and women, what do they expect is going to happen? Everyone will refrain from sex until they're married? HA! Did it ever occur to them that young, curious, hormone raging people are going to find it however and whenever they can? It doesn't make them mentally unstable perverts...it makes them human. And who are we, or the government to try to fight human nature? Isn't that quite arrogant?

I often joke with my male Kuwaiti friends that dewaniya is the "gay man's club" because it's a group of men, wearing white dresses, sitting alone in a room all night, several times a week. No women, just men. Little did I know the beaches and water parks on woman's day were the "gay women's club"! (Article below)

I have this new, lovely, Saudi Arabian friend who is currently working in America for the past year'ish. He always tells me, "I love America, I don't want to go back to Saudi." Well, I guess not! He left the land of veiled women hiding in the backseats of vehicles with black tinted windows, and went to the land of women shopping in malls wearing just enough to keep her out of jail. That's not to say that he only loves America for the women (though we are quite lovable). I'm sure he loves the sense of freedom, the kind and polite people, and the weather as well. Oh well, eventually he'll return to his land of sand and chase the make-up clad gorgeous women down the road like the rest of them.

Ladies Only: a luxury turning into an inconvenience

And they all want it!

In America women always say "Men only want one thing" but in Kuwait that statement is so true! It's actually so true it's almost scary.

OK, I have often blogged about the rented cars, the fake designer clothes, fake watches, etc. All in an attempt to attract a woman of course.

I've also mentioned the literal "chasing" of women down the street in an attempt to get them to stop, get their number, etc.

And, if I haven't mentioned it before I will now....the utterly pathetic (like you're not sure if you want to laugh or turn around and puke) lines these men use. If I have to hear how all of my fingers on one hand are not the same one more time I am going to scream (again). Or if one more man driving next to me at 120kmh points to his heart while holding up his cell phone in an attempt to coax me into some deep intertwining of the bodies I am going to contemplate running him off the road. As well as the consequences for doing so (not trying to go to jail!).

Now that I've established what the majority of men in Kuwait (though absolutely gorgeous they are) want from a woman, I then try to understand whether or not they're actually getting it! And if so, what kind of fool is giving it up? Perhaps it's the 5KD girl in action?

Speaking of the 5KD girl, a friend of mine was telling me about this woman his friend is "dating" (such a loose term here). It seems she took a loan from the bank for KD15,000 and gives KD5,000 to the friend. That's approximately $17,250. You must all be thinking he is a great guy, and treats her so wonderful for her to be so incredibly generous, right? WRONG! He has more than 10 girlfriends and proudly brags to anyone who will listen about them. He'll cut one off and get a new one like she's an old pair of shoes, regardless of how she may have felt about him. And how does he get these women? Honestly? Don't laugh, OK? He owns a Lexus. No, no, no...seriously, he owns a Lexus! That's it. Though I absolutely love him to death, he's not some great looking guy, nor is he a perfect gentleman, and he's even a bit immature. But, he owns a Lexus so the shallow, materialistic women flock to him assuming he's some man with money. Doesn't it dawn on them when they're giving him almost 20k that maybe he really doesn't have that much money after all!?!? While he was away in another country for several months, I drove his Lexus a few times, and as lovely as it is, it's nothing spectacular. It's a few years old. Could use a paint job. And the air conditioner smells like rotten eggs (I think that's a Lexus issue though...or too many cheap girls riding around with him). However, even if it were a 2009 Bentley Brooklands, is this reason to date a man? Better yet, is this reason to allow a man to use you like you just came in from the street corner?

So, I ask the friend of the friend why do these women do such insane things for men since they're obviously not getting what they need from this relationship!? (We have another friend whose girlfriend bought him a Mercedes S)

His answer? "Women are dumb" (pronouncing the B)

Oddly enough, I think he hit that nail right on the head. These women are dumB!

It just occurred to me....could that "one thing" all the men are chasing down the road really be money? Nah, not a chance. As much as they like the money, they like the "one thing" better.

Unfortunately, I've encountered very few who have a clue what to do with either in this country. They spend money like it grows on trees, and couldn't take care of a woman's needs if he had a road map. Maybe all the dumB women are hoping the next one she bothers herself with has a job and a compass.

Don't fret, guys! If you don't have money, and you're clueless in the bedroom....you can always rent a Lexus! Problem solved in your little shallow world of less than meaningful existence.

See how easy?

Recently Kuwait has been issuing more and more passports to the Bidoons. These aren't Kuwaiti passports, but instead they're Article 17 Passports which pretty much allow  a Bidoon to travel one time and upon returning to Kuwait they have to turn them back in. To get it back for additional travel requires putting in a request to obtain your passport again. Not sure if this process is as difficult and lengthy as the initial application, but I'm certain it's not simple.

The other day a Bidoon emailed me with a very valid point that I had never thought of before. Once these passports are issued, what good are they really? To travel to most countries you need a visa in adavance, and to apply for a visa you need an embassy. Without an embassy you get no visa. Without a visa you don't get to travel. Also, many countries will allow a person to be stamped in once they arrive as their visa. but which countries recognize an Article 17 Passport? Do many? I do know of Bidoons who have gone to Thailand, Saudi, and a few other fairly local countries, but I never thought to ask of the visa requirements.

Interesting how just when I think they're making progress I find it's really all still so backwards.