Life is all about taking risks...: Survival Mode 101

So far, my time teaching here can be completely summed up with two words. Survival mode. Just like anything in life, when you throw a bunch of new things at it, some things take a while to fully understand. All that talk about spending long hours after school and on the weekends, and how hard the first year is... well, all that talk is certainly true. Oh yeah, and that HUGE learning curve.. also true.

I've been able to barely keep my head afloat in this new gig. Things will get better, though. If I think it, then I tend to have more hope that it will come true. My students are so stinkin cute, it's so hard to ever get mad at them. I don't remember which staff member said it, but this really is a good looking culture.

My Classroom On The First Day

Anyways, aside from school stuff, I have heard that there is a point in culture shock that a person starts to notice all the stuff that is wrong with it. I've definitely reached this. To begin, ALL THE DUST! The wind was really strong this weekend, and I could feel the dust hitting me. It was hard to breathe, and I felt like there was a semi- permanent layer of dust all over my skin. This wasn't even a sand storm!

It is really dirty here. The trashes are always over flowing, and you can smell them from a couple of meters away. To add to that, you will see cats lurking in almost every trash dumpster, or pile of trash that you come across. These cats are feral, meaning they are wild. It doesn't matter that they are wild or hanging out in trash, a person's heart just can't help but break when seeing them.

En shallah. I've come to the decision that 'en shallah' or 'okay, sure' means never or don't hold your breath. Hence, why I am still in a temporary living situation.

It is very obvious that my students rarely receive discipline at home. They always say 'miss,' and sometimes snap their fingers at you, just as they would do to their maids. I always say the same things, "sit down, raise your hand, and wait quietly please." In addition to that, I've got a couple of parents who are challenging and one of the teacher's that comes into my room has been challenging to work with as well.

I don't know how to work the laundry machines or stoves here. I put my clothes in, pushed a button and they came out smelling good. I have tried multiple things for the stove but no luck. I am also a little afraid of lighting it myself, doing it wrong, and singeing off my eyebrows. I'll let ya know if I ever figure out this tricky thing!

I am surprised I haven't been in, or seen a car crash. I have gotten used to doing a full 360 before attempting to cross any street when I am walking. Also, people honk and stare like they've never seen a westerner before. I mean, thanks for all the attention, but enough's enough.

I've been here for over three weeks, almost a month and I can not for the life of me figure out the whole call to prayer thing. My friend Chantel and I were walking to school one day and we were talking about how we thought we would see people dropping everything and praying when that thing goes off. Hasn't happened yet. Actually, thinking about it more, I can't really figure out Kuwait in general. It's so intriguing, and I want to learn more all the time. I am just fascinated by the clear division of social and economic class. Kuwaiti's are the richest and in turn have the highest 'wasta' or power. Then, you have maids and workers who attain the lowest 'wasta' and it's really sad to see that part of it.

Some updates on some fun outings with friends:

Life just got sweeter? YOU BET!

We enjoy eating out and ordering in a lot. Last week, we ordered in from 6alabot or (talabot). THIS SITE IS AWESOME! It is reasonably cheap to order and pretty much any place in Kuwait delivers. You can even have juice or ice cream delivered! On Saturday (our Sunday), we had a late lunch at The Chocolate Bar. Yes, this is a restaurant.. they must have known I was coming here! Later, we ate at one of our favorite Indian restaurants. There is no doubt that I am beginning to take food as seriously as they do here. Also, we went shopping and after a long week of teaching, it just seems to soothe the soul :).

proof :)

Caroline and me enjoying our pretend alcoholic drinks

Chantel and Sarah

On Thursday, our TGIT (thank god it's thursday) day, the school took a couple of buses to the Friday Market and plank souk. A souk is basically like a specialized shop. So, there are plant souks, furniture souks, pretty much anything souks. I think I will thoroughly enjoy going back to the Friday Market, of course when I have an apartment to fill up. It's a great place to practice on those bartering skills. :)

A very small glimpse of the Friday Market

Me at the Friday Market

After we got to explore the Friday Market, some of us went to the plant souk near by. They have anything and everything. Different people offer different deals, another great place to do some bartering. Also, seeing green and a lot of it really lifted the spirits. It felt like when you see the sun in Aberdeen finally on a winter's day. A person doesn't know what they've got until it's gone.