yeah im totally against changing the culture of a place.. which is why in my post i said there are those who come back from abroad wanting to change the customs and traditions.. islam is a very important part of our country and since the majority is muslim, we must respect that and not act like sorority chicks/frat guys on spring break.. again, she decided to start wearing minis after she came back?

yes! thats what i was trying to say.. i was aiming this post towards those that think ALL of us changed.. which is a ridiculous generalization.. and like you pointed out, we dont have to leave in order to change, experience things, etc.. well eating and watching movies is better than doing some other things if u know what i mean.. i go to parties where people get really outta hand but ive never did something im not proud of.. all i do is laugh at them, take pics, and make sure they dont break their necks :P… i know people from school who i never thought would do some things but are doing them.. im not happy about it but i dont treat them differently nor do i resent them.. theyve changed, maybe not for the better, but i dont judge them or put them down in my eyes..

thanks for your input it is much appreciated

One of my friends who studies abroad came back last christmas to complain about every single aspect of the kuwaiti culture, including personal decisions by its people. One of my friends recently wore the hijab, she’s the youngest of 5 sisters, and the rest are all non-covered. It was her personal decision. Even her family asked her to wait and think about it some more. But she was determined. Now the friend who was back for xmas kept bitching about how mitkhalfeen people like her are, and how close minded they are, etc. etc. Another incident is when one of our classmates got engaged to an older guy, whome she already knew, and wanted. It was her deicision, she was the happiest I’ve ever seen her. He was her choice, the timing was her choice, the girl was almost flying min hapiness. My friend’s reaction? Bitching and complaining about young marriages, and about how she’s not done with her studies yet, and how he’s an older guy, and that it’s close-minded, and takhalof, etc, etc

See my point!? Both of those girls did something they WANTED to do because they were content with it, but she kept complaining and comparing and kept on saying, they’re close-mided and mitkhalfeen. Now someone bitching and complaining about everything, including personal decisions such as those, is NOT OPEN-MINDED! A third incident was, her arguement about wanting to wear a mini skirt and revealing top on a weekend on marina. She didn’t want to do it, but she was arguing that if she wanted to she’d be stared at and commented on. I understand freedom of expression, and I’m the kind of person who doesn’t mind revealing clothes, walk naked for all care, but it’s not because I can’t or will be bothered, it’s just that I’m RESPECTING the surrounding and the people I’m around. I’m sure I’ll live if I wore a longer skirt, and I’m not disrepecting those people who’d rather not see my upperthighs. Basically, just like you’d like to be respected, respect those around you. It’s not mandatory, it’s being civilized and respectable.

What I’m trying to say, not everyone who studied abroad changed. And change and change to the better are two different things. Not everyone here is good, but not all of them are bad either. Most of my friends are studying abroad, and I stayed here thinking I’m going to be surrounded by pathetic losers. Funny thing is, when I see the brilliance of the people I met, and compare them with my old friends when they’re here, I’m sad to say, I’m MUCH PROUDER that I know people like the people I initially labeled as losers before even knowing them. And I’m sad about the way my old friends are. First year I stayed here I was sad about all the opportunities I was going to miss, 4 years later (now) all I can say is I’m glad I didn’t go. I’m still in the same place I was, but I took every opportunity that came my way, I did a lot of things, met a lot of people, experienced and joined a lot of things that made me grow as a person. When some of my friends come back and I hear about how all they did last semester was eat and watch movies, all I can think is, how sad for someone to be living miles away from home where every turn there’s an opportunity and yet be doing the exact same things we’ve been doing since we were 13? Well okay, so they went places in breaks, but that’s about it.

I’m sorry this comment was long, but this is the second post I read tonight comparing students studying abroad to students studying here, and emphasizing on the good abroad and bad here. All I’m saying is, changing the skies above our heads wil not change the people we are. It’s OUR willingness to change to the better and making use of what we have that will.

ok i get ur point.. in my post i said there were those that protest positive change as opposed to those who obviously arent.. now i know that there are mature people who speak rationally and those who are loud and obnoxious as u said.. yeah i guess i would be annoyed by those people too.. and also ones that say and do and those that say and dont.. but i wont be too hard on them because some people dont have so much power and influence all by themselves.. that guy with the atm video could have done something..

Why would I exaggerate? What will I gain if I do? There’s this movie on YouTube, about some guy (obviously very old fashioned) putting in his pin number by covering the little pad with his ghitra. Ok, that’s pretty hilarious, and I laughed when I saw the movie. However, the person who posted the video, someone who is remaining aborad showed his creatively aggressive and sheer disgust. He didn’t try to correct the man, he just filmed him and put him up on YouTube to laugh at. Not only that, when some Kuwaitis tried to talk to him about it things got even more out of hand and he started to say some really awful stuff. Now, English isn’t my first language, but I think I’m know enough of it to tell that he showed no intent to “fix” what he saw. Sitting on his rump and whining about it doesn’t make me fond of his type at all.

“…and who says theyre hissing and moaning? :S theyre merely pointing out things that they disagree with…”

If they were ‘merely’ voicing their opinions their writing would not be so openly-aggressive and devoid of modesty, and above all esle, insulting. I’ve jumped across blogs, and I can tell the difference between those who are midly shocked yet trying to create their own differences, and the loud obnoxious ones who clearly state that every single thing going on in this country is wrong.

“its almost as if they have no right or have no possible way to speak. that is not fair.”
I wish they were just “speaking,” and I have no problem with people saying we need change, because we very much do need to change some things. The ones I have a problem with are the ones who are obviously putting effort into trying to be born in the wrong country.

Finally, no, I won’t be naming or shaming anyone on your blog.

Just look for that video on YouTube, and read the comments. That’s if it wasn’t removed and resubmitted, or if they weren’t removed by the site.

maybe its the way they say their opinions?? i dunno maybe.. but how can a person for example express their hatred for kuwait’s beaurocratic systems in a joyful sunny voice? u really cant..

and i think you’re exaggerating about the claims that kuwait must be the most awful place ive never come across such posts.. show me some when u find any..

“They call ignorant people idiots, and judge them to no end while expecting everyone else to cater to what they (students) think is right.” it doesnt take studying abroad for people to think that way about ignorant people..

and who says theyre hissing and moaning? :S theyre merely pointing out things that they disagree with! if they were coming from people who havent lived other places you and others wouldnt have treated them so harshly.. thats a fact.

its almost as if they have no right or have no possible way to speak. that is not fair.