Visiting Kuwait
Posted: February 18th, 2007 | Filed under: Campus, Kuwait, My Life |I invited my American friend to come home with me to Kuwait and Egypt for the two weeks I will have off this summer. She was totally up for it and was super excited because her dad said OK when she thought he wouldn’t. The fact that I will be with her the whole time on the way and back was what made him definately agree. Him and her grandma are really excited about it.
I was so happy and I was planning lots of stuff in my head for us to do in Kuwait and Egypt. She really wants to go gizzing. 
But then when word of the whole thing reached her whole family, she’s been getting negative feedback. Especially from her mom. Her mom is another story by itself. My friend describes her as “psycho” and she’s not even kidding. And I have met her mom too. So I know what she’s talking about. Ever since her parents got divorced, my friend hasn’t been going along too well with her mom. And what her has been telling her about this trip is really pissing my friend off.
Her mom has been telling her ridiculous things that she says she got from the internet. Things like getting arrested for taking photographs, being kidnapped, beat up and some other really crazy stuff. I keep telling my friend that all that is ridiculous and I know she believes me and is always yelling at her mom for making up these stupid things.
Her dad and grandma are still super excited for the whole thing and her boyfriend is also backing me up. She has nothing to worry about. I understand all the concern but claiming things that are untrue is really making me furious. This would be her first time traveling overseas and could possibly be a once in a lifetime chance for her. I really don’t want her to pass it for ridiculous reasons.
I’ve been trying to look online for anything that would ease her and her mom’s mind but I can’t find anything. I’ve been showing her pictures but I don’t think that’s enough.
In the end, if things don’t work out, I won’t be upset with her. I will be dissapointed in myself. She knows I would never do anything that would be even remotely harmful, unsafe or dangerous. But I can’t help but feel that she doesn’t seem as excited as she used to be.
WOW, her mom sure isn’t open-minded comparing to the rest. I see you have Kuwait Picture in your blogroll, so keep showing her the great pictures and maybe some American bloggers we have around here who currently living in Kuwait.
You guys have fun ^_^
Her mom is a *b-word*! :\
Hope your friend gets to visit Kuwait without all the fuss and bother. Wishing you both all the best.
will too bad at the mom… think if mom can get negative things abt kuwait you might be able to find postive things.. plus since when in the states the opinion of the mom and dad matter?
i had an american friend come to kuwait SHE HAD SO MUCH FUN and inshalla she is going to come again
if you want we can get in touch
I’m an IU graduate, born and raised in Indiana, and have a nephew currently going to school there. I have now been living in Kuwait for over 8 years. Kuwait is one of the safest places in the world, other than maybe for the driving. I have a 10 year old daughter that I feel very comfortable being apart of everyday life here.
Kuwait is a relatively small country and therefore crime can be controlled to a degree unthinkable in the US. We just don’t see it in our daily lives. It can be an interesting place to visit and I would highly recommend going with a good friend that knows the place well. The Kuwaitis and other nationalities here make this place a welcome and friendly place to live & work. This could be an opportunity that doesn’t happen too often so go for it! Just be ready for the heat in the summer! If the Mom needs further reassurance from a native Hoosier, maybe I can help out.
Separately…Would you be interested in meeting my nephew?
This is an interesting article on Intercultural Stereotyping
http://www.expatexchange.com/lib.cfm?articleid=2513
Here is a promotional Kuwaiti tourist site:
http://www.nuzhatours.com/
WOW thank you all for the comments :]
Angelo, yes i’ve showed her those but they’re mostly of monuments and cityscapes etc.. but maybe i can find social or touristic photos on flickr or something.
Mac, thanks man.. i really hope so too :/
mosan, lol that is true.. but i’ll keep trying to look for stuff to reassure her..
Laialy, yes! it would be awesome
Toby, your comment was great.. i’ll make sure she reads this post.. it would be cool to meet ur nephew.. but how did u know i was at IU? hehe..
Jewaira, thanks SO MUCH.. these were great!
facebook me :p and tell me how can i be of service
Well, what can we say? her mom is obviously not on the same planet or she is receiving extraterrestrial signals from out there. She has absolutely no idea of what Kuwait is like - as mentioned by some others here, it is probably one of the safets places in the world. Yes there is crime here and it would be lieing not to admit to it but of very low profile concerning the well being of ‘foreigners’ in this country. As you may already know, kuwait has a very large expatriate population of more than 50% many of whom have been born and grown up here and raised their children here. We have been living in Kuwait as ‘foreigners’ now for more than 20 years and have never had or been involved in any sort of incident in all that time. In fact we consider it more safe than our own roots in the UK. What is so enjoyable here is the friendliness of the Kuwaitis towards the ‘foreigners’ who after all are there to help build and maintain what is now very much a cosmopolitan country. SO TELL HER TO IGNORE HER MOM AND GET HERSELF HERE TO ENJOY SOME QUALITY TIME!!!!
Laialy, i’ll let you know when theres an update..
Frank, thanks for your input!
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Middle_East/Kuwait/Kuwait-1800399/TravelGuide-Kuwait.html
thanks
Hello,, i have read you message and i really sorry about that happen., and now i will tell my history. I have same problem like your friend has because all people told me this, why you want go to kuwait that country very dangerrous??…
But , i got inlove of one egyptian guy and he live in kuwait and i tell every body i will go to kuwait to see my love no matter what happen.. I hope your friend dont be afraid tell her to do what she want to do, also she can get lot of informantion about kuwait in the interner. If she got info in net she will feel more confortable thats what happen with me,, i get lot of info in net and now i am not afraid to visit kuwait and i dont care what people say..