Kuwait Info

• A handy site for expats as well as Kuwaitis is the KUWAIT INFO
  where you can find information on:
  Latest News
  Happenings in Kuwait
  Events and festivals
  Science and technology
  Maps
  Services
  Kuwait (history, geography, etc.)
  State system
  Foreign affairs
  Economy
  Culture
  Tourism

and much more....all at:

http://www.kuwait-info.com/index.asp

Kuwaities are Family Oriented

Kuwait is a very family oriented society. Most if not all Arabic societies are. I've always believed that this is a blessing. You are always surrounded by people who love you and care about you. You get help before you even ask for it. There is always someone to talk to if you were lost, worried, sad or in trouble. Also, you have your family to share your success and happiness with. However, sometimes you pay for all these benefits through losing some privacy. Your family is always in your business telling you what to do or what you should have done. Here in Kuwait we have a tradition: the in laws visit their families twice a week. One day is for the husband's parents and another for the wife's, along with all the kids, so all the cousins, grandkids, in laws, etc. get to meet twice a week for lunch, or sometimes dinner. I know this might sound like a nightmare to many people. But, I think it is a good tradition that relatives grow together and get to see one another that often rather than just once a year or never. After all, no one is perfect and we have to live with each other. Of course there bound to be some arguments, small fights, maybe even name calling, lightened by laughs, funny and embarrassing old stories. But, hey isn't that what family is all about!
As for friends, they hang out on a regular basis depending on age, time of the year (holidays or when school is not in session), and their schedule. Some meet on weekends, others once a month, or sometimes more than once a week especially during holidays. They either visit at home, go to the movies, go for coffee, dine out, go shopping or just simply hang out. Our lifestyle here in Kuwait makes it easier for us to hang out with friends and family. This is again a blessing.

Kuwait Libraries

Here are the URLs for some of the libraries in Kuwait

1. National Library of Kuwait
http://www.nlk.gov.kw/a-index.htm


2. Q8Y2B - Public Library

Searchable online library contains references and studies useful for researchers.
http://www.q8y2b.com/dbdoc/search.shtml

3. LibDex: The Library Index - KuwaitListing of academic libraries in Kuwait.
http://www.libdex.com/country/Kuwait.html

4. Ketaaby KuwaitOnline electronic library in Kuwait provides Arabic books covering different subjects like Politics, religion, history, poetry and more.
http://www.ketaaby.com/

5. Health Science Center Library
http://horizon.hsc.edu.kw/library/

A tribute to Violet Dickson, Umm Saud, Umm Kuwait (Mother of Kuwait)

Dame Violet Penelope Dickson, DBE (3 September 1896 – 4 January 1991) was the wife of British colonial administrator H. R. P. Dickson. She lived in Kuwait for 61 years, and published several books on the country. Violet Dickson was a keen botanist and published a book on the flora of Bahrain and Kuwait in 1955. The desert plant that she introduced to science, Horwoodia dicksoniae (known as khuzama in Arabic), was named in her honour.
Violet Dickson had a son Saud (died in May 2005), and a daughter Zahra Freeth, who is also an author on Middle Eastern topics. Dame Violet was given the honorific title Umm Saud (Arabic: أم سعود meaning Mother of Saud), and was also known as Umm Kuwait - Mother of Kuwait. She was also given the honorific Hajjiyah, a term of respect meaning a female who has completed the Haj, the pilgrimage to Mecca. This is unusual, as non-Muslims are not allowed to perform the Haj.
The British Political Agency in Kuwait was based in a house that had been built in 1870 for a Kuwaiti merchant. The Dicksons moved in to the house in 1929, and the building served as the British political agency until 1935. Harold Dickson continued to live there until his death in 1959, and Violet until the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990, when she was evacuated, unwillingly, to Britain. She intended to return to her home in Kuwait City, but died on 4 January 1991, some eight weeks before the liberation of Kuwait on 27 February. She was 94. The house was ransacked during the invasion, but has since been restored by the Kuwaiti National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, and is now a tourist attraction. It is one of few surviving examples of 19th-century Kuwaiti architecture, with thirty rooms on two floors.

Umm Soud was loved by Kuwaities as much as she loved Kuwait and its poeple.

Books and articles by Violet Dickson:

1. A visit to Maskan and Auha Islands in the Persian Gulf off Kuwait, May 7th, 1942" Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 43, 258-264 (Reprinted in Ahmadi Newsletter 7, 5-12) (1942).

2. The Wild Flowers of Kuwait and Bahrain London: George Allen & Unwin (1955).

3. Forty Years in Kuwait London: George Allen & Unwin (1971).

4. Violet Dickson wrote an introduction to Kuwait's Natural History: An Introduction edited by David Clayton. Kuwait: Kuwait Oil Company (1983)

Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_Dickson

Kuwait Zoom

Kuwait Zoom is a great booklet published monthly. It contains events such as art galleries, lectures, entertainment, and various attractions in Kuwait. It provides a list of theaters, museums, historical places, libraries, etc. There is also a section for current movies along with movie reviews. Kuwait Zoom can be found at some hotels, co-ops, malls, Sultan Center. There is some featured articles as well.
You can access it on line to view historical places in Kuwait, places of interest, events, and much more.
http://www.nuzhatours.com/KuwaitZoom.htm

Coffee Addict

As I mentioned earlier I LOVE coffee. I admit I used to be a coffee addict until I was ordered by my doctor to cut down….well, actually she asked me to stop completely and I did for few months then went back on. I don’t drink it everyday but every once and a while I treat myself to a latte, cappuccino, or instant coffee. Recent finds state that coffee is good for the heart in moderation and it contains antioxidants.

Kuwait Bookaholics Update

We just had our second meeting and everything went great. The members are really hitting it off. We picked Pride and Prejudice as our first read. We will meet in 2 weeks for discussion. We also had a lsit of future reads.

New Hobby

I've been very bored lately. I'm single so I don't have kids to run after or a husband to baby sit. So, I have all the time in the World to do what ever I desire. Reading is a big thing for me, but sometimes I'm just too tired to read or my eyes are hurting. So, I've been thinking lately of getting into a new hobby! But what? I don't want to learn to play an instrument, not sure about sports! I want something fun, does not cost much and easy to do. If I had the money I would travel and make that as my new hobby......travelling is awesome, but could hurt your pocket. Suggestions anyone??

Life is like a box of chocolate

I am a chocoholic by nature. Give me chocolate anytime and I will eat it. I also love chocolate of all types: milk, dark as a drink, in cakes, cookies, etc. though I'm not a big fan of the white chocolate. We are lucky here in Kuwait to have many chocolatier, and high quality chocolate is available even in co-ops and if you wanted fancy ones then you can pick from the 100s chocolatier shops spread all over Kuwait. I'm at work right now and all I could think of is a box of assorted chocolates with a freshly brewed cup pf Joe....that will be my lunch....yummy yummmmm:)

Summer in Kuwait

Summer is at the doors. So, where do you go in Kuwait during summer? Many escape to Europe and colder regions. The remaining doomed individuals who have to work or have kids must escape the heat in some other ways. many go to the beach and Kuwaiti es are blessed by a beautiful beach and many private chalets or you can rent if you don't own one and just hang at the resort. You can sun bathe at the various lovely pools but don't forget your sun screen with 1000 SPF. Then there are many in door activities like: game arcades, pool tables, going to the movies, trying out different cuisines, do some shopping, reading, catch up on your sleep, visiting friends and family. Many of us have learned to switch our schedules around and go out after sun set when the heat is a bit more tolerable. Check out Zoom booklet...it contains many activities and hot spots. Whatever you chose to do in the summer...make sure you stay hydrated and wear sun protection.

Have a great summer!