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There is a ga_ , a hole in the whole where you were November 8, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Poetry.
4 comments

But how much like moths

we were,

repeatedly

burning ourselves

against

this flame

blinded by the intensity

until merciful hands

of  spirits stronger than our own,

cupped firm fingers

around us,

dimming the blinding light,

shutting out the attraction, and

granting us

space

.

,

.

and

clear vision.

=====

But

Are moths

ever free?

 

Adjusting the bra so that it fits more comfortably November 7, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Husbands, Lifestyle, Relationships, Stories, Women.
16 comments

Manal told us about a newly-wed couple that her friends had told her about.

She said when the young man proposed to the young woman, he had one demand and that was for her to wear the hijab.

The young woman, decided to meet him half way, and agreed to wear the hijab but only in Kuwait. When abroad, she would not wear it.

The young man consented and kept to his part of the deal and they are happy with their discrete arrangement.

But Manal shook her head, as did the rest of the women. This was wrong. Either one wore the hijab, or one didn’t. After all, was she wearing the hijab for Allah or for the people?

What Manal doesn’t know is that her daughter, who also wears the hijab, casts it off when traveling too and enjoys a completely different lifestyle abroad which her husband shares as well.

I think it is better that you refrain from passing  judgment, Manal.

Hottest Arab Women November 7, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Lifestyle, Links, News, Women.
10 comments

AskMen has compiled a list of the top ten hottest Arab women with Queen Rania at number one and a mixture of other women mostly of Lebanese descent in tow.

Don’t feel bad fellow citizens.  There are no Gulfite women on the list because we are the hottest secret that will only be unveiled to the select few.

always there November 6, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Poetry.
10 comments

Comfortable companionship,

Easy camaraderie.

I slip my hand

into yours,

and it envelops me

in the warmth

of your love.

Open Sesame November 5, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Fun & Games, Polls.
16 comments

Transgender people in Kuwait November 4, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Men, News, Relationships, Sexuality, Women.
18 comments

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A few nights ago I switched the tv onto a controversial talk show I had heard about in passing hosted by  Nada Fadhel Dbouk. The show is called For Women Only and aired very late on Scope TV channel. Some women at a recent gathering had mentioned her and how vulgar and risque she was discussing controversial topics. I’d not heard of her before and I was interested to see the show since the topic concerned homosexuality that night and callers were invited to express their opinions and share their experiences.

What followed was not  a discussion on homosexuality per se. The calls were all local (Kuwait) and several transgender males to females called in discussing the problems they face in their daily lives and the fear they have of being arrested (some had already spent time in prison simply for looking like a woman when presenting a male ID). At least three of the transgender callers that I recall  on the program, sounded very much like women and indeed referred to themselves as females because that is what they felt like. Even Nada addressed them as females although technically, these callers were males as per their official identification.

I was interested to see that Nada tried to remain totally unbiased as she listened to the transgender callers and asked them questions about their lives.

The sad part of the plight of transgender is that even when they are officially diagnosed by doctors that identify their “medical” problem, the papers they are supplied with don’t make a difference. One caller said that she showed the policeman the paper and he scoffed saying that paper didnt prove anything to him and as far as he was concerned, the person in front of him was breaking the law by dressing like a person of the opposite sex.

Callers spoke about how difficult it was to be accepted within their families and especially their parents. They suffered humiliation when trying to live in the way they felt was natural.

It is not easy for male to female transgenders as in many cases, they may be physically and officially still males and this causes a lot of problems when dealing with female only company and issues surrounding them.

One of the callers was a prominent Bahraini civil rights lawyer Fawzia Jenahi who has taken it upon herself to represent those people who feel they should be of the other sex and who have officially been diagnosed as transgender by doctors. It has become her mission to defend people who may feel unfairly represented due to their sexuality.

As is usual on these types of programs, many people commented through sms on the lower ticker on the screen and one got the idea that transgenders were not really an acceptable concept to many viewers and there was a lot of  negative or biased descriptions of the callers and the kinds of people they represented.

 

[The National Assembly approved an addition (Article 199 bis) to Article 198 of the Criminal Code. The amendment states that “any person committing an indecent act in a public place, or imitating the appearance of a member of the opposite sex, shall be subject to imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year or a fine not exceeding one thousand dinars [US$3,500].”

 

Ya Hmaarr November 4, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Stories.
21 comments

“Why are you angry?….Why are you so quick to judge?….I told you… I was speaking to the director and I had to put you on hold…I explained to you…I was busy…Now you call me an ass?!! ( hmaarr.)…  Why am I an ass? Why do you use such language? That was wrong of you…”

The man was walking down the shopping aisle, speaking loudly into his mobile phone, spilling his secrets out to others without realizing how loud he was, or if he did, he did not care. How dare she call him an ass!?

I wanted to walk up to him and offer him sympathy. No one should be verbally humiliated like that, especially by the person one loves. The man sounded disgusted but resigned in the end as he hung up with a mild threat.

I wonder if they have made up by tonight and if he was really up to no good as he wandered around the hardware store this afternoon.

 

Embracing Life October 30, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Poetry.
21 comments

Did I

hear

the rumble

of thunder?

 

See

lightning

white against my

window panes?

 

Wake up

to soft grey

skies?

 

Inhale

the scent of

new beginnings?

 

See

green leaves

pulsating

with new life?

 

Oh, Summer!

So long,

Too harsh,

and oh, so menacing!

Your time has past.

Farewell

and begone!

 

All’s Well that Ends Well August 19, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Announcements, Thoughts & Feelings.
40 comments

Wishing all readers, casual and constant, peace and guidance

Blessings to all wayfarers who stumble upon this place. Come in for a cup of tea or whatever is on the table at the moment.

Thank you to all who have delighted me with their company upon my sojourn in the Boudoir the past few years.

I am embarking on an introspective journey that will necessitate a prolonged absence.

Who knows what dangers lurk along the way or what forks in the road I may lose myself upon.

The path may only involve a circuitous return to my original point of departure.

Or the path may lead me to broader enlightenment .

I believe August 19, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Love, Music.
1 comment so far

On a more positive note, I would like to share the lyrics to a lovely song from the Billy Elliot  musical I attended recently entitled I Believe:

If I believe that I could do anything,
Could I spread my wings and say goodbye
So many people told me I couldn’t win
But look at me now
Here I am in heaven’s sky
And sometimes I say a prayer
Wishing that you could be here with me

Cos I believe

I believe in love, it’s the best of everything
I believe in hope and the changes it can bring
If you believe then nothing can stand in your way
Just say, I believe

If hope’s the house I wanna be living in
Baby, I’ve got one foot in the door
Yes I do
All the years of waiting for your approval dear
Well I realised I don’t need it anymore

‘Cause I’m stronger everyday,
Now I’m strong enough to say, I believe

I believe in love, it’s the best of everything
I believe in hope and the changes it can bring
If you believe then nothing can stand in your way
I believe

It’s a fact of life that we’re all in the game
But it’s still your call
But we all play it
Sometimes we win, sometimes we fall
But that’s no reason just to give it up, cause after all
If you can’t choose what to be
You can choose what to dream
And I believe

I believe in love, it’s the best of everything
I believe in hope and the changes it can bring
If you believe then nothing can stand in your way
Just say, oh, I believe

Jahra wedding disaster August 18, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Husbands, Kuwait, Life, News, Relationships, Women.
7 comments

There has been lots of discussion and speculation about the horrific tragedy in Kuwait a few days ago in which scores of women and children died and suffered from very serious burns. (Link)

Today, there are new developments to the story. The daily Kuwaiti Alqabas  newspaper published the detailed confession of the woman responsible for setting fire to the tent.

She is referred to only by initials as is the custom in Kuwaiti newspapers.

N is 23 years old and the first wife.

Below is the rough translation of the interrogation published in Alqabas:

How did you plan the criminal act?

I did not plan it in advance. All that was on my mind was how to take revenge on my husband and his sisters. My sisters-in-law were responsible for my misery and the discord between my husband and I. I wanted to ruin the wedding party in any way I could.

What did you decide after that?

I knew the wedding was going to be held in a house and not in a special occasions ballroom. I knew it was going to be held in a tent outside the house so that is how I got the idea to burn the tent, after thinking of many scenarios. I finally decided to go to the wedding party location and execute my plan.

How did you execute your plan and with whose help?

No one helped me. I called a taxi who took me to Farwaniya and from there I took another taxi to Jahra.
What is the name of the taxi company you called and why did you go to Farwaniya first?

I called (…) taxi company but I only had 5 KD on me and a call taxi fare is 5 KD from Al-Rihab to Al-Jahra. I told him to take me to Farwaniya for a dinar and a half and from there I took a roaming taxi [cheaper]  to my husband’s house where the wedding was taking place and it was around 7:30.

What happend after that and when did you get to the wedding party tent?
As soon as I arrived in Farwaniya I took another taxi and asked him to go to the gas station. There I asked the attendant to fill a mineral bottle of gasoline for me. I had a packet of matches in my handbag that I had brought with me from home and I arrived at the wedding around 8:30.

How did you execute the crime?

The whole way from Farwaniya to Jahra, all I could think about was how to revenge on my sisters in law and ruining the wedding party and when I arrived I asked the taxi driver to wait on the other street for me and I got out of the car and headed towards the tent. There, I began to pour gasoline on the edges of the tent and lit the fire and ran off in the same taxi.

How did you light the fire?

With a packet of matches. I struck the first matchstick which did not light but the second one did and I did not look back at the tent once it caught fire however I heard the guests screaming and thought that I was successful in ruining the party and returned home.

Did you go back home immediately?

No. I went to the police station and asked them to register a case against my husband and his sisters and I accused them of calling me and threatening me. But the police didn’t do anything and I left the station and went home..

How did you know that the fire caused a catastrophe?

By television and my brothers called me to ask if I was behind the fire and I told them I had not left the house at all and had done nothing.

What is the cause of the discord between you and your husband?

My husband is wishy washy and my discord was with his sisters; they are the ones who kicked me out of the house and decided to marry him off again thus ruining my life and the life of my child. And for that I decided to take revenge.

=========

end.

Note: Immediately since the accident,  a blood drive and call for people to donate blood to the fire victims has been announced. The bride got away but lost her mother and sister- in law.

Just Do It Later August 16, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Death, Film & Ads, Life, News.
10 comments

The following short film was made to shock teenagers into thinking twice before texting whilst driving.

I think that this kind of awareness campaign should be also directed to all adults considering the number of drivers in Kuwait that think they are invincible.It’s downright frightening because once something like this happens, there is just no turning back.

Reaction time slows by 35% while writing or reading texts when driving. And almost 50% of UK teenagers between 18-24 texted while driving. (Link to BBC article)

Wishing you all safe driving.

more about “BBC NEWS | Wales | Text drive film to…“, posted with vodpod
BBC NEWS | Wales | Text drive film to ’shock’ pupils

Batwings across piccadilly August 16, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Poetry.
4 comments

she runs wild

a gothic vampire

with wild grey hair in

showstopping fashion

arched like an open jaw.

skinny girl scurrying down piccadilly pavement

her batwings

black

dainty

so real

the boys chase her down the road

but she only wants one boy

and she calls him a Swine!

as she dashes after him in bold black stilletos.

Ya Wad Ya T’eel August 15, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Kuwait, Life, Men, Music.
9 comments

Perusing the Kuwaiti newspapers, I came across an amusing little bit in the crime section.

An Egyptian man living in Kuwait went to the airport to meet his new bride who was arriving from Egypt.

Instead of just receiving her and then partying later on, he decided to take a troupe of friends with their musical instruments (unspecified in the newspaper but I imagine they were drum like ) to give the bride a proper homecoming (zaffa) at the airport arrivals hall.

However, it seems he got a literal unhappy “zaffa” when the authorities questioned him about his intentions and what he and his friends were going to do with all those instruments.

He was told it was not allowed to do that but it appears he insisted on expressing his joy at her arrival and consequently was arrested and had a case against him in the Jleeb police station. (link) (link)

What’s the harm in spreading a little joy and happiness? What if the whole arrivals hall turned into a mass celebration for the newlyweds and one could hear ululations all around?

The clip below has nothing to do with the man above. In fact, the late Souad Houssni is singing about a man who is the complete opposite of our merry Egyptian groom.

more about “- Souad HOUSSNI – Ya Wad Ya T’eel//يا…“, posted with vodpod
- Souad HOUSSNI – Ya Wad Ya T’eel

Pierce my heart August 14, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Poetry.
5 comments

pierce

my heart.

the poetry

stops.

twisted.

garbled emotions

bleed

soak my skin

with anxiety.

clutching

at whispers

threadbare

echoes

of lavender fields

and scent of summer

with you,

coming to an end

so soon.

running into the vortex August 14, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Poetry.
8 comments

running

running

on legs

that know no direction.

instinctive

fear

driving me

into the vortex

I dread

to meet.

hollow voices

vacant eyes

empty pages

running

running

into the unknown.

Tableaux Vivants: Transient Moments (VI) August 13, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Life, London, Stories.
5 comments

Every journey must end.

Or be continued  after the end of a phase.

The second leg of my journey is on a train with  no reserved seats. I place luggage on the rack and sit in adjacent seats thankful for a smooth journey thus far.

The train stops in Leeds.

Throngs of people mill onto the train in  a steady stream. On this hot day some are wearing football scarves. Others wear football shirts over their tops. The smell of bodies and sweat rises from the mostly male passengers.

Easy camaraderie between men. The brotherhood is fascinating to watch. They discuss the game.

Then just as the train conductor blows into his whistle, a family of three charge onto the coach, clutching brown bags of McDonald’s. The stench of  meat and onions  is almost nauseating in the close heat of the car and the windows barely even open. To my growing disgust, they find no place to sit and hoist their bodies onto the wide luggage rack by my belongings.

The girl unwraps her Big Mac and proceeeds to dig in. I cast cursory glances at her concerned about the pieces of onions and hamburger sauce dripping onto my luggage. To make matters worse, I worry when I see the young man not only leaning against my other bag  but also wrapping his arm around it, in a possessive manner and I think his sweaty armpits might stain it.

I struggle to refrain from offering them tissues. The young man is constantly using his t-shirt sleeve to wipe his nose. The girl licks her fingers. It is a nightmare and I wonder if I will every enjoy McDonald;s again after that onslaught.

I keep my cool and soon they find seats and run off, leaving their trash near my bags.

Tableaux Vivants: Transient Moments (V) August 12, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Life, London, Stories.
3 comments

The East European mother of two leaves the first class coach.

The train conductor ushers in a Canadian family to sit in the seats, four and two on either side. Their children are quiet teenagers occupied with a variety of gadgets from iPods to laptops. The father is a chunky man with ruddy complexion. He sports a goatee and his delightfully rounded belly sits emphatically upon the top of his shorts. He wears a tshirt with something touristy on it.

Look! he alerts the kids: A church.

He is curious about the scenery. I can’t tell about his wife whose back is to me.

Soon we are passing strange looking structures that I believe are silos. He is curious and as a rail employee passes, he asks the young man about them. A discussion ensues in which the Canadian explains the reason for the family trip.  His father had immigrated from Britain to Canada and settled there. Now he has brought his family to see where their ancestors came from.

Another North American man traveling alone, perked up and leaned over to take a look at the Canadian family. Before him on the table, he had a ripe yellow banana. He was engrossed in reading a magazine, only interrupting his reading to order some wine and then to call his lodgings at his destination where he was confirming his arrival later that evening. He seems very organized. Even down to his sturdy walking shoes.

I look out the train window at the endless green expanses flying by and think how easy it is to misconstrue. If I had not heard the Canadian man say they were from Canada, I would have continued to think that they were American for that is the first impression that I got.

One must not misconstrue by judging too hastily.

Tableaux Vivants: Transient Moments (IV) August 12, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Life, London, Stories.
7 comments

Her hair is a deep red.

She sits cross legged on the platform, her back leaning against the metal fence, oblivious to the rest of the world, deeply engrossed in her book.

As the train moves slowly along, I  lean against my window and look to see the title of the book : Ball of Fire.

Tableaux Vivants: Transient Moments (III) August 11, 2009

Posted by jewaira in Life, London, Stories.
2 comments

The voices of young children suddenly erupt on our uncrowded coach. One child wails repeatedly.

The children are severely censured in high pitched loud admonishments.

I lean over to see who is sitting there.

She’s pretty.

Young. Slim. Dark short hair and creamy skin. Eastern European.

With two young children: Mama! Mama!

The incessant wails drive the woman to strike out with some vigorous flailing of her arm in the direction of one child, scolding in a voice that says: I’m fed up.

Mama! Mama!  A little voice pleads.

The bespecaled railway conductor with the sandy coloured hair asks to see the mother’s ticket.

He checks it and says:

If you want to sit here, you can upgrade by paying £20. Otherwise, please move back to the standard class coach.

She protests: My luggage.

He reassures her: It will be alright here.

She makes the necessary motions to leave the first class coach but when he is gone, she returns to the same seat with children in tow.

But this is England. The train conductor returns and repeats in a stricter tone: I’m sorry. I  am going to have to ask you to move now.

Behind him are a large family waiting to occupy the seats.

The woman takes her children and sits in the area between coaches, directly in front of the tiny toilet where her son’s toy car slides in as someone exits the cubicle.